PA system?

Mike Winter · From: Portland, OR

I am needing to get a moderately priced PA system for the band I am putting together. It's a 5 piece (Steel, 2 guitars, bass and drums). The clubs we'll be playing are probably 50 - 100 people. (Bands I have been in before always had one, so this is all new to me.) I was wondering if you folks could toss some ideas and recommendations my way. Brand? Watts? Im thinking of looking for used, better-quality gear as opposed to new, cheap quality stuff. Any ideas?

Jack Francis · From: Queen Creek, Arizona, USA

Our band bought a new Mackie 16 channel mixing board and 2 1400W Peavey power amps to go with the newer speakers made by Peavey, 18" subs & 15" mains ...unless your in a LARGE hall....big time over hill, but we play a lot outside and it's a great system. Lately, in smaller venues, we just gone back to using our old 6 channel Peavey powered mixer with a our old JBL 15" w/horns mains.
It sounds good in smaller applications and at the end of the night...it sure is better on my old back. (on this system we only mike the kick drum, on the new one we mike everything.)
Peavey has really been doing thier homework with thier ne PA's.

[This message was edited by Jack Francis on 16 November 2003 at 11:12 AM.]

George Kimery · From: Limestone, TN, USA

I was just at a church function in a gymnasium, and they had a Beringer 300 Watt Powered PA speaker set-up that looked impressive. After years of sluffing all sorts of mixers, rack effects, power amps, snakes, etc.which required a lot of time to set up, if I were doing it today, I would seriously try out some of the powered speakers and monitors. They will be heavier of course than normal PA speakers, but they are sure quick and easy to set-up and tear down. They even have EQ's built into them. I don't know about reverb or delay, though.

D Schubert · From: Columbia, MO, USA

Mackie 808M or 808S powered mixer, two Mackie C-300 speakers on tripod stands, two to four small monitor cabinets of your choice. Powerful, flexible, compact, sounds good, built to last...

Eric West · From: Portland, Oregon, USA, R.I.P.

I'd have to vote for Mackie for all of the above. Used one with Monty Moss for a couple years,and played big, small in and outdoors with no problems, and they seem to work well with recording, and I've heard there are computer linkable applications for some of their products. Those particulars,I'm not so conversant about.

EJL
50-100 people. Where are they getting those kinds of crowds around here?

Bill Crook · From: Goodlettsville, TN , Spending my kid's inheritance

We use all "Peavey" stuff
1) 16 channel MBII mixer-board
2) 2 CS800 Power Amps 1 for Mains, 1 for Monitors
3) 2 SP-2 speaker cabs (Mains)
4) 2 SP-18 Bass speaker cabs (Mains)
5) 6 Wedge shape monitor speakers (Monitors)

This setup works well for inside and outside gigs !!
Recording can be done stright from the Mixer-board to tape or whatever.
We have hauled this equipment around quite a lot and never had a serious problem with a single piece of it.

I say:
"Peavey is your best bet"

Mike Brown · From: Meridian, Mississippi USA

Mike, the Peavey SP-2X two way biampable enclosures would do a good job in your situation. Along with an XR696F, you could power your monitors as well as the main system off of this one powered mixer. However, I need further information as to how many mic channels, monitor mixes required before I can recommend further. The Forumites who posted here have good suggestions concerning the Peavey gear though. If you wish to send me your mailing address, I'll be glad to mail you our latest catalogs at no charge. Or, we can discuss your system if you will contact me toll free at the factory. I can be reached at 1-877-732-8391. I look forward to speaking with you.

Mike Brown
Peavey Electronics Corporation

Tim Whitlock · From: Colorado, USA

Mike,

My 6-piece band plays small venues similar to what you describe. We have had great luck with our Mackie 8 channel powered mixer with 2 built in eqs and full digital effects. Here’s a link:
http://www.mackie.com/products/808m/index.html

You can easily carry it in one hand and it powers two 15 inch Yamaha 3-way mains and 2 floor monitors. We haven’t had any trouble in the four years we’ve owned it. Guitar Center features good deals on PA gear that is lightweight and reliable plus you get the warranties. I figure we have $2500 invested in our entire system and any venue it can’t handle will probably have in-house PA. It’s probably comparable to the Peavey system Mike Brown decribes. I’ve had good luck with Peavey, also. Buy new, for the dealer support you get in case of trouble.

Tim

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Tim Whitlock
'58 Fender 1000, '56 Fender Stringmaster, '65 Twin Reissue, Niomi lap steel, old Magnatone tube amp.

Andy Greatrix · From: Edmonton Alberta

It depends on how loud you are expected to be. Adding powered bass-bins will give them that "disco top-forty sound' that some rooms want.

James Morehead · From: Prague, Oklahoma, USA - R.I.P.

I've got a relic for you, We are still using a Peavey XR1200 stereo powered mixer!!! (Ya'll make 'em too good!!) It's still under warranty, ain't it Mike? (Maybe I need one of your new catalogs, too!!!)By the way, all joking aside, when did Peavey quit making this model?

David L. Donald · From: Koh Samui Island, Thailand

The Mackie stuff is pretty good in general.
I like the JBL 400w powered monitors.

One thing I firmly believe is that if you have no sound man on a regular basis, get smaller versions of the same front of house speakers as your stage monitors.

Thay way basically what you put out front is also sent to you on stage at a lower volume. This is very good for smaller rooms and smaller bands. But can also work for larger spaces by just adding a powered 15" bass speaker to the FOH.

If you have one kind of monitor and FOH is totally different, you then really need a sound man. Because no one on stage has a clue.

But if you hear what your putting out front, with maybe a bit less bass responce, you can make a decent judgment as to whats out front.

I played a festival last summer. there were fine stage monitors, BUT the guy mixing the monitors had a DIFFERENT type and make of monitor... he had no clue what we were hearing on stage, and that was REALLY reflected in the on stage mix. A true horror for me.

I have several small 2 way boxes, I double them up on stands for the front on one side of a 400w amp and put individuals around the stage at lower levels to hear with from the other amp side turned down.
But it could easily be 3 a side 400w to each side and another amp for the 3 or 4 identical boxes on stage.

Especially good for small groups with several acoustic instruments. But equally valid for a
group like the one described above.

Another benifit is in odd shaped rooms, you can angle some speakers to different places and get much better coverage.
A large system typically only goes in one direction and is poor off axis. And is harder to carry and load in the vehicles, relative to smaller baxes

Food for thought.

Mike Brown · From: Meridian, Mississippi USA

James, the Peavey XR1200 powered mixer was in production beginning in 1979 and was later updated to the XR1200C in 1989. The "C" version was in production for many years as well. Even today our XR 1600F series is based off of the original XR1200. Here's a link to the Peavey XR Series of mixers;
http://www.peavey.com/products/shop_online/browse.cfm/action/final/wc/2A2B121/fam/MXRS/c/1/powered.cfm

I'll be glad to assist with your sound system if you will give me a call toll free at 1-877-732-8391. I'm in the office until 5PM CST.

Thanks to Bill for his support also. I invite anyone to compare Peavey to whatever other comparable brand that is on the market. I think that you will notice several features on Peavey models that others don't include.

Mike Brown
Peavey Electronics Corporation

James Morehead · From: Prague, Oklahoma, USA - R.I.P.

Thanx for the info, Mike. Mine is not the "C" model, so it's pretty old. I had it gone through when I bought it last summer by an authorized Peavey tech. It runs great. I will consider a new one next summer, for peace of mind. I like the new features on your new versions. I like vintage guitars and tube amps, but I really like new tech in the PA systems.

Mike Winter · From: Portland, OR

Thanks for the responses. That helps me narrow it down.

Eric - I know most of the crowds are on the smaller end of the spectrum...but I'm thinkin' BIG!!!

Gene Wilcox · From: Kingman AZ USA

My all time favorite budget mixer would be the Yamaha 01v digital. Or the New 01v96. Compact and rackmountable. Easy on the pocketbook if you decide to locate a used one.

It features Dynamic processing, EQ and Reverb for every input, aux and main send. And all of those features are extensive. Gates, compressors,etc, Parameteric EQ that is really flexable, many types of verb, an SPX90 on every channel.
So basically it gives you what you might want in the signal path right there. No external gizmos to patch. And you can save 90 different settings.. the whole mix!!! Truly a powerhouse small mixer. It really is a Bang for the Buck.
Here is the 01v http://www.yamaha.com/yamahavgn/CDA/ContentDetail/ModelSeriesDetail/0,6373,CNTID%253D1483%2526CTID%253D228600%2526VNM%253DLIVE%2526AFLG%253DY%2526LGFL%253DN,00.html

and the 01v96 http://www.yamaha.com/yamahavgn/CDA/ContentDetail/ModelSeriesDetail/0,6373,CNTID%253D15247%2526CTID%253D228600%2526VNM%253DLIVE%2526AFLG%253DY%2526LGFL%253DN,00.html

Gene

Bill Crook · From: Goodlettsville, TN , Spending my kid's inheritance

Mark van Allen · From: Watkinsville, Ga. USA

Hey, mIke, if you're thinking about buying a complete system, I'd take a serious look at the new Bose setup. http://steelguitarforum.com/Forum11/HTML/004409.html
I wouldn't have been as impressed if I hadn't seen the live 7 piece band demo. I think you might be really surprised and pleased for the size venue you're talking about- and just one small piece of gear to schlep for each band member. Amazing.

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Stop by the Steel Store at: www.markvanallen.com

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