The Steel Guitar Forum

Anyone try out the new Bose PAS system?

I've read a lot about these PA systems and they are getting some very high praise.

The publicity almost sounds too good to be true - light weight, consistent sound levels throughout the room, no need for monitors, clean transparent sound, no feedback, small footprint, etc.

Any experience with this Bose PA?

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Terry

I've seen a post on this forum about them. The comment was "if you want all mids and highs" they are good.

I've seen some reviews on other sites and some were good and others critical of the Bose system and it's overall frequency response and of course the Bose price.

The marketing descriptions make them sound like they are the next best thing to "girls".

I played a tele through one a GC a few months ago. Probably should have named it the POS instead.

Well, it's not THAT bad but it's nothing more than 15 or 20 TINY little speakers stacked in a column (with an optional woofer).

I think it might be good for certain applications but I can't afford one and wouldn't buy one w/out playing it on stage anyway.

I played a couple bar gigs at a place that used one. It did the job well. It beefed up the vocals, acoustic guitar and piano. I also put a bit of steel into it just to help spread my sound around. I was impressed by it.

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Bob
My Website

Thanks for the comments.

I'm looking down the road at doing some accoustic (bluegrass) gigs and this system intrigues me.

That's a big chunk of change for a relatively small PA system.

Terry

Yes, but a relatively small PA is a wonderful thing.
We used Bose 800's in the 70's. Bose has size and porting figured out. What you're looking at is what I'd buy (altho I assume it's pricey).

Hot topic among musicians, here's a current thread from mandolincafe.com...

http://www.mandolincafe.net/cgi-bin/ikonboard.cgi?s=19f42692329d2ba31b32610826729df4;act=ST;f=8;t=25069;


Sounds to me like it's a wonderful system for small rooms and quiet audiences, and when everything works right it sounds like a dream. Reading between the lines, you should have a couple of conventional main and monitor cabinets in the truck, for all the times conditions aren't perfect, and feedback is eatin' you alive. By the way, a lot of bluegrass bands have become obsessed with the retro-style 1-mic or 2-mic setups, and the same general comments apply there from first-hand experience (ie, you'd better have a handful of SM-57's and SM-58's in the truck....)

I went to a small club here in Phoenix where a good friend, Chuck Hall was playing with Big Nick and the Gila Monsters...blues with bass, drums, 2 guitars and Big Nick playing harp through a Fender Super amp.

Some high energy, good rockin' stuff but most of the time the Bose system just didn't cut it for the vocals.....probably for acoustic groups it would be great. <font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Jack Francis on 19 July 2005 at 11:25 AM.]</p></FONT>

I play with some "acoustic" pickers who put transducer-equipped guitar, mandolin and banjo through one of those "sticks," with option sub-woofer, generally relying on other PA for vocals etc. It does do well in smaller, quieter settings (including church halls with polite audiences), and does a good job dispersing the sound so that there is a decent blend with other sources. It definitely can't handle everything all at once, however, and it does seem expensive if you still need other equipment. It might be great for solo or duo acts.

B.O.S.E.

Bring Other Sound Equipment

(or Best On Suite End-tables)

Bose pretty much invented the consumer marketing techniques that have made them the ONLY name that is familiar to millions of people who know nothing else at all about sound gear but the name BOSE.

Seriously, you're way better off buying gear from Mackie - another name you will never, ever see in a top-notch professional sound rig but at least they have a clue about what musicians need. Mackie still has Cal Perkins around to design the stuff, that put's them miles ahead of any other MI manufacturer.