I Need a New PA System

[wopr]

Our band is breaking up, and the guy who is leaving owns the PA.

So the band needs to get a new PA. We don't need anything fancy, but we would like good quality. We're in a cover band that plays venues that don't have a house PA. Mainly, we use the PA for vocals only, so 4 channels should be plenty. Also, we also play outdoor parties, so we need some muscle. I'd say our budget is around $1000 plus or minus $500. Also, we are happy to buy used, and would probably prefer this to get a good system.

Can you guys recommend some systems that are good, or might be considered industry standard? On the flip side, any companies that we should avoid?

Thanks,

[walterw]

"muscle" is going to be right out. a 3-400 watt 6 or 8 channel mixer head, a couple 15" + horn cabinets, mics, stands and cables will take your $1000 pretty quickly, and be just enough to get vocals over mild stage volume.

[Bo Faulkner]

with your budget ... good luck

[wopr]

Yeah, I was just checking out new PA packages, and I am way off in price. Thanks for the reality check. Ok, so used it is. What companies should I be looking into. Our former band member had EV speakers that sounded great to me.

[orogeny]

mackie 406m powered head. about 300 used
jbl eon 1500s for mains. about 300 used.

100 dollars in cable, maybe less.
another 100 in speaker stands.

1100 total.

i also use three ev monitors at 200 used each. i forget the model number, but they are hard plastic like the eon series, super light, and have a very small profile.

i'm NOT a fan of yamaha speakers, though many music stores push them. i think they basically suck. they make other equipment that is quite good to excellent. speakers ain't one of them.

stick to mackie speakers or jbl or ev in your price range IF you can afford them. i love the eons for portability and price. been using them for over ten years. i honestly think the speakers are the most important thing IN YOUR price range. there are tons of powered heads that are comparable to mackie that are even cheaper (behringer, carvin, peavy, yamaha).

[wopr]

Thanks for the suggestions. Any other ideas?

[Bluesbuff]

Take alook at the Carvin pkgs. Good quality electronics and nice speakers. They use the speakers in the house PA in one of the bigger venues around here and they sound great.

[edgewound]

FBT Maxx 4a powered speakers and FBT Pickup 44E mixer.

[drod2045]

I was in the OPs boat as well just a month or so ago. Exact situation sonically. We play gigs that have house PA 98% of the time. Randomly we'd need a PA for acoustic or some random shows that didnt have one. We always borrowed and it was becoming a hassle - esp since we had 3/4 shows back to back that we needed a PA for. We use it just for vocals but have also plugged acousticaly into it and no problems/great clear sound.

This is exactly what I bought at a GC and we're super pleased with it. The sound has been phemonimal!

Mixer - http://www.guitarcenter.com/Peavey-X...83-i1167691.gc

Speakers (2) - http://www.guitarcenter.com/Peavey-P...29-i1152989.gc

+ Stands (2) & speaker cables (2)

Walked out the door for $1250 and 12 month financing (of course).

The effects on the peavy are pretty good good. The delays are nice for vocals as are the reverbs (when not over done).


TIP! - Whatever you end up buying - dont buy the packages that GC puts together. The speakers they put with the amps are not matched correctly for the power the mixer puts out. Although its not a terrible pairing - they are underpowering the speakers a bit which could damage the speakers over time.

[edgewound]

Originally Posted by drod2045

Although its not a terrible pairing - they are underpowering the speakers a bit which could damage the speakers over time.

...and the time frame is like 15 minutes.

[puddinstone]

We use a Mackie 808 for what you do... Seems like a saw a used one around here for 550$.

That paired with a couple of low end Yamaha speakers and a monitor does the trick and has...for years now.

[Cpt. Picard]

Don't skimp on mics.
I know 4 shures would take a big chunk from your budget quick, but they're out there used for at least a few bucks off.
Watch for fakes, I know there's a few threads hanging around for spotting them.

Don't be afraid to give other mic companies a shot, either.
I would turn my nose up to anything other than an sm-58 until I found some $40 Samson junker that just fit.
I've heard entry level AKG's get a good rep for the money.

I'm lucky to have a very wise friend in the PA section at the local GC; it doesn't hurt to swing through and just ask, as long as you keep your BS meter on high alert...

[The Kid]

Originally Posted by orogeny

mackie 406m powered head. about 300 used
jbl eon 1500s for mains. about 300 used.

100 dollars in cable, maybe less.
another 100 in speaker stands.

1100 total.

i also use three ev monitors at 200 used each. i forget the model number, but they are hard plastic like the eon series, super light, and have a very small profile.

i'm NOT a fan of yamaha speakers, though many music stores push them. i think they basically suck. they make other equipment that is quite good to excellent. speakers ain't one of them.

stick to mackie speakers or jbl or ev in your price range IF you can afford them. i love the eons for portability and price. been using them for over ten years. i honestly think the speakers are the most important thing IN YOUR price range. there are tons of powered heads that are comparable to mackie that are even cheaper (behringer, carvin, peavy, yamaha).

Interestingly enough, I feel quite the opposite. I tried the JBL Eon as well as the Mackie powered stuff. The Eons seemed to have a weird shouty midrange character that needed to be eq'd out, and the Powered Mackie stuff seemed kinda boxy to me.

(I do use a Mackie VLZ3 board, so I am not a Mackie hater)

I ended up buying a pair of the Yamaha powered speakers. ($250 each used) The Yamaha MSR 400's sounded very natural, clear, and more musical to me. I had a shot at used Eon's as well.

Respectfully, YMMV.

[analogmike]

keep an eye on craigslist, like new but used gear can be a great deal. I got mine that way and it's pretty good.

Mackie powered speakers SA-1521 x2
community CSX-38M monitors x 2
stands , rack
Yamaha X-350 amp for monitors
DBX driverack PA (not using it, not needed)
DBX RTA amalyzer mic
D O D 430QX 15 BEQ for monitors (not really needed)
furman PL- power supply
mackie 1402 VLZ mixer

for just over $2000

[re-animator]

I'm pretty happy with our band's PA. We're in a somewhat similar playing situation and here's what we got:

Soundcraft Gigrac (500x2). I think its 8 channels, but only 4 channels have mic+instrument ins. There are 8 mic pres.

2xYamaha BR15 mains. I believe they handle 500 watts a piece. They are very nice and clear speakers with good depth.

2xSenheiser e835s. basically the industry alternative to shure. I happen to like these a lot better than the shure mics i've used.

and i think some random cables and stands.

We got this all at guitar center for $1100 out the door. The only thing that sucks is having to mooch monitors....