I last owned a PA 20-years ago. It was all old junk then, so I don't really know what's out there, other than from browsing Sweetwater, Musician's Friend, etc.
What I need is to put together a PA for practice - and I need to do it pretty quickly. The cheap/easy route seems to be grab a used Peavy/Carvin/etc. powered ~6-channel PA head and a pair of speakers. Right?
However, I do need to get a PA put together that would work in a ~100-150 person bar. In the interest of keeping stage volume low, that would mean I need the ability to mic up everything. I'm not really sure what I should look for here?
Ideally, I'd like whatever I buy short-term for #1 to be able to incorporate into #2 long term - and those powered heads don't really seem like the answer there.
As always, the budget is "cheap". :D
Peavey Escort
I use this one at work for trade shows and other events. Really portable and easy to use, no experience with anything else though.
Depending on how many channels you need, there are tons of $300 options from guitarcenter.com. Harbinger makes a nice setup. Phonic makes a cheap setup, just be gentle plugging and unplugging. The boards are cheap, but the sound is good quality.
150-200w should do your small venue, but I might suggest spending a bit more in case you get a larger venue. You can always turn a big amp down but you can't turn a small one up.
Start asking any drummers in your area. One of them might own a decent system, and it's probably for sale, since drummers can't keep jobs.
i realised i didn't give enough context.... sorry.
If you're comfortable at all with used gear, or with using this gear yourself, a local Pawn shop is going to have the absolute best deals in most cases.
how many piece band do you have & what instruments need PA power? would you be micing it all yourself?
My best bit of advice.. find a rental shop. There are plenty of places that rent out theatrical supplies (and PA qualifies) and see what used equipment they have for sale. A good shop will have decent turn around on their equipment.
Broken equipment makes no money, so a good shop will sell off servicable stuff before it becomes a liability. Once out of the Rental circle, it's usage cycle will become a 10th and it should last a while.
It will also be decent equipment as far as quality goes. Nobody wants to rent American DJ junk
mad, imma have to disagree. rental can be good bargains in terms of cost, but in my exp has tended to be among the most brutalised equipment.
the reasoning is that any 'taking care' of equipment is not done on a quality basis, but on a cost effective basis. :/ they get it working just enough to rent again.
Unfortunately, around here pawn shops seem to be able to get away with selling completely beat-to-E36 M3 junk for 10% brand new list price. Doesn't matter if it's microwave ovens, 5-year old PCs, no-name guitars, or something actually valuable. I honestly don't think most of them make any money selling anything, rather they just collect interest from the revolving pawn loans.
I've looked at those portably PAs too, but they seem a bit limited. So I'll keep scouring craigslist looking for deals.
Thanks!
Pawn shops are terrible here too. A squier Affinity strat that retails for 199, can be bought for 129 any day of the week and often goes on sale for 99 will sit on the wall with a 179 price tag for years.
Also with PA gear I just can't recommend used. Way too much to go wrong, and frankly the old 70's and 80's Peavey stuff that is everywhere is so terrible you will just give the idea up. I did too many sound gigs at crappy bars and basement shows with that junk. A big Fender passport is better and easier to use.
If you are looking at a PA that will handle a medium sized bar with stage monitors and enough channels to handle drums, vocals, guitar and bass and whatever (you mentioned low stage volume so I am assuming you want EVERYTHING through the PA) I would start in the 1000 watt range.
This 20 channel is where I would start my comparisons
http://www.guitarcenter.com/Behringer-PMP4000-B212XL-Mains---Monitors-PA-Package-485941-i1535599.gc
Remember Guitar Center employees CAN haggle on new equipment prices and often all you need to say is "What is the lowest price you can sell this to me for" and bingo 10-15% comes off.
Slightly related. I picked up one of the Little Harbinger 120W 4 channel PA's during GC's labor day sale for our practice space. It sure makes everything better. Everyone can hear the cues and follow along. We became a million times tighter instantly.
In reply to ditchdigger:
Wow that seems pretty good for a grand.
madmallard wrote:
mad, imma have to disagree. rental can be good bargains in terms of cost, but in my exp has tended to be among the most brutalised equipment.
the reasoning is that any 'taking care' of equipment is not done on a quality basis, but on a cost effective basis. :/ they get it working just enough to rent again.
that is why I said "good" If the OP is in the South Jersey/philly area, I can steer them to a couple of good guys who will set them up properly
