Need PA recommendations for 2 or 3 piece acoustic act please

DrFroggies

Hi All,

I’m hoping someone can give me some advice on which PA system to buy – I’ve read a previous thread on PA systems here but it seemed to be more directed toward full band set up so apologies if this feels like going over old ground for anyone (I’m gonna post this up in bands and musicians as well)– My situation is that I just want something to get me through the next 6mts to a year of playing 2-3 gigs per week. And my set up would be pretty basic 2 (max 3) acoustic guitars and 2(max 3) vocals – Playing in the corner of bars etc so I’m looking for the cheapest reliable option.
My budget would be around €350 at a stretch.

I’ve been looking at the below options:

http://www.gear4music.com/PA-DJ-and-Lighting/100W-PA-System-with-Stands-and-Mics/8N4

http://www.gear4music.com/PA_Equipment/PA_Packages.html?gclid=CNKhhpS4hZoCFQiF3godGHoWFA

http://cgi.ebay.ie/PEAVEY-PA-System-Speakers-Amp-Mics-Stand-Mixer-Package_W0QQitemZ120370745127QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_ConElec_SpeakersPASystems_RL?hash=item120370745127&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1298|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1318

If anyone could have a look at these and maybe give me an opinion I’d really appreciate it. Or if you know of similar/better options out there even better.

Note: the first two options seem better as they come with stands but the third is available in X-Music Ireland so I wouldn’t have to deal with shipping etc. But I don’t know if there’s much of a difference between them.

Thanks.

Savman

DrFroggies wrote: »

I’m looking for the cheapest reliable option.

Hmm...for €350 it might be tricky. Nothing in that price bracket I'd recommend tbh, but check out all the Music Store and Thomann stuff. Never heard it personally but you gets whats you pays for.

DrFroggies

Savman wrote: »

Hmm...for €350 it might be tricky. Nothing in that price bracket I'd recommend tbh, but check out all the Music Store and Thomann stuff. Never heard it personally but you gets whats you pays for.

Cheers for that Savman i'll check both of them out now. Was just warned on another thread that anything around the 100w mark wouldn't be much use to me soundwise - one of the above options is 200w would that be enough do you think? Or what would be the min required power for an acoustic duo PA SYstem set up?

Yeah starting to worry about the €350 price limit but i'm even gonna have to beg,borrow&steal to raise that much and i really need to get this thing set up as soon as poss.

ogy

its about how big the venues to be played are more than how many elements are in the band.

DrFroggies

ogy wrote: »

its about how big the venues to be played are more than how many elements are in the band.

Well i'll be playing mostly in pubs/cafes rigged up in some corner nothing too extravagant - so basically just want to sound clean and clear enough to get rebooked etc.

Been looking online the more i research the more confusing it's getting...passive or active etc. I just want something i can plug 2 mics and 2 guitars into with a decent mixer and clear clean speakers and play...i definitely know that with 2 vocals and 2 guitars a pa set up is better than an acoustic amp with built in speaker.

Are there any generally safe market leaders in this area. Names i can lookout for (somewhere with in my budget new or 2nd hand) that i could trust?

ogy

to be honest for €350 this bit might be an issue:

clean and clear

if i were you id wait till i had a bit more capital and buy:
- a pair of active speakers. a friend has mackie srm 450s which i think are nice, the 350s are probably similar quality and a bit cheaper. double up as monitors if playing with a bigger band too which as handy.
- and a small mixer, like a little 12 channel mackie or alesis.

would probably have to budget about a grand for all that but anything cheaper is not gonna be very good, realistically. if theres no chance of spending a bit more look at behringer or t.box stuff. get a small mixer and a pair of powered speakers from there range similar in spec to the above, (still can't imagine doing it for 350 though).

PaulBrewer

ogy wrote: »

would probably have to budget about a grand for all that but anything cheaper is not gonna be very good,

Yup.

DrFroggies

ogy wrote: »

to be honest for €350 this bit might be an issue:


if i were you id wait till i had a bit more capital and buy:
- a pair of active speakers. a friend has mackie srm 450s which i think are nice, the 350s are probably similar quality and a bit cheaper. double up as monitors if playing with a bigger band too which as handy.
- and a small mixer, like a little 12 channel mackie or alesis.

would probably have to budget about a grand for all that but anything cheaper is not gonna be very good, realistically. if theres no chance of spending a bit more look at behringer or t.box stuff. get a small mixer and a pair of powered speakers from there range similar in spec to the above, (still can't imagine doing it for 350 though).

How about this http://www.thomann.de/ie/prod_cbundle_31.html?gk=palpaf&cbcid=164&art=119509
its above my budget but at least if i could get the complete set up together in one go i could see if someone would lend me the extra couple of hundred. And pay them back out of the first couple of gigs (i already have mics etc and i can borrow mic stands)

Would i get away with this or would no bar or cafe ever book me again (repeat bookings being essential for me)?

Alternatively i'm gonna see if i can source some 2nd Mackie Srm 450s/350s or possibly *Jlb Eon 1500 (*though i think these are passive and from what i'm picking up passive probably isn't the best option for my situation)

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the above Thomann bundle could be a winner???

Savman

Mackie SRM would be the far better long term buy IMHO.