PA For Acoustic Duo And Friends

Milnoque

Milnoque

Resident Curmudgeon
A friend of mine and I are planning to play out after many long lame years. I'm going to need to get a PA. I'm looking at this one:

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Yamaha-EMX312SCBR15-PA-Package?sku=630200

It should have enough power for our purposes. It's got inputs to spare for friends to join in.

Has anyone got any experience with these units?
Would you recommend a different setup with similar features in the price range?

Thanks in advance for your input.
 
you may also want to think about if you would like to do any multitrack recording during your live performances. Having an unpowered mixing board could give you more routing. If you don't think you will do any recording I would think your choice would be fine for acoustic guitars and vocals only.
 
Tried that, They say they can't do swaps. I figure the mics would just be backups at best.

Good point about the separate mixer. Do you have a rig you can suggest?
 
I bought some powered speakers. I think they are Alto and 200 watts a side or something. They are plenty loud. I have a small yamaha mixer that I run into them. It was totally cheap. Less than $500 altogether.

The powered mixers are cool, too, because then you don't have to plug in a bunch of stuff.


Oh, shit. Looks like I got a helluva deal. Those speakers are a little steep http://www.directproaudio.com/product.cfm?directid=55880

and they are only 150 watts a side.

I only put vocals in them anyway.
 
I'd be comfortable running with it. The only other system in the same price bracket that I would pay attention to is the 500 w Fender Passport system, and you'd have only have half the connectivity there. You could record with this if you had to do it, but just think of it as a live rig and go with that. The Passport might have a bit of an edge on sound quality. But if you go adding SM58 mics to it, you'll be beyond this price in no time.
 
It looks like a good system for an acoustic duo-it should serve fine for that. With the 2 power amps all you need is a set of monitors and you should be set.
I use a Carvin 620 powered mixer that I have used for about 10 years with a few bands I play in-a Southern rock/rockabilly electric band and a bluesy/bluegrass band with Guitar-banjo-mandolin-fiddle & upright Bass and it has always performed great. With the electric band its just for the vocals but eveything is mic'd with the acoustic band-and it looks like the Yamaha mixer would do every bit as good as my Carvin.
 
Milnoque,
I know this is reviving an old thread, but I'm in the process of upgrading my PA system--replacing an 8-year old Peavey Escort 2000 for something more flexible.
Did you go with the Yamaha system you were looking at and how's it working for you?
 
Treeline said:
I'd be comfortable running with it. The only other system in the same price bracket that I would pay attention to is the 500 w Fender Passport system, and you'd have only have half the connectivity there. You could record with this if you had to do it, but just think of it as a live rig and go with that. The Passport might have a bit of an edge on sound quality. But if you go adding SM58 mics to it, you'll be beyond this price in no time.
Click to expand...

I find you sacrifice considerable functionality- like connectivity, flexibility, even power, when you go with those "portable" systems. IMO, carrying three boxes (powered mixer, two speaker) is well worth the small bit of inconvenience over carrying one heavy box.
 
stevieb said:
I find you sacrifice considerable functionality- like connectivity, flexibility, even power, when you go with those "portable" systems. IMO, carrying three boxes (powered mixer, two speaker) is well worth the small bit of inconvenience over carrying one heavy box.
Click to expand...

With a Passport System one has almost no EQing to speak of--only a "tone" control on each channel. At least the Peavey Escort 3000 has 2-band EQ on each channel and 5-band master EQ.
I have to agree with you. "Three boxes" is the best compromise. I'm now using a Peavey XR1212P and it has 2 x 9-band EQ. on the mains and 3-band EQ on each channel, with sweepable mids. The total weight of the mixer and two N12 speakers is not appreciably heavier than a Passport 500, and with 320w/channel @ 8 ohms if I power direct all power to the mains.
 
YeshuasFan said:
Milnoque,
I know this is reviving an old thread, but I'm in the process of upgrading my PA system--replacing an 8-year old Peavey Escort 2000 for something more flexible.
Did you go with the Yamaha system you were looking at and how's it working for you?
Click to expand...

Yup. I ended up finding one used on e-bay with speakers, stands, cables, etc. for about 500 bucks. It has served me very well even on a couple of outdoor gigs. No regrets. Those heavy assed Yammie 12" speakers have a better bottom end than many of the lightweight 15" and even 18" speakers I have played through since. That's been very important to me since there's a cello in my band.

Looking through this old thread makes me wish Cephus were still around.
 
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