AG100D vs. $300 PA

[shadow5606]

I've almost worked up the courage to so an open mic night or two & will be performing a singer/songwriter acoustic guitar thing. I play a Taylor 314CE & I'm considering the Carvin AG100D. i found one used for $320, they'll come down on that price also... it lists for $500 new I think...

Would you recomend that or a cheap PA around $300?

FYI, I may later be playing out w/ a bass guitar (have a seperate 200W bass amp already) & posibly a lead guitarist who would hopefully provide his own gear.

With all that in mind would the PA be a better route & how would it handle my Taylor & voice with nothing else in the chain?

 

[Treeline]

The Carvin in a heartbeat.



There's nothing worse than a cheap P.A. Unless it's used and originally was pro quality, run away! I'd look seriously, though, at a decent entry level P.A., and for a small room, maybe a Fender Passport 250 (Deluxe, with the BOSE drivers [or whatever they are], not the standard model). Those are about $ 850.

I ended up springing for extra bucks and went with a Mackie SRM450 system, but it took a while and I have to schlepp a lot of stuff. You will find pros who gag at the Fender, but the price / performance ratio for a coffee shop acoustic gig is hard to beat.

In the meantime, for $300 - 350, you can use the AG100 as a P.A. and run two or three lines (depending on the age of the unit). Think of it as a good first step.

Ultimately you will want a real, small P.A., but the price of admission is one or two grand - something to do later.