Connecting a guitar ino a PA system

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jonstone

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Can anyone help me?

I want to connect an electric guitar into a PA system (with line level jack inputs).
I use an array of fx pedels to enhance the sound.

The cheaper, the better.

Any ideas?
jonstone@geocities.com
 
All you really need is some way to bring the guitar signal up to line level. A preamp or direct box... likely the signal out of some of the effects pedals might be useable...

but... it probably won't sound so fabulous. A better bet would be some device that adds some emulation of what happens to the signal when you mic a great guitar amp. But now you're talking more bread. Contenders here are the various SansAmp models, the POD, the Johnson JStation... there's a new Zoom version of the same idea, and other devices that purport to "model" the sound of tube amps and/or speaker cabinets.

-AlChuck
 
You said cheaper the better so......a SansAmp GT2 has good distorted sounds and sounds great thru a P.A. Check it out at http://www.tech21nyc.com and they have audio examples. It goes for around $170. The Korg AX1000G and various Zoom products can go direct and have foot switchs for different sounds, like clean, dirty, lead. You might need 2 devices if you play live, just in case one goes bad. There are a lot of choices so I recommend listening to these through a P.A. in the store you buy them at. They all sound good through headphones but that can be deceiving.
 
A $20 DI box and a lot of messing with the EQ'ing has gotten the job done for me several times. Usually at churches and the like where my amp just blows everything else away, even at low levels.
 
Plugging a guitar into a PA is not the best sounding thing in the world to do, but it can be done. A few years ago I played a duo gig with another guitarist and plugged into a stompbox delay, a Marshall Bluesbreaker pedal and staight into the PA from there. This combination didn't sound terrible, but not great either. Any of the direct recording amp simulator devices will work much better for going into the PA. This is probably where the POD will work best, although I've never tried it like that. I have two such devices - a SansAmp GT2 (not my favorite) and a Morley JD-10 that I highly recommend. I've recently played out straight from the Morley into the PA with excellent results. If you wanted to just use regular stompboxes instead of an amp simulator, I'd recommend getting some kind of speaker emulator, or something like the Hughes and Kettner RedBox. Trag.
 
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