Need advice on setting up small PA system

[rockabilly1955]

so i have a yamaha usb m10 mixer. I didnt find much use for it as a pc recording interface, but i do like it as a live mixer. I want to set up a small PA system for garage gigs type of thing. We do rockabilly music, 1950's johnny cash type of thing. We have an upright bass, a vocalist, and of course guitar. I wanna run everything through a PA system and want to know how many watts the power amp should be? and how many watts should the speakers be to be able to handle everything, especially the lows of the upright bass? we have a pick up on the bass and also a preamp. For my guitar i have a small fender amp that i connect my guitar into and then run the amp directly into the mixer so the sound is output through the main speakers and not the amp, but i still get the amp reverb effects which i love. We also have a bass amp combo with a 10' woofer. I have heard that you can get good upright bass sound by going directly to the PA and skipping the bass combo amp. So i need input into what kind of power amp i should buy for my mixer and what size/watts the speakers should be to handle everything, and any EQ i might need, though my mixer has 3 band EQ on each channel. What brands would be best also? Keep in mind that this isnt for no major gigs, pretty much just hobby, garage sized gigging. Thanks guys for helping this newbie with a music passion!

 

[petermiller]

first off I would keep the bass combo for the bass players own reference. As far as the size of speakers you would require, I would go with 15" two way if you do not plan on using a sub with them. If you plan on using a sub, get 12" two ways. I'm shure a 300w-500w continuous power rating on the speakers would be sufficient some 15" speakers to look at are Yamaha s15,JBL (JRX115 or MP215 or MP415 or EON1500), yorkville E15, Peavey SP5g. I would prefer EAW FR159Z. Power amp should be at least 1.5 times minimum the peak power rating of the speakers for optimum performance. But you could probably get away with arount 300-600 watts a side @8ohms for these types. some amps CROWN XLS602, CrownXTI2000 QSC RMX1850 and so on. I would get a powered sub to go along with these so as to take some of the load off the high paks when you run the upright through them. + get a mic to mic your amp with It will sound much better. Oh yeah get at least a dual 15band graphic EQ in front of the poweramp at minimum if not a comp + crossover as well. + you may need some monitors as well so think it over and I can give you some sugg there as well

 

[rockabilly1955]

thanks for the reply.........i have found that it's not really a big deal that we cant hear each instrument amp because since the size of the playing area is not that big, the sound we hear from the main speakers connected to the mixer seems to work fine. Like i mentioned, i pretty much only use my guitar amp to keep the "Fender reverb sound", but just run the amp directly to the mixer and automatically disconnects the internal amp speaker

 

[petermiller]

you may only need a pair of powered EON15G2 with an EQ inbetween. thats keeping it real simple. + if your musical career progresses you can always use them as monitors

 

[rockabilly1955]

i have noticed a few bargain PA systems with good reviews. I'm looking to spend about 500 bucks total? i came across a store in my area that is selling a pair of Gemsound 12 inch 2 way dj speakers/monitors for 140 bucks.They sounded ok, just wasnt sure if they would handle an upright bass

 

[petermiller]

i have noticed a few bargain PA systems with good reviews. I'm looking to spend about 500 bucks total? i came across a store in my area that is selling a pair of Gemsound 12 inch 2 way dj speakers/monitors for 140 bucks.They sounded ok, just wasnt sure if they would handle an upright bass

In that price range it will be tough to do. I would recomend maybe getting a more powerful combo for the bass then and leave the pa for vocal and guit. The gem sounds probably have a piezo+ low driver. This will probably not work that well for such a use. They give them a higher program rating being that they are used primarily for dj (pre programmed music). you might look at Gemini GX350 i believe thats the model # they are powered 15" two ways about 300w each and the pair should cost you only $600 new. Thats the cheapest usable thing I can think of.