Electric Guitar straight into PA?

SalFromChatham · #1 09-10-2021, 03:56 AM

Hi, can one play an electric like a Tele through a few Boss pedals (fairly clean sound) straight into a PA, and sounds fine? This would be in a duo setting. Two singers two guitars.

Bob Womack · #2 09-10-2021, 04:15 AM

It typically wouldn't sound very good because the guitar amplifier is a vital part of the sound generation chain on the electric guitar. However, there has never been a better time to go ampless because of the growth of modeling technology. Look into POD Go and Helix Stomp, both of which contain amp modeling software and CAN be plugged directly into a PA. They are also far less expensive than full-on modeling systems and are designed and priced exactly for your situation.

Bob

rmp · #3 09-10-2021, 04:57 AM

I'd agree with Bob, you'd probably like what you're getting back a lot more from some sort of modeling unit in front of the mixer.

But IMHO, to my ears, it still is lacking in the "ability to cut" well and it is hard to get a good defining tone in the whole mix.

in your setting (Duo) may not be as noticeable.

Paleolith54 · #4 09-10-2021, 08:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SalFromChatham

Hi, can one play an electric like a Tele through a few Boss pedals (fairly clean sound) straight into a PA, and sounds fine? This would be in a duo setting. Two singers two guitars.

It depends on how clean "fairly" clean is. The more grit you get from pedals, the worse it'll sound. Even clean, it'll be a pretty sterile sound through PA speakers. These days, even the lowest-end modeler is worth having even if only for the cab modeling. Or at least a direct box to get impedance matched up.

DoryDavis · #5 09-10-2021, 08:24 AM

I've had very good luck with the Quilter Phantom Block. Runs off phantom power. 100.00 Makes it sound like an electric guitar straight into the PA. I was surprised how well it worked.

phcorrigan · #6 09-10-2021, 08:24 AM

Even though it weighs forty pounds, I bring my amp and mic it when I play my Gretsch. I've heard others plug directly into the PA and the sound was not good.

At the very least I would try something like this:

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/det...-modeler-pedal

Revy · #7 09-10-2021, 08:42 AM

I used to use my pedalboard for my acoustic and electric and go straight into my PA. I used an A/B switch and ran the electric guitar through this and a noise gate:

https://www.tech21nyc.com/products/s...paradriver-di/

I don't think you'll have enough gitty up to run just a Boss pedal.
A PA doesn't care to be overdriven like an amp.

Al Acuff · #8 09-10-2021, 09:05 AM

Check out the Strymon Iridium.

FrankHudson · #9 09-10-2021, 09:07 AM

Guitar amps and speakers are designed to color the sound in a way that we tend to like and expect. Electric guitar direct into a PA or recording device has a sound that you or your audience may not expect. That sound can actually be an interesting sound--but you need to try it to see if it fits your situation, and I would be hesitant to try that "cold" on stage.

As motioned upthread, there are tons of small boxes that are designed to emulate an amp and speakers for just such a situation. Some are dirt cheap and some are so good at it than more and more touring pros are using them instead of venue supplied backlines or carrying an amp.

From other threads, I think you're waiting/deciding on your "dream amp" if you don't like the sound of DI from your pedalboard then one of the cheaper solutions might be in order to tide you over.

SalFromChatham · #10 09-10-2021, 09:49 AM

thank you all.

jricc · #11 09-10-2021, 10:43 AM

Hi Sal
If u just want to get your feet wet in going straight to PA, and not spend a lot of money, this pedal gets good reviews. I think it's a copy of a tech 21 pedal.
https://www.amazon.com/JOYO-American.../dp/B085QJT4CT

M Sarad · #12 09-10-2021, 11:21 AM

I've done it with a Tele.

Sounded great.

SalFromChatham · #13 09-10-2021, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jricc

Hi Sal
If u just want to get your feet wet in going straight to PA, and not spend a lot of money, this pedal gets good reviews. I think it's a copy of a tech 21 pedal.
https://www.amazon.com/JOYO-American.../dp/B085QJT4CT

Thanks Joe. Would this be the last pedal in the chain then before the PA?

PS I shipped you that PUP to try out

Rudy4 · #14 09-10-2021, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SalFromChatham

Hi, can one play an electric like a Tele through a few Boss pedals (fairly clean sound) straight into a PA, and sounds fine? This would be in a duo setting. Two singers two guitars.

I played Telecaster in a band for several years and a couple of the clubs that I was very familiar with had good stage monitor setups, so I often brought only my multi-effects pedal and an extra D.I. box. Most of the time the club had a D.I. box for me already, so only the pedal was needed. This is really only practical when you know you'll get a good monitor mix, so take that into consideration.

In the rest of the places we played I used a small stage monitor amp and ported the unbalanced signal of my D.I. to it to use as a monitor. I used a Peavey 110 bass amp because it was cheap and robust. Sound was acceptable, and I really only cared about what I was hearing because the FOH feed was taken care of by whatever sound person there was.

Nymuso · #15 09-10-2021, 01:36 PM

I saw John Stewart back in the 90s in a music store concert and that's exactly what he did, plugged a Strat into the PA. His bass player (his only back up musician) did the same thing. Sounded fine. I guess he didn't know he wasn't supposed to do that.