#1
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Multi-Instrumental Solo Gigging. PA w/ mixer/DI or Acoustic Amp
Hey guys,
I'm looking to start up a solo project here soon. ill be playing acoustic guitar and digital piano w/ vocals Does the fact that I will have two instruments mean that I should just try and grab a cheap PA and a mixer? Should I find an acoustic amp with an extra XLR input for the guitar + vocals and just plug the piano into a house PA if there is one? If I do go the route of PA, is it ideal to find a DI for the guitar ? or can I just get by with going thru a mixer? What recommendations do you guys have as far as budget equipment? |
#2
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Depending on the size of the venues you plan to play I'd go with a mixer and a powered speaker. We use a QSC k8.2 but you might want to go with the k10.2 or even the k12.2 as I've heard that when adding keys you'll want/need the larger speakers for the low end.
One speaker would be big enough for almost any small to mid-sized indoor venue. Add another for larger, louder or outdoor venues. It also depends on the type music you are playing. We bought our QSC as a backup to our Bose S1 in case we need more power and as of yet have not even needed it. |
#3
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QSC Touchmix 8 into a LD Systems Maui 5. You can preset all the settings for each of your instruments, record, mix, full sweeping eq, best of everything.
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#4
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Bose S1 might be just the ticket. Three channels, quality sound and signal to send to any house pa. Easy to carry, and could pay for itself in five or six gigs.
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#5
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Thanks for all these recommendations guys. I've looked up some of these products and they are a bit out of budget. I shouldve mentioned that I am indeed on a small budget here. I know im sacrificing quality by going cheaper, but whats out there for someone on a budget? Is there a setup that exists for less than $500.00?
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#6
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Hi Tenor,
I just recently had to buy my solo PA setup. It was a last minute purchase because I'd been thrown my first solo gig on short notice. I ended up getting the JBL EON612, a 12" single speaker, and I already had a little 4 channel Mackie mixer. It performed beautifully on the night, with plenty of power, it was a pretty large room with around 150 people. I noticed this speaker is $349 at Sweetwater (5 year warranty/14kgs) and these small mixers are very affordable, if you need reverb just get one that has it built in. I was running through a TC play acoustic so I didnt need effects in the mixer. I think a 12" speaker would suit you well. All the best! |
#7
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Quote:
That JBL Eon 612 is a lot of quality speaker for the price, especially the current markdown to $349. Sweetwater is a great place to read reviews and there's a decent amount of very positive keyboard players checking in. (The S1 to my surprise also has a few happy keyboard players. I researched the keyboard thing awhile ago and my impression is that you need larger speakers for decent reproduction of the lower tones on a full keyboard. The S1 has a 6" for the low end; the Eon 612, a big beautiful 12"). Used 612s on Ebay come in as low as the mid-$200's; I haven't checked Reverb. If your ceiling is $500, that might leave enough room for an SM-58 mic, a mic stand, an inexpensive mixer, cables, and you're gonna want a speaker stand for that JBL or something like it. Edit: I left out the possibility of needing a DI for the guitar. It depends partly on whether you have an active or passive pickup on your guitar and some other things that are beyond my knowledge a bit. Last edited by Chriscom; 03-24-2019 at 06:49 PM. |
#8
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For your purposes, I'd go with a keyboard amp. Something like the 15" Behringer or better yet the 100 watt Roland 12". A piano deserves to have a big fat low end. Plus most keyboard amps give you all the inputs you need. Quick setup. Much easier than a powered speaker plus mixer.
To answer your guitar question, it should be ok plugged directly into a mixer depending on the pickup and whether it has a preamp.
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As my username suggests, huge fan of Yamaha products. Own many acoustic-electric models from 2009-present and a couple electric. Lots of PA too. |
#9
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Try looking on your local craigslist for good quality
affordable used stuff. Its always hard trying to reccomend something to someone on a tight budget. I would rather see a bit of debt then to buy something to just get by. Then down the road upgrade because your not happy. Thats money down the drain. Imho Qsc, jbl, and bose systems come up for sale all the time. I would think a bose l1 compact would be great for keys. It has that great sub. You can get small mixers brand new for 150.00. If you could find a k10 or k12 used for 500 that would only put you 150 over budget. You could charge the mixer. Do you have a mic, stand,cords?? |
#10
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Mixer and powered speaker.
You need the mixer because EQ settings are going to be different between guitar and keyboard. You don't want to be tweaking the sound every time you change instruments. Powered speaker because you can always add/change. This A+H mixer for $130 has an instrument input on channel 1, so even if your guitar does not have a pre-amp, it should be ok. Channel 2 for the mic, the keyboard can plug into channel 3 or 4 (assume it as an audio stereo output): https://www.sweetwater.com/store/det...th-zed-6-mixer You might want to go up to the next-larger mixer with more inputs in case you want to expand in the future. For speakers, look at used ones in your area, even look at what GC has used in the local stores. I don't see a lot of powered speakers on craigslist. With a keyboard, you are going to want a 12" speaker, minimum size to get the lows - take a look at the frequency range of any speakers and make sure they go down to at least the 50Hz range (low E on a bass is around 43Hz).
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