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Joined:
October 2006
Posts: 15
Location: New Jersey | Hi,
I recently played a wedding with my Custom Legend and I played through my Fender 35 what acoustic amplifier. On level 10 this amp is reasonably loud and it sounded fine when the hall was empty.
But as soon as the 120 guests filled the room the noise from all the people talking was way to loud and I could barely be heard. I was playing during the dinner.
Luckily they had a PA for the toasts and a cordless mic and I was able to use that and put it in front of the amp and that gave me enough volume to be heard although it was hard to hear myself playing at times.
I don't do a lot of this type of performing but I would like to be able to take gigs like this when the opportunity is there.
What kind of sound system would you use for playing solo acoustic guitar for a wedding in a small sized room filled with 120 people eating dinner?
Is there something I could rent for a gig like this?
I love the sound of the fender amp and the reverb that it has. It really makes the Custom Legend sound fantastic.
Thanks in advance for any suggestions.
Steve |
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Joined:
January 2009
Posts: 4535
Location: Flahdaw | If it has an "out" run it into a PA. If not, you need more umph! Roland AC-90, Fishman Loudbox 90 watt. Or a beefy Genz Benz |
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Joined:
February 2002
Posts: 5750
Location: Scotland | Bose L1 Compact or Fishman Solo Amp or Hughes And Kettner Elements would all do the job
After several years of using multiple Bose L1's they have just been replaced with an HK Elements modular system. Nothing in it in terms of sound quality but the HK is a lot more powerful and a lot smaller |
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February 2008
Posts: 247
Location: Delaware | Bose L1B1, is great for solo guitar and vocals. |
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January 2006
Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | I use a Genz Acoustic Pro with 200 watts, plus I have several PA systems in reserve if there isn't one already on hand, but I rarely have the amp master volume up past about 40%. If it was during dinner, were you the show or just background? Who was complaining? Did the audience want more volume? Or was it a matter of not hearing yourself? Even with 120 people banging utensils and talking, I would think 50 to 100 watts would be adequate as long as I had a monitor pointing right at me. Also, the louder you get, the louder they'll get. Were you using one of the smaller Acoustasonic models? The newer Acoustasonic Jrs with DSP are rated at 80 watts. I prefer to control all of the tone plus my own monitor mix and volume, then leave the house volume and mix to the resident engineer. If there isn't one, we bring our own. |
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April 2010
Posts: 1227
Location: Connersville, Indiana | I used my Fender Acoustic amp that leans back so you can use it as a monitor. I always bring my Kustom 100 watt portable PA. It packs in a 19x28x12" case with stands for each speaker and the PA head/w 5 imputes, chorus, reverb ect. It takes less than 10 minutes to set up. Place the Fender amp back on it's monitor angle and make small adjustments. If the noise gets louder, all I have to do is turn around add more volume to the PA and leave the monitor amp alone. This way I don't have to rely on the events PA and someone running it. After set up, I use a wireless mic and walk out with my guitar prior to the event, also on wireless to do a simple sound check. When I perform I don't use the wireless because sometimes the lights in the hall or what ever creates issues, I use my own mic and cables. But that's me.
Good luck brother. |
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Joined:
January 2009
Posts: 4535
Location: Flahdaw | I actually have a small Fender Passport Pro PA that is easy to carry around, takes a couple of minutes to set up, and sounds good. They make a 300 watt that you can get used for about $500. That would be really good for weddings and such. |
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April 2010
Posts: 1227
Location: Connersville, Indiana | Hey DB, I played with a friend that has that PA system and it is real nice, and can be had at a great price. I agree. |
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November 2005
Posts: 4832
Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | Get the amp up off the floor.
Chest level or higher.
Stand next to it. |
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Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 7224
Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | You kinda hinted at it... but how would you compare the HK Elements to the Bose in sound quality ?
-mkb
Originally posted by Paul Templeman:
Bose L1 Compact or Fishman Solo Amp or Hughes And Kettner Elements would all do the job
After several years of using multiple Bose L1's they have just been replaced with an HK Elements modular system. Nothing in it in terms of sound quality but the HK is a lot more powerful and a lot smaller |
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Joined:
October 2006
Posts: 15
Location: New Jersey | Originally posted by ProfessorBB:
I use a Genz Acoustic Pro with 200 watts, plus I have several PA systems in reserve if there isn't one already on hand, but I rarely have the amp master volume up past about 40%. If it was during dinner, were you the show or just background? Who was complaining? Did the audience want more volume? Or was it a matter of not hearing yourself? Even with 120 people banging utensils and talking, I would think 50 to 100 watts would be adequate as long as I had a monitor pointing right at me. Also, the louder you get, the louder they'll get. Were you using one of the smaller Acoustasonic models? The newer Acoustasonic Jrs with DSP are rated at 80 watts. I prefer to control all of the tone plus my own monitor mix and volume, then leave the house volume and mix to the resident engineer. If there isn't one, we bring our own. I was just the background during the dinner. The person that hired me (father of the bride) came up to me and said he couldn't hear me at all.
I'm not sure if a louder amp would have cut it in this particular room. It would have helped and I would have heard myself better but I think I needed a PA for this gig.
I have the Acoustasonic 30. It can be tilted back to act as a monitor. I had it tilted so I could hear myself better.
I wonder if those Bose L1 towers be rented?
I'm really not doing enough of this kind of thing to go out and purchase something like the Bose L1.
I tried the Fishman loudbox at Guitar center and I didn't like the reverb compared to the fender acoustasonic. Maybe I didn't play with it long enough or try enough settings. It just didn't seem to have a deep reverb.
Thanks for all the suggestions!
Steve |
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Joined:
January 2006
Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | The advantage of a PA (and presumably the Bose) is that it puts music everywhere at a moderate volume level. With one amp in the corner, those sitting in the first few tables get blasted and those at the other end of the room can't hear anything. As fillhixx suggests, elevating the amp or speakers helps. If you do this kind of gig regularly, investing in a small PA would be worthwhile. I ended up buying used components including a Fender SR6300P powered mixer and a pair of Fender 1275X speakers with stands for less than the complete PA systems were selling for new at the time, but that was 15 years ago. There are more choices today, and they're a lot lighter in weight. Good luck! |
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Joined:
November 2004
Posts: 367
Location: Eaton, Indiana | I've been at this for 40+ years. Absolutly the BOSE. Nothing compares. Nothing...
scott lamperd b c (before computers) |
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November 2005
Posts: 4832
Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | Thing is, you then get the BOSE sound.
I like it, and worked for a band with 4 pairs of
Bose 802s as our total system for years.
Could get biggest hall up to ear bleed level easy.
But, much like Ovations, there is a signature sound to Bose.
Like Ovation, it's neither a good nor bad thing.
Just a thing.
For the matter at hand, if you don't do it often enough
to bother with the expense of more equipment, just
put your current gear up as high as is practical.
Then the sound waves won't be absorbed by the mass of the audience.
You want sound in their ears and food in their bellys.
Not the other way 'round.
(love it when I have some practical advice to share, for a change! :rolleyes: ) |
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March 2005
Posts: 12759
Location: Boise, Idaho | I read several reviews of the Fishman Solo vs. the Bose L1 Compact. Both were around $1000 and many preferred the Fishman. But it didn't do as well against the regular Bose L1. The L1 Compact was a bit too stripped down for most. Those were the options for line array systems when I was looking.
All the comparisons I found of the HK vs. Bose L1 were outside the US and several said HK wasn't distributed here so there was no cost comparison. That may have changed recently, but I couldn't find an HK system in dollars.
For occasional use a decent acoustic amp supplemented with a powered monitor might be the way to go. I have both, but have never tried them in a venue of any size. Way too mch power for the basement. Maybe I'll set it up outside and see how far away the neighbors complain and then report back. |
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Joined:
January 2003
Posts: 92
Location: San Francisco, CA | I've done a lot of solo gigs and never had my Fender Acoustasnic Jr DSP amp prove inadequate.
And... I LOVE those tilt-back legs!
http://www.fender.com/products/search.php?partno=2213200010
6
'90 Model 1869 Custom Legend |
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Joined:
November 2004
Posts: 367
Location: Eaton, Indiana | I checked out the fishman solo before I bought the Bose. The fishman is very directional. The Bose has much more coverage. Throw in a mixer with the Bose and you have a really nice setup.
I have used several different mixers depending on the situation; all with good results. I really appreciate being able to cover the whole room with one system.
Personal choice, but check them both out before you buy.
scott lamperd b c (before computers) |
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January 2006
Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | The Acoustasonic Jr with DSP is an excellent amp. I have a pair of them and have occasionally used one for each channel of the stereo FET preamp. |
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May 2003
Posts: 4389
Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | The elevation of the speaker counts too. With the Fender you were beaming it at the torso's of the audience, and if they were dancing the music was probably totally absorbed in sound deadening wedding chow churning in the guests' bellies.
Acutally, I'd love a Bose system. |
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Joined:
February 2002
Posts: 5750
Location: Scotland | Originally posted by scott lamperd:
I've been at this for 40+ years. Absolutly the BOSE. Nothing compares. That's what I thought until I tried HK Elements. |
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Joined:
February 2002
Posts: 5750
Location: Scotland | Originally posted by Mr. Ovation:
[QB] You kinda hinted at it... but how would you compare the HK Elements to the Bose in sound quality ?
-mkb
As I said, nothing in it. I'd happily use either. The only reason I made the change was 1) we've gigged the hell out of our Bose rigs and they are starting to show their age. The flap at the back of the powerbase is a poor design and ours are broken and The gigbags are all worn out. 2) the HK elements has a smaller footprint, sets up and breaks down faster, and for more powerful rig breaks down to just 4 extremely compact units that take up less transit space as opposed to 10 units for 2 Bose twin bass rigs. 3) I have an account with the distributor and got a great deal. As for Sound quality and dispersion characteristics, they're both line-array systems with subs, I'd be happy with either. |
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May 2003
Posts: 4389
Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | It does look easy ...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdWiQZt-irs |
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June 2011
Posts: 50
Location: Utah | The Bose stuff does work for situations like that. I used the Bose set-up for several years and played many times with it. Can definetely fill a room, but it does have a "sound" as others have mentioned.
A small PA would be a very good option imo if volume is an issue. |
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Joined:
July 2011
Posts: 5
Location: Monterey Bay California | I perfer a sound system, mixer and ect for acoustic guitars for the best room balance....but I have also used a Fender Blues Tube Amp made for electric guitars..but with an acoustic modeling pedal and eq, and I have all the power I want, and the sound to me sounds better than any acoustic amp, bu hey that's my opinion, but you might want to give it a try. |
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Amplification for live performances
