For those of you gigging solo, i have a question

[PilotC150]

What kinda equipment do you use? I'm kinda wanting to start playing around but I don't have any equipment. I'm pretty much talking about amps, speakers and mixers.

Also, if I find people I wanna play with, what would I need to play with a full band. I obviously can't go out and spend $1000's on equipment without knowing where things are going.

[Dancing Ants]

when i was gigging, i just played totally unplugged. my friend used an amp, though. I think it was a fender amp for his strat, not sure what he used for his acoustic...and they always just had two mics setup..

[GOCDMB]

A lot of that depends on the size of the place you are playing.

Assuming that by playing solo you would more than likely be playing to small crowds (25-100) , and assuming that you would probably be playing in small locations (coffehouse type, or small bar)...here is my advice.

When we played out , we used a PA and ran the mics into it.
We each had amps for our guitars, and if our friend sat in he ran into one of the amps and the rhythm player would run through the PA with the Mics.

Places like this require almost no need for monitors, as it is usually easy enough to hear each other clearly.

That worked very well for us, and had good sound.

You can pick up a cheap PA for under 500.00 new or a good used one for about the same.
Amps can be varying in price.
What you really do not EVER want to skimp on are mics.
We used ShureSM57 and or SM58 mics.
A cheap shitty mic will produce exactly what ya pay for...cheap shitty sound.

Places this small will seldom require mixing boards etc, unless you are a full band, and want to adjust sound levels.

Make sure ya have EXTRA mic cables as they always seem to go bad, or did for us anyway.

Let me know if I can help ya any further.
Just my advice!
But it worked for us, and usually sounded pretty damned good!

GOCDMB

[The Maker_24]

thats good advice from GOCDMB...listen to him

[Root]

Originally posted by GOCDMB
A lot of that depends on the size of the place you are playing.

Assuming that by playing solo you would more than likely be playing to small crowds (25-100) , and assuming that you would probably be playing in small locations (coffehouse type, or small bar)...here is my advice.

When we played out , we used a PA and ran the mics into it.
We each had amps for our guitars, and if our friend sat in he ran into one of the amps and the rhythm player would run through the PA with the Mics.

Places like this require almost no need for monitors, as it is usually easy enough to hear each other clearly.

That worked very well for us, and had good sound.

You can pick up a cheap PA for under 500.00 new or a good used one for about the same.
Amps can be varying in price.
What you really do not EVER want to skimp on are mics.
We used ShureSM57 and or SM58 mics.
A cheap shitty mic will produce exactly what ya pay for...cheap shitty sound.

Places this small will seldom require mixing boards etc, unless you are a full band, and want to adjust sound levels.

Make sure ya have EXTRA mic cables as they always seem to go bad, or did for us anyway.

Let me know if I can help ya any further.
Just my advice!
But it worked for us, and usually sounded pretty damned good!

GOCDMB


Wow, you really know your stuff!

I have a California Blond and I like it very much. I just got it about 3 month ago. You can play a guitar and a mic through it.

I don't play out yet, but if i did i would feel real comfortable using it. It cost me $799, and worth every penny.

Good luck

[jclark]

yea i hear ya about the blonde...
i was lucky, i found a like-new one WITH a case for only $485 on ebay, best 485 bucks ive ever spent in my life

[Root]

Damn Hommie, thats a good deal. :eek:

[GOCDMB]

Originally posted by rootbmw
Wow, you really know your stuff!



Playing out will teach you a lot in a hurry...mostly what can go wrong, and how to be ready for it.

GOCDMB

[PilotC150]

Originally posted by rootbmw
Wow, you really know your stuff!

I have a California Blond and I like it very much. I just got it about 3 month ago. You can play a guitar and a mic through it.

I don't play out yet, but if i did i would feel real comfortable using it. It cost me $799, and worth every penny.

Good luck

What about getting just a Fender PA for $500 (or less, can't remember exactly). Then at least I'd have some room to grow. Opinions?

[GOCDMB]

Originally posted by PilotC150
What about getting just a Fender PA for $500 (or less, can't remember exactly). Then at least I'd have some room to grow. Opinions? Like I said earlier...for playing small places solo or as a two man or three man acoustic that is all you , from a functionality standpoint, really need.

A four channel PA for about $500.00 will allow two guys with guitars and two mics to play all from the PA....I would recommend not using the PA for all of that and plugging the guitars into amps if possible...but just the PA will work, it will just slightly suffer the sound quality.

For a coffeehouse style or small bar style gig..you can easily get by with that.

I wouldn't pour a bunch of money into equipment until you have to, or you are getting paid good money to play.

Just my opinion!

GOCDMB

[PilotC150]

I just want something that I can use for acoustic, vocals and electric guitar. And I figured full range speaker sets would work well for that.

The acoustic amp I want (Fender acoustisonic) is nearly $500, so I figured it'd be just as well for me to get the full PA so I can expand if I want, also it has more power, I think. Plus two speakers for better sound directional control.

[GOCDMB]

All I know ias that if ya wanna play out...you MUST have some type of PA...and a PA can be very versitile as opposed to an amp in terms of what the cost would be to be versitile.

Besides...it just NEVER hurts to have a PA....even a kinda cheap one.

GOCDMB