amps, more is better

[Sylvia]

After giving up on finding a more powerful amp that I can lift and won’t screech, I started doing what I should have done years ago.

[tony-morosco]

You are learning what rock guitarists have known for decades. The Wall Of Amps solution.

[Sylvia]

I don’t hang around rock guitarists, so I’m pretty ignorant.

[stephen-vardy]

I now have a 4x Crate all battery sound system – 2x limo and 2x taxi

Expandable as required from a simple amp – indoors/outdoors.

Clients are seemingly unwilling to pay a premium for quality sound distribution and generally gigs are smaller.

So they get adequate sound now – okay but not awe inspiring.

All the rackmount gear and speakers are now mothballed.

the times are a changing

Stephen

[Sylvia]

I now have a 4x Crate all battery sound system – 2x limo and 2x taxi
Expandable as required from a simple amp – indoors/outdoors.

I’d need an explanation of all that.

[kreig-kitts]

Limo and Taxi are models of amps that Crate makes. http://www.crateamps.com

[andy-b]

I had a mental picture of it taking two limos and two taxis to transport a harpist and all their gear in four crates to a gig…LOL!

[catherine-rogers]

I’ve considered using a wireless mike but am concerned about picking up extraneous signals (a la “Car 54, Where Are You?”). Any solution?

[stephen-vardy]

All belows assumes a sound person operating sound gear – all background gigs

For a wedding ceremony outdoors – 1x limo at back of audience on a stand – harpist at front – stereo sound – aim limo at bride as she walks from a distance and as she goes down the aisle

Small indoor gig – 1x limo on/off stand 8-10′ from harpist

Expand a little by using a taxi satellite on the floor 20-50′ away

Bigger gigs use 2x limos on stands – one 50′ distant

Add one or two satellites for really noisy gigs.

Hide satellites behind curtains under clothed tables etc

Not much gear showing and can handle a noisy crowd of 120.

We are having a hard time getting people to pay for quality sound so we are arriving and expanding as required where before we had more appropriate gear available for better distribution, volume etc. – but it is expensive, heavy and time consuming and we were not being compensated like before.

For over a decade we were performing background for up to 450 people regularly – those gigs are gone and we now are dealing with more price iffy customers so must be much more flexible on the fly.

We underquote on sound and expand only if truly required.

People are wanting cheap/value not elite like before.

Move with the times.

[Author]

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