Bass amp vs PA system

[jz229]

This may be the wrong forum, so this post is also in the amp section:

I have about $350, and I am looking for something to amplify my bass. I am also, however, thinking of of getting something for amplifing vocals.

Would a bass sound OK through one of these cheap PA systems (Phonic Powerpod 620), in other words could I kill two birds with one stone, and just get a PA system, or do I need to also get a bass amp.

[SamClemons]

Your budget is pretty thin. A lot depends on what kind of volume you are looking for. You need some decent speakers to carry the bass. I would be looking on craigslist for a bargain PA. You would almost be better off to buy a decent bass amp and a small, non powered mixer to go with it. We have ran a whole band through my Roland cube 100 with good results, but that in itself new is a pretty pricey set up. You can always take your bass and give it a whirl, whatever you look at.

[SamClemons]

Looking at scranton craigslist (guessing where you are) This system http://scranton.craigslist.org/msg/2670252222.html would handle your bass. Talk them down to $350.00 Here is another...same deal http://scranton.craigslist.org/msg/2696100594.html

[AJBaker]

A mini PA like that is probably more suited to guitar and vocals in a fairly relaxed setting. For bass, I just can't imagine that working very well.
Is this for practise at home, of playing with a drummer? If you really want both vocals and bass, try finding one or two powered speakers with 12" (or even 15") drivers.
To make the bass sound a bit better, you'll want a preamp of some kind too.

[jefrs]

A bass amp, being fairly hi-fi, can make a decent acoustic amp. Not sure about vocals.

A bass amp normally offers features specific for bass, such as compressor and limiter, as well as tone shaping. Bass is usually scooped out, not sure this suits vocals.

Received wisdom is that bass prefer 10-in or 15-in speakers, not 12-in (10s are punchy and 15s are brighter than 12s). Not sure that this suits vocals.

Never found a PA that liked bass straight into it. You end up with enough pre-amps to make up the front end of a bass head.

If it is just for practice or small room, you /can/ press a guitar amp into service for bass, just do not crank it up (use a big amp turned well down), fyi once upon a time bass was played through guitar amps, they do not blow up but the speakers can.

An acoustic amp often offers a mic input on a separate channel, and may be suitable for bass.

[Warren Pederson]

I'd get one of those used systems that SamClamons posted. You need 15's for bass, unless you pony up and pay like a champion for a newer technology lightweight system that will set you back bushels of cabbage (cash).

[AJBaker]

I'm going to go ahead and suggest that speaker size isn't the most important factor for choosing; I think it's more about speaker surface area (whether many small speakers or a few big ones), and power, i.e. number of watts. I have a mini PA that has eight 3.5" Speakers and one 10", with 600w of power, and it sounds great with bass! Unfortunately it costs a bit more than 350$ too...

12" should also be fine for bass. The very popular GK MB150 has just one 12", and John Entwistle played though Marshalls and Hiwatts with a bunch of 12" speakers.

I guess the main question is, how important is it for you to be able to amplify vocals? Are you also the band's lead singer, or are you planing to do solo shows/duets? If not, just buy a normal bass amp.
If you want the possibility of adding vocals, an acoustic guitar amp might do the trick, they tend to be quite similar, though experiment first.

[jz229]

Thanks I'm receiving a flood of info here, and am getting a better idea about this.

As for the situation I'm in I mostly play rock, I play guitar and bass and want to get into singing. My dad hits drums and plays guitar, so I am looking for something to amplify vocals, and my bass, as I am currently using my guitar amp turned down low.

I don't have lots of room, so if a which is why I don't want to get both a bass amp and a PA system...

I also jam with freinds sometimes..

[AJBaker]

Ok, so it's jamming at home?

Here's what I'd do: buy one or two active full range speakers like these for example: http://www.thomann.de/gb/behringer_eurolive_b212d.htm

Then buy a small mixer:
http://www.thomann.de/gb/behringer_xenyx_802.htm

Then some kind of pre amp like:
http://www.thomann.de/gb/behringer_v...ing_preamp.htm

Everything there is by Behringer (very cheap), so if you have enough money, and you want to stick with playing, investing in better stuff can't hurt. RCF, or QSC make better speakers, mackie makes a better desk, and tech21 make a better preamp.

With this kind of setup you could play in a bar easily, and if you need more volume you can maybe borrow a sub woofer. Later on, you can still use the speakers as monitors.

[jz229]

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