Here's part of an email to a friend:

I can't wait to set it up on the island, it'll be perfect for that room. And if you're up for it, let's set it up for Antonio's on Sat or Sun.......imagine having every table hear you exact the same. Actually that's not true, when you get 180 degrees from center things fall off but clarity is there for a full half circle.

First impressions are that I might as well sell everything else off cause I'll never go back.

Yesterday was the Rivera pool in Palm Springs, a big pool that's a nightmare for sound cause you play out of a sort of cement cubby hole with a wooden ceiling out 150' to a 180 degree area. It was 104 when I got there and packed. I used the nylon for the first hour or so till it became too hot and then went to the strat going through an amp modeler. I tried both mic setups also, the headset using a SM 57 preset on the Bose and then the Beta 57 with it's preset. Actually I ended up liking the headset better, and seemed to have a little more headroom. Plus, it was so hot that Beta 57 was hot to touch when working close. Anyway, the sound must have been better cause I sold a cd and got tips.....and that never happens on that site.

Next was a casual last night at Thunderbird CC for a cruise ship line entertainment director. Just the nylon, headset and tracks. It went well (wish they wouldn't have opened up the doors) though I think now that if I'd moved the thing out about 3' from the corner it was in things would have been perfect. And it felt a bit dry not using any effects in that situation. Most likely I'll get a separate mixer with balanced outs and effects for those kinds of gigs and for more inputs when running a group. Most of the time though I don't think reverb or anything will be necessary.

Official temp yesterday was 111, so I kept checking the base to see if the amps were getting too hot and they seemed fine, plus it didn't do what my other amps and speakers do in extreme heat and that's dull themselves out and lose volume.

Today and tomorrow I'm at the Renaissance for a corporate meet and greet 12 to 4 playing background music in the lobby....should be a piece of cake.


............so now it's Monday and I've got a few more thoughts.

I'm using the presets it came with :

AKG wireless headset/balanced in, preset at 02
Ovation Country Artist nylon with OP-X through AKG wireless/balanced with presets 21 or 22
Mini disc tracks (all mono mixes) direct through channel 3
Strat or Variax acoustic (depending on gig) through channel 4
For more stationary situations I'll go direct with a Beta 57

The headset is right there, couldn't be better though a better looking headset would be nice. AKG's top of the line mic won't plug into the transmitter so I guess I'll continue looking like an aerobics instructor.

The Ovation isn't there yet and I can't put a finger on it but so far preset 22 with the Ovation's notch filter out seems to work best. Still, it sounds better through my other PA's.

Mini disc tracks are much cleaner and almost too bass-y. My fault actually since I use a stand up bass midi patch a lot and it's mixed hot intentionally. I think I’ve come to the end of the line with this mini disc thing and need to convert to an ipod. I need to learn more about them.

The Beta 57 is not where I want it to be either unless I work it close.

Today I'll get a chance to use the Variax some though it'll have to be without the balanced in. Should sound great though.


Other setups:

Patriotic act (duo) in period costume for school assemblies and civic functions using four mics. I play banjo and mandolin in this configuration and the girl plays acoustic guitar. First trial of this setup will be Friday and I guess I'll have to use a mixer or maybe just have her use hers since she’s used to it and go into 1 and 2 for myself.

Solo concert act doing original songs of California history….venues vary greatly. Usually I use the wireless rigs and play a Guild DV-52 with a Fishman powerjack, or the Variax on batteries, but I need to get the other instruments working that way too and probably will add a belt clip preamp (Baggs I guess).

There’s more but this is getting to be too long a post as it is.

In short, the PAS is a revolutionary system that’s as good as you are.

Sure would be nice for the remote to be wireless. Oh yeah, and a guitar hanger.

Hello Philboyd Studge (may I ask the origins of this handle?)

We're really glad to get your detailed assessment. Thank you for taking the time.

Have you been here before but not posted? Anyway, thanks for sharing this. We very much look forward to hearing your further experiences. We all learn through this.

The name was filboid studge and a short story about an awful breakfast cereal.

Used the Variax Acoustic today for a few hours on a job and it worked well for the most part, both direct to channel 4 and wireless/balanced in to channel 2. Sure sounds a lot better through the Bose than anything else I've tried.

Found it! Cool Story. A testament to human nature.

http://www.eastoftheweb.com/short-stories/UBooks/FilStu.shtml

This message has been edited. Last edited by: holliwil,