I just proposed a Model I to our city mayor and alderpersons at a city council meeting tonight.
After my brief "this is what I use" statement, we all walk across the street to the city square, each carrying a piece of the L1.

In three minutes, it's setup and I'm talking through the mic a bit about the system.
I suggest two or three if they wish to have live music or need 360 degree sound.
An alderwoman walked around the outside of the square as I talked, said "I can hear it everywhere".
Another alderwoman said "I think two or three would be overkill!".

Within a space of two or three minutes, the mayor said "Order us two of them"
They all walked back to their meeting.
I stood there with my mouth open thinking "it can't be this easy".

So, now...City of Beardstown, 5,000 people, and EIGHT L1 systems.
That should cover it.

The highest per capita in the USA?

Drumr - thats a great story!

Proper demonstration of the product *does* make it that easy. Especially when its a business decision. I bet those public officials, like musicians, have experienced their fair share of sub-par PA systems. So they know a good one when they hear it.

MikeZ

quote:

Originally posted by Drumr:
The highest per capita in the USA?

Right-o, Pierre! I've said it all along.

And what's cool, as we talked about earlier, we can basically serve every single resident, based on the ~400 people coverage potential. I was using "sketchy math" to figure that one, I guess! But even at 625 people per system, that's still pretty close.

As a fellow resident, I am so surprised at this purchase, really. As the same taxpaying resident, I don't mind this purchase at all.

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

The background.

A concerned citizen (an aging dixieland trumpet player) came to me and asked me to go before the council and recommend something besides what was being considered for the bandstand sound system. He thought they were spending too much and wanted me to find them something cheaper.
He suggested Radio Shack. I explained that for me to help out, it would be a Bose L1 system, or they would have to go with someone else.

They wanted a portable system that would cover the entire square, and had been proposed a system (from a sound company in St Louis) with four Community (brand) speakers, 15 & horn, in the 4 corners of the bandstand, with a power amp and a Peavey mixer...cables, etc. The cost was to be in the $10,000 neighborhood. (Community...Peavey!!!)

This was the same company that put a $20,000 sound system in our new multimillion dollar high school.
Community speakers mounted by the ceiling above the stage, no subs, Peavey mixer.
They didn't allow for stage monitors in the bid.
Before shows they go in now and hook up a guitar amp as a floor monitor...sweet.

Anyway, I had a hard time explaining the Bose L1 approach to this guy, he just kept going back and telling me to suggest mixers, amps...etc.
So I thought no way would an entire city council agree with me...unless they could just hear it. So that's what I did.
I told them to listen to the Bose just to be able to rule it out as a cheaper alternative before going with the St Louis bunch.
They could have had 4 systems for less money. I think two will do them nicely.

As a sidenote, the Bose also detected some bad electrical circuits at the bandstand. The first two outlets we tried, the Bose came on, then the light went Yellow, then the unit shut off. The last circuit was fine. Now we know it needs repair work. The L1 was a great test tool.

Drumr

I am interested in your last paragraph about the power.

Does the power light show you the status / condition of the power supply..meaning yellow is low voltage or something?

Hi Steve,

I'm not sure what that meant, but that is exactly what happened on the first two outlets we tried.
The city has a breaker box on the bandstand, I didn't look inside. On the outside there are two heavy duty duplex outlets on each side of the box.

We tried the first outlet. When I powered up the L1, the light went to Green as usual...then after a few seconds, turned Yellow, then went OUT altogether. I switched the PS1 off and back on, when we tried the second outlet, same thing. We then tried the third outlet on the other side of the breaker box and everything was fine.

So, I guessed the reaction of the PS1 LEDs was typical in a low power situation.

Yesterday at a 4th of July gig, the city's soundman was telling me the bandstand's power supply has been like this for a couple years now and they haven't fixed it. I am going to get on them to correct that and (hopefully) prevent any damage to the L1s.

Drumr

Thanks and again, I am really curious if Bose has any info on the power light / color / status.

We played outside on the 4th and the power was ran to us using a long (100ft) extension cord.

I was concerned about low voltage since the length was so long.

The cord was 12 gauge so no issues but just wanted to know for future situations.

Maybe someone from Bose will chime in??

Thanks