Well I finally took the plunge after much fence riding and bought the L1 model II Bose system.I read a lot of info from this site before I bought my system.Comming from live performing band of 30 plus years and using large amounts of gear then going to the bose system after reading the reviews I was skeptical of the hype.
So I did my first solo act with the Bose Pas.I will not go into major details only to say as a single act unit the Bose is in my opinion "TOPSHELF".Everything is as advertized for a one man show.I have not had the chance to use this system at a bigger Venue and remain wondering how it will handle a bigger room and an outdoor venue.I hope I will not be dissappointed.I must say so far so good.
Also I was wondering how many people using the Bose system do what I do.
I use Karaoke tracks and play acoustic guitar (1965 Gibson),Netbook Computer,and SM58 Microphone.
Its easy to do and I dont have to remember the words to songs ..LOL.Hope the computer doesnt crash.
But overall the sound is in my opinion is as good as any full band sound for the most part.
I just havent read a lot of post from members who play like I do.....
I would love to hear from other members who work the way I do. *
Thanks

Hi Bubba
I have been doing a one man band show for about 4 years now. I use to use 2 powered PA speakers on a sticks.And I switched over to the L1 M2 with 2 B1's and I never looked back.I play electric guitar and sing and program all the parts thru my laptop and use midi files and a Roland sound momduale to play the midi tracks that I progamed. I'm sure you will never go back to the old school ways. Now that you have had a taste of the Bose sound.

Good Luck Todd

Bubba, you sure not alone in doing it the way you are! Joelheck for one, uses it pretty much the same way you do.

I don't use backing tracks, but I can vouch for the sound quality at outdoors gigs. It is simply perfect! If you have two B1 bass modules, the same sound will travel farther and thus the same sound will be heard by more people. But just one b1 is very sufficient for a LOT of people.
I play at a place on the beach here in Charleston, SC. It is outdoors on a rooftop. I can see the Atlantic when I play so... I play "Into The Mystic" once every set

People come up from the beach telling me how good it sounded down there.
For bigger venues, it is pretty much the same deal... you may wanna back off on the reverb a bit and "play with the room" instead of trying to drown the reflections out.
If you are on the floor and have a lot of people standing, try to elevate the Bose tower a bit. Put it on some crates or a table even. Leave the B1 on the floor, and you will have excellent coverage even for people in the back.

The Bose people on the forum are quick to tell you that it is NOT and "end all" solution to sound reinforcement... but to me... it is!

A tip that I seem to be making a lot right now... IF you have problems with microphone feedback and the gate doesn't "do it" for you, use the de-esser and set the gain to 2 or so.
It works awesomely and it won't make you sound like you're singing without dentures

Hi Bubba,
Here's a bit of my take on the past few years. Given the present entertainment market, I do a one man show. The freedom to play what most everyone wants and get a decent price for the gig works well for me.

Some might gripe about using tracks with words, whether MP3 +G's or Backing with the words listed on a page, that's their choice. My show allows me to be an entertainer, who enjoys covering from about 2500 songs. I would not even pretend to know them all.

Point being, in my location the audience is very happy, I play 3 nights a week there and it's a good fit. I've played Bass Guitar for 30 something years and now I mainly play guitar and just chord through most songs, mainly for the harmonizer. (Used to be a Digitech VL4, now a TC Helicon Vocal Live Touch).

Fortunately I have had excellent voice and vocal training (not trying to ego trip here and I owe a lot of it to the vocal coach plus determination) and it is the big selling point in my show. I am truly blessed to have enough gig's to keep me happy and an appreciative audience that makes me want to keep them happy.

I am long since past the gig's with the same group, (trying to hold together 3 to 4 egos and attitudes) with the same 100 or so songs every show. My advice Bubba is keep heading forward you've got the right gear for most any venues, it should just keep getting better as you build your own show.

L1 MII,T1, 2 B1's for most gig's
L1 Compact - backup and smaller gigs
Fender Stratocaster
TC Helicon Vocal Live Touch (very cool)
EV HM-7 Headmike (Condenser)
2 EV RE-2 Wireless units for headset & Guitar
EV 767a mike
Galaxy Audio mike stand powered monitor

As a performer - I am all about putting on the best show possible in the most efficient manner available.

As a listener - I have to tell you - I can't stand watching a solo performer with backing tracks. I don't mind the guys using a looper so much - but the Karaoke tracks behind a live guitar player really grate on me for some reason. Don't mean to offend anyone - just wanted to offer my honest input as a listener.

I am a full band guy for the most part - but have been working on an acoustic show. I will likely use the guys in my band to augment some of the performances from time to time.

quote:

As a listener - I have to tell you - I can't stand watching a solo performer with backing tracks

I can appreciate that, but perhaps your a player and can relate to the difference. Most of the audience (at least where I am at), just want to hear songs they can relate to, dance and have a good time. I am fortunate enough to have many more compliments, than critics. The tracks give me the freedom to play a much wider variety of music than guitar only. I just love jumping through 2500 plus tracks instead a limited play list.

I generally dislike calling tracks Karaoke or using them in that manner (where people stare at the screen mesmerized and stuck in the highlighted timing). In using tracks with the words listed or MP3+G's with the words scrolling, one must learn to just glance once in a while for a reference point and grab up a phrase when needed. Back in the Union gig days, sight reading music charts was pretty much the same. I think it's the Karaoke craze and it's assortment of good to awful singers that gave it a bad rap.

I can get through an awful lot songs without having to look at the screen, when I fronted groups years ago we memorized everything, but we wern't playing for 4 hours or had a fixed play list, not thousands of songs to work with.

I have heard some pretty good players, even with loopers, that get very boring after 1 set. No offense on that, it's just the limitations of 1 singer, 1 guitar for several hours. I think it varies with the player, location and the type of audience. It does not matter how good a musician plays or sounds, if the major portion of the audience cannot relate to the performance or they feel they are not being entertained, then it just doesn't work and they leave fairly quick.

The bottom line: Entertainment/music varies so much today along with the variety of listening audience, that playing what works for your audience and your own mind are all that really matters.

Well said.

I agree Joelheck.....My guilt comes from not having to learn material.Preforming in live bands which is what I did for 30 plus years brings its share of headbanging. I can tell you this ......So far I have had more complements than complaints doing what im doing now,and you made a good point when you said another musician will see the downside to anything that they might not like and thats all well and good to each his own thats what makes us all different.To be perfectly honest {and Im not knocking other musicians here by any means}I have listened to "Backing Tracks"being used by musicians and I rather like the idea of what I am doing.When I add my acoustic sound to the tracks I use you would only be able to pick out the difference if you were a musician.I think it cool.Yes people will say "Karaoke" but even karoake KJ's that have no instrument talent can do what I do and that makes me somewhat Unique..........
And by the way thanks everyone fo your input ....I really enjoy reading it all GOOD or Bad.......*

quote:

As a listener - I have to tell you - I can't stand watching a solo performer with backing tracks. I don't mind the guys using a looper so much - but the Karaoke tracks behind a live guitar player really grate on me for some reason. Don't mean to offend anyone - just wanted to offer my honest input as a listener.

Why even bring this up. What is the point?

Roy,

No offense meant. Looking back at my post I realize that I didn't finish my thought on the subject of listening to that type of performance. I meant to clarify that I had never heard a performance with backing tracks through a Bose system - and that I wonder if I would recieve it differently.

I apologize if I ruffled any feathers - or if my input is not considered valid on this topic.

Yeah this is a classic subject, and I think we should come together in a group hug instead of taking this further... it is really a never ending subject for live musicians.
In the end, it is all about putting bread on the table... if you have a good idea and it brings in money... do it!
At some bars, they have even taken it a step further... they play "Rock Band".
When someone in the audience says "These guys are GOOD!", what would your response be?

Roy, I really think SunDog meant no disrespect for Joel or Bubba. But it is a sensitive subject and can easily stir up flame wars. Thankfully the moderators on this forum are great!
LOL, once they even moderated out a joke curse from me consisting on only symbols

So let's leave this one alone and instead be BROTHERS-IN-BOSE!

I can appreciate an open discussion. I am sure no one's opinion or feeling on a subject was meant or sould be taken the wrong way. We all do what works for us and appreciate input on what working out there for others.
Sharing ideas on the forum is a great way to learn and rethink your approach. I have picked up a lot of good ideas here by having an open mind and listening to other approaches.

Thanks for sharing. Life is good.

Cursebuster here,

I am a saxophonist, and I perform lots of solo gigs using backing tracks,...I use two compacts with a sub when I do larger rooms, and one compact with smaller rooms,...

I find that using backing tracks has opened a wide door for more gigs,...

I can play a wide variety of music, and taylor my sets to suit most requests that I get...

In short!,...I am having a total ball!...and the listeners are enjoying every bit of it...

Wow! What a subject! It seems the only ones who "care" how an an "entertainer", entertains are fellow Entertainers. The only important thing is that the people on the other side of the stage are having a wonderful time. If the entertainer uses KJ tracks and his voice so be it. IF he plays an instrument and sings with his background tracks....so what? As I have always said when viewing an entertainer on stage be him excellent, good, or fair,........he's working! God Bless him! He's trying baby! Giving it his all! Over the 40 years I have been performing I have played with 90 piece Concert bands, 16 piece dance bands, sextets, quartets, duo's and now do a duet, vocals with my wife using keyboard, "and" backing tracks 50 % of the time and with both my Bose systems we are thrilled at the sound. Do your "thing" the way "you" do it and good luck to the purists out there on their way to Vegas to be discovered.

"Music is neither new or old......it just "is"

I have really strong opinions about this, but in the end the only thing that matters is that the performer is putting his/her heart into the moment and there is a creative spark and genuine interaction.

My two cents.

Many musicians are biased about something,be it liking only rock music vs. country,acoustic guitar vs.electric guitar,tube amp vs. solid state etc.
In the end make the song your own in what ever method you choose and respect others for their chosen methods.

I can tell you right now, Sundog, that a swinging big band track sounds very real through two Compacts! The hi-fi aspect of the Bose lends itself very well to jazz.

quote:

Originally posted by Tom Munch:
I have really strong opinions about this, but in the end the only thing that matters is that the performer is putting his/her heart into the moment and there is a creative spark and genuine interaction...

Ditto!

O..

Interesting discussion! Let's pretend there is a really wide stage with a spectrum of performers. On the far left end is a guy (or gal, of course!) who puts his heart and soul into clapping his hands in perfect time to CD recordings of top radio hits.

On the far right end of the stage is a guy who writes all of his own music, plays amazing guitar, has a fantastic voice, and plays bass synth via foot pedals. No backing tracks.

Then, there is a wide range of performers in between these two extremes (maybe the guy in the middle sings "pretty good" and plays guitar "pretty good" and is playing middle-of-the-road cover songs). ALL of the performers believe in their stuff, and are putting their hearts and souls into their show.

There may be an audience for all these acts, but I'M gonna go watch the performers on the right!!