pa speaker as "amp"?

[ersheff]

Hey, all.
I typically use my computer to play live shows. Most of the stuff I do is on guitar, but I also do keyboard and live electronic sounds (sampling, looping, etc.).
It's always a pain at rehearsals and small gigs to amplify myself. I have a great Bag End 2X12 cabinet but a)it's big and heavy, b)although it's considered a full-range set-up, the high-end leaved something to be desired (sounds great with a true bass or guitar amp though), and c)all I have is a dying Ampeg bass amp to drive it.
Since I mostly use Mainstage for my guitar sounds, I figured a non-guitar amp would be fine since Mainstage simulates guitar cabs, and I almost need something more full range anyway for when I use non-guitar sounds.
My instinct says to go with Mackie or JBL, but damn are they expensive! I guess after looking at respectable $200-$300 guitar combos it came as a shock. I'm also concerned about low-end reproduction vs. portability. The Mackie SRM350 looks good, but I'm wondering how well that 10" driver will perform. I'd really rather not haul around a 15" driver.
Again, this is for very small venues or rehearsals, so I don't need something to blow everyone away. It's meant to act as my "amp".
Thanks!

[mixedupsteve]

The Mackie Thump is a 15 + horn but it only weighs 36 lbs. They sound good too!

[ersheff]

Ah, nice.
I didn't realize they were so light.
How's the mid-range reproduction on these? I'm hoping it's not all boom and sizzle since I'd be playing guitar through it as well.

[Wayne]

A question might be how low do you need? To the full bass' end for example or just decent body for other instruments?

[AlexK]

Cheap PA speakers tend to be heavy, or sound poor, or both at the same time (plus unreliability).

Good, lightweight PA speakers start at the QSC K-series IMO.

The Mackies are very heavy (for plastic speakers), really sound quite poor (no usable mids so to speak of, VERY boomy bass and top-end which does take your head off).

You simply cannot skimp out on PA speakers. Cheap PA speakers = harmonic distortion and frequency peaks all over the place = hearing damage.

[Wayne]

Originally Posted by AlexK

The Mackies are very heavy (for plastic speakers)...

Plus they (and others) don't stack for shit come cart' and load in/out time.

[mixedupsteve]

Originally Posted by ersheff

Ah, nice.
I didn't realize they were so light.
How's the mid-range reproduction on these? I'm hoping it's not all boom and sizzle since I'd be playing guitar through it as well.

If you want really nice sound I love EVs. I don't think you'll get all you want in your budget unless you get lucky on the used market. Now is a pretty good time for buying used since alot of rental houses get new gear at the beginning of the year. Be careful though.

[7rojo7]

If you make your sounds on the speaker you use and only need it for your monitor, then you should have no problem, I would even mic it to have no problem for translation to the FOH (this is my GTR sound! Use a nice mic where it gets a blend of both drivers, not, smack a 57 on the grill. You won't need it for the monitors, so no feedback problems).
It has to be pretty smooth down to 40Hz if you use octave effects and there's alot of sound that comes from the GTR under that normally (string clunk and pick plunk) that's important to the sound. If you have control over that and make the speaker sound the way you want it to using the controls inside MS and use a mic to go to FOH you will be more confident that your sound will have a better chance to get there. You can even use it like a wedge and give the FOH guy less problems. Do you notice latency from MS?