Mike/amp combination

[Moz]

I have mentioned this before but then I was only curious about mike/amp combinations. However, I have now joined a gigging band and am looking to upgrade my general purpose mike and non-existent amp to something with which I can contribute to the band without having to use the PA.

I know I need a keyboard amp for a saxophone and I think I need a uni-directional mike. Mike-wise the Shure M57 looks the part but I'm open to suggestions. As far the amp is concerned I was looking at Marshall amps but they seem to tend towards guitarists. Is Carlsbro a reputable make? The venues we frequent are average pubs with space for 50-150 people so what power should I buy? Other members of the band play: trumpet, alto sax, rhythm guitar, bass, drums. Alto sax player is young and goes with whatever anyone else supplies so no good for advice. Trumpeter hardly needs amplification so ditto (he uses PA usually).

I am in unexplored territory here so advice from gigging musicians would help a lot.

Cheers

Moz

 

[richard_perks]

I'm not an expert in this (I am sure others will have way better knowledge)anyway, generally I use the PA with a Sennheiser 441. You can almost swallow it in the bell and it is very clean. I have a powered monitor that lets me hear the singer(s) and a little of the rest of the horn section and that,s it. I have used a wireless setup (shure-which I still have somewhere) but found not enough control of the sound, distance is to constant, mainly used it in a rock band that didn't really used dynamics in the true sense of the word. :laugh: :laugh:
Never really seen horn players using seperate amps like guitar or keyboard players, think you would get feedback if you could hear it and it would be very localized.
Maybe use a wireless mic, small systemdeck board and 2 powered speakers either side of the stage and you can forget about the other horn players.

 

[Pjonah]

AKG make really good clip on mics. I had one for years but it all went through the PA, so can't offer any advice on amps.

Good luck though

 

[Jules]

Only thing I'd say about amps is get a keyboard amp or one designed for an acoustic guitar- never a standard guitar amp or bass amp- as they would colour your tone significantly.
Shure SM57s and 58s are both excellent, robust bits of kit- there's not much difference between them but one picks up in a sphere round it's head while the other is directional out of it'send (sorry, can't remember which one is which!).
Have to say I'm not convinced by the idea of using a dedicated amp for a sax- when you run through a PA the fact you're set up behind it's speakers is pretty important to not going down in a wail of feedback. If you're using an amp you've immediately got the issue of do you put it behind you (instant feedback worries), or in front of you (which means you're not really going to be able to monitor it well). A small PA and mixer for all the horns (and any vocalists) might well be a better option....

 

[PaulyT]

nachoman wrote:
Only thing I'd say about amps is get a keyboard amp or one designed for an acoustic guitar- never a standard guitar amp or bass amp- as they would colour your tone significantly.
Shure SM57s and 58s are both excellent, robust bits of kit- there's not much difference between them but one picks up in a sphere round it's head while the other is directional out of it'send (sorry, can't remember which one is which!).
Have to say I'm not convinced by the idea of using a dedicated amp for a sax- when you run through a PA the fact you're set up behind it's speakers is pretty important to not going down in a wail of feedback. If you're using an amp you've immediately got the issue of do you put it behind you (instant feedback worries), or in front of you (which means you're not really going to be able to monitor it well). A small PA and mixer for all the horns (and any vocalists) might well be a better option....

I totally agree.... Use a small p.a. (one with a built in reverb unit) then you can add the effects you want. A guitar amp is configured specifically for guitar (although many blues harp players play through them via a mic) and will colour your sound.
The SM58 is the unidirecional one of the pair and is, therefore, great at helping to eliminate feedback.
Having said all that, in my last band we stuck a Shure Prologue mic (switch-off-able) on a mic stand and put Joe the sax player through the main p.a. That worked admirably!
PaulyT

 

[Moz]

Thanks All,

Certainly, the overwhelming vote is to not have a dedicated amp (also has the advantage of being the cheaper option 🙂 ) and as I want to keep my sounds exclusive to my own microphone then the Shure SM58 looks the be the weapon of choice. Ideally I would have liked an on/off switch and the SM58 comes with the option but at an extra twenty eight quid! That's one expensive switch; I think I'll manage without.

Thank you again

Moz

 

[Jules]

why do you want an on/off switch? doesn't seem to be much point in having one...

 

[Moz]

nachoman wrote:
why do you want an on/off switch? doesn't seem to be much point in having one...

Good for using for quizzes when one doesn't want the audience hearing things. Oh, and it's a quick way of killing feedback if ones eardrums are bleeding.

Moz

 

[spike]

I'd suggest a power monitor box - I prefer 15" with horn for tenor but 12" is okay - one that can double as floor monitor and/or stand box - choice a plenty -
And a small pa mixer, I use a 19" 4 channel rack mixer with a da box outputting to main mix - plus an old lexicon effects. Built in to a small rack box. One speaker one box, neat and no hassles and you control your very own monitor.
gruzzi - spike