NOT LOOKING TO START A DEBATE, BUT:
I filled for a friend of mine who has a steady gig in the bar/lounge area in a restaurant in MA...
First, a word about the restaurant - what a GOLD MINE !!! ...the bar/lounge which, besides the tables used by people having dinner, is used as a 'waiting area' for the main restaurant, was PACKED until about 10 pm after which it was only CROWDED... ...

As far as the music is concerned, the big thing is that the owner doesn't want it loud, and he's paying a good buck for live musicians in 2 rooms, so .....
Well after Saturday night, I realized that the Bose is PERFECT for that situation...
My friend was going to be working in the restaurant area for the night in place of the guy who usually works it, so he asked me to play the bar/lounge ...
He had his Bose set up there, so he let me use it ... He helped me get set up with the mixer - a big Behringer which he's had for years, and the Bose ... We did a sound check to make sure of the volume, then I played a SMF so I could hear the overall sound ...I was amazed that, for how low the volume was at the kb (the Bose was DIRECTLY behind me), the sound traveled at that same volume to the end of the bar - about 100 feet ...
I had asked the head bartender (I think there were 4 of them!) to let me know if the volume got too loud, and later in the evening I was told that I could actually raise the volume a little ...
During the night, even when a group of about 6 guys right in front of me were 'debating' the Matt Cassell trade to KC so loudly that I could hardly hear myself think, I could see some ladies 'swaying' to the music at the far end of the bar...

The Bose delivered a really good bass and at times I found myself lowering the bass on the kb ...the mids and highs were crisp and clear, and the vocals sounded great....

All in all, a very pleasant experience, but I'm afraid my gigging schedule doesn't warrant that type of expense ... and at this stage of my life, that doesn't bother me ...

t.

Thanks for the review.

My budget is very limited rigth now, but I've been thinking about one of those for a while, I have a trio/quartet sometimes 2 guitars, one bass guitar, 1 vocal with the Digitech VL2, Oviously I can't afford 2 systems, we play at churches no more than 300 people, most of the time it's 150.

Would one BLII be enough?
THanks

T thanx for the review....I'm sure you could of enjoyed a stereo experience with two small 8" powered speakers like the Podium 802's just as well in that situation at 1/20th the price....anyway enjoy the Snow Storm 12" here & still snowing

now THAT'S funny.....

Well, people can debate all day about the Bose Model II, but I much prefer my S900 through two amps in stereo, with a small sub. I alternate nights solo on guitar and keyboard. However, I love the Bose with guitar and vocals.

I was a late bloomer on the Bose, and I resisted, but it was because I had only heard it in mono...two systems in stereo sold me on it. Completely.

Pricey?

You bet.

A terrific stereo system?

You bet.

Nothing like it?

You bet your bippy!

If you only buy one PA, and want stereo AND room filling quality sound, this is the system.

Sure, it takes more time to set up, but I allow for that anyway...I don't rush any more...not worth it...but the extra setup time is worth it when you hear it in glorious stereo.

A great theatre and/or concert system which will be how mine will be used...would aslo be terrific in a church environment as well.

Ian

Ian you are certainly brainwashed OMG

You wouldn't be saying that with a gig schedule of 500+ like beebop/zuki, and many others daily gig warriors in the trenches doing doubles & triples every day where time IS of the importance sometimes with less then an hour in between.....setting up all that useless OVERKILL 2 system gear & breaking down 6x a day....give me a break. Look what Gary went thru with just one ! so double that its a freaking moving job at least......I hope you have a big truck?.... why do people insist on toiling so much I dont get it!!! Ian take a picture of it all setup when you ever get it ok Id love to see it.


[This message has been edited by Dnj (edited 03-02-2009).]

[This message has been edited by Dnj (edited 03-02-2009).]

The two Bose will be used for doing concerts, and time is not that critical for setup.

I cut back on the number of gigs, and started charging more money...and you know what?

It is working.

The two Bose will go in my Honda along with everything else...the back seat flips down, and it has a good sized trunk...the S900 is small, as is my bench and stand....no problem.

I can relate to being "in the trenches" but I finally decided to "go over the top" and take the risk of charging more and playing less often...just lucky for me that it worked out.

The Bose will let me fill a theatre and still keep the stereo I love.

As you always say...it will pay for itself after a few gigs.

Ian

PS...I still have my Yamaha MS60S system for the occasional restaurant gig.

excactly a pro gigger never loses on gear!!!

go for it and enjoy buddy!

I think the post simply shows that for the perfect type of gig, the Bose's are the perfect PA. Things might have been different if the owner wanted LOUD at the dancefloor and quiet in the back of the room, though.

I have to admit, for churches, with long, narrow (usually) coverage and the need for even volume from front to back, I can't think of a better system.

I think this forum divides into two camps. Those that do loud dance and bar music, and those that do quieter, background (or at least, not in your face) entertaining. The Bose's are a great PA (although expensive) for the latter. But not so much for the former...

The hard part seems to be getting some diehard Bose fans to admit that there MIGHT be a type of venue that the Bose DON'T provide the best solution. I would expect because they rarely if ever get to play those gigs where they DO need loud and proud at the front, and quiet at the back...

I can easily envision a situation where the Bose would be best. Why do they have so much problem envisioning a situation where they AREN'T?

Oh, and anyone that starts a thread off about the Bose with "NOT LOOKING TO START A DEBATE, BUT:" on this forum has got to be kidding, right?

Diki my camp is both ....I do it all baby....no reason 2 good powered 15"s can't handle anything...1 or 2 units...& in an extremme venuse 1 or 2 subs added....no prob.

Well, I'd like to see those 15" and sub systems do 'quiet from front to back' like the Bose do...

To get a conventional system up to listening levels in the back of the room, those in front of the stack HAVE to have it quite a bit louder. That's the Bose's one and only strength, IMO.

If I needed that often, I MIGHT consider a pair... If I hit the lottery, that is

To be honest, most of the places that want background levels evenly distributed in my area have house systems that you jack into, though.

Well, Diki, I had good intentions ... ... Actually, I was happy to have had the opportunity to play through the Bose and wanted to share it ...
I would like to have an occasion to use the same system in a 'cranked up' situation to really test it out ... also in retrospect, I am disappointed I did not have the opportunity to really 'check out' the system - see the 'workings', find out how EG was set, etc. - ... maybe there will be a next time ...
And I agree with you about the front to back sound ... I know I would not have had the volume that low 'on stage' with ANY of my other gear and get the necessary volume in the far end ...
t.

Well, I for one would not use them (Bose) in my restaurant gigs, as I don't want to fill room with sound...some people just want to dine in a quieter environment, so they'll sit away from the speakers.

Advantage:conventional system.

For a concert hall(or church)you want full even coverage so that each listener hears the same in all parts.

Advantage: Bose...especially in stereo.

I have a short throw speaker system already for the former situation....bought and paid for many years ago....now I want to be able to handle the latter type of gig, so I'll invest in the Bose.

After hearing the quality (and coverage) of the sound I think they are well worth the investment.

For the very few times I would need a more powerful conventional system for the first scenario, I would rent one.

Ian

Slightly OT question to Tony:

I continually hear of Restaurant gigs on this board. I guess because I'm not a solo (we're a duo) and not background music (and there's nothing at all bad about actually BEING background music btw), I (we) have had almost zero opportunities to play Restaurant gigs.

Are they plentiful in the U.S.?
Do many people make a living from them?

Actually can I ask a wider question to the Synthzone members (& Tony).

Who are the major employers in the U.S. in regards to Live Music - of the kind to be found on these boards?

In Australia we have:

RSLs (The Returned & Servicemen League) basically Clubs that host Bar/Dining/Poker Machines with Lounge facilities.

LEAGUES CLUBS (of the Football kind - think Grid Iron)

BOWLS CLUBS (Think ten pin Bowling on Grass with no Pins, just balls-!).

GOLF CLUBS.

5 STAR HOTELS.

PUBS.

(That's the gist of the major regular employers for local Covers acts in Australia - more or less.)


[This message has been edited by hellboy44 (edited 03-03-2009).]

hellboy
I will try to answer in the same order...

Restaurant gigs ... there used to be FAR more available, and it's not just the current economy that caused the decline, it has been happening over the years ...
I think it is very difficult to 'make a living' just playing restaurant gigs ... In the Rhode Island area, depending on the venue, one might make $100 to $150 a night during the week $150 to $200 a night on weekends ...
One peculiar thing I am noticing is that some of the 'high end' restaurants are discontinuing live music, but I see live music showing up in 'pizza parlors' and other small type restaurants... One place near me is a seafood store with a small dining area ... they now have live acoustic music on Saturdays ...

Live music employers run the gamut from Senior Centers to nursing homes to Elks, Moose, etc. clubs, to bar/restaurants with lounges that have a small dance floors, to hotels, to casino's etc., etc., etc., ... I will let some of the others here tell you what types of venues they play ...

We have similar 'clubs' or 'associations' here in the US as well...

By the way, "bowling on grass, no pins, just balls" sounds like "bocce" to me ...

t.



[This message has been edited by tony mads usa (edited 03-04-2009).]

Thanks Tony.

Ha! Yes you're spot on (pretty much) about Bocce and Bowls being similar.

We played a Game just a few weeks ago because my Wife (and of course her family, who we played with) are/is Sicilian......