Greetings,

I hope everyone’s week has been better than mine. Long story short, about $5K worth of speakers and tools were stolen from my garage. It really sucks, I feel so down and like giving up but I won’t . Anyways , I will slowly build up my PA rig again.

I was using EVEKX 12 inch ( 2 mains , 2 for monitors) and 2 EV 12” subs. It was a great set up, but the four 12 inch speakers was a bit overkill …. Thinking of using all 10 inch.

I still have 2 EV EKX 18 inch subs , 2 Bose S1 Pro ( which will la now be my monitors )

My budget is about $2K. I figure with that I can get two new main speakers.

I’m thinking maybe 10 inch will do fine especially if I use one of the 18 inch subs.
For a lot of the restaurant and bar gigs I do I didn’t even use a sub anyways so I’m hoping a 10 inch can handle that.

I hear a lot of good things about the QSC
speakers. Something about a Bass boost setting that some swear make the a sub not so necessary. Not sure about the 10 inch though .

Anyways I need to get something soon!

For what its worth I've heard great things about QSC 10". Speakers these days have so much more advanced technology in the processing they can surprize you. I still have two JBL Eon One Towers which have 10" subs in the main unit. I'm still amazed at the bass they put out. Easy to move in one piece and no speaker stands needed ! When I first got them I was nervous but got a deal on a Behringer 12" sub. Again for its size and price it surprized me and I've only used it a few times. One gig I hooked it up but never turned it on, the JBL's were enough. It all depends on the size of the places you work but lugging an 18" sub can't be fun. Maybe look into the newer towers by Yamaha, EV, or JBL with 12" bottoms and consider a pair of them. One for smaller gigs, two for bigger. You probably won't need the monitors either. Good luck and sorry for your bad incident.

I used to have a pair of Barbetta Sona 32SCs that were outstanding. I mounted then on 5-foot speaker poles and they really rocked. DNJ had them as well. I have seen some on line, used, perfect condition, for under $500 each.

This may be helpful: https://www.shoppok.com/newjersey/a,55,341348,Barbetta-Sona-32-Keyboard-Amp----250--Union-City-.htm

Good luck in your search,and I hope the thieves get caught by the Dallas PD with trying to pawn the stolen goods. Keep up the pressure on the Dallas PD and you will eventually get some results.

All the best,


Gary

Paul, for years, I used Carvin equipment. I still have 2 15's, 2 12"s and 2 10's.

The 10's are permanently installed about 10 ft high at a country club. They are matched with a 200 watt 6 channel Carvin head. I use a neat little TC monitor off the head, pointed right at me. This is a sufficient rig for up to 200 people. That is the capacity of the room.


10's are NEAT! Been using them for years!


Russ

Thanks guys for the well wishes and advice. I'm really down about this whole ordeal, but a few good things have happened that is putting me in a better head space.

The conductor of the Plano Symphony hired us to play for a surprise birthday party for his wife, who is from the Dominican Republic. Both him and his wife are well known in the classical music world, so it felt affirming to get asked to perform for such accomplished musicians so I guess I don't suck that bad : )

Also, I'm excited to play at my neighbors 50th wedding anniversary. Besides Latin, they requested lots of the old standards, which I love, and haven't gotten perform since the COVID closed up lots of the senior events.

Finally, a few "Dia de los muertos" ( all souls day) events are coming too. Despite my misfortune, I certainly have a lot to be thankful for.

Gary, I got your check for the microphone - could've come at a better time!

I hope you get lots use out of it, I know I did!

Thanks Paul. I cannot tell you how much I missed that old mic, just got some new wind screens and fired it up a couple days ago. OMG it sounded so good and I have now added singing and vocal control back to my physical therapy regiment, just an hour or so a day, but it really makes a huge difference using the CM-311A.

Thanks again, old friend,

Gary

One thing you might consider if you don't have it... insurance. I have had a policy for many years through Clarion/Heritage and it's not expensive. It covers all of my gear and I have a lot. Thankfully, have never had a claim on this policy. It's stand-alone for music equipment, that is their speciality.

Until 2 years ago, I too had total coverage insurance on all my gear, which was a lot of gear. It was less than $100 a year and an add on to my home owners policy. Paul, I would think your home owners policy would cover theft from your garage, or at least most of it the cost of replacement, less the deductible. You may want to contact your insurance agent - can't hurt.

Good luck,

Gary

Yes, my home owners insurance sent my a check, which helps, but still I am having to spend a lot of my own money and time on a purchase I didn't even want to make... I will consider some special instrument insurance that Bill recommended.

Anyways, I picked a pair of QSC K.2 10". I used them right of the box at a back yard party gig, and was very pleased with the sound. Sounds better than anything I've used before including, EV 12" , Bose Compacts, and SA 1 Pro. I hope to add a 12" sub sometime.

I am still using my JBL Eon G2 10's for the last 20 years and they work great. Even in large rooms with a good sized dance crowd. Often still asked to turn the volume down which surprises me. When I did my extensive speaker study about 20 years ago I found the larger the speakers the more crud was in the sound. Interestingly enough Tony Barbetta told me that 10" speakers were best for keyboards. Scott

Wise choice on the QSCs. I've used this brand for many years. I love the K8.2s and they work for everything I do (although at most, 100 people or so). The DSP is great for no sub, just set it accordingly and go. Good luck!

Sounds like ( see what I did there ) you hit the sweet spot. Once you get the small sub your good for almost any situation. Good luck !

I have been using the QSC K10’s (the original ones) for several years now. I find them quite amazing, with plenty of connectivity and sound sculpting options on board. I do have a Behringer 12 inch sub that I like to bring in for outdoor venues, but virtually all indoor shows I have plenty of bass from the K10’s as long as you don’t want a full real band volume!

As with all speakers, there is a limit to how loud you can take them before they lose their linearity, but for events that aren’t playing to teenagers and twentysomethings, the QSC’s do the job.

The only caveat I would say is, do you want to have your sound nice and loud right next to you and immediately in front, but with a steep drop off as you move away, or do you want a sound that is very even throughout the venue? If you want low volume everywhere, the ‘stick and sub’ Bose Compact type systems will do that better than the K10’s. Me, I still like at least a decent volume while I play (I’m from a live band background!) but want the sound to drop off before it gets to the tables. Others may prefer a low volume both by yourself AND the audience. Strokes for folks!

Full disclosure, I put my speakers up slightly behind and either side of me, so they are both backline (monitors) AND PA. If you already use in-ears or a monitor, your mileage may vary. But with an EV N/Dym microphone, I really never get feedback until I’m ear-splittingly loud, so that’s not a factor. But how strongly you sing may influence that.

If small traditional speakers are what you are comfortable with, I can’t recommend the K10’s too highly.