FRFR for Tonelab on a budget

[fek]

Looks like I am going to get back into gigging here in the near future. I have sold all of my amps except for a Powerblock. A decent set of headphones has been my amp for a while.

I am going to try and go direct to the PA with the Tonelab but I will need a FRFR speaker of some sort to use for rehearsal and to dial in the tones I will need at home. I will probably use it for a monitor during gigs also.

I know that the cheaper ones have some issues (high end harshness, plastic like tone, etc...) but are there any in the under $500 range that can be suggested?

 

[bds9487]

Our keyboard player recently got one of these:

http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/pr ... sku=600735

Works pretty good and it's freakin LOUD.

 

[rsm]

Before getting my Bose system (out of the price range you specified) I was considering the new JBL EON systems. They have them at GC, you may be able to try them? There's the EON 315 which is $499.97 at Sweetwater. http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/EON315/

Not sure how they sound though. FWIW, I'm using a ToneLab LE with my Bose system. Sounds excellent to me, easy to dial in decent tones.

The Atomic Reactor is another good option to consider if you can find them.

http://www.fractalaudio.com/purchase-atomic.html

 

[fek]

The Atomic Reactor is another good option to consider if you can find them.

http://www.fractalaudio.com/purchase-atomic.html

I have been interested in the Atomic stuff for a few years now. You are correct in that the trick is finding one!

My best bet is probably going to GC with my Tonelab and just playing through a few different ones. Since I am going to run direct, I really just want one to be sure that the tone I want is coming across the way it was intended.

 

[rsm]

The Atomic Reactor is another good option to consider if you can find them.

http://www.fractalaudio.com/purchase-atomic.html

I have been interested in the Atomic stuff for a few years now. You are correct in that the trick is finding one!

My best bet is probably going to GC with my Tonelab and just playing through a few different ones. Since I am going to run direct, I really just want one to be sure that the tone I want is coming across the way it was intended.

Yep.

 

[badger71]

Go to your local GC and try out your TL on a Roland or Behringer keyboard amp. They are usually inexpensive, definitely FRFR, and can be found used on CL frequently.

 

[fek]

Go to your local GC and try out your TL on a Roland or Behringer keyboard amp. They are usually inexpensive, definitely FRFR, and can be found used on CL frequently.

I actually bought a Behringer keyboard amp to try with a PodXT a couple years ago and quickly returned it. The high end on the gain tones was horrid. The cleans sounded incredible but anything with gain was not usable. Now that I have a little bit more experience dialing in tones with a modeler (in the headphone world anyway) I think that I could make it work now. I should be able to hit GC this weekend.

 

[Meathead]

Basically you want a full frequency range powered monitor type amp thingy...lots of companies make something that will work.
Lots of options to look at...even check out acoustic amps, keyboard amps, powered monitor wedge like the Mackie...and you can always place an EQ between the Tonelab and the amp to really get it sounding right.

I've been using the Tonelab LE for over a year live on a lot of gigs and find I just don't bother with tube amps and pedals as much now because I'm fine with going direct most of the time.

James Peters came and saw me play at a club one time and even he agreed the tone fit in nicely with the band and nobody in the crowd would know the difference. I really like the idea that at any volume I have the same consistent tone. I don't have that with a tube amp at venues where I have to keep the volume down on stage.

 

[fek]

Basically you want a full frequency range powered monitor type amp thingy...lots of companies make something that will work.
Lots of options to look at...even check out acoustic amps, keyboard amps, powered monitor wedge like the Mackie...and you can always place an EQ between the Tonelab and the amp to really get it sounding right.

I've been using the Tonelab LE for over a year live on a lot of gigs and find I just don't bother with tube amps and pedals as much now because I'm fine with going direct most of the time.

James Peters came and saw me play at a club one time and even he agreed the tone fit in nicely with the band and nobody in the crowd would know the difference. I really like the idea that at any volume I have the same consistent tone. I don't have that with a tube amp at venues where I have to keep the volume down on stage.

Thank you for the info. On the cheap I have been looking at the Behringer 12" powered speaker thingy. At 400 watts (I know that is not listed accurately by them) it should be fine. The keyboard amps in that price range have more crap on them than I need and are much lower wattage.

I have an EQ pedal that I use in between my LE and Powerblock now when I run it with headphones and really like the way I can EQ on the fly with it. I kind of had my mind made up on what I was going to try but you just helped me to push it over the edge!

 

[Meathead]

Thank you for the info. On the cheap I have been looking at the Behringer 12" powered speaker thingy. At 400 watts (I know that is not listed accurately by them) it should be fine. The keyboard amps in that price range have more crap on them than I need and are much lower wattage.

I have an EQ pedal that I use in between my LE and Powerblock now when I run it with headphones and really like the way I can EQ on the fly with it. I kind of had my mind made up on what I was going to try but you just helped me to push it over the edge!

I didn't warm to playing direct right away, took a lot of listening out front to the mains and tweaking and tweaking, but I got it there eventually.
Once you like how it sounds out front mixed with the band the tweaking's done and you can just play. I haven't changed my settings for a long time, the soundman can leave my channel strip absolutely flat and it works. Big plus is that I'm setup/packed up in no time.

 

[fek]

I didn't warm to playing direct right away, took a lot of listening out front to the mains and tweaking and tweaking, but I got it there eventually.
Once you like how it sounds out front mixed with the band the tweaking's done and you can just play. I haven't changed my settings for a long time, the soundman can leave my channel strip absolutely flat and it works. Big plus is that I'm setup/packed up in no time.

I figure with the FRFR set up, I can do most of the tweaking at home and hopefully be pretty close to spot on when going direct. Our rehearsal PA, live PA, and sound guy will be the same each time so that will help. Get it close and then tweak to the room.