RE: [Harp-L] PAS, Clean Amps, and the "crunch"

["Rufus Zee" <rufus.zee@xxxxxxxxx>]

I've heard the Bose PAS routinely bashed, it is intereting to hear 
a contrary opinion. I think that given the subjective nature I'd 
love to hear one in use.

Thanks for the great post.  

> -----Original Message-----
> From: harp-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx 
> [mailto:harp-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of icemanle@xxxxxxx
> Sent: Thursday, December 15, 2005 11:18 AM
> To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: Re: [Harp-L] PAS, Clean Amps, and the "crunch"
> 
> There are world class touring professional harmonica players 
> that lurk on this list - please consider what follows...
>  
> The Bose PAS is a new concept. Don't even approach it by 
> thinking of it as another PA or type of amplifier. Not only 
> does it have the ability to recreate cleanly and with a 
> crystal clear quality whatever signal is sent to it (vocals 
> especially), it also evenly distributes the sound throughout 
> the air of the environment in which it is used - inside or 
> outside. What you hear at the back of the room, at the side 
> of the room, behind the column holding up the stairs in the 
> room, is exactly the same sound (slight volume differences) 
> that is heard in front of the stage and on the stage. There 
> are NO hot spots, like in front of an amp or horn driven PA, 
> where you will be blasted with treble, only to lose the 
> ability to make out a vocalist's words once you move to the 
> left or right of the direct sound.
>  
> The sound is like a concentrated drop of green food coloring 
> in a small glass of water. It quickly distributes itself 
> equally throughout.
>  
> WHEN USED PROPERLY, it eliminates the need for monitors and a 
> separate monitor mix. What you hear is what everyone hears.
>  
> Imagine total control of your sound from the stage with the 
> confidence that this is EXACTLY what the audience hears.
>  
> There is a good reason that sound crews and companies are 
> VERY RESISTANT to having a band/performer use this system 
> with nothing more than a line out to their mixing boards and 
> the instructions to merely increase the volume of this signal 
> if and when needed to fill the room. It eliminates 90% of 
> their responsibilities and job. However, it puts TOTAL 
> CONTROL of the sound BACK INTO THE HANDS OF THE PERFORMERS.
>  
> Since everything is heard perfectly on stage, the performers 
> have a natural tendency to play with less volume. (This beats 
> the h*ll out of crankin' the stage amp and insisting that the 
> monitor signal of the vocals and the bass drum be pushed in 
> their face in order to hear 1/2 of the rest of the band).
>  
> As a harmonica player, if you have a small amp that gives you 
> THAT SOUND, bring it to the gig, get the volume to where it 
> gives you what you want without any feedback concerns, mic or 
> direct line it, and then bring it up in the BOSE system 
> (which is incredibly feedback resistant). If you also sing, 
> put your vocals through it. You won't ever have to strain to 
> push your sound out and strain to hear what it sounds like. 
> Imagine being able to perform with a very relaxed attitude, 
> no matter how high energy the music is.
>  
> Try it with a PigNose amp. You'll still be heard over 
> MrStevieRayGuitarPlayer.
>  
> Once you fine tune this system with your ultimate sound, you 
> will carry your ultimate sound with you to any venue, 
> regardless (to a point) of the differences in acoustics.
>  
> If you play theatres and large venues, you will retain total 
> control of your sound over a sound man's idea of what he 
> thinks you should sound like. Now, would this help with your 
> confidence level? Would this help eliminate any concerns 
> about the gig?
>  
> Harmonica players don't need the bass speakers, unless you 
> are playing a bass harmonica. This puts the system new at 
> $1800. Bose does not come down in price or offer discounts or sales.
>  
> Without the bass speakers, you have a 3 piece system (two 
> long skinny sticks and a base unit - sticks may weigh 10 lb 
> or less each, bass unit about 30). It sets up/breaks down in 
> less than 5 minutes.
>  
> Add the bass speakers (very light weight as well) for 
> enhancement on vocals and other instruments with a lower and 
> wider range of sound.
>  
> Through my basic system, I've mixed in trumpet, sax, keys, 
> line out from bass player, kick drum, conga mics, overhead 
> drum mic and harmonica, and been able to get an incredible 
> sound for my smooth jazz band live. The Mackey 12 channel 
> board rests on my keyboard stand, so I control the total 
> sound right from the stage.
>  
> Outside, we add a pair of small side speakers on stands and 
> turn them up just enough to fill out the sound. Granted, this 
> is pushing the one unit to its very max, sometimes a bit too 
> much, but look at the potential - especially if you start 
> using a second tower system or add on another bass unit with 
> 6 low end speakers.
>  
> Aside from that, the members of the band have a gas playing 
> at every gig, because it literally sounds like you are 
> playing inside a CD recording. You can bet we get very 
> creative in our improvisations. The audience has started 
> complimenting us on the overall sound even more than in how 
> well the musicians play.
>  
> So, take a trip into the 21st Century of sound possibilities. 
> You can purchase a system with a complete 30 day trial money 
> back period. Use it for a month and take it back. However, be 
> prepared to not think like you used to about sound. 
>  
> OPEN MIND IS REQUIRED.
>  
> The Iceman
>  
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Bill Hines <billhines4@xxxxxxxxxxx>
> To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
> Sent: Tue, 13 Dec 2005 20:16:34 -0500
> Subject: [Harp-L] PAS, Clean Amps, and the "crunch"
> 
> 
> So we haven't talked about the Bose PAS for a while, since it 
> came out a while ago really. How has the test of time treated 
> this unique alternative?
> Has the price come down any? It seemed back then that the 
> folks using it were the ones that weren't strictly blues, but 
> those that do a variety of styles that require the clean-ness 
> of something like the PAS (Iceman, Hunter, Papparozzi?).  
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