I need a small amp as a monitor...tired of dragging my HUGE Alesis Sumo 300 around, and I can't tilt it to point at my head anyway.

Thinking of getting a $40 or cheaper used amp at Music Go Round. Anyone here do something similar? Success or not?

First, I don't consider the Alesis Sumo 300 a huge amp to drag around. Otherwise, it really depends on how you want to hear your keys.

If the $40 amp is in good shape, you will hear something. It would not work for me.

Yep, a $40 used amp is bottom feeder material. You get what you pay for dude.

Mike

Ask BluesKeys how he likes his IEMs.

If you've got someone running sound and you don't have to worry about your overall mix and balance with the rest of the band, this might be an option.

Of course, it's not in the $40 budget.

This is the case. We either play at places with house sound (like tomorrow night) or my keyboard goes through the mains that the guitar player provides. I just need to monitor my own keyboard. I have an amp stand that would angle it right at me. I used to use that Sumo 300 (and man I don't know how someone can't consider that thing huge -- it weighs 75 pounds!)

We don't typically have loud stage volume. Would not a $40 amp suffice in this case?

Yes, 75 lbs. is huge in my book as well.

I think we're all working off the presumption that we play better when we hear exactly what we're playing - not simply "notes and timing" but the true timbre and nuance as well. That can't be had with a $40 amp.

I have far too much respect for both my gear and my ears to ever subject myself to that. I'd rather go with NO monitor and rely on FOH than listen to a harsh, cheap amp.

YMMV, of course.

Alright, I understand this is not a weightlifting forum so 75 lbs seems like a lot.



All things considered, it might work in your case. Check the return policy.

My opinion is that you will try that ONCE, then the Sumo will look (and sound) good to you once again!

Besides, there are some tilt back amp solutions out there.

I had a similar situation; I needed to just monitor myself, so I bought a used Roland PM-10 drum amp....small, wedge shape, light, and with a handle. I set it up on a guitar amp stand which I adjust up as high as possible (still isn't that high).
Works fine for me, in all but the loudest situations.

I know this is not very professional, but on small gigs it works.

ProfD, I run a lot and lift weights 3 days a week (plus I have the strength of 10 men!), and a 75 pound amp is still a big amp.

Well, I've been talked out of it for now. May keep my eyes open for a steal on a decent smaller amp though.

You mean for a vocal monitor? If so, I use a TC Electronic Voice Solo, and recommend it highly.

As far as an amp that tilts, you can get an amp stand that'll do that pretty cheaply...

dB

I wasn't questioning your strength. I know that in saving up for retirement, you don't want to over-spend on music-related gear.

Of course, not every gig requires carrying a robust monitoring system. Especially if PA and/or monitors are provided.

A 75 lb amp is big compared to an IEM or headphones. As a self-contained system i.e. mixer, speaker, power amp, etc., it is not IMO.

I mean a keyboard monitor. I have a flimsy amp stand that can accommodate a small amp. I think my Sumo would crush it.

Isn't a smallish powered monitor a better answer for you? For band gigs I use one JBL EON10 G2 for monitoring keys and vocals - about 22 pounds - it's compact and quite loud enough. Plus it tilts back so it's easy to use as a "wedge" replacement.

I know you weren't questioning my strength -- only a FOOL would do so!

You are correct though that I don't like spending much money on gear. I would LOVE to spend a lot of money on gear and have a ton of things, but I'm a prudent sort and don't play often enough to justify getting everything I want. I DO want to retire early too -- maybe by 55. I'm watching my pennies to be able to do so.

Steve, if you can retire by 55 I envy you. The way things are going with pensions etc here in the UK, I'll still be dragging around a 25kg piano when I'm 80!

Price is the problem there.

I've worked very hard at saving and investing my money since age 23 with this as a goal (on very modest income). My wife has been a stay-at-home mom for almost 12 years now, so we could have worked it out to retire even earlier had she continued working. She should re-enter the workforce in 2-3 more years, and then that may provide even better opportunities. I think though that even if I feel I have enough to retire for good earlier than age 55 that I would still work until 55. That's early enough I think. I want to still be fit enough and healthy enough to travel, train for marathons, triathlons, hike in the Grand Canyon, etc. when I'm retired. I've never been passionate about working, so I greatly look forward to the day I don't have to anymore.

I agree with you here Steve. I would love to have more gear, but I have to have gigs to justify buying anything. Only things that are mandatory to my rig are bought, and I have to be confident that I will be earning enough in up-coming gigs that I won't be buying something out of my pocket.

It would be good if you really could afford to retire at an early age. People from my parents generation (from the depression era) often dropped dead just as "retirement' age was approaching. People these days have better health care and more advanced medications that can keep us alive longer. Retiring with all the money in the world is pretty meaningless if you can't get out of your rocking chair to do anything other than breath.


Cheers,


Mike T.

I still use 1 JBL Eon 10, the first generation kind as a stage amp, plus a monitor for rest of the band. It's not the greatest and am definitely going to upgrade (probably EV SXA 360 or QSC K series) but it gets the job done. It's loud enough for most of my gigs, it cuts through the mix very well, although some upper mid frequencies tend to be harsh and piercing. I use it cause it's reliable, super light-weight and portable, rests back at an angle for easy sweet spot positioning and at the end of the day get the job done.

Until I find a good deal on a pair of EV's or QSC's I don't feel the need to replace it.

I sometimes use a small Kustom KMA35 keyboard amp which I think cost less than $100 on an angled amp stand like you are talking about and it actually sounds pretty good...

Note to self: Do not mess with Steve or Prof in person

Heh--why do you think they called it "Sumo"?!?

Once upon a time before gigs that paid fairly well pretty regularly on occassion, I used a self-powered monitor speaker purchased from Radio Shack and mounted on the top of a standard mic stand. It was loud and accurate enough to do the job without breaking the bank or my back....

Is Peavey KB100 cheap enough?

Actually, I swithed to wired IEMs. Life's good when your monitoring rig weights 50 grams.

bloodyMary (and others using IEMs),

Do you have any other input going into your IEMs besides keys? The reason I haven't done them is because the gigs I do are so small there either is the club PA or just the instruments on stage providing the sound, so there's no monitor mix for me to mix in with IEMs.

I am very interested in this question as well. I would like to get personal IEM but mix in some other sound via mic at small gigs.

IEMs... Yes, I run a line feed from FOH to one channel of my small mixer. I can then adjust the levels of my keys v. FOH to my desire. In some odd situations (spread out stage with unmic'd guitars), I've added an ambiance mic to my mix as well. If the stage volume levels stay reasonable, I usually use only one IEM. If it gets too loud, I plug in the other one.

I love my IEMs.

Ken