Using the KPA in a pub (rock blues) band, story so far...

    Hi all, I play in a local pub band. I have been a working guitarist for 40 years, always used valve amps.. I had my trusty Mesa Triaxis rig nicked and bought a KPA to replace it, so from one gig the next completely different amp set up.


    I have been using a KPA for live use since May, playing through a pair of ev elx12p FOH, and one ev elx12p for my stage monitor. I was very impressed immediately by the FOH guitar sound in the band mix. However was not happy with the onstage sound I noted the FRFR monitor sounded ok until the drummer started then it was difficult to hear my guitar. Turning the volume of the monitor up did not help, when it was loud enough to hear clearly it was enormously loud spilling all over the place.. and pretty top and bottom heavy to boot.


    I used the tone controls in the monitor output section to make it acceptable, (ok but not enchanted!). Sometime later at a gig the singer threw a towel which landed over the horn in my monitor and realised the onstage guitar sound was better. So I re EQ'd the monitor output (clipped a load more treble and pushed middle) to emulate the "happy accident" now it sounds and feels great on and off stage..


    My point is, if you set up your KPA rigs right to work FOH, you may be suppressed how much you may need to alter the monitor EQ to get the sound / feel you like onstage,( or it is with my kind of playing) but it is possible, don't be afraid to radically alter the tone for the monitor output to get and good onstage sound. (don't look at the dB numbers!, I did, big mistake!.) use your ear at the stage volume to get it right.. in my case it was way more than I previously figured ~(This is because I wanted to get best representation of my FOH sound onstage and did not want to alter anything too much, but I was well wrong.
    John


    I know this info is abundant on the forum. but I thought I would just let you guy's know how I am getting on. This KPA is truly a fantastic device. :)

    Ciao Xhavier :)


    yeah, it all comes down to linearity and diffusion patterns in the end. Not all the "FRFR" sound the same, and YMMV depending on what you use.


    Glad you found a solution for your current rig :thumbup:

    What is interesting is that the OP use the same speakers for FOH and and stage monitor (EV ZLX12-P) and he still has to apply drastic EQ. It shows how the acoustic response difference can be important between the venue and the stage.


    And how your monitor can behave differently from one venue to the other.

    Yeah interesting to hear, but be aware that the FOH guy most likely will also EQ the PA to fit the room, so it makes sense that you have to EQ the monitor to fit the stage.


    On stage you generally want a more mid heavy sound, as that is where the guitar lives mostly. Easier for you to hear yourself that way!

    Quote from Pick909

    What is interesting is that the OP use the same speakers for FOH and and stage monitor (EV ZLX12-P) and he still has to apply drastic EQ. It shows how the acoustic response difference can be important between the venue and the stage.


    And how your monitor can behave differently from one venue to the other.


    Yes. They might be placed differently as well (in terms of height from the ground, for example)

    I use the ZLX12p as a stage monitor and have the bass at -2 and the sub option off or they tend to boom when the volume goes up. Have never thought about it but the sound of drums on stage is probably a lot different than through FOH, which might help explain some of the difference in EQ requirements.

    Quote from Booyah

    Have never thought about it but the sound of drums on stage is probably a lot different than through FOH, which might help explain some of the difference in EQ requirements.

    Yes, it is certainly one of the unpredictable variables that can mess your monitoring tone, especially on a new stage.