speaker advice for yamaha p80 please

Steve and Lisa Cuss

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Apr 9, 2001, 9:56:17 AM4/9/01

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Hi All,

I am buying my wife (who is getting back into piano) a Yamaha P80 -
basically a clavinova without the console and speakers. I am toying with
different ideas for speaker/amplification and have about $350 - $400 to
spend.

If she would ever play out, it would likely be in a church or some setting
where we have a PA available. At home, we would need something to amplify
above as many as 25 singers - so something small should do.

I'd rather not do a keyboard amp - prefer a two speaker stereo system since
the clav has stereo samples. (Does that make sense?)

I play electric guitar (have an amp) and acoustic (have a direct
box/eq/preamp for playing out.)

Any recommendations on a decent small PA for under $400 (used)?
How about high powered computer speakers?
Bi-amped monitors?

Finally, what kind of power amp size would we need to amplify the piano to
cover 25 voices? (Around 100watts plenty?)

thnak you

Steve Cuss

Jonathan

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Apr 9, 2001, 9:59:48 PM4/9/01

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100 watts should be more than enough, providing the voices aren't miked up.
Could be too much when playing at low volumes. Try a hi-fi set up for that -
P80 has phono outputs.
I've heard good things about Mackie amps and 2nd hand you should find one
for the right price.
Go for 12" speakers with horns. 15's would be too bassy for your home needs.
Jonathan :o]

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Endo

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Apr 9, 2001, 11:17:50 PM4/9/01

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Stereo speakers for home use.

Yamaha MS60S is a nice small light amp that would probably fit your
bill.

Endo

alain racicot

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Apr 14, 2001, 3:05:14 AM4/14/01

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I'm in a similar situation, and maybe this can help:
I play an electric piano (RD600) in a "big band". I have been using a
Yorkville 200K keyboard amp so far, but I'm not satisfied with the sound.
Maybe, like Jonathan says, it's too powerful and the 15" speaker is too
bassy. For our last show, I rented a Mackie SRM 450, to check it out before
I buy another amp.
To my surprise, I obtained a sound that was close to the sound that I get
from my headphones, which is what I was looking for. Unfortunately, the
Mackie is kind of expensive and of course now I want to get one. I will
still need to add a small monitor because I always feel that I'm playing too
loud if I put the amp behind me, and I can't hear myself enough if it's in
front.
200 watts is a lot more than I really need, and with three full brass
sections, drums, a guitar and a bass, this band can be really loud.
I am still shopping around though, and if anyone else has suggestions
regarding the best way to amplify electric pianos, I could use some advice
too.

Alain

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Jonathan

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Apr 14, 2001, 11:06:21 PM4/14/01

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Alain, for gigging purposes you might like to take a serious look at the
Yamaha EMX mixer amps. I've got the 840ST which is 8 inputs, and there's at
least one other one (maybe the 640).
It's stereo - 200 watts per side - PLUS a 200 watt monitor amp built in!
I've realised the hard way that if you use 15 inch speakers, no problem, but
if you want to use 12's you've got to spend the money, JBL's, EV's, that
sort of thing.
Jonathan ;o}

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