Keira WitherKay wrote:
rather buy more/better guitars and backline gear .......and more much more whiskey
A couple a' quarts of beer would fix it so the intonation would not offend your ear - Joe's Garage, Frank Zappa ?
I dunno though - better sound quality sets you apart from the rank and file and does have an effect on the audience's enjoyment - whether they know it consciously or not - just like getting all the notes right. Venue owners especially notice it - and they are really the ones you have to impress.
I knew a solo cover act here in Cape Town a decade ago who used what I first thought was an overkill system for pubs (Shure wireless mic and guitar system, Roland Mixer, and a bi-amped system with Crown amps and EV speakers). But he ended up virtually cornering the market for nearly a decade - everyone wanted him, not only because he was good at his job, but largely because he sounded great too.
IMO - that perfectionism should extend to every aspect of your show, from instrument to PA speakers, from practice to performance and even spending extra time to get your backing tracks right (if you use them).
So why, if you are not prepared to compromise on your instrument or backline, would you do so on the PA - which does all the heavy lifting? Even for a small show. Granted, you have to work your way up to buying a more expensive system, but, as a pro, it's your
business and you owe it to yourself to invest in the tools of your trade and upgrade them as and when possible.
