b7l4s Posted July 12, 2019 Share Posted July 12, 2019 So, just looking for reassurance here… the issue is that for gigs in tight venues my rig often ends up where I can’t reach it once we’re playing. I don’t go through the PA for these gigs, and I often only use a head and cab(s) i.e. no pedal board or effects etc. but especially if it’s going well we tend to get louder as the gig goes on, or I sometimes want to tweak the EQ to compensate for something mid-set. I am then in the situation where I have to rely on the keyboard player (or in dire circumstances the drummer) to twiddle the knobs, with sometimes less than predictable results... For these venues I’m happy enough with my class D micro head, so one solution would be to have my cabs in their usual place (on top of the keyboard players combo) and the head discreetly positioned in front of all that keyboard and drum nonsense, so I still have control of my own sound/volume. The question then is how long can the speaker lead be before I get problems? Rightly or wrongly, with something beefier pushing the watts, like my old school TE head, I wouldn’t worry so much about long leads, but with a 200-watt class D working at 80% or more on the volume control it just feels like I’m asking a lot of it already, and doing this means asking even more… is that nonsense? I’m hoping that decent quality 6 metre speaker cable would look the same to the amp as a 1 metre one… but like I said, just looking for reassurance. I don’t want to provoke the magic smoke. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roman_sub Posted July 12, 2019 Share Posted July 12, 2019 (edited) You should be fine going with a (much) longer speaker cable. At the kind of cable lengths you are talking, I can’t see a cable length increase affecting the amp’s ability to drive the speakers. I doubt you’d notice much of difference until you start going to 3 digit cable lengths in metres... I don’t think the amp being Class D makes a difference here (other than that the headroom / volume constraints you referred to) Edited July 12, 2019 by roman_sub 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b7l4s Posted July 12, 2019 Author Share Posted July 12, 2019 Thanks! I just needed telling I think - there was no 'science' behind my concern, just a nagging feeling that I should confirm it was not a problem 🙂 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bazzbass Posted July 13, 2019 Share Posted July 13, 2019 If your amp and cabs have speakons, use them , coz 1/4" over 6 feet across a stage is asking to be tripped over and kicked out. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b7l4s Posted July 15, 2019 Author Share Posted July 15, 2019 I use them with my 'big' speakers, but this small setup doesn't have them at either end... That said, we tend to be quite good at running cables where they won't be a trip hazard, so I would do what I could to make sure I didn't tempt fate. The amp would be side-stage rather than anywhere it could cause a nuisance. We all go wireless for guitars and mics, which helps enourmously with keeping the stage area clear. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bertbass Posted July 15, 2019 Share Posted July 15, 2019 Over 50 feet in length and you'll start to hear a drop in volume. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Dare Posted July 15, 2019 Share Posted July 15, 2019 6 hours ago, bertbass said: Over 50 feet in length and you'll start to hear a drop in volume. Not so. Use heavy (at least 2.5mm cross section per conductor) cables and you'll be fine. I sometimes use 25 metre cables with my PA speakers (4mm cross section) and they're absolutely fine. Of course, if you use doorbell wire, you may have an issue. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Si600 Posted July 16, 2019 Share Posted July 16, 2019 I have nothing constructive to add by way of technical consideration, but what a genius idea! Have all the twiddly buttons and settable things close by with the cab elsewhere. Of course, if the punter in front of you is a bit carefree with their drink you may lose everything rather than just a couple of pedals. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b7l4s Posted July 17, 2019 Author Share Posted July 17, 2019 Thanks for all the replies everyone - I found a picture that hopefully illustrates the problem I’m trying to fix – I’m in the poncey shirt, and that’s my gear behind the keyboard player… It sits on top of his combo, which I usually like because it’s a bit higher up and projects better than being on the floor. In a small stage area like this I reckon 6 metres / 20 feet will be plenty for my needs, so I've ordered a good quality cable safe in the knowledge that I’m not tempting bad things to happen! In a bigger area the problem doesn’t really exist. Regarding putting the amp in the firing line of enthusiastic beer slingers, I’ve hatched a plan involving using one of the flight cases that comes to every gig as a makeshift stand that will fit neatly under the keyboards (by the wall), so everything should be safe and out of the way (i.e. well behind the front-of-stage line) but still easily reachable. Hopefully problem solved 😊 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maude Posted July 19, 2019 Share Posted July 19, 2019 I think my only concern with your set up would be, what hearing protection is the keyboard player using? 🙂 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b7l4s Posted July 22, 2019 Author Share Posted July 22, 2019 He does use hearing protection - we all do! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goingdownslow Posted July 22, 2019 Share Posted July 22, 2019 On 15/07/2019 at 11:25, bertbass said: Over 50 feet in length and you'll start to hear a drop in volume. Agree, if I stand 50 feet away from my cab it does not sound as loud as standing next to it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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