bose l1

hans halmackenreuter · #1 09-12-2011, 05:59 PM

the last time i went out to listen to gig, i saw that the bass player and the guitar player were using the bose l1 system and i was very impressed by the sound of both guys. the location was a common sized bar, but the sound was amazing.

does anyone of you had some experience with this system?

(Bose L1 Portable Systems - Live Sound - Concert Loudspeakers)

John Link · #2 09-12-2011, 06:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hans halmackenreuter

the last time i went out to listen to gig, i saw that the bass player and the guitar player were using the bose l1 system and i was very impressed by the sound of both guys. the location was a common sized bar, but the sound was amazing.

does anyone of you had some experience with this system?

(Bose L1 Portable Systems - Live Sound - Concert Loudspeakers)

Been using one with two bass units for about four years and I love it. I have the first generation (bought it used) and have been playing about 50 gigs a year with it without a problem, even in rooms that hold around 1500 guests. I run an archtop guitar, a vocalist and backing tracks through it. I'm thinking about getting the small version for small restaurant gigs I play as a single.

hans halmackenreuter · #3 09-12-2011, 06:29 PM

great to hear, that i'm not the only who is impressed by this system. may i ask if you go directly with you archtop into the bose, or do you have any kind of preamp in between?

rio · #4 09-12-2011, 10:58 PM

The pianist in the trio I play in has one, and it is really very nice. I play upright and electric bass in that group, so I haven't tried any archtops through it, but I would imagine it working pretty well. We use it for his keyboard if the gig doesn't have a piano, and for vocals since the three of us sing in harmony on some tunes. I have run my six string bass (tuned an octave below guitar tuning) through it on occasion, and it really sounded nice.

The one down side is that there is a dead spot if you sit close to the system - the tweeter part is way up on the top and the bass comes from the bottom, so if you are positioned incorrectly you will get some weird cancellation and not really be able to hear yourself clearly.

bananafist · #5 09-13-2011, 03:21 AM

I've used, and listened to others using the L1 system in various clubs and folk clubs locally, (50-300 people). These audiences are listeners who have come to listen, not get drunk or eat to music (!) and so audience noise levels are not a problem. That said, the sound has always been clear and really good. Not experienced the phasing problems mentioned above.

Paul Kinnear · #6 09-13-2011, 06:57 AM

Hi Hans, we have been using one for about 3 years now. I have been using a 7 string archtop direct into the L1 2 's mixing unit. We also put vocals and another guitar into the unit. It is some of the best money I've spent on equipment ever. Sounds fantastic and the setup is very easy. We have used it at very small restaurant gigs as well as large outdoor tent functions. I highly recommend it.

JohnW400 · #7 09-13-2011, 08:32 AM

I bought it when it first came out used one for a couple of gigs.

The plus - Sounded fine.

The minuses:
4pcs to cart, set up and break down. (bass module, power amp , 2 speaker arrays)

All the controls were on the floor in the power amp. (I heard they changed this now)

No reverb. ($2100 amp and no reverb?)

I ultimately sold it. I had demo'd it against an AER and an AI head with a Reazors edge speaker. Unfortunately not in the same stores. In hind sight I should have bought the AI head or even the AER. Now I'm GAS'n for and Evans.