Hello, I havent been active in a long time because life got in the way, was going to create a new account here then realized I already HAD one a long time ago when things were... better. 
(pre-corona world, more money available, etc.)
Anyway...
So i'm planning on building some PA speakers. There's no rush, because I wont have anywhere to store them for like a year, it's just what I like to call a "slow research" project. I might get busy with life for a month or two, remember I have the same problem needing solutions and come back, just so people know.
I'm a big fan of Bill Fitzmaurice's designs. Or at least i'm a big fan of his logic anyway, I mean it all makes sense to me. Short version I plan to finally order his all everything CD sometime this year and once I have the storage space start building things - even if i'm not sure what specific things.
What i'm wondering is what ELSE should I consider building, ordering plans for, or outright buying on the used market?
I should probably start over from zero so were all on the same page though.
I'm looking for advice for how far DIY PA speakers can take me. On one hand i'm between bands (for a long time now) but was wanting to get back into music, build some things up as a hobby, and eventually play smaller gigs. I've also been taking some sound production type classes going back to college after many years as well and slowly learning about everything up to power shaded inverted J-stacks - but i'm guessing for insurance reasons and other hassles flying speakers MAY be more than i'm looking to do. I would also like to have stuff to borrow to kids/nephews/friends if they want to go run a PA rig for a little side cash (not planning to really do this myself, too busy). If someone wants to rent it - fine with me long as it doesn't blow up - but it's not going to be big shows needing tech riders playing for 10,000 people.
Just because i'm learning more about HOW some things are done for bigger live sound I have no experience yet, so i'm totally open to well meaning advice steering me to consider other designs along with, or instead of, or just buying used gear.
I don't know how big of shows I will "need" to play, I don't know if the realistic upper limit for what i'm planning will be 500 people or 2000 people or what. Feel free to suggest though.
My most salient points and thinking process that steered me to Bill's stuff:
- #1 I want good sound. I've heard too many rigs even commercial rigs that suck. People should be saying "holy crap did that sound amazing".
- #2 all this including the woodworking itself to build, the gigs, and borrowing to others my PA gear is basically a hobby to start, until or unless it's not. I may build more equipment than is strictly needed for the smallest starting shows because i'm using speakers elsewhere when not at a gig or sending the nephew off with a PA setup while i'm playing somewhere else one weekend.
Strict analysis of cashflow isn't required at the outset for a hobby, things like the need to buy used name brand gear because you can sell it for what you got it for is not (at this point) my top priority. I'm also not trying to make pointless work for myself just to match what can easily be bought better I mean, like if building subs is smart but tops not worth the work, you can push me in that direction. Yet I expect to have two or even three complete sets of speakers to cover "small, medium, and 'large-relative' gigs" - I'd like to buybuild once and be set for the next two decades that I can say yes to any situation that wants to book the band that needs us to bring PA gear or has a questionable quality house PA. Ending up with 6 or 8 LABhorns, Tubas, or possibly 12pi's and the tops to match is not at all out of the question, but how big of a show will that play to blow peoples socks off? Much beyond that exceeds the hobby budget.
My assumption is even bigger gigs would HAVE a good PA to plug into, so i'm just looking for the system that will help "make a name" by saying Yes to any gig that calls and giving them amazing sound even if we have to haul it ourself to insure that sound.
- Now you might be already wanting to suggest speakers whose bass will make the gods weep but - we plan to self roadie things. After a night of playing hauling those cabs back out get heavier. I might be able to get another db or two from heavier wood but Bill's use of lighter wood and more bracing and smaller overall pack space makes sense to me. Also not having monster cabs with 2-8 drivers. Plus i'm less keen on stacking things three high for instance. Keep It Simple.
- Will need deep bass. I'm prone to things like Pendulum, but assuming a rig that will cover anything from rock thru drum'n'bass is a good plan, so his Tuba cabs over Titan cabs if I go Bill trading extension for outright efficiency matters. LABhorns? 12pi? I understand and accept that things like LABhorns are meant to run like at least 4 preferably 6-8, just tell me the space needed for monster bass. Yet systems that scale down for smaller gigs (or other speakers - I want to build some of his Tuba HT's for home theater too anyways, someone else used them for a PA in the corners and said they worked great) are also relevant.
- Pack space matters more for the small or/and medium rig because the large rig would have a dedicated trailer. If less than 4 LABhorns sound like crap we need a different speaker for those situations, also the idea of two speakers on more power with less pack space that might produce the same volume as four is nice on one hand, unless the cabs are painfully heavy or we dont have the plug power. I dont want to haul 8 LABhorns to every single situation, but i'm not against having different speakers for different gigs and loading the ones I need. If we have to go down stairs (and some places I expect to possibly play require that) those lighter Tubas start looking more desirable than a louder or more efficient 12pi, the latter may not even always fit either.
- Efficiency matters. I know Bill's designs push for efficiency, even if not absolute efficiency at all costs, but gigs with limited amplifier power are likely. But so is having more than one set of speakers if there's a big difference.
Lots of detail! Hopefully not too much. In my mind everything steers me to his designs - OR considering LABhorns - but i'm very curious what else is worth a consideration!
