If I buy this PA system, will it be worth it?

Question

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Squier-by-Fender-4-Channel-PA-System-100895127-i1153305.gc

So I could hook up 2 amps and 2 mics since it has 4 channels? I honestly don't know anything about this type of stuff. A link would be nice. But would this be good just to start off with for a band that has a guitar/vocalist, bass/vocalist, and a drummer? If you want to IM sometime that'd help...

Answer 1

I use two self-powered Mackie PA speakers.  That way I get all the sound I need and don't have to also carry an amp.  I've used these speakers for years and know other bands that use the same ones.  They have enough power for club gigs.  The guitarist and bassist should use their own amps and in larger places mic them and run them through the PA as well as their amps.  This is always necessary.  You'll need a small mixing board to connect the speakers to and to input things like vocal mics, or mics from instruments.  Sometimes keyboards or acoustic guitars may go directly into the board.  Plus you'll want an input available for a mP3 player or CD player in between sets.  This is a very basic setup with power for many/most situations.

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/S...

Answer 2

Yes, theoretically you could hook up 2 amps and 2 mics, but you don't generally plug amps into a separate PA as you're then double-amplifying the sound.  You're much better to use an amp for your guitarist, and an amp for your bassist, rather than running them through the PA - amps have a big impact on your sound and running guitar and bass (particularly a guitar) through a PA will change the sound fairly dramatically.  The way it tends to work on bigger gigs is that the amp is mic'ed separately (literally just a mic in front of the amp speaker) - although that may be what you mean (apologies if I'm teaching you how to suck eggs!).  The system you linked to is a pretty basic one and you won't get a huge amount of sound out of it - 80 watts is pretty minimal, my stereo at home has more power than that.  Good for a rehearsal room, maybe, but not much use for performing.  Fender stuff does tend to be really solid and reliable though.