Fender Passport 150: opinions wanted

Subject: RE: Fender Passport 150: opinions wanted
From: GUEST
Date: 08 Aug 13 - 12:38 PM

Subject: RE: Fender Passport 150: opinions wanted
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 17 May 04 - 02:59 AM

I have been quite unimpressed with the Passports I have heard, and much more impressed with the Peavey. The Barden of England uses one and it has given him no trouble. Oddly the best bit of the Passport package was the mic, but a bit light on bass.

Bose speakers are usually just too expensive, and I really dislike that tube-ish effect on any real bass (a bit like blowing across a milk bottle). Not such a problem if you don't use kick drum or bass guitar, but could be a nuisance if you use a bodhran.

Subject: RE: Fender Passport 150: opinions wanted
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 16 May 04 - 09:45 PM

Another thingI am thinking is that there are four speaker outputs so presumably you could add a second set of speakers to beef up the sound.....which is okay, but some of those noisy sods in the audience deserve to have their ears ruptured, and I will be just the psychotic to try it. I am thinking of adding those wafer thin carlsboro speakers. Does anyone have any experience of doing this

Subject: RE: Fender Passport 150: opinions wanted
From: dwditty
Date: 16 May 04 - 09:40 PM

If it is sound quality AND portability you want, the Bose Personal Amplification System (PAS) is the one. The sound is unlike any small PA you have ever heard. PM me for details.

dwditty

Subject: RE: Fender Passport 150: opinions wanted
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 16 May 04 - 09:16 PM

I have both systems the 250 and the 150. Boy do I envy those low prices you yanks pay.

The 150 I have used more or less evry day for about a year doing gigs in old peoples homes. It is reliable and compact and has power in abundance for really small venues. i guess you could do gigs in small pubs if you had pure noise sound source DI-ing a synth or something similar - finicky sound sources like acoustic guitars would find it. The levels you would want with a noisy audence would soon have it distorting.

The monitoring is plain weird if you need a powered monitor - you take line out of the aux send and control it with rev/aux pot on your mic input line. It also has a crap feature called the VIP control which makes the music dip in volume if you have it turned up - absolute madness! You think where the hell has the music gone if you have it turned up by mistake.

I have less experience with the 250 - a comparatively recent purchase.

I put a yamaha cpx 8 guitar and two other yamaha guitars through a yamaha acoustic guitar unit through a marshall 100 watt and out through the 1/4 inch jack sockets an from thence into the passport - smooth creamy sound - but punchy enough - even in noisy places. The fender mics supplied are okay but a bit lively. A beyer makes it less likely to pick up hums and whistles. I don't use the xlr sockets which are louder but as I say you are often in confined spaces with all the gear on top of each other so you have cut down on all possible sources of distortion.

Yeh go for it a nice system - but its like any equipment - you have use it and be prepared to persevere for it to yield up its secrets - I'm still just learning.
all the best
al

Subject: RE: Fender Passport 150: opinions wanted
From: bigchuck
Date: 16 May 04 - 05:47 PM

I have not been impressed with the Fender units I have played through. I don't like their sound and have not found them responsive to tweaking. The Kustoms sound better to my ear, but Peavey makes a unit for a bit more money (the Escort, I think) that is quite nice for small venues.

Sandy

Subject: RE: Fender Passport 150: opinions wanted
From: Opala
Date: 16 May 04 - 12:16 PM

I have used the P250 and now use the PD150. Great results with both. Most of the time I do solo gigs for nursing homes/private parties and other small venues. I run an electric guitar, mike and JS-5 through the system. I think the PD250 would be best, I just needed less weight. Opala

Subject: RE: Fender Passport 150: opinions wanted
From: GUEST,maryrrf
Date: 30 Sep 02 - 04:28 PM

I think it depends on what you're using the Passport for. I don't think it would do well for a rock band - not enough bells and whistles, for one thing. But for a small to moderate venue and acoustic instruments I've had nothing but compliments on the sound and from various people. Then again, I wasn't too happy about the breakdown less than six months after I bought it.... Mind you I'm talking about the Passport 250, not the 150.

Subject: RE: Fender Passport 150: opinions wanted
From: GUEST,Marion
Date: 30 Sep 02 - 04:17 PM

I did ask him to explain, Susan, and he just said that they don't sound very good. I didn't have time to try it out for myself that day.

Marion

Subject: RE: Fender Passport 150: opinions wanted
From: wysiwyg
Date: 30 Sep 02 - 03:33 PM

Hm, better go back and interrogate him.

~Susan

Subject: RE: Fender Passport 150: opinions wanted
From: GUEST,Marion
Date: 30 Sep 02 - 03:31 PM

Sorry, Susan, but the used one has been sold already. I'd still like to try one of these out sometime.

One thing I forgot to mention: when I was at the store and asked about it, the guy said, "Friends don't let friends buy Fender Passports."

Marion

Subject: RE: Fender Passport 150: opinions wanted
From: Willie-O
Date: 28 Sep 02 - 02:36 PM

Looks good. Haggle. I bet the mike that comes with the original isn't all that good anyway, but it's a good bargaining point and you DEFINITELY want to get a decent mike, better yet two.-stuff you will want to keep when you trade in the PA. They will make an economy system sound as good as it can. Good cables, depending what is missing, can easily cost you another $60, another bargaining point.

Is there any transferrable warranty on this unit? Bet not. Another bargaining point. given maryff's experience.

W-O

Subject: RE: Fender Passport 150: opinions wanted
From: clansfolk
Date: 28 Sep 02 - 02:06 PM

Greeting -

Don't want to put a cloud on your parade - I was listening to one today being demoed against a couple of other systems (some not quite as neat!) but I thought to sound was very thin and lacking umph? - if your mainly going to use it for your vocals a fiddle - (fiddle should be ok) you might get away with it if you get hold of a compressor etc.... (have a look at the Behringer "shark" - it's small neat and a very good price at the moment- 57.00 UKP also offers a lot of extras)

Also have a look at the Kustom KPA100, it packs quite neatly into a c(k)ustom "shopping trolly - about 325 UKP but the sound is a lot better (to my ears) and they are also going to offer a sub woofer bas unit to match

Carry it with one hand? - I wish I was young again - too many gigs in pubs maybe has taken its toll.....

Not trying to put you off as you may find it suits your needs today ok - hey and if you've got an offer to trade up with no loss in your investment - give it a try.

Pet

Subject: RE: Fender Passport 150: opinions wanted
From: Maryrrf
Date: 28 Sep 02 - 11:00 AM

I have the Fender Passport 250 and it has been great - I've gotten many compliments about the sound and I've used it for myself (me singing and acoustic guitar) and also for a four piece band. However, I've only had it for about six months and already had to have it in the shop - the main circuit board went. I suppose this could happen with anything but it kind of dampened my confidence. My only concern about the 150 would be that it might be very limiting - too small for most gigs. But it is a great deal more portable than the 250 and I think it would work fine for small venues.

Subject: RE: Fender Passport 150: opinions wanted
From: RichM
Date: 27 Sep 02 - 07:17 PM

Sounds like just what you need, Marion. Go for it.

Rich McCarthy

Subject: RE: Fender Passport 150: opinions wanted
From: wysiwyg
Date: 27 Sep 02 - 05:54 PM

No, but we are lusting after one anyhow. I love my Crae acoustic amp but it weighs a ton. I prefer to leave it at church rather than get an additional one for my partner.

~S~

Subject: RE: Fender Passport 150: opinions wanted
From: GUEST,Marion
Date: 27 Sep 02 - 05:49 PM

I guess that's an implicit endorsement, Susan; have you used one before yourself?

It's a regular one that I'm looking at: Fender Passport 150

Marion

Subject: RE: Fender Passport 150: opinions wanted
From: wysiwyg
Date: 27 Sep 02 - 05:15 PM

Tellya what, Marion, go ahead and get it, and we'll take it off your hands for the same $$ when you are ready to trade up! *G* PLUS that will mean you come to a Gathering here to deliver it! *G*

If you don't want it be sure to let me know! *G*

~Susan

Subject: RE: Fender Passport 150: opinions wanted
From: wysiwyg
Date: 27 Sep 02 - 05:04 PM

For details, go to ELDERLY, and enter FENDER PASSPORT in their search box. Up comes details and links to photos.

Marion, is it the regular or the Deluxe?

~Susan

Subject: Fender Passport 150: opinions wanted
From: GUEST,Marion
Date: 27 Sep 02 - 04:48 PM

Hello. I've found a used Fender Passport 150 for sale for $350 Canadian (about half of new price, although it doesn't include cables and microphone the way a new system does).

Does anyone have any opinions about its sound or mechanical dependability?

I would use it with a microphone for my voice and fiddle, and the pickup on my guitar. I'm thinking primarily of solo nursing home gigs. The main thing that attracts me to the Passport is its portability - it can be carried with one hand and isn't that heavy.

Thanks, Marion