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[andrew gissing]

I put this thread up about 6 months ago:

http://srforums.prosoundweb.com/index.php/m/342658/4389/#msg _342658

I've talked here and there with some people about directions to take; I'm still unsure.

I have however made a start by building up non-lighting stuff like 3 phase cables, distribution boards and such. I figure no matter what lights I get that back end won't change much (I know dimmers take 3 phase and some fixtures are on normal circuits).

However, I've just found out about an auction being held in a few weeks:

http://www.avla.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&view =frontpage&Itemid=53

There are a number of pics


Things that caught my interest:
* box truss (various lengths, bits and pieces to go with it)
* HMI follow spot
* the odd 56/64
* 575 watt DMX wash
* 575 watt stage DMX wash
* 575 watt 8ch moving head profile
* 575 watt 16ch moving head profile
* 575 watt intelligent light 8ch DMX or standalone
* L.E.D DMX wash/strobe
* L.E.D Par 65 DMX or stand alone

My current thinking is that now may be the ideal opportunity to buy. I'd go and get it now rather than build up over the next few years like I thought I would.

I've yet to see the gear in person; i'll do that later this week.

My first question is brands. I suspect 'cause there are no brands listed for the lights that they are not Martin etc. Looking at the PA gear I suspect all the lights are of chinese origin.

So my first question regards buying a good product. If you recognise any of the brands, or have experience with chinese lights - what's your thoughts there ?

Second question is the root cause of why i've been stuck.

How does one go about designing a light show from scratch ? As I said in my previous post, I know all about 1990's club level light rigs. I've no desire to replicate it if there is a better way.

My main sticking point is what lights do I put in front of the stage pointing at the band ?

I figure I can put up a back truss and hang whatever off it; I can put up side trusses; and put lights inc moving heads on the stage itself.

But what goes out front ?

If I got the kind of gear listed above, how do you put this in front of the stage - do you need a box truss on winches or is there some kind of pushup tripod that will take the weight of these lights ?

And how many lights do you stick out the front if they are colour changers, and esp if they are movers.

Largest stage I usually work with is about 10m across; mostly 5-6 at the most.

I hope I'm not asking the impossible; or having you all roll your eyes - i'm well aware of the posts on the sound side that keep coming up over and over again..

Thanks in advance...

Andrew

[James Feenstra]

those movers look like mac 250 rip offs, apparently with less channels and a bigger bulb.

i don't know of any 8 channel moving heads either...even washes

[Phil LaDue]

Get the truss and cabling, you'll thank me when copper prices go back up.

Some of the audio stuff is very sketchy.

Definitely check everything out in person and ask to examine their service records.

As with anything sold at auction "Caveat emptor."

[Dan Mills]

Get the cable if it goes for the right price, only get the truss if you have the skills to examine it and if the inspection records look right. Used rigging and support kit makes me nervous if I don't know the history.

Most of the rest looks low end to me, but that can have quite a nice ROI if you are in the right market.

Check spares availability before even thinking about those moving lights!

You often find that the real win at these sales is not the major items, but the boxes of accessories which sometimes go for almost no money and can sometimes contain wonders (I had a dozen brand new mke2 turn up in one that I bought for less then $20).

Regards, Dan.

[andrew gissing]

Thanks guys; i'll check it out later this week.

I think the truss may be global truss co - or from penn.

I was thinking along Dan's lines - an ROI for the kind of stuff I do.

No-one notices brand names at the level i'm at. They just see if it's effective or not - sound or lights.

I won't be online for a day but will check back later in the week.


andrew

[andrew gissing]

The truss is soundking.

http://www.soundking.com/en/en-a1.php

Made in china. probably the 290 version.

It's one thing for moving lights to cease functioning; quite another for the trussing on the stage to collapse and injure.

I've heard/seen comments about the quality of chinese steel and such; is this something I should be concerned with here ?

Website seems to project the right information; also google in oz shows a number of places which stock it, so it appears ok.

I'm told that this truss mates with penn truss using bolts; but the soundking egg's & pins dont work with either penn or global.

Base plates are large circles of heavy metal (iron/steel) with 4 bolts sticking out.

As for the movers, they are all either HMI or unbranded. Supposodly mac 500/600 copies.

I figured that they weighed too much for what i'd want to be doing at most of my gigs.

But at a price point, they would be great for other sorts of gigs - maybe I need to try and get more work in that area.


So.. thoughts on truss ?