Question for rack users

[Destroying Angel]

I've been thinking of starting a rack sometime in the near future and i was wondering what do you guys have in your rack setups? What do you use them for?

I don't want a bunch of stuff thats going to use up alot of space and suck out tone if im never going to use it. Im not into efx processors or anything like that, and i will most likely use my amps tone, so i have no interest in preamps either. So at this point im not even sure if i'd get good use out of a rack.

[vinterland]

So at this point im not even sure if i'd get good use out of a rack.

I think you answered your own question. You don't want a rack pre amp and you don't want processors, the only thing left for you to rack is possibly a tuner or power conditioner.

[ErikH]

I agree with vinterland. Your preferences dictate that you don't need one. I have 2 pieces of rack gear, EQ (used for monitors) and a Intellifex LTD. Guess where they're sitting? In the closet collecting dust...well the SKB rack case is anyway. I'll use it for recording and adding effects but not in my rig anymore.

[Destroying Angel]

I think you answered your own question. You don't want a rack pre amp and you don't want processors, the only thing left for you to rack is possibly a tuner or power conditioner.

I understand that but i don't know much about racks. Just looking to see what other people have in theirs and what they do. Then i'll decide whether its worth it. Right now the only things that im considering are a tuner, power conditioner, and a BBE sonic maximizer(or something like it). I know alot of people have racks the size of refrigerators and i can;t think of what all of that stuff is doing.

[The Golden Boy]

My main bass rig is a rack setup. Power supply, tuner, amp.


I mounted a fan to the upper rack rail for heat dissipation.

[ErikH]

All a rack system is, 90% of the time, is a replacement for a amp head and stompboxes (TGB's is a perfect simplistic example). Some like having a separate pre-amp and power amp and using rack effect units and such. It's a way of keeping everything in one place with minimal cables but the problem is, tone sucking. Granted, they're better today then they used to be but if you like what you got, then there's no need for anything more than what you had mentioned....power conditioner, tuner and sonic maximizer. That's perfectly reasonable. The other 10% do what you're wanting to do.

TGB, are those bus times on the tape above your pre-amp?

[The Golden Boy]

TGB, are those bus times on the tape above your pre-amp?

I gotsta be on time, brother!

[ErikH]

I gotsta be on time, brother!

[tone4days]

doesnt sound like you have much use for a rack at all, especially for the expense .. you could get a peterson strobostomp tuner and a bbe stomp box which would be easier to deal with

i have a rack with a power conditioner, tuner, effects, preamp, and power amp ... all my presets are controlled by a midi foot controller ... total tonal flexibility

but if you dig your combo's sound, and don't use effects ..i don't know why you'd get into a rack setup

is there something specific you are hoping to achieve with your sound that you arent getting currently?

good luck
t4d

[Mincer]

I use a full 6- spaces:
Behringer Line mixer
Oberheim Digital Echoplex for Looping
Boss GT Pro effects/preamp (directly to powered speakers)
Boss VF-1 effects for Piezo pickups
Roland GI-10 midi converter
Roland XV-5050 for guitar synth

All this gets mixed into the line mixer, with the Echoplex in the effects send, so I can loop any signal. All controlled with a Behringer FCB-1010 midi controller.

It is silly to get a rack if you don't need it. I eventually plan on replacing my rack with a laptop for live use, but that my be a year off yet.

[Skarekrough]

The appeal of going rack-mount as far as components goes is for effects units and preamps.

If you have no desire to use either then it sounds like you need a rack-mount unit like you need a hole in the head.

[kherman]

Rack power strip.
Rack tuner.
Junk drawer.
Wireless.
EQ.
Compressor.

[Zerberus]

....I don't want a bunch of stuff thats going to use up alot of space and suck out tone if im never going to use it. Im not into efx processors or anything like that, and i will most likely use my amps tone, so i have no interest in preamps either. So at this point im not even sure if i'd get good use out of a rack.

Then, what exactly DO you want a rack for, seeing as you have nothing to put into it?

You answered your own question, thinks me....

[Destroying Angel]

considering a tuner, power conditioner, and a BBE sonic maximizer, then mount my noise gate/blues driver in the rack since they're always on