I design and build rack mount systems for tours all the time -going back to the 90s
You'll want Power Conditioner/distribution and onboard LED light for front and maybe even the back -because unlike pedals -since racks face forward -they are harder to see on a stage if you have an issue or need to change something.
Also recommend putting any pedals in a pull out drawer with an armored service loop,
Also, if you get over 3 U in size start considering a single rear mounted bulkhead for all your connections.
Also, consider which ISO standard you need based on how rugged you need based on how you are going to use and transport it.
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Originally posted by alex1fly View PostThanks all. I appreciate the perspectives. The tricky thing for me is that I've spent my entire 21 year guitar career on a few pieces of budget gear (think $350 combo amps, $200 MFX pedals, and free VSTs/plug-ins), and now wanting to up my processing game it's hard to know what to choose. Like, I read all these reviews and wonder things like "do I WANT amp-like feel or complex signal routing?" when in reality I've never played with any nice amps or complex pedalboards. Any of the reputable higher-end solutions - Kemper, Bias, Helix, Fractal, G System, Tech 21, Amplifire, Headrush, Quad Cortex - will be a massive playground. I just know that I want to quickly switch between playing some ridiculous djent and U2 with a few taps, not spend forever programming and learning menus, and have it easily route into my FRFR system for playing live - bonus points if it'll apply processing to a microphone or a bass guitar on a separate input/output, too, so I can do all my processing in one unit.
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The new PSA is tiny. And has all of the same functionality. Seriously thinking of getting one for recording. I owned a PSA-1 in the past.
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I still have my SansAmp PSA-1 and a Roland SRV-330 in a 2-space as a backup rig if everything else fails.
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A SansAmp PSA-1 with a Lexicon effects unit would be all I would need, but I went through a lot of rack gear like GP-100, GT-Pro, Pod Pro etc. When I was doing a lot of guitar synth stuff, I also had my midi converter and synth in a rack. Add in my effects for the piezo bridge, and 2 Echoplex Digital Pro looping devices (I still own these).
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I could do a lot with just a Marshall JMP-1, an SPX-90, and a Lexicon unit, or may a Quadraverb...
That isn't a lot of gear.
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Most if not all of the current crop of mfx units don't need the deep editing features available in them to sound good or great. Try out a Helix Stomp or the Boss GTCore for two weeks with the latest firmware update. If these seem too difficult to get working or limiting, only then consider accumulating rack gear. Troubleshooting a rack system live is a royal pita
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Originally posted by alex1fly View PostI just know that I want to quickly switch between playing some ridiculous djent and U2 with a few taps, not spend forever programming and learning menus, and have it easily route into my FRFR system for playing live -
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Even something like the Helix Stomp using a midi controller to switch the options.
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Originally posted by alex1fly View PostThanks all. I appreciate the perspectives. The tricky thing for me is that I've spent my entire 21 year guitar career on a few pieces of budget gear (think $350 combo amps, $200 MFX pedals, and free VSTs/plug-ins), and now wanting to up my processing game it's hard to know what to choose. Like, I read all these reviews and wonder things like "do I WANT amp-like feel or complex signal routing?" when in reality I've never played with any nice amps or complex pedalboards. Any of the reputable higher-end solutions - Kemper, Bias, Helix, Fractal, G System, Tech 21, Amplifire, Headrush, Quad Cortex - will be a massive playground. I just know that I want to quickly switch between playing some ridiculous djent and U2 with a few taps, not spend forever programming and learning menus, and have it easily route into my FRFR system for playing live - bonus points if it'll apply processing to a microphone or a bass guitar on a separate input/output, too, so I can do all my processing in one unit.Last edited by PFDarkside; 10-14-2021, 03:12 PM.
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Thanks all. I appreciate the perspectives. The tricky thing for me is that I've spent my entire 21 year guitar career on a few pieces of budget gear (think $350 combo amps, $200 MFX pedals, and free VSTs/plug-ins), and now wanting to up my processing game it's hard to know what to choose. Like, I read all these reviews and wonder things like "do I WANT amp-like feel or complex signal routing?" when in reality I've never played with any nice amps or complex pedalboards. Any of the reputable higher-end solutions - Kemper, Bias, Helix, Fractal, G System, Tech 21, Amplifire, Headrush, Quad Cortex - will be a massive playground. I just know that I want to quickly switch between playing some ridiculous djent and U2 with a few taps, not spend forever programming and learning menus, and have it easily route into my FRFR system for playing live - bonus points if it'll apply processing to a microphone or a bass guitar on a separate input/output, too, so I can do all my processing in one unit.
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^Noooo...my 100buck Zoom MS70 is more powerful than any Lexicon/ Alesis/ Rocktron/ ART from Steve Vai's rack for Alcatrazz tour..lol.
Rack revival is as ridiculous as film camera revival, when people share pics on the fly.
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I just listened to some material that my band did back around '09. I was using an old Alesis Quadraverb to run the guitar in stereo between a Randall RG120-ES half stack and a Carvin X-100 half stack.
I think that it's time to return to that setup. Except with dual Randall half stacks.
Sent from my SM-A115A using Tapatalk
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Originally posted by PFDarkside View Post
What I like about the rack is it lives safely behind you. A fractal rack with a SS 1u amp, controlled by a Ground Control Pro that you can find for $200 used is attractive to me now.
Originally posted by Little PigbaconAn ART SGX-2000 is the cornerstone of any high-performance rack system.
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