Does anybody use racks anymore?
- Thread starter Osensei
- Start date
the guy who invented fire
Fuzzy. Guitars
Re: Does anybody use racks anymore?
Way more people that you could ever imagin use racks...it's not always for amps these days but yes people do still use them.
Way more people that you could ever imagin use racks...it's not always for amps these days but yes people do still use them.
Monty-Jay
New member
Re: Does anybody use racks anymore?
If anything, I think racks have been making a comeback lately...not that they ever really left since people have continued to use them
I've been building my rack setup lately and within the next week or so it will contain the following:
*Furman power
*EMB Audio wah 1
*EMB Audio wah 2
*DMC GCX Switcher
*ADA MP1
*Mesa Boogie Studio
*Mesa Boogie Quad
Switched with a ground control pro and for the time being, pedal based effects instead of a rack unit.
mJ
If anything, I think racks have been making a comeback lately...not that they ever really left since people have continued to use them
I've been building my rack setup lately and within the next week or so it will contain the following:
*Furman power
*EMB Audio wah 1
*EMB Audio wah 2
*DMC GCX Switcher
*ADA MP1
*Mesa Boogie Studio
*Mesa Boogie Quad
Switched with a ground control pro and for the time being, pedal based effects instead of a rack unit.
mJ
Dr.Mavashi
neonderthalotonalogist
Re: Does anybody use racks anymore?
If you have 3 hours for a sound check and a guy on the board who really knows what he is doing, and will be totally dedicated to your sound in the room during stagetime, racs are fine, but cosidering the fact that most of us play $*%@holes most of the time where oudn chack is useless 50% percent of the time the ability to just turn a knob down or up on the amp-head or a stomp box is unmatched. When I used Digitech 21/2o If i had to crank up the master on DSL to cut through my designed tone would fall apart. So I am tottaly for stomps, however I do plan to put Engl preamp in my loop in AOR
to add more variety.
If you have 3 hours for a sound check and a guy on the board who really knows what he is doing, and will be totally dedicated to your sound in the room during stagetime, racs are fine, but cosidering the fact that most of us play $*%@holes most of the time where oudn chack is useless 50% percent of the time the ability to just turn a knob down or up on the amp-head or a stomp box is unmatched. When I used Digitech 21/2o If i had to crank up the master on DSL to cut through my designed tone would fall apart. So I am tottaly for stomps, however I do plan to put Engl preamp in my loop in AOR
to add more variety.
Dr.Mavashi
neonderthalotonalogist
Re: Does anybody use racks anymore?
Add me to the exception list. I use a rack for my GT-Pro, guitar synth, looping devices, and piezo processing...and it is so easy to play one of these tiny clubs, and just give them a line out from my rack...i dont use a power amp or have to bring a big amp to the gig, and i keep the stage volume down too. check it out here: http://www.hazardfactor.com/dave/devices1.htm
guitar synths sound awful going through a guitar amp. they don't make powerful looping devices as stompboxes. i can control my entire setup from my feet.
I have no problem with conventional setups, they just don't do what i want.
Add me to the exception list. I use a rack for my GT-Pro, guitar synth, looping devices, and piezo processing...and it is so easy to play one of these tiny clubs, and just give them a line out from my rack...i dont use a power amp or have to bring a big amp to the gig, and i keep the stage volume down too. check it out here: http://www.hazardfactor.com/dave/devices1.htm
guitar synths sound awful going through a guitar amp. they don't make powerful looping devices as stompboxes. i can control my entire setup from my feet.
I have no problem with conventional setups, they just don't do what i want.
Re: Does anybody use racks anymore?
Most people I see using racks have a huge set list and a very refined sound they are after - i.e. they are trying to recreate tons of sounds from an album. I also consider Bradshaw Switchers to be a type of rack since they are often commanding racks pedals, amps, and power amps.
Racks are dangerous in that if handled wrong or overdone you can lose your tone and feel. If done right they can allow for diverse tones and powerful performance. The problem? Racks are often hard to tweak on the spot.
The people I have seen use racks well either work with a tech, or keep simplicity in mind when using them.
Most people I see using racks have a huge set list and a very refined sound they are after - i.e. they are trying to recreate tons of sounds from an album. I also consider Bradshaw Switchers to be a type of rack since they are often commanding racks pedals, amps, and power amps.
Racks are dangerous in that if handled wrong or overdone you can lose your tone and feel. If done right they can allow for diverse tones and powerful performance. The problem? Racks are often hard to tweak on the spot.
The people I have seen use racks well either work with a tech, or keep simplicity in mind when using them.
Dr.Mavashi
neonderthalotonalogist
Re: Does anybody use racks anymore?
Exactly my point, but simplicity is not what rack is for. Drive or rate knob on stomp box are unmatched if you wanna udjust you sound while you hold the bend.
Exactly my point, but simplicity is not what rack is for. Drive or rate knob on stomp box are unmatched if you wanna udjust you sound while you hold the bend.
Re: Does anybody use racks anymore?
well, of course, unless you compare it to a drive or rate knob to adjust without bending down, all while 'holding the bend'.
Racks don't all have menus and push buttons anymore. Many new ones have knobs and displays that are much easier to read, and you don't even have to bend down.
Not only that, I can map a drive or rate knob to my pedal board so I could be in the middle of a solo and adjust the sound with my feet.
It is just a different way of doing things. For me, it is the only way that I can have access to the sounds I want instantly.
well, of course, unless you compare it to a drive or rate knob to adjust without bending down, all while 'holding the bend'.
Racks don't all have menus and push buttons anymore. Many new ones have knobs and displays that are much easier to read, and you don't even have to bend down.
Not only that, I can map a drive or rate knob to my pedal board so I could be in the middle of a solo and adjust the sound with my feet.
It is just a different way of doing things. For me, it is the only way that I can have access to the sounds I want instantly.
frankfalbo
In Fluence Y'all
Re: Does anybody use racks anymore?
I've used a rack for over 15 years, and I've always been able to get an "amp" tone at will. Everything in my rack is bypassable, and I can select which speakers I'll go through, and the volume to each. At church I also use a smaller rack. If you know how to program them, they can "outperform" an amp/stompbox rig anyday. I've still got OD's on the floor, though. The rack can't take the place of those, because they're about sound layering, signal conditioning, and cascading overdrive.
And it's not a crutch, either. I've gigged with combo amps and pedals, heck I even did an entire wedding gig with just a Tubulator, a Hughes & Kettner Metal Shredder (basically a hopped up Fender Champ/Cream Machine) and a 2x10. I got all the sounds I needed from the guitar's knobs, and the way I played it, plus or minus the Tubulator. It was fun, and freeing, but certainly not superior to having the rack.
Dr. Mavashi I don't know what kind of trouble you had in your past, but when I bring the rack anywhere, it's literally an instant success at soundcheck. The sound is perfect when it hits the board. There's nothing for the soundman to do, therefore nothing to screw up. Just plug me in and I'm DONE! You have to know how to program the gear to accomodate all output levels and scenarios.
I've used a rack for over 15 years, and I've always been able to get an "amp" tone at will. Everything in my rack is bypassable, and I can select which speakers I'll go through, and the volume to each. At church I also use a smaller rack. If you know how to program them, they can "outperform" an amp/stompbox rig anyday. I've still got OD's on the floor, though. The rack can't take the place of those, because they're about sound layering, signal conditioning, and cascading overdrive.
And it's not a crutch, either. I've gigged with combo amps and pedals, heck I even did an entire wedding gig with just a Tubulator, a Hughes & Kettner Metal Shredder (basically a hopped up Fender Champ/Cream Machine) and a 2x10. I got all the sounds I needed from the guitar's knobs, and the way I played it, plus or minus the Tubulator. It was fun, and freeing, but certainly not superior to having the rack.
Dr. Mavashi I don't know what kind of trouble you had in your past, but when I bring the rack anywhere, it's literally an instant success at soundcheck. The sound is perfect when it hits the board. There's nothing for the soundman to do, therefore nothing to screw up. Just plug me in and I'm DONE! You have to know how to program the gear to accomodate all output levels and scenarios.
Dr.Mavashi
neonderthalotonalogist
Re: Does anybody use racks anymore?
Well, first of all, my stuff was always miced, I don't like straight in to the board stuff live, even if PA of the right caliber, its just too sterile. True, I was not the most educated user of DigiTech 21/20 but if the venue somehow was forsing to take up my master volume up I would loose what I had, and to manipulate individual effects in real time in different patches was pain in you know where. preamp/poweram/multieffects processor rack set up a lot of times sound really overprocessed to me, but, than again Mick Mars has a really cool open natural sound to my ears and if you look at his set up its not that far from Perucci's insanity.
Well, first of all, my stuff was always miced, I don't like straight in to the board stuff live, even if PA of the right caliber, its just too sterile. True, I was not the most educated user of DigiTech 21/20 but if the venue somehow was forsing to take up my master volume up I would loose what I had, and to manipulate individual effects in real time in different patches was pain in you know where. preamp/poweram/multieffects processor rack set up a lot of times sound really overprocessed to me, but, than again Mick Mars has a really cool open natural sound to my ears and if you look at his set up its not that far from Perucci's insanity.
Re: Does anybody use racks anymore?
well, i owned the 2120, and i have to say, it was state of the art back in '95. direct rack preamps (no onstage power amp or speakers) have come a long way since then. i absolutely hated the 2120's muddy sound, but current gear does the direct thing so much better, and like frank says above, it really helps if you know your gear inside and out to get the most out of programming it.
well, i owned the 2120, and i have to say, it was state of the art back in '95. direct rack preamps (no onstage power amp or speakers) have come a long way since then. i absolutely hated the 2120's muddy sound, but current gear does the direct thing so much better, and like frank says above, it really helps if you know your gear inside and out to get the most out of programming it.
Dr.Mavashi
neonderthalotonalogist
Re: Does anybody use racks anymore?
Yeah, that mud used to drive me nuts, it would ok in the rehearsal space two days before and at the gig it would sound like a freaking 90 dolla fender trasister practice match box.
Well, that the key word is "program" I wanna arrive strart playing and just turn a few knobs to get what is in my head.
Yeah, that mud used to drive me nuts, it would ok in the rehearsal space two days before and at the gig it would sound like a freaking 90 dolla fender trasister practice match box.
Well, that the key word is "program" I wanna arrive strart playing and just turn a few knobs to get what is in my head.
Re: Does anybody use racks anymore?
thats cool! i could understand if that is what you like to do, a rack system is absolutely not for you. lots of players do wonderful things with an amp and a few pedals, and, if, with that setup you can get all the sounds you want, there is no reason to try anything else.
thats cool! i could understand if that is what you like to do, a rack system is absolutely not for you. lots of players do wonderful things with an amp and a few pedals, and, if, with that setup you can get all the sounds you want, there is no reason to try anything else.
Benjy_26
25's Nemesis
Re: Does anybody use racks anymore?
Exactly. I have all the sounds I need for cover gigs and for playing original songs instantly. Besides, with my set up, say, if I need more gain from a TS-9 sim, I simply bend down and turn up the gain knob.
Besides, to get all the tones I use in just one set of 5 songs, I'd need at least 10 different amps and a bunch of pedals. That'd be kind of hard to do without my GT-8/Mesa stereo rig.
I don't use my set up for outlandish tones ( I simply don't have the imagination for that), I just want to have a bunch of qulity, realistic tones at my beck and call.
Rack systems and preamp/power amp rigs like mine have come a long way since the refrigerator racks from the 80's.
Exactly. I have all the sounds I need for cover gigs and for playing original songs instantly. Besides, with my set up, say, if I need more gain from a TS-9 sim, I simply bend down and turn up the gain knob.
Besides, to get all the tones I use in just one set of 5 songs, I'd need at least 10 different amps and a bunch of pedals. That'd be kind of hard to do without my GT-8/Mesa stereo rig.
I don't use my set up for outlandish tones ( I simply don't have the imagination for that), I just want to have a bunch of qulity, realistic tones at my beck and call.
Rack systems and preamp/power amp rigs like mine have come a long way since the refrigerator racks from the 80's.
krankguitarist
Krankitupologist
Re: Does anybody use racks anymore?
Gimmie a couple of pedals and my KRANK. I'll be fine.
Gimmie a couple of pedals and my KRANK. I'll be fine
.
