Need help assembling a rack setup

[BrockSamson]

I'm assembling my first rack, been using amps and pedals all my life and I need some help. I'm assembling everything into a Gator 6-space rack.

Here are the components of my rack so far:

Furman power conditioner - not sure which model yet.
ADA MP1 preamp
Alesis Quadraverb for effects
31-band EQ - most likely a dbx 131 Single 31-Band Graphic EQ

So, power runs to the Furman, which then powers everything else. Do you keep your power cables hooked up all the time? Like do you have to unplug everything if you go to a gig? And I guess since I'll have two open bays for stuff later, I can just store the power bricks for any adapters in the unused space and run a fan up front?

Also, would I be able to run these into my Randall V2 and use it as a power amp (bypass the pre)?

:headbang:

 

[Red_Label]

Re: Need help assembling a rack setup

Dang... you're going "old school" with that rig!

Sounds like the rack rigs a lot of us used to tour/gig with. I remember when I finally got rid of mine and went back to the simplicity of a tube combo and a few pedals -- I told myself "whew, glad that's over". And now... I kind of miss the whole thing a little bit. Ain't that the way it goes. Grass is always greener. Last week I got an Eleven Rack unit, and now I'm starting to thing about a rack again. Geesh...

 

[crguti]

Re: Need help assembling a rack setup

yep, very old school. so your rack is:
1) power conditioner
2) preamp
3) mutli-effects
4) EQ
5) power amp

My suggestions would be, check first if you need the eq, probably you won't need it. I would get another preamp instead of the ADA, but if you're planning to get those 80 tunes, you're ok.
How are you planning to call the presets in the ADA? You will need a midi pedalboard and also a midi channel switcher for your amp.

 

[BrockSamson]

Re: Need help assembling a rack setup

yep, very old school. so your rack is:
1) power conditioner
2) preamp
3) mutli-effects
4) EQ
5) power amp

My suggestions would be, check first if you need the eq, probably you won't need it. I would get another preamp instead of the ADA, but if you're planning to get those 80 tunes, you're ok.
How are you planning to call the presets in the ADA? You will need a midi pedalboard and also a midi channel switcher for your amp.

I'm not exactly sure to be honest. I know that I will eventually need to switch channels, but right now it's about getting the distortion down.

I posted the question about the midi controllers in this thread the other day:

https://forum.seymourduncan.com/showthread.php?t=205006

But if anyone can elaborate more on what I might need, it would be helpful. Now I just have to fend off other Ebay bidders on the ADA MP1

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Need help assembling a rack setup

To get the most out of it, meaning stereo, it'd be better to sell the Randall and get a stereo tube power amp. But for now, the FX loop return on the Randall will work.

Get something like a Behringer or Rolls midi switcher, a long midi cable, and one or two 1 ft. midi cables. You'll plug the switcher into the ADA MP-1, then a short midi cable to the Quadraverb. Once you learn to assign presets to midi channels 0 - 100, you can store banks of presets.

Since you're using old rack gear, make sure to change any internal batteries in them, which is the power necessary for the units to remember the presets every time you power down. Keep everything plugged into the Furman, and use zip ties to keep it all tidy.

And the number 1 rule is don't catch the disease "rackitis." Never let the thing grow past 8 rack spaces or you'll regret it everytime you have to move it.

 

[DankStar]

Re: Need help assembling a rack setup

does the ADA have an internal noise gate (if so, is it usable)? just tossing it out there as food for thought that higher gain settings might be hissy/noisy requiring a nice gate.

 

[Red_Label]

Re: Need help assembling a rack setup

does the ADA have an internal noise gate (if so, is it usable)? just tossing it out there as food for thought that higher gain settings might be hissy/noisy requiring a nice gate.

I don't recall it having one on the one I had. But I don't remember much noise either. Besides, with most live situations you can't even hear the noise. I always switch over to a quiet, clean channel/preset between songs, etc.

 

[speed2dirt]

Re: Need help assembling a rack setup

I have an ENGL E920 stereo power amp for sale (2 x 100-watt). PM me if interested.

 

[BrockSamson]

Re: Need help assembling a rack setup

I have an ENGL E920 stereo power amp for sale (2 x 100-watt). PM me if interested.

Cool. Let me see if I score the ADA MP1 and Alesis first and I'll let you know.

 

[metlking]

Re: Need help assembling a rack setup

I used an ADA MP-1 for 18 years or so. Still have 6 of them in various stages of repair and modification. I still break it out once in a while. They don't have noise gates. They don't make a whole lot of noise but there is a noise mod for them. Check out www.adadepot.com if you haven't already.......


I used it with a Hush IIc and a Marshall 9100 EL34 poweramp. Sometimes I added a BBE but no other EQ. I used a Digitech RDS 3.6 in the loop......Old school!

 

[BrockSamson]

Re: Need help assembling a rack setup

I used an ADA MP-1 for 18 years or so. Still have 6 of them in various stages of repair and modification. I still break it out once in a while. They don't have noise gates. They don't make a whole lot of noise but there is a noise mod for them. Check out www.adadepot.com if you haven't already.......


I used it with a Hush IIc and a Marshall 9100 EL34 poweramp. Sometimes I added a BBE but no other EQ. I used a Digitech RDS 3.6 in the loop......Old school!

Got any sound clips of it??

 

[BrockSamson]

Re: Need help assembling a rack setup

WOOHOO. Just won an Alesis Quadraverb on Ebay, so I'm half of the way there.

 

[drpietrzak]

Re: Need help assembling a rack setup

I have a quadraverb. Mine is on the out end of a Digitech Twin Tube into an ADA micro cab. Fun to mess with at times.