Rack Guys - recommend some good units?
- Thread starter Imp
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Monty-Jay
New member
Re: Rack Guys - recommend some good units?
Well it really depends on what tones you are going for and how much you're looking to spend. Preamps range from $200 up to a few thousand dollars, haha. Some good ones are:
-ada mp1
-peavey rockmaster
-bogner triple giant
-mesa boogie studio
-mesa boogie quad
-mesa boogie triaxis
-marshall jmp1
-randall rm4
-egnater modular preamp
Those are all good units and won't bust your wallet too much
Now if you really wanted to go nuts you could look into something like the CAE 3+ SE, Bogner Fish, etc.
Poweramps start around $500 or so for decent tube ones (checkout the carvin ts100). I would checkout the VHT and Mesa poweramps though.
mJ
Well it really depends on what tones you are going for and how much you're looking to spend. Preamps range from $200 up to a few thousand dollars, haha. Some good ones are:
-ada mp1
-peavey rockmaster
-bogner triple giant
-mesa boogie studio
-mesa boogie quad
-mesa boogie triaxis
-marshall jmp1
-randall rm4
-egnater modular preamp
Those are all good units and won't bust your wallet too much
Now if you really wanted to go nuts you could look into something like the CAE 3+ SE, Bogner Fish, etc. Poweramps start around $500 or so for decent tube ones (checkout the carvin ts100). I would checkout the VHT and Mesa poweramps though.
mJ
Imp
New member
Re: Rack Guys - recommend some good units?
that's partially why i'm curious about rackmounts - i can upgrade slowly and specifically.. as well as getting really precise tonal control!
the rockmaster looks interesting, i didnt know peavey made rack valve stuff either! i'm not too bothered by MIDI for the time being, i'm just looking at a good solid tone with no bells or whistles for the time being..
tom
that's partially why i'm curious about rackmounts - i can upgrade slowly and specifically.. as well as getting really precise tonal control!
the rockmaster looks interesting, i didnt know peavey made rack valve stuff either! i'm not too bothered by MIDI for the time being, i'm just looking at a good solid tone with no bells or whistles for the time being..
tom
frankfalbo
In Fluence Y'all
Re: Rack Guys - recommend some good units?
If you don't need midi control, then the Mesa Quad with the footswitch makes a great "MKII/MKIII" rack base. I have the JMP-1 too, and it's a little limited. It does the Marshall rock tones pretty well, but doesn't really do a good Tweed, Bassman, Boogie, or even a good Plexi for that matter. It's kind of strange in that way. I still love it but I wouldn't want it as the only preamp in the rig. I also have a Hughes & Kettner Attax preamp, and that or the Tubeman rack is a good H&K representation. Hafler T2/3's are good.
If you don't need midi control, then the Mesa Quad with the footswitch makes a great "MKII/MKIII" rack base. I have the JMP-1 too, and it's a little limited. It does the Marshall rock tones pretty well, but doesn't really do a good Tweed, Bassman, Boogie, or even a good Plexi for that matter. It's kind of strange in that way. I still love it but I wouldn't want it as the only preamp in the rig. I also have a Hughes & Kettner Attax preamp, and that or the Tubeman rack is a good H&K representation. Hafler T2/3's are good.
Jackson Distortion
New member
Re: Rack Guys - recommend some good units?
It is imperative that you include an ART processing unit.
It is imperative that you include an ART processing unit.
vinterland
New member
Re: Rack Guys - recommend some good units?
Digitech 2101, 2112, 2120 units
Digitech 2101, 2112, 2120 units
Re: Rack Guys - recommend some good units?
I thought the Digitech 2101 sounded kinda noisy and processed? I loved them when they came out, haven't heard one in YEARS!
People rave about the ADA's but I am not always enamored with them.
I have been curious about JMP1's bc KK Downing sounds killer and he touts them heavily. A few people on here rave about the Triaxis and I have considered it but it's pricey.
I have seen Vernon Reid and Allan Holdsworth Live, and they used Mesa's (Studio Pre?) and it sounded AMAZING, thick, raw, and nasty - fluid tone that filled the club. Nicest Mesa Rhythm tone I ever heard, kind of a Mark 2 but sweeter.
I thought the Digitech 2101 sounded kinda noisy and processed? I loved them when they came out, haven't heard one in YEARS!
People rave about the ADA's but I am not always enamored with them.
I have been curious about JMP1's bc KK Downing sounds killer and he touts them heavily. A few people on here rave about the Triaxis and I have considered it but it's pricey.
I have seen Vernon Reid and Allan Holdsworth Live, and they used Mesa's (Studio Pre?) and it sounded AMAZING, thick, raw, and nasty - fluid tone that filled the club. Nicest Mesa Rhythm tone I ever heard, kind of a Mark 2 but sweeter.
myxolidian
New member
Re: Rack Guys - recommend some good units?
Rocktron Pirahna. Tube pre with sweepable mids. Has clean channel and 2 OD channels. I've owned one for the last 10 years and still love it.
Rocktron Prophesy. Solid State but sounds very tubey. 4 channels. Very nice built-in effects.
Either will give you kickass tones.
Rocktron Pirahna. Tube pre with sweepable mids. Has clean channel and 2 OD channels. I've owned one for the last 10 years and still love it.
Rocktron Prophesy. Solid State but sounds very tubey. 4 channels. Very nice built-in effects.
Either will give you kickass tones.
Dr.Mavashi
neonderthalotonalogist
Re: Rack Guys - recommend some good units?
Back then I was a complete gear neonderthal, ever worse than now, but I ran
Digitech 2120 through JCM2000 sounded terrible, then I just used some effects from it in the loop, horrible, then infront, crap. So would not recomend this at all. It really depends what sound you are going for, some styles are just best with tubes heads as the foundation of your tone, but that's just me I am not that well versed in gear yet.
Back then I was a complete gear neonderthal, ever worse than now, but I ran
Digitech 2120 through JCM2000 sounded terrible, then I just used some effects from it in the loop, horrible, then infront, crap. So would not recomend this at all. It really depends what sound you are going for, some styles are just best with tubes heads as the foundation of your tone, but that's just me I am not that well versed in gear yet.
Robert S.
Super Moderator
Re: Rack Guys - recommend some good units?
The Rocktron stuff is very nice and I always give them a good review. I've owned a few Rocktron pieces and demo'ed a few others and they always sound good.
Pricey or not, the Triaxis - 2:90 still owns the rack world in my humble and honest opinion. Pop a pair of EL-34s in the simu sockets of the 2:90 and they simply sound badass together.
The Peaveys sound very nice as well but they use some less than stellar components and are a little prone to needing maintenance. I know a few guys that use them and they have all been worked on.
The Rocktron stuff is very nice and I always give them a good review. I've owned a few Rocktron pieces and demo'ed a few others and they always sound good.
Pricey or not, the Triaxis - 2:90 still owns the rack world in my humble and honest opinion. Pop a pair of EL-34s in the simu sockets of the 2:90 and they simply sound badass together.
The Peaveys sound very nice as well but they use some less than stellar components and are a little prone to needing maintenance. I know a few guys that use them and they have all been worked on.
J
Jeff Dunne
Guest
Re: Rack Guys - recommend some good units?
VHT, no doubt.
Stay the HELL away from the JMP-1 - it ruined both Textures albums.
VHT, no doubt.
Stay the HELL away from the JMP-1 - it ruined both Textures albums.
devastone
Well-known member
Re: Rack Guys - recommend some good units?
A couple more good preamps are the Voodoo Labs preamp, supposedly they had input from Bogner on that. The Hafler Triple Giant is supposed to be a production version of the Fish, can't say for sure, I haven't personally used one but Jerry Cantrell used one on some of the early AIC discs with a MosValve 500 power amp.
My favorite preamp of the ones I've used is a Kasha, like this one. The new ones are here. New ones are pretty pricey, but the used ones are still pretty good deals. If I hadn't gone back to a tube head and pedals I'd still be using my Rockmod II.
A couple more good preamps are the Voodoo Labs preamp, supposedly they had input from Bogner on that. The Hafler Triple Giant is supposed to be a production version of the Fish, can't say for sure, I haven't personally used one but Jerry Cantrell used one on some of the early AIC discs with a MosValve 500 power amp.
My favorite preamp of the ones I've used is a Kasha, like this one. The new ones are here. New ones are pretty pricey, but the used ones are still pretty good deals. If I hadn't gone back to a tube head and pedals I'd still be using my Rockmod II.
drpietrzak
New member
Re: Rack Guys - recommend some good units?
Has anyone used the Engl 530?
Has anyone used the Engl 530?
