rackmount amp rigs
- Thread starter ACE 4080
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Re: rackmount amp rigs
i can't remember too many being offered these days... i assume you mean preamps with tube power amps like say a Marshall JMP-1 and power amp set up right?
i really had a huge rig once that had 2 different heads, lots of cables, a switching unit from Axess Electronics... in the end it was way too much a pain in the a$$.... a smaller amp, some pedals and i'm off to the races easier... and off the stage before the drummer has his gloves off
i can't remember too many being offered these days... i assume you mean preamps with tube power amps like say a Marshall JMP-1 and power amp set up right?
i really had a huge rig once that had 2 different heads, lots of cables, a switching unit from Axess Electronics... in the end it was way too much a pain in the a$$.... a smaller amp, some pedals and i'm off to the races easier... and off the stage before the drummer has his gloves off
loudriver23
New member
Re: rackmount amp rigs
I had a rack rig once upon a time.
Peavey 120/120 power amp and an ADA MP-1 preamp.
It was alright, just not organic enough for what I was looking for.
I had a rack rig once upon a time.
Peavey 120/120 power amp and an ADA MP-1 preamp.
It was alright, just not organic enough for what I was looking for.
Brow
New member
Re: rackmount amp rigs
I had a Marshall JMP1 pre, a Rocktron Chameleon Pre with built in FX, a TC Electronics G-Major (which I now use with my Splawn) and a Marshall EL84 20/20 power amp up until last year.
It was a decent enough sounding rig but I was found I was spending too much time programming it and not enough time playing guitar, so I simplified down to my Splawn Quick Rod head, a 2x12 cab, a MIDI switcher and the G-Major. It sounds better (to me atleast), easier to dial in and I find I spend more time playing than messing around with sounds.
I had a Marshall JMP1 pre, a Rocktron Chameleon Pre with built in FX, a TC Electronics G-Major (which I now use with my Splawn) and a Marshall EL84 20/20 power amp up until last year.
It was a decent enough sounding rig but I was found I was spending too much time programming it and not enough time playing guitar, so I simplified down to my Splawn Quick Rod head, a 2x12 cab, a MIDI switcher and the G-Major. It sounds better (to me atleast), easier to dial in and I find I spend more time playing than messing around with sounds.
Re: rackmount amp rigs
Yeah.....and a Horse Power is a Horse Power. But do you want to move 550 pounds, one foot, in one second, with a horse, electric motor, pick-up truck, or a motor cycle.? They all make One HP.
Guitar amps are about tone, not power. The vast majority of guitar players are better served by a Fender Deluxe Reverb than they are a rack system.. That is why they are not prevalant.....
Best
Yeah.....and a Horse Power is a Horse Power. But do you want to move 550 pounds, one foot, in one second, with a horse, electric motor, pick-up truck, or a motor cycle.? They all make One HP.
Guitar amps are about tone, not power. The vast majority of guitar players are better served by a Fender Deluxe Reverb than they are a rack system.. That is why they are not prevalant.....
Best
Re: rackmount amp rigs
I have a boogie tri axis pre and 90/90 amp with a good processor but I never use it anymore. I prefer amp heads becouse the tone is more pure and natural for me anyway. Racks are cool for ping ponging big stereo clean effects from speaker cab to speaker cab in stereo or big effects tones and switching presets with a mer click of a midi button and I honestly think my old rack sounds great with an accoustic guitar pluged into it, better than most of the cheesy accoustic amps anyway. A amp head is more of a pure tone that seems to have no latency in the response between the time you pluck that note till the time it hits the speaker cone and I found I enjoyed the more raw tones of an amp head or switching between amp heads than a kind of steril tone you get from a preamp. If I want a less distorted sound I simply turn down my volumn on my guitar alittle and presto, nice rythem, or turn it back up to 10 for full gainy tone. I just feel I have more control with less crap in the signal path I guess and the tone seems more natural. Both systems achieve great tones rack or amp heads but I like the amp heads tone better for now anyway
I have a boogie tri axis pre and 90/90 amp with a good processor but I never use it anymore. I prefer amp heads becouse the tone is more pure and natural for me anyway. Racks are cool for ping ponging big stereo clean effects from speaker cab to speaker cab in stereo or big effects tones and switching presets with a mer click of a midi button and I honestly think my old rack sounds great with an accoustic guitar pluged into it, better than most of the cheesy accoustic amps anyway. A amp head is more of a pure tone that seems to have no latency in the response between the time you pluck that note till the time it hits the speaker cone and I found I enjoyed the more raw tones of an amp head or switching between amp heads than a kind of steril tone you get from a preamp. If I want a less distorted sound I simply turn down my volumn on my guitar alittle and presto, nice rythem, or turn it back up to 10 for full gainy tone. I just feel I have more control with less crap in the signal path I guess and the tone seems more natural. Both systems achieve great tones rack or amp heads but I like the amp heads tone better for now anyway
uOpt
Something Cool
Re: rackmount amp rigs
I was thinking about it but people warned me against it. Generic sound and very heavy, difficult to lug around. And that doesn't solve the main problem which is volume control. When I "test" these things in shops the volume is too low to tell anything useful.
I rather buy vintage gear that I don't feel bad about not using because it accumulates value
An Axe-FX for actually playing is something I probably rather do than a tube rackmount rig.
I was thinking about it but people warned me against it. Generic sound and very heavy, difficult to lug around. And that doesn't solve the main problem which is volume control. When I "test" these things in shops the volume is too low to tell anything useful.
I rather buy vintage gear that I don't feel bad about not using because it accumulates value
An Axe-FX for actually playing is something I probably rather do than a tube rackmount rig.
El Supremo
New member
Re: rackmount amp rigs
Mesa Studio Preamp, Mesa 50/50, Marshall 9100, Marshall JMP-1, Engl E530 and I've sold a Soldano SP77. I've never actually owned a head and never felt the need to do so. Get the right tubes for them though, makes all the difference.
Downside: heavy rigs, spending more time programming than playing (the reason I usually don't take the JMP-1 out for gigs).
Upside: experimenting with different power and preamp combinations, rack gear is usually available cheap second hand, easier and cheaper to take backups on the road(like a 1HE Rocktron poweramp).
Mesa Studio Preamp, Mesa 50/50, Marshall 9100, Marshall JMP-1, Engl E530 and I've sold a Soldano SP77. I've never actually owned a head and never felt the need to do so. Get the right tubes for them though, makes all the difference.
Downside: heavy rigs, spending more time programming than playing (the reason I usually don't take the JMP-1 out for gigs).
Upside: experimenting with different power and preamp combinations, rack gear is usually available cheap second hand, easier and cheaper to take backups on the road(like a 1HE Rocktron poweramp).
Binnerscot
New member
Re: rackmount amp rigs
I have one rack. For a rack to compete with a decent guitar amp, it takes some money. There are some jems that come by cheap on the used market (some mentioned in this thread).
The real advantage of a rack can be setup and flexibility. With a proper switching system, you can run multiple preamps, pedals, and effects, and have everything switch simultaneously.
Building a good rack is easier and cheaper now, but still more expensive than a good amp amp head, effects/pedals.
Bogner Fish
Mesa Recto Recording Pre
Fryette 2/90/2 power amp
It does tone as well as any traditional amp. The Fish really kills the price point of this one, but the power amp and Recto Pre are in the ball park price of one good amp.
I should add that I use this rack often for recording clean stuff in stereo (G-Major in the loop of either pre). Recording some things in stereo really turns out well.
I have one rack. For a rack to compete with a decent guitar amp, it takes some money. There are some jems that come by cheap on the used market (some mentioned in this thread).
The real advantage of a rack can be setup and flexibility. With a proper switching system, you can run multiple preamps, pedals, and effects, and have everything switch simultaneously.
Building a good rack is easier and cheaper now, but still more expensive than a good amp amp head, effects/pedals.
Bogner Fish
Mesa Recto Recording Pre
Fryette 2/90/2 power amp
It does tone as well as any traditional amp. The Fish really kills the price point of this one, but the power amp and Recto Pre are in the ball park price of one good amp.
I should add that I use this rack often for recording clean stuff in stereo (G-Major in the loop of either pre). Recording some things in stereo really turns out well.
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Binnerscot
New member
Re: rackmount amp rigs
They are very, very good. Some modules sound better than other, but that also depends on what you like.
The results will be the same as the Randall RM100 head, so if you want to know what it will sound like, the head may be easier to find.
They are very, very good. Some modules sound better than other, but that also depends on what you like.
The results will be the same as the Randall RM100 head, so if you want to know what it will sound like, the head may be easier to find.
Binnerscot
New member
Re: rackmount amp rigs
Currenty, the two most popular rack power amp brands are Mesa and Fryette (used to be VHT).
Each company has a couple of different models depending on your needs. Neither is better that the other, both are about the same in quality and price. Fryette tends to a bit flatter and cleaner, Mesa tends to add a little color.
Currenty, the two most popular rack power amp brands are Mesa and Fryette (used to be VHT).
Each company has a couple of different models depending on your needs. Neither is better that the other, both are about the same in quality and price. Fryette tends to a bit flatter and cleaner, Mesa tends to add a little color.
Re: rackmount amp rigs
Being a fanboy of all things 80's I wanted to have a Wall of JCM800s. Now I know most in the day were modded, Id go a wall of splawn QRs. But, Im rack curious, cuz all my boys switched to racks later on and it seems the ADA MP1 was a staple. So, Im really curious what those do and such.
I need to get a rack cuz I have a Rockman chorus unit.
Oh, I like big racks... heh heh heh.. sorry, just had to say it..
Being a fanboy of all things 80's I wanted to have a Wall of JCM800s. Now I know most in the day were modded, Id go a wall of splawn QRs. But, Im rack curious, cuz all my boys switched to racks later on and it seems the ADA MP1 was a staple. So, Im really curious what those do and such.
I need to get a rack cuz I have a Rockman chorus unit.
Oh, I like big racks... heh heh heh.. sorry, just had to say it..
Mr 9finger
Digitally Challenged
Re: rackmount amp rigs
I've got 2 stock ADA MP-1's that I run stereo into a Marshall 8004 valvestate poweramp. I'm not saying it's the be all end all of 80's tone, but once I have my rack f/x processor and a couple other things, my search for the 80's tones are done. I've had a few instances where I look over at my DSL and wonder why still have it. They've just got it where it counts and have that 80's mid grind all over it. I've made a few purchases that have sidelined me from finishing my rack, but not for long. I really want to get it up and running. I have just enough room for a couple 1x12 cubes to run a true stereo rig and I think I'm going to load them with a V30 and G12T-75.
I've got 2 stock ADA MP-1's that I run stereo into a Marshall 8004 valvestate poweramp. I'm not saying it's the be all end all of 80's tone, but once I have my rack f/x processor and a couple other things, my search for the 80's tones are done. I've had a few instances where I look over at my DSL and wonder why still have it. They've just got it where it counts and have that 80's mid grind all over it. I've made a few purchases that have sidelined me from finishing my rack, but not for long. I really want to get it up and running. I have just enough room for a couple 1x12 cubes to run a true stereo rig and I think I'm going to load them with a V30 and G12T-75.
Re: rackmount amp rigs
thanks for the info and for the offer!! (my pms are full and cant reply) May be a LONG time before I go there, but I do need to get a rack case for my rockman.
Another thing about racks, Rand-o-monium uses a rack set up when he gigs, its simple, small and he gets the job done !! I think he uses a Chameleon..??
thanks for the info and for the offer!! (my pms are full and cant reply) May be a LONG time before I go there, but I do need to get a rack case for my rockman.
Another thing about racks, Rand-o-monium uses a rack set up when he gigs, its simple, small and he gets the job done !! I think he uses a Chameleon..??