[donnyb373]

im new to the whole rack mount stuff...actually i have no fuckin clue about this stuff actually. iv always used floor pedals and my trustsy jcm800 head with 2 1960b cabs, i love my setup but i know there are better options and some of them are rack mount.

ok who can tell me about this stuff or send me on my marry way to a write up explaining how everything works??


thanks for your input guys i look forward to your responses.

[metalfiend666]

I learned a lot buy reading this article and looking at other peoples racks. Basically you'll want a minimum of a preamp and a poweramp, with possibly a multi effects unit, and something to control channel/effect switching. Other good ideas are a power conditioner (to protect your gear from electrical surges) and a rack tuner.

The great thing about racks is you're not limited to any set combination. A couple of examples: Love a Marshall preamp sound but prefer 6L6 power tubes? Hook a Marshall JMP1 up to a Mesa 50/50. Like all in one solid state modellers & fx? Hook up a Pod XT Pro or a Rocktron Chameleon to a valve power amp for warmth.

The other really great thing about a rack set up is you can have a nice large wattage valve power amp for playing live, but hook up to a single space solid state or lower power valve amp for home use without annoying the neighbours.

[donnyb373]

Originally Posted by metalfiend666

I learned a lot buy reading this article and looking at other peoples racks. Basically you'll want a minimum of a preamp and a poweramp, with possibly a multi effects unit, and something to control channel/effect switching. Other good ideas are a power conditioner (to protect your gear from electrical surges) and a rack tuner.

The great thing about racks is you're not limited to any set combination. A couple of examples: Love a Marshall preamp sound but prefer 6L6 power tubes? Hook a Marshall JMP1 up to a Mesa 50/50. Like all in one solid state modellers & fx? Hook up a Pod XT Pro or a Rocktron Chameleon to a valve power amp for warmth.

The other really great thing about a rack set up is you can have a nice large wattage valve power amp for playing live, but hook up to a single space solid state or lower power valve amp for home use without annoying the neighbours.

thank you for that link....i was under the impression of racks being a large box full of confusing wires and knobs...lol...now i know what it all is an dhow it works....

[donnyb373]

ok, im ready to buy some gear.....but i cant decide what to get....lolz...

ok ill give you guys the specs that im lookin for and the price im goin to spend.

i want crunch..loud obnoctious crunch, i want crystal clear cleans, and when i stand in front of it i when i do a nice palm mute or hit the low b i want my lungs to colaps..lol..no for real...knock the wind out of me type shit.

im not happy at all with my marshall head...its muddy and the distortion is more buzzy then anything, like when you turn the gain up it just gets fuzzy.

now the price range....1500 including rack. well what is you thoughts on this....lol

sorry for being a rack nooblet aswell

[Lord_Kain]

IMHO racks are for serious gigging players...thats why i havent invested all my money in one....

[Benzesp]

$1500? Youll be better off with your JCM800. Some preamps are more than $1500.. I did a tally on my old rack setup and it was around 5k. I had pretty sick rack of goodies though.

[Lord_Kain]

if it was so awesome why is it your ''old'' setup?

[Benzesp]

I quit my old band and had no reason to let it rot in the garage traded some of it sold some of it, kept some of it. I played on that rig for almost 6 years. I kept my cabs though, I'll never get rid of those.

[Lord_Kain]

what kinda cabs?...mesa cabs?