upgrading my rack

[Iced Dragon]

Hi guys,

I'm looking to upgrade my rack. Currently I have an Engl 530 pre-amp, G-Major and Marshall 8008 poweramp.

First of all I'm looking for a decent poweramp. Been doubting between the VHT 2/50/2 and the Engl 930/60. I've always been infatuated by the VHT for some reason but now I have the chance to buy a 930/60 secondhanded.

I mainly play metal but also some Jazz/ blues/fusion and 'ordinary' clean stuff. I don't know if either poweramp suits the heavier style more or if they deal with every style nicely?

Maybe you have other suggestions?

Next is a powerconditioner, probably Furman.

For now the E530 pre-amp is fine but the E570 is the goal. I need a versatile rack (thus surely a versatile pre-amp).

I'm not that impressed by the G-major's chorus, some suggested to look for the Line 6 Mod Pro. but I've heard it produces a lot of noise (hiss or so?). What do you think about it? Do you reccommend other units?

Also, I might (eventually) switch to the Lexicon MPX-1 but I heard it only works well when hooked up in parallel and therefor would need a line-mixer or so? (I'm not very familiar with technical stuff and don't always have a clue what everything serves for (like these mixers kind of things for example ). Again, what do you think of the MPX-1? (for replacing the G-Major that is)

Then a midi-floorboard. I was looking for the Behringer FCB 1010 but I've heard it's not that well built (crap was the exact word)and hard to programm so now I actually cancelled my 'order' (I was going to buy one secondhanded from someone I know). What about Midi Mate, All Access?

other stuff I will need? Mixers, midi-switch,...? Again, I'm a total noob (or how do you call it?) on technical stuff, sorry!

I was thinking of a 8U rack but I might need some spare room, maybe for a drawer and extra units (in the future) so 10-12units for sure?

I would use Mogami wire to connect everything.

Any other advice, perhaps you know other problems that may occur in a rack?

This will be an investment that has to serve at least for 4 to 5 years untill I could do any major changes (due to studies...)

What do you think about this set-up?

Any help much (most?!) appreciated (and thanks for your patience )

[Nuclear Wessel]

What do you think about this set-up?

It blows my humble setup clean out of the water.

Regarding the Lexicon effects unit, a lot of digital multieffect rack units are intended to be used in a send/return situation with a PA or in a recording studio. I had terrible luck wiring my Digitech TSR12 into the effects loop of the Hafler preamp in my guitar rack. I used to have an ART SGE there, and had better luck with it because it has a noise gate. The problem I had with the SGE is, of course, the effects don't sound too good, when they're working at all. Currently I have a Rocktron Replifex in the loop, and I'm staying with that. It's designed for guitar rigs, doesn't add much noise of its own, and it has Hush, which is pretty important when you switch to the overdrive channel on your premp.

Is that Marshal 8008 a Valvestate power amp? If you get a decent tube power amp (either one of the ones you're considering will blow my Marshall 20/20 or my old Mesa Boogie 50/50 out of the water) you should be in good shape.

I don't know what type of metal you play - for a chunky tone with lots of edge to cut through a mix, an amp with EL34's is a better choice. If you're playing stuff that needs a more mid-scooped sound with a buzzy or sizzly high end, or a sound with a high tech tone, an amp with 6L6's might work better. I had terrible luck cutting through the mix with my old 6L6 powered 50/50 because of the way the 6L6's make the mids sound.

[Monacosis]

I have a pretty modest set-up myself, so I won't be much help. Try the MONSTER RACK discussion board at HC. Crazy rigs over there and many opinions about the best this and that.

http://acapella.harmony-central.com/forums/index.php

mike

[JohnnyB]

Oh.

I thought you were talking about breast implants.

Never mind.

[Jack C]

Oh.

I thought you were talking about breast implants.

Never mind.

You know it' s a slow day on the HFC when it takes over two hours for someone to make a wiseass reply to a post about "upgrading my rack." Thanks for picking up the slack Johnny.

[wyldbil]

Oh.

I thought you were talking about breast implants.

Never mind.

ACK! You beat me to it!

[BillW]

Just out of curiosity ( I'm actually pretty happy w/ my triaxis..) where do you buy ENGL stuff ? online ?

[Brewmaster]

Oh.

I thought you were talking about breast implants.

Never mind.

+1 We are a bunch of sick puppies aren't we?

[Stike]

How about?

Yamaha DG 1000, out of production but can be had cheap on ebay. Could say the same of old ADA MP-1's

Digital Music Corp. GCX switcher and Ground Control. Would take care of switching the DG via MIDI and you could mix and match stomp boxes(or rack units) with the GCX.

Peavey made some happnin' stereo tube power amps that could be found used and affordable too.

[ET_KenW]

Oh.

I thought you were talking about breast implants.

Never mind.

+1 We are a bunch of sick puppies aren't we?

Loving sweater puppies does not make us sick puppies.

Enough hijacking, back to the original topic of this thread.

[Hamer95USA]

Hello Iced Dragon,

I saw your posting on the HFC and I would like to show a nice example of what my guitar rack system looks like:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v610/Gui...Gear/Pic046.jpg

I have a Nady 201 wireless system (soon to be replaced with Sennheiser Digital 1000 wireless system), a Furman PL-Plus power conditioner, a Korg DT-1 Pro rackmounted tuner, an ADA 3TM mod MP-1 preamp modified by ADA Depot, 2 Rockman Smart Gates, a Rocktron Replifex (for modulated effects), a Rocktron (chorus, delay, reverb, pitch tracking), and the loud and lovely Mesa Boogie Strategy 400 stereo tube power amp through a pair of Peavey 412MS cabinets (4x12) with Celestion G12K-85 speakers or a pair of Peavey 212MS stereo cabinets (2x12) with the same Celestion speakers mentioned above. I use a Digital Music Corp. Ground Control to perform my MIDI switching on the rack system and a modified Vox wah pedal on my pedalboard

I just bought a Digital Music Corporation Ground Link for my pedalboard, GCX audio switcher and a System Mix Plus (hard to find and expensive when found) to my rack system and will be installing it to my system soon. I plan on running my system in parallel where I can mix in the dry and wet sounds together. I need to purchase a 20 space rack case to house all the components. It's kind of big, but when I'm done, it will be a very professional & versatile rig made for large stages.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v610/Gui...Gear/Pic058.jpg

I also assembled a smaller rack system for club use as well. This rack has a Furman PL Plus, another ADA 3TM Mod MP-1 preamp, a Rockman Smart Gate (not yet installed) and a Mesa Boogie Dynawatt 20/20 power amp through the Peavey 212MS stereo cabinet. I will be buying a Rocktron Replifex for that system when I find one for sale used (hard to find again) .

If you're into this sort of guitar rack system setup, check out this website:

www.hugeracksinc.com

They have a cool forum for the sort of things you're discussing about. You can also post messages on this website or you can e-mail me if you have question about setting up this type of rig. For most guitarists, they'll look at it as overkill. It works for me and that's all I have to say.

BTW: Get rid of the Marshall 8008 and get either the VHT power amps or Mesa Boogie power amps. You'll have nice stereo tube tones for your preamp and effects to work with.

Guitar George

[Tres Aardvarks]

The Jackson/Charvel forum is filled with guys who live by the rack. Bob Bradshaw and VHT's stuff has quite the following over there (or did the last time I cruised it).

[mattb]

500CC's of pure silicone!