2U free rack space for Mesa Boogie D-180. What to put in it?

[Bunyo]

I got mine Mesa Boogie D-180 very good condition with graphic EQ at last.
I have 6 U rack for it so 2 U is not used.
Anybody has some suggestions what to put in it?
I tought maybe tuner, but I really dont think I need it, I have one in pedal.
I use 2x 15 Mesa Road Ready and G&L L-1000.
Every suggestion will be very helpful ( I think...)

[RickenBoogie]

A rack drawer or plain cover.

[bongomania]

Some helium balloons, to lighten it.

[bassgod0dmw]

Blank panel...

[BassmanPaul]

Originally Posted by RickenBoogie

A rack drawer or plain cover.

Not too often this happens but I have to disagree with RickenBoogie.

A two U rack drawer weighs in at around 25-30Lb. I thought them a great idea and bought two. Installed in each rack case they came out faster than they went in! I still have them both doing nothing in the garage.

As this is a tube amp I'd not go for blank panels rather ventilated panels above the amp to help get the heat out.

Sorry Rick!

[will33]

Why are the drawers so heavy? Couple sliding rails and some thinnish bent, spot welded metal and a latch. I'd think you could do that in 10lbs. or less. How much different from a silverware/kitchen drawer or small office desk drawer does it really need to be?

[georgestrings]

Originally Posted by BassmanPaul

Not too often this happens but I have to disagree with RickenBoogie.

A two U rack drawer weighs in at around 25-30Lb. I thought them a great idea and bought two. Installed in each rack case they came out faster than they went in! I still have them both doing nothing in the garage.

As this is a tube amp I'd not go for blank panels rather ventilated panels above the amp to help get the heat out.

Sorry Rick!

No doubt - anyone who's done a fair amount of gigging with a rack will understand the value in keeping it's weight down... Unless it's a rolling rack being trucked in, rack drawers don't work out well, IME...

Personally, if you're not going to put a tuner or wireless in it, I'd look to flip the 6U rack and get a 4U in it's place - velcro a surge strip in the back, and call it good...

Here's my gigging rack:





I really like the idea of having nothing on the floor, and the ultra-quick setup and teardown this setup offers... I've been gigging this rack for quite awhile now, and have no intentions of changing anything...


- georgestrings

[Alex1984]

Rack tuner and vented panel.

[Downunderwonder]

A vent below and a vent above, and something inside to stop the fan from recirculating air from the top. Even better, something to force the fan to take air from below. Apart from having rack ears it doesn't look to be designed to go in a rack at all!

[will33]

Originally Posted by Downunderwonder

A vent below and a vent above, and something inside to stop the fan from recirculating air from the top. Even better, something to force the fan to take air from below. Apart from having rack ears it doesn't look to be designed to go in a rack at all!

+1 for cooling. The right way may be a combination of solid and vented panels....and maybe not just on the front. Fire it up and blow a little smoke in it, see what the air is doing after everything is warmed up.

[jungleheat]

No way in hell is a rack shelf 30 lbs. I have a 60w 1x12 guitar combo that weighs about that. I have a 3 unit rack synth that's at least 15 inches deep that weighs maybe 10-15.

Having said that, unless you have a use for it, it's probably not necessary. I think you can get 2U rack panels that have 2 fans built, that would probably be the best idea. Empty space in a rack is not a bad thing, especially with an all tube amp in it.