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11-11-2011, 01:03 PM
|  | Resident Packer Fanatic | | Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Madison, Wisconsin | | | Just seems like racked amp units are so yesterday
Sign in to disble this ad
I keep seeing preamps for sale in GFS. Was real tempted on the Kern. Still to this day feel the Kern + CA9 was about the best I've heard/played. But in the end, obvious size, weight and hauling issues become apparent, Several DB750's for sale too. Just doesn't seem feasible any more, but every time I see a Kern for sale, my arrow-down button slows down. |
11-11-2011, 01:06 PM
|  | Less Ebay, more Mel Bay | | Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Phoenix, AZ | | Meh  I haul a pre/power rig a couple times a month and don't have any issues with it. Gotta haul pedals anyway.
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Dingwall ABZ 5
Lots of pedals
Markbass SD1200 -> fEarful 1515/66 (or TC115N) Red Complex |
11-11-2011, 01:12 PM
| | Registered User
Endorsing: Ampeg | | Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Apopka, FL | | | I got rid of my rack 3 years ago and never looked back. But I've never used pre/power rigs, only heads. If a pre/power rig is the only way you can get your sound to your satisfaction, then by all means stick with it.
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Ampeg Portaflex Club #1
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11-11-2011, 01:14 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Manchester, UK | | | I use my racked head a lot, and will be even more so when i get my cabs next month.
Liam
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Check profile for clubs and gear.
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11-11-2011, 01:14 PM
| | | | They don't weight any more these days.
A good power amp is 7 to 10 lbs
Pre-amps are light or could be lighter if they used aluminum and not steel.
And a pre-amp and pedalboard of pedals can be as light as an iPod/iPad - but it's not in a rack.
I hope eventually that half racks become an option, just to cut down on the bulk space.
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"The good thing about science is that it’s true whether or not you believe in it." - Neil DeGrasse Tyson 2011
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11-11-2011, 01:17 PM
|  | Hip No Ties | | Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: New York, NY | | They're "so yesterday"...until the cycle is completed, and they become current and in vogue. Once again... 
MM
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Truly knowledge is power. And knowledge of spiritual things is spiritual power.
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11-11-2011, 01:24 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Arkansas | | Quote:
Originally Posted by MysticMichael  They're "so yesterday"...until the cycle is completed, and they become current and in vogue. Once again...
MM | Then they will be "Vintage" and we can sell them for major cash right?!?
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"O, Ye people of the land! Turn up the bass!"
- II Opinions 7:3
Christian Praise and Worship Bassist #884
Spector Club #204
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11-11-2011, 01:24 PM
|  | Registered User
Designer and manufacturer of the Original Badbird Bridge | | Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Rochester NY USA | | | For most of my career I have always played, Marshall, Hiwatt, Ampeg, Sound City etc I never went the rack route. Sound guys were always ragging on me why do you play through this stuff? Get a crown and a Ashley pre amp LOL. In the early 80's I switched to a GK 800RB that lasted about three months, closest I ever came to a rack. Now sound guys praise my old tube rig, go figure!
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Scott Dasson maker of the Badbird Bridge. The direct replacement bridge for vintage Gibson Thunderbirds. "Intonation without modification"
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11-11-2011, 01:30 PM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Toronto Ontario Canada | | Wait until you drop your new little micro amp and shear all the controls off the front panel. I have two Class D units both reside safely in rack cases. One is an integrated head and the other a tube pre-amp and a 1000W power amp. Both in their rack cases, 4U SKB, can be lifted with two fingers.
Bottom line: if you have expensive equipment that garners you money you'd be a fool if you didn't protect it and keep it safe.
IMHO
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Paul
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11-11-2011, 01:43 PM
|  | Registered User | | | | Quote:
Originally Posted by MysticMichael They're "so yesterday"...until the cycle is completed, and they become current and in vogue. Once again...
MM | +1
There are very few rigs (and for that matter basses) that have been consistantly considered de rigueur for a large percentage of players/situations since their introduction.
However if it weren't for "trendy" gear, there would be far less choices for bass players to argue about on internet forums.  |
11-11-2011, 02:09 PM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Central FL | | | I always had heads and recently went to a pre / power amp setup. Never been happier. I can get everything I want in one case that weighs about 25 lbs. Power amp , pre amp, tuner, wireless, power conditioner. None of it really matters I suppose , play what makes you happy. |
11-11-2011, 02:36 PM
|  | TalkBass: Usurping My Practice Time Since 2002
Endorsing Artist: Lyt Pedalboards Beta tester: Source Audio Moderator | | Join Date: May 2002 Location: Connecticut | | Quote:
Originally Posted by seamonkey And a pre-amp and pedalboard of pedals can be as light as an iPod/iPad - but it's not in a rack. | My pedalboard would like to have a word with you..... |
11-11-2011, 02:43 PM
|  | OVNIFX
EXAR pedals rep for North & Central America | | Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: PDX, OR | | So far I've only been content by mixing and matching various components. But then again, I am not a "working" player who has to load in and out of different venues every weekend with no roadie. I can totally understand that person's motivation to keep it small and simple.
Then again, I used to be "that player" as a percussionist, and even so I used a crazy mix-and-match kit. I only brought what I could lug in two trips to/from the car, but within that limitation all bets were off.  |
11-11-2011, 03:12 PM
|  | passionate hack | | Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Malone, NY/ Montreal, Quebec | | | As a hobbyist I just got done with my 1st venture into pre/power, but I have to say that with 10 lb/1000 watt offerings well under 400 bucks, it's pretty sweet to be able to swap preamps.
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a few of my heros: David Suzuki, Jean Beliveau, Galileo, Richard Dawkins, Louis Pasteur, Niels-Henning O-P
Crappy Bassist with Expensive Gear Club member 156
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11-11-2011, 03:21 PM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: New York City | | | I still like the rack form. I feel more "pro" know what I mean? The height of it was the 60 lb swr grand prix, dbx160xt, rane parametric and crown microtech 1000. I was overamped 99% of the time. But oh those flashing lights!
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"Dude, that's not me. It's @#$% Willie Dixon!"
Blues Bass Player Club #67 The Westside Allstars |
11-11-2011, 03:30 PM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Columbus OH | | | I still use a rack with pre and power amp, but I play every Friday and Saturday and the soundman carts my gear in and out for me. I wouldn't have my stuff be put in the PA truck any other way or it would get destroyed.
If I schlepped my stuff in and out by myself every weekend, you can bet your a$$ I'd have an ultralight and portable rig.
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Its 2012 . . . where the hell is my flying car???
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11-11-2011, 03:30 PM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: West Dundee, IL | | | Don't worry about what's in, and do what works for you.
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EBMM Member #95
Markbass Club #8
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11-11-2011, 03:33 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Hunt. Co., New Jersey | | | Who cares what is in fashion?
Are you some kinda hipster? Do you need to buy all new shoes and clothes every season?
Are you a woman??
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I like Heavy Coffee table basses, Ceramic Tens, and big transformers. So shoot me.
Official Wood Matters Club Member #1
Spector Club # 206
Warwick Club # ??
Genz Benz Club # 287
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11-11-2011, 03:37 PM
| | TalkBass: Usurping My Practice Time Since 2002
Endorsing Artist: Lyt Pedalboards Beta tester: Source Audio Moderator | | Join Date: May 2002 Location: Connecticut | | Quote:
Originally Posted by JimiLL Who cares what is in fashion?
Are you some kinda hipster? Do you need to buy all new shoes and clothes every season?
Are you a woman?? | 
He didn't relay anything even remotely like the things you mentioned in your post. He only said they aren't as feasible due to the size, weight and hauling issues compared to the other amp choices on the market these days. Don't insult someone for things they didn't say. |
11-11-2011, 03:54 PM
| | | | While I've never been a big fan of the pre/power setup, I really like rack style amps simply because when tucked into a decent rack case, there is no chance of knobs sheared off, amp cases gouged in or bent bad enough to touch innards, etc. I've even had cased amps go through rain showers in the bed of my truck and emerge unscathed.
I've got an old SWR Basic 350 that's been in a flight case since the day I got it and after almost 20 years of bars and any other place you can imagine, when I took it out a while back to blow the dust out it still looks brand new.
I've also got a Peavey MK IV that's about as old and it looks every bit of it's age. Both work, but the Peavey looks like it's been rode hard and put away wet. The case holding the SWR is beat up about as bad as the Peavey, but the the amp inside is pristine.
Cased gear is just so much easier, and IMO safer, to transport.
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