Need some advise setting up my rack

[Patriarch]

I've been playing for a few years now and have decided to allocate some funds to a rack. one of my friends in a recording program gave me an 8 space rack (which i presume is too much) but i couldn't say no
But it has no front or back, and i plan on touring with a band this summer ... so if someone would be kind enough to show me how to construct some sort of protection for my gear that's be nice.

what i've got now:
Now before i get into what i want to be just know my band right now plays a mix of indie-rock and pop-punk. i play my basses w/ stubby picks (personal preference) and i own both an Epiphone viola bass and Warwick rock bass.
Right now im just running through a mxr bass octave deluxe medal strait to my Behringer ultra-bass bx4500h head to my corresponding cab.

What i wanted on my rack:
Furman M8LX power conditioner
Behringer BTR2000 rack-mount tuner
Dbx 266xs compressor gate
Tech 21 Sansamp RBI

im new to the tech aspect of playing so any advise would be greatly appreciated. im also kind of new to the site so if my post is in the wrong place or something let me know ?
Thanks in advance

[Rick Auricchio]

Have you chosen this equipment because you like how it sounds and will work for you? Or are you just assuming this is "good stuff to get?"

If the rack doesn't have front and rear panels, it would not provide any protection for the gear inside. Get a rack designed to be carried around, not a rack that's designed to sit in a studio.

[jmattbassplaya]

Originally Posted by Rick Auricchio

Have you chosen this equipment because you like how it sounds and will work for you? Or are you just assuming this is "good stuff to get?"

If the rack doesn't have front and rear panels, it would not provide any protection for the gear inside. Get a rack designed to be carried around, not a rack that's designed to sit in a studio.

Agreed.

Unless the rack was meant for touring and the sides could be replaced I wouldn't consider using it for gear that you're planning on lugging around on a regular basis. Also, unless you have a need for a rack and all that gear I'd highly suggest not going down that route just cause you can.

[lbwdog]

Right!
Don't buy gear just to fill up a rack.
Buy what you need for your sound...... then...... if a rack is needed, use it. Make sure you have front and rear covers for it though, if you'll be moving from place to place !

[Marko5657]

When one has a rack, there does seem to be this tendency to fill the spaces. Eight spaces... oh my…

I had a Grundorf six-space (heavy when empty) rack doing nothing and figured I’d use it for a bass rig, and shoved a buncha stuff in there. Obligatory Furman, tuner, comp, preamp, and power amp

Looks kinda cool in the music room on the two 410s, supporting the amp I actually use in there. I think I took it out maybe three/four times.

I do pull the power amp out of it when I need to double up my band PA for bigger/outside gigs.

[lbwdog]

I went through a "rack phase" too, many years ago, but only with a pre-amp and power-amp.

These days though, a six lb. MarkBass head does what I need (eventually to be replaced by a four lb. G-K & a pedal tuner!)

[walterw]

i drag a rack to all my bass gigs;

it's two spaces and has an amp in it

an 8-space recording rack with no front or back probably wouldn't long survive being bounced around in a van while full of heavy bass amp stuff. i suspect for these gigs it's gonna be worth just about what you paid for it.

[Gearhead17]

Touring this summer? Invest in some better gear than Behringer and get some backup gear. Don't waste your time on getting rack gear "just because". Keep your stage rig simple and predictable. Add one piece of gear at a time and make sure to evaluate it.

I also suggest grabbing a Radial JDI box for sending your signal to the sound guys.

The above posts about the rack unit are spot on.

[walterw]

Originally Posted by Gearhead17

Keep your stage rig simple and predictable. Add one piece of gear at a time and make sure to evaluate it.

that's it. make sure everything you're dragging around with you really "earns its keep".

[DigitalMan]

Oddly, I have the exact contents of your rack plus a qsc power amp going into a markbass 2x10 at home for practice purposes.

I'm very happy with it as a start, but have decided to add an Avalon U5 and An ART MX821 line mixer to get more tonal options. (shipping now and expected to arrive Tuesday.)

Down the line I'm looking into a few other bits and pieces for effect.

Yes, this is well on the way to becoming a full-on Geddy Lee wannabe rig. But just the other night I finally had a great tone moment and felt I finally moved past my Mesa/Boogie D-180 rig (yes, I'm that old.)

I think you have a great grocery list for starters. But you might find that the modularity of the rack also makes it feel like a project that is never quite finished. And that's not a bad thing. Have fun.

[JimmyM]

If you want to get a "power conditioner", just get the Furman M8X2. $50, has 8 plugs, will work just as well as any of them. They're all just glorified power strips with noise filtering.

Also, agreed that a recording rack shouldn't go on the road. It won't hold up.

Last, adding other things to your rack is cool and all, but when it comes to effects, only add effects that you know you need, add them one at a time and not a whole bunch at once, and never buy effects or preamps just because famous bass players have racks full of stuff like that and you think you should, too.

[dukeisdog]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

If you want to get a "power conditioner", just get the Furman M8X2. $50, has 8 plugs, will work just as well as any of them. They're all just glorified power strips with noise filtering.

Also, agreed that a recording rack shouldn't go on the road. It won't hold up.

Last, adding other things to your rack is cool and all, but when it comes to effects, only add effects that you know you need, add them one at a time and not a whole bunch at once, and never buy effects or preamps just because famous bass players have racks full of stuff like that and you think you should, too.

Something to consider is that some guys do like fancy looking racks, though. If I'm gonna be spending the money on rack mount gear, why not spend the extra $30 and get something that will ideally do the same thing, but catch peoples attention?

[JimmyM]

Fair enough. Looks matter.

[dukeisdog]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

Fair enough. Looks matter.

I'm sensing some sarcasm here. Not that looks do matter at all when it comes to gear, but it's something to consider. I'm starting to put my rack together, and am choosing components that will get the job that I need done, and that will look good doing it. I'd rather have a 6 space rack filled with the essentials that looks flashy, then a boring (slightly less expensive) version of the rack without the lights and same components.

[Patriarch]

This is all really useful advise thanks !
I chose all the gear after weeks of randomly testing things out at guitar centers and sam ash stores and a couple of local guitar shops (i live in nyc so there's plenty)
the only thing im really unaware of is how they all sound together.
separately i get amazing tones and some of the punch i love.

so far i am convinced i should probably get a 6 space rack made for touring (good thing i didnt pay for that 8 space ) and invest in a better power amp than my behringer.

any other advise ?

[derrico1]

Hmm--putting together a rack for your indie-rock summer tour? For van tours, small is good when you're playing load-out van Tetris, and light is good when you're schlepping your gear every night. In your position, I wouldn't be filling an eight space rack with geegaws.

If you already run a pedalboard, I'd think about putting a pre-amp pedal on it, carrying a light power amp in a two-space rack, and calling it done.

No pedalboard? Pair your favorite pre-amp with a light power amp in a four space rack.

Of course, you could also just put a light + loud integrated head into a two-space rack and call it good.

[jungleheat]

Before you spend a bunch of money on outboard rack processors, I would sell all that Behringer garbage and get a better amp and cab/s. With the upgraded quality and tone you get from that, you may find you don't want/need a rack at all. Buying a bunch of processors and then running it through Behringer gear is like putting lipstick on a pig.

I don't have anything against rack gear in general, in fact I'm gradually building a rack setup for guitar playing, but in your case, it's so far from what your main gear priority should be right now.

[JimmyM]

FTR, I wasn't being the least bit sarcastic when I said "looks matter."

[bassgod0dmw]

What cab are you planning on running all of this through? You may want to seriously consider that as part of an expense as well, depending on what you've got right now.

I agree with pretty much everyone else. Skip the rack. Seriously. It sounds cool now, but it's really not very fun. I've got a rack full of nice gear, I never gig with it. With all of the micro heads these days, you can find something that does exactly what you want and weigh less than 10lbs doing it. If you want the SA RBI tone, just grab a SansAmp Bass Driver DI and use it the same way. Cheaper, smaller, pretty much the same tone.

[Jayhawk]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

If you want to get a "power conditioner", just get the Furman M8X2. $50, has 8 plugs, will work just as well as any of them. They're all just glorified power strips with noise filtering.

I have this one but it's customized with a PBR sticker ... probably doubled the value.