shock racks a must?

diechris · #1 06-03-2010, 02:30 AM

I just got a svt-300 300 watt all tube 4U rack power amp.. Its my first time out with a tube amp.

My question is..

Is a shock/flight case a must for tube amps? How well do they really help?

thanks!

JimmyM · #2 06-03-2010, 02:37 AM

it wouldn't hurt. at the least, you should put it on the bottom of the rack and have some support for it under it to keep the chassis from flexing. i used to stick a board covered in newspaper under my amp to support it when i used a rack. probably should have used fabric, but i didn't have fabric and i had a newspaper.

but tube amps aren't nearly as delicate as people think they are. never used a flight case for any of mine. just don't slam it or drop it and you should be fine.

diechris · #3 06-03-2010, 02:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

it wouldn't hurt. at the least, you should put it on the bottom of the rack and have some support for it under it to keep the chassis from flexing. i used to stick a board covered in newspaper under my amp to support it when i used a rack. probably should have used fabric, but i didn't have fabric and i had a newspaper.

but tube amps aren't nearly as delicate as people think they are. never used a flight case for any of mine. just don't slam it or drop it and you should be fine.

what im worried about is the rack being in the back of a trailor going from state to state..

im beginning to learn that tube amps are the fragile old folks as people make them out to be.. however.. being in the back of a trailor with bumps in the road along the way seems like a bit much for the glass..

JimmyM · #4 06-03-2010, 03:06 AM

yeah, that's one thing i never did. when we drove around with a trailer, i was using a hybrid. in that case, i think it might be a good idea.

TaySte_2000 · #5 06-03-2010, 03:09 AM

Yeah in that situation it's probably a good idea, I use to have mine in a 14u shock rack, was greta unless there were stairs.

I have my 400+ in a custom made headcase now and then that sits in an Army case designed to be dropped out of a plane, so it's light, waterproof, mega strong and has a pressure equalisation button.

Hope this helps

Fuzzbass · #6 06-03-2010, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by diechris

what im worried about is the rack being in the back of a trailor going from state to state..

As noted, probably a good idea to get a shock-mount rack regardless of what kind of amp you have.

Corey Y · #7 06-03-2010, 11:18 AM

I've done two tours with tube amps and no shock mount racks/cases. However, that might just be luck on my part. If you have the money to spend it can't hurt to be careful and protective of your gear. In my case we did it the cheap way, wrapping our amps in packing blankets and stacking them on top of sleeping bags or whatever else was soft to keep things from bouncing around too much. Not a method I would necessarily endorse as standard procedure.

JimmyM · #8 06-03-2010, 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Corey Y

I've done two tours with tube amps and no shock mount racks/cases. However, that might just be luck on my part. If you have the money to spend it can't hurt to be careful and protective of your gear. In my case we did it the cheap way, wrapping our amps in packing blankets and stacking them on top of sleeping bags or whatever else was soft to keep things from bouncing around too much. Not a method I would necessarily endorse as standard procedure.

if you're handling your gear by yourself and loading your own trailer, it's a cheap but effective way to go. i would not trust union stage hands with it, though

Corey Y · #9 06-03-2010, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

if you're handling your gear by yourself and loading your own trailer, it's a cheap but effective way to go. i would not trust union stage hands with it, though

Oh yeah, I definitely would go with a shock mounted rack/case in that situation. I'm used to the more DIY/personally hired roadie side of things. It's a bit different with someone who has personal and financial accountability if they damage my gear. Admittedly though I can be a bit of a control freak and have a hard time trusting anyone else to touch my gear, to my own detriment at times.

In general though I'd say that proper maintenance and protection of gear is more of an investment than an expense, so it's worth it, imo.

diechris · #10 06-03-2010, 08:38 PM

shock rack it is...

damn guys.. making a overnight jump from 4lbs class-d head to 85lbs 300 watt tube head is traumatizing..

JimmyM · #11 06-03-2010, 10:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by diechris

shock rack it is...

damn guys.. making a overnight jump from 4lbs class-d head to 85lbs 300 watt tube head is traumatizing..

don't be a puss

nothing wrong with little class d heads...some of my best friends on here make little class d heads. i used to own one (technically class ab but whatever). but man, a hot tube amp is ever so sweet!

Jim Carr · #12 06-03-2010, 10:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by diechris

shock rack it is...

damn guys.. making a overnight jump from 4lbs class-d head to 85lbs 300 watt tube head is traumatizing..

I feel for you. My CA-6 Crest/ART tube pre head is ~74 lbs. However, it never had a problem riding in a trailer on a 15K mile tour--plus the tube pre has a couple of 12-AX7's in it.

Honestly, my advice is that no matter what rack/shock/head/tube deal you are running, TAKE A FRIGGIN' SPARE HEAD.

My favorite spare right now is a 3.75 lb. (600 watt) GB Shuttle 6.0. Did I mention it fits in my gig bag, ha ha? But seriously, I loved my Marshall Major, but not enough to take it on the road nowadays.

The Crest is another matter.

Big John66 · #13 06-03-2010, 10:16 PM

The first time your trailer comes off the hitch and rolls over 3 times down the side of a hill in South Dakota, you'll be glad you got that shockmount rack. Or, at least I was.

P.S. Always check the hitch and the safety chains after the drummer hooks up the trailer.

diechris · #14 06-03-2010, 10:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Carr

I feel for you. My CA-6 Crest/ART tube pre head is ~74 lbs. However, it never had a problem riding in a trailer on a 15K mile tour--plus the tube pre has a couple of 12-AX7's in it.

Honestly, my advice is that no matter what rack/shock/head/tube deal you are running, TAKE A FRIGGIN' SPARE HEAD.

My favorite spare right now is a 3.75 lb. (600 watt) GB Shuttle 6.0. Did I mention it fits in my gig bag, ha ha? But seriously, I loved my Marshall Major, but not enough to take it on the road nowadays.

The Crest is another matter.

lol yeah I'll bring my little gk mb2-500 everywhere.. I'll also come in handy when I need some headphone practice and dont want to bust out the rig..

countrybass007 · #15 06-03-2010, 10:27 PM

When I was on the road, and my Boogie D180 was getting moved around alot, I always kept it in a Boogie shockmount case. It just gives your amp a little extra protection.

**SoComSurfing** · #16 06-03-2010, 10:33 PM

Keep an eye on eBay, and depending on the size of the rack you need, stay open-minded. If you need a smaller one, 4-6 spaces, you'll probably find a fair amount of the Mesa/Boogie racks. These are excellent, but can be expensive as you go larger.
I found my 10-space that lives inside a foam-lined case for a little less than $100. Yes, its much bulkier, and a bit larger overall, but can't beat the price, and the protection is amazing.
Open:

Closed, compared to normal 6-space:

edit: BTW, the 10-space rack alone weighs 117 lbs before going into the road case. Be warned if you go the shock-mount route.