Help me Build a Rack

[marshmallow83]

I didn't know whether to put this in effects or amps, so if it's in the wrong place could a mod please move it?

I'm currently saving up for a new amp, a Peavey Tour 450, and I'm thinking about getting a small rack together. Iim currently thinking about a compressor and a noise gate, but if there's anything else you want to suggest then go ahead. I'm not as rich as some people are on TB, so could you try and keep it below £200? (around $400) But if I must go a little bit over budget then I'll save up a bit more.

I'm a noob when it comes to racks, so if there's anything I've missed then please point it out.

Thanks guys!

[skiscem]

compressor is a good idea, rack tuner, db meter (useless but cheap), power conditioner

[marshmallow83]

Sorry to ask, but I never actually knew what a power conditioner does. Could anyone fill me in please?

[GearHeadBassMan]

The tour 450 is a good amp. what size rack do you want? keep in mind that the more spaces, the progressively heavier and harder to move the end result will be.

[GearHeadBassMan]

Originally Posted by marshmallow83

Sorry to ask, but I never actually knew what a power conditioner does. Could anyone fill me in please?

for all intents and purposes, it's a rack mounted power strip/surge protector.

[marshmallow83]

Originally Posted by GearHeadBassMan

The tour 450 is a good amp. what size rack do you want? keep in mind that the more spaces, the progressively heavier and harder to move the end result will be.

I don't to have a huge rack, not something of John Entwistle's. Just something that'll hold a decent compressor, noise gate and maybe a few other goodies.

Originally Posted by GearHeadBassMan

for all intents and purposes, it's a rack mounted power strip/surge protector.

So it basically powers the rack and protects it from surges? What would be the advantages of a power conditioner? Would help to tidy up all the power cables for the different units?

[steve66]

You can basically get away with a power strip. But its very convienent if you have rack space to include the power conditioner. Keeps things tidy. Most good powerstrips cost about the same as this Furman M8X Merit Series Power Conditioner which has served me well so far.

[stflbn]

Something to keep in mind...

Most power amps do NOT like/need/prefer to be powered through a Power Conditioner. Tech Support will tell you to give them all the full power they want/need rather then conditioned power that may be rationed to them. And most decent power amps already have fault tollerance built into them.

[JanusZarate]

Most cheap power conditioners don't actually "condition" or regulate anything...

But anyhow... that's a side note for another conversation. I personally find a power conditioner useful if:

A) you have the rack space for it
B) you use a significant amount of rack gear

A surge protector mounted inside the rack case will do an equally good job. But it's usually easier to work with a power conditioner, as a lot of surge protectors aren't built for easy rack mounting. Either way, you don't need anything expensive.

Regarding a noise gate: Generally, I find them to be useless on bass unless your gear is noisy (which says something about the quality of your gear, if this is the case ), or if some of your effects are noisy (usually, this could be the case with high-gain distortion and fuzz pedals).

And as for a rack compressor... it's your call. Definitely read up on the pros and cons (TBer Bongomania has put together an incredible amount of useful info on compressors - check his signature for links). Compressors are essential for recording (which is why studios have so many on their racks), but for live/home use? Not necessarily. However, a good transparent compressor can never hurt you.

Beyond the amp, compressor, and power conditioner, another item to consider would be a rack tuner. But given the lower cost and comparable quality of a good pedal tuner, a rack tuner is by no means necessary.

[scottbass]

I personally put nothing in my signal chain. Bass >> preamp >> power amp >> cabinet. Anything in your chain adds noise. I tune between sets, so there is no need for an inline tuner. I suppose if I used alternate tunings on some songs I might need an inline tuner. I also agree with the previous posts questioning the need for a limiter and a compressor. I do use a chorus pedal occasionally, but I won't put it in my signal chain if I'm not gonna use it.

But, hey, I'm old and I don't like to carry any more than I need to. I admit a big rack full of gear with lots of knobs and switches and all kids of blue and red and yellow and green lights looks pretty cool.

[marshmallow83]

Sorry for the late response, I went to bed.

Thanks for all the suggestions, but does anyone know any good compressors/noise gates/tuners?

[Kheos]

My first thought was: get silicone implants.

My second thought was: this guy is struggling with the same issue as I am: What to put in your rack? Well, I guess that if you don't know it, you probably don't need it. Save your money for when you know what you need for sure.
Is your gear noisy, you could fix that indeed with a noise gate, or with repairing/replacing your gear.
Do you have problems with pwer surges? getting a power conditioner is something you could do, yes, or you could just get an surge protector. which is a lot cheaper.
Does your amp have a compressor? Do you need more? really? get an compressor.
As said earlier, everything you put between your bass and your speaker(somewhere in the chain) can/will change your signal, thus your sound so really make sure you get what you need, and not what you want.

Personally I have a racktuner and I'm getting an EBS Fafner next year. Probably.
I'll use the tuner out so the tuner won't influence my signal. Maybe later(2010) I'll get a decent/expensive rackmountlooper.

[nad]

I would start with the amp first, then if you need additional rack gear go for it. You may find that the amp is all you need.

[mrkreuzschlitz]

Originally Posted by marshmallow83

Sorry for the late response, I went to bed.

Thanks for all the suggestions, but does anyone know any good compressors/noise gates/tuners?

For a compressor, a brand called DBX (I believe, I've heard of them SO many times but I can't seem to remember their name) or an Alesis 3630 are both really popular. Rackmount tuner, Korg makes a decent one, but in the U.S. its $180 brand new, and apparently their DTR-1 model is better than the current DTR-1000. Noise gates, I'm not so sure. Check out www.musiciansfriend.com for that, and for some general pricing.

[ga_edwards]

Originally Posted by marshmallow83

So it basically powers the rack and protects it from surges? What would be the advantages of a power conditioner? Would help to tidy up all the power cables for the different units?

Yes it will. It also (but very subtley, some people can't hear it) clean up your signal. You can connect all your other rack unit power sockets to it, meaning you only have one mains plug to plug into the wall socket. You can also leave the other rack units power switches left on, and power it all up with a single switch on the conditioner. How useful this is to you is up to you.

I've aslo in the past powered myself, guitarist, small PA and disc player from mine when I was in a duo. Very handy when wall outlets are sparse. And I felt much safer than using trailing multigangs everywhere.

BTW, my Samson PowerBrite also has a pop out rack light that has a glowing customisable logo on the front and a downlight to illuminate the entire rack. Very useful on a darkened stage.

[JanusZarate]

Originally Posted by mrkreuzschlitz

For a compressor, a brand called DBX (I believe, I've heard of them SO many times but I can't seem to remember their name) or an Alesis 3630 are both really popular.

Alesis 3630 = NOT an ideal candidate for bass. It's nicknamed the "dirty-six-dirty" around here for a reason.

As for DBX... they make some excellent all-purpose compressors, especially the 160A and 160X (both are expensive), but the lower-end ones are still great.

To the OP: I highly recommend starting with Bongomania's signature links to his reviews and discussions on compression. Almost every major and boutique unit you can think of has been covered by him!

Originally Posted by mrkreuzschlitz

...apparently their DTR-1 model is better than the current DTR-1000.

Now that, I've never heard.

The DTR-1 is still a great tuner, though, and it will be much cheaper than a new or even a used DTR-1000.

As far as Korg goes, it's the industry standard for rack tuners. They may not make the best (that award probably goes to Peterson), but IMHO, you will not need anything beyond what the DTR rack tuners are capable of. That is, of course, unless you need frightening levels of accuracy or the ability to tune the blazing summer sun.

But again, it's important to consider if you would rather have a tuner in rack or pedal form. After all, to lose a whole rack space to a tuner is something that can make the difference between needing a small, light rack and a heavy, large rack.

[Delberthot]

I would definitely look into why you would need to have so components. Yes, it does look cool having loads of flashing lights and knobs and stuff but do you need them?

I would go out with just the amp and a tuner if you want a rack one and see how you get on before you add anything else.

I've gone through all my gear and got it down to its simplest form for what i need.

I have my GK head in the rack with my Fender tuner above it. I went for the rack tuner to save having to connect one up at every gig. They are permanently wired together.

I have also zip tied a 4-gang power supply to a blanking plate and fixed it to the back mounting screws in the rack so that, again, for ease of set up, all I have to do is plug one cable into the wall.

When i set up at gigs I literally have to take a speakon lead from my amp to my cab, plug in the rack and plug my bass into the amp and that's it.

There's only one thing I am toying with and that is getting a wireless system which would be a rack mount job to keep it simple