Noob alert: Rack help?

Tyler.Chestkick · #1 08-11-2009, 01:31 AM

Hey guys,
I have been playing the bass for a while and play gigs regularly, and all that good stuff.
BUT
I'm new to this whole "bass setup" thing.
Live, i use a HA2500 bass head and a hartke VX215 cab.
I'm looking to make my setup a little more spicy!
I need a 2-3 space rack [maybe more].
Looking for anything useful in a rack setup.. (give suggestions)
and a rack tuner.

Keep in mind I'm a musician, so i don't have a lot of money

neatobassman · #2 08-11-2009, 01:32 AM

Depends on what you feel you need. What style of music do you play? What do you feel is missing tonewise? What type of effects do you like? Are you looking to improve your tone or add effects?

Tyler.Chestkick · #3 08-11-2009, 01:35 AM

I play experimental hardcore. Looking to improve my tone. Not sure what is missing, just looking to expand.

neatobassman · #4 08-11-2009, 01:37 AM

A sonic maximizer is always a good for making cheap equipment sound better, but doesn't work that great with great equipment. Also, compressors are good to have sometimes.

Mr_Sore_Fingerz · #5 08-11-2009, 01:40 AM

get a 6 space rack (so you have some room) and make sure its a deep one...or your power amp wont fit in there.

Get a sansamp RPM rack preamp, Crown or Behringer Power amp, Korg Rack tuner, DBX compressor, and a furman power conditioner....freakin awesome rig that can tackle almost any gig with a good cabinet hooked up to it =)

Tyler.Chestkick · #6 08-11-2009, 01:47 AM

thanks guys!

zmore506 · #7 08-11-2009, 02:04 AM

I agree with sore fingerz. definatley the dbx compressor and the furman power conditioner. i'm using a QSC amp powering hartke cabs. using only the preamp in my bass and preamp in the dbx compressor its the tightest setup i've ever run.

i also agree with going for the sansamp rpm, really good reviews and am going for one myself.

**TheMutt** · #8 08-11-2009, 05:17 AM

I'd skip the Behringer power amp and get the Crown, or get a Carvin power amp. My church had a behringer, but it was a POS that blew fairly quickly (mind you, we never had it past 1/4 of the total gain available).

i_got_a_mohawk · #9 08-11-2009, 05:25 AM

The behringer power amps are generally pretty good, one of the few things behringer does well!

I'd miss out the power conditioner though, most of them are nothing more than a waste of money.

Also, it seems like you want to get a rack for the sake of getting a rack. I've gone down the path of trying more complicated setups, now I just use a single amp head, don't need anything else. Maybe worth going to a music shop and trying a few different things, see what jumps out.

Mr_Sore_Fingerz · #10 08-18-2009, 05:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheMutt

I'd skip the Behringer power amp and get the Crown, or get a Carvin power amp. My church had a behringer, but it was a POS that blew fairly quickly (mind you, we never had it past 1/4 of the total gain available).

Yeah in my setup its a very "light" load compared to what most people subject their power amps to (mine is only a single input into a single 4-ohm 2x10's cab).

To the OP: Yes, a Crown or a Carvin will be MUCH better and reliable, but going from personal experience (buying a USED one) I can say it will get the job and stick together. I've had mine cranked to max before and it's still done great.

..BUT, if you can afford the Crown or Carvin I would do that. If you are short on cash, I wouldn't be afraid to use the Behringer until you can get a better power amp.

Mr_Sore_Fingerz · #11 08-18-2009, 06:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by i_got_a_mohawk

I'd miss out the power conditioner though, most of them are nothing more than a waste of money.

Also, it seems like you want to get a rack for the sake of getting a rack. I've gone down the path of trying more complicated setups, now I just use a single amp head, don't need anything else. Maybe worth going to a music shop and trying a few different things, see what jumps out.

Well from the stories I hear at work (Best Buy in Houston, Texas) I can tell you that surge protection and voltage regulation is still a pretty important thing. You not only want to help protect your equipment but make sure that the voltage is constant to prolong the life of your electronics.

Well the pros and cons of racks is that the sound ends up being a lot cleaner IMO (more wattage for the money in those power amps, and its a better RMS power output) and you have more flexibility. If you were going to just single heads, I'd recommend a micro head (GK MB2-500 or the Markbass Little Mark 2) or an all-tube head.

What head did you decide on?

gastric · #12 08-18-2009, 06:07 PM

If you're building a rack consider how HEAVY it may get. I started with a used Peavey T-Max 2U rack head which isn't light by itself. Bought a Furman and Rane DC-24. Then needed a rack to keep it all in. Bought a 4U shock mount from Seismic Audio on eBay. All together I can barely lift the thing safely by myself. It's friggin' rediculous on how big and heavy it is. Most a combination of the two, it's too large to easily grab well, then add the enormous weight and it's really back breaking to try to move yourself. And I have to throw it on top of a Peavey 810TX cab. I hate it all.