Essential Rack Equipment!

Looks like you got the essentials! I'm not a big fan of effects, but if you got space, a compressor or eq is the only thing I'd suggest.

What size rack do you have?

 

Screws. Trust me. Don't find this out the hard way.

 

I think the 4004 only has 1 rack space...

 

He's right you know ! I blagged a big bag of about 30 screws and captive nuts in readiness for the arrival of my rack. Then by the time my rack arrived I couldn't remember where I'd put them. DOH!

 

Anything with lots of buttons and flashing lights. Looks really cool.


Mike

 

Rackmount tuners are nice. Other than that I just have a power amp and preamp in my rack - big racks may look good onstage but they're a pain to move. I'm currently downsizing from 6 spaces and 70lbs to 4 spaces and 35lbs and am so looking forward to being able to move my rig without swearing continuously.

Alex

 

When you say size of the rack, would a big one be 8-space or 34GG?

 

If you play more than one instrument at a show (and you aren't just passing the wireless transmitter from bass to bass), the Raven Labs MDB-1 Combination mixer/direct box/buffer/preamp is invaluable:



I leave my wireless (for electric bass) plugged into one input, my ABG in another, and my URB in a third input. I can adjust the volumes so that they are all the same. It also has a nice side chain effects loop that allows you to blend the wet and dry signal. I run my overdrive pedal off of this, and it lets me blend some clean in with the overdrive, which is nice. Mine sits next to my Shure ULXS wireless.

Tom.

 

Tom,

That overdrive unit you have wouldn't happen to be a Fulltone Bassdrive would it? *grin*

 

It is now!

Tom.

 

Ryan - Think black fiberglass looks cool? I got a CNB from Rondo Music. Then again, maybe silver isn't your cup of tea. But mine is built like a tank.

The 8-space CNB (and their other racks) is/are the same pricing as the Musicians Fiend racks - $90 -

 

I have a rackcase remarkably like this and they are NOT good. They weigh much more than SKB or Gator cases (which may not seem to matter when empty but it will once you've got all the gear in it), are less strong (it's not hard to put a hole straight through the fibreboard) and the handles aren't very comfortable.

I can't understand why you're getting a 6 space rack if you're just putting a 2 space head plus some accessories in it, especially as cheap Furman power conditioners are just glorified power strips and I really wouldn't bother with one. Rackmount tuners are nice though, very useful IMO.

However, if you forego the rackcase, tuner and power conditioner you could spend that money on getting a better amp, like one of the SWR Pro series ones.

Alex

 

If you want flashy lights in your rackmount get one of these



I picked on up from ebay for practically nothing. I bi-amp with the bass running through one channel and the mid/top through the other so its a nice way of see-ing how 'balanced' the outputs are.

Who am I kidding - its just flashy lights

 

If you decide that having a big, sexy looking rack is just downright superficial and inconvenient, you could do like me... my SWR SM-900 is mounted in a 2 space box that carries like a briefcase (albeit a heavy one). My pocket tuner stands upright on top with the aid of velcro and can be carried in my cord bag or in back of the rack during transit. Simple. Effective. Groovy.

 

Umm Preamp and Poweramp?