Rack ears for a Trace Elliot SMX 350 head...

[rumourzbass]

I just scored a old Trace Elliot SMX 350 head.....sounds good and got it at a great price. It is in a case now but I want to rack mount it.

But i need some rack ears.....any suggestions on where i can get some? I don't know if they are special to the Trace head or what I need. Any help is greatly appreciated!

 

[agedhorse]

Rack ears were amp specific, the amp has been out of production for probably close to 20 years and the company now has no relationship to the company back when it was manufacturing those amps.

If they exist, you will need to find them used, and be very lucky as well.

 

[cavemanbass]

I think that’s the head I have... kicking around somewhere in the garage. I removed mine from the wooden head case and mounted it in an SKB rack. No rack ears needed, although I had to do some cutting on the sheet metal that covers the blacklight. Was probably 10 years ago, sorry I don’t remember all the details. But I did not spend a lot of time on it and mostly fit right into the road case.

 

[sonic 7]

You’ll probably have to improvise. Look at some rack shelves. I think there is a company called Raxxes or something like that, they make all kinds of rack accessories. I mounted a Trace Elliot AH250smx using a rack shelf. I drilled a few holes in the sides of the rack shelf. The head had threaded screw holes on the sides which was how it was secured in its original sleeve. I just used those to secure it to the shelf. If you do something like that just be careful that screws don’t protrude into the head too far past the threads so they don’t come into contact with anything inside.

 

[quickervicar]

British Audio Service is my go-to source to keep my old Trace stuff running. If they don't have them in stock they might be able to get some measurements for you.

 

[Microbass]

Welcome to the Trace club.

I don’t believe anything off the shelf available (even when in production) fitted these. You’ll most likely need to drill holes in either the rack case or the amp case to retro fit ears on. British Audio would be my first stop for sure though.

 

[rumourzbass]

Rack ears were amp specific, the amp has been out of production for probably close to 20 years and the company now has no relationship to the company back when it was manufacturing those amps.

If they exist, you will need to find them used, and be very lucky as well.

I had a feeling it might be tricky since it's an older amp and that Trace Elliot was bought out a long time ago.

 

[cavemanbass]

Look Ma, no rack shelf needed! This is an AH350SMX, rack ears are built in just had to remove it from the wooden headcase. Used a Dremel tool to remove some metal for access to the area behind the blacklight shield. Is your 350SMX different from this one?

 

[Microbass]

View attachment 3679174
Look Ma, no rack shelf needed! This is an AH350SMX, rack ears are built in just had to remove it from the wooden headcase. Used a Dremel tool to remove some metal for access to the area behind the blacklight shield. Is your 350SMX different from this one?

y’know, now I think of it, I have a broken older SMX head with something that looks like it could bent out to be ears! Will need to get into the attic tomorrow now.

 

[agedhorse]

Iirc, those ears are not structural. I believe the primary attachment when used in a combo or head case was different (perhaps on the top at the sides???)

 

[cavemanbass]

Iirc, those ears are not structural. I believe the primary attachment when used in a combo or head case was different (perhaps on the top at the sides???)

that was the only attachment on mine... no screws on top or on the bottom (unless someone previously removed them), although it was a tight fit in the head case. Still, the rack mount is very solid. Given how much it weighs, I'm not dragging it to any gigs or rehearsals (that's what my Mesa 800 is for!) so it mostly sits on a shelf. Can't bring myself to sell it, such a cool amp.

 

[agedhorse]

The tight fitting head cases were updated (IIRC) because it became clear that sometimes the heads got stuck either during manufacture when trying to install, or during service when trying to remove!

I remember one that came through the shop where there was no way of getting the amp out, it was stuck fast and all that was going to happen was breaking something. We ended up cutting the head case at one end and pealing it apart.

Are there 4 holes in the top of your chassis (they may be threaded, they may be internal snap nuts) or possibly in the bottom or even sides of the chassis. It's been way too long to remember these details unfortunately.

 

[Downunderwonder]

My SmX 250 is a bit different again. The case is not in danger of being too tight unless it got wet (MDF). There are no ear like bits at the front. There are hard point bolt holes two each side of the case and matching threaded inserts in the amp case.

To rack mount mine it would be a shelf job or custom long reach ears back to the bolt points.

 

[rumourzbass]

View attachment 3679174
Look Ma, no rack shelf needed! This is an AH350SMX, rack ears are built in just had to remove it from the wooden headcase. Used a Dremel tool to remove some metal for access to the area behind the blacklight shield. Is your 350SMX different from this one?

 

[rumourzbass]

y’know, now I think of it, I have a broken older SMX head with something that looks like it could bent out to be ears! Will need to get into the attic tomorrow now.

If you have rack ears let me know....I could also use volume and gain knobs so if you would like to sell them please let me know!

 

[rumourzbass]

The tight fitting head cases were updated (IIRC) because it became clear that sometimes the heads got stuck either during manufacture when trying to install, or during service when trying to remove!

I remember one that came through the shop where there was no way of getting the amp out, it was stuck fast and all that was going to happen was breaking something. We ended up cutting the head case at one end and pealing it apart.

Are there 4 holes in the top of your chassis (they may be threaded, they may be internal snap nuts) or possibly in the bottom or even sides of the chassis. It's been way too long to remember these details unfortunately.

Four holes on sides of the head case to attach it to the amp

 

[rumourzbass]

View attachment 3679174
Look Ma, no rack shelf needed! This is an AH350SMX, rack ears are built in just had to remove it from the wooden headcase. Used a Dremel tool to remove some metal for access to the area behind the blacklight shield. Is your 350SMX different from this one?

looks very similar but mine doesn't have rack ears on it...unfortunately

 

[Downunderwonder]

Four holes on sides of the head case to attach it to the amp

Makes it same as my 250 by the sound if it. 2 holes about 5'' apart in the middle of each side? What's the overall box width?

 

[agedhorse]

That matches my recollection

 

[Mattattaker69]

I had to make made my own rack kit for my GP12SMX since the parts are no longer available at Peavy. I used steel angles .5x3inx3in (about 8$ each at the hardware store) and an oscillating multi tool with the half circular blade to cut through. You can use one of the 4 M6 bolt to hold it in the middle and two small bolts holes (forgot the size) that are on the side of the front panel itself. Be carefull with the lenght of the bolts though since there are components on the other side.