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Rack Help Please!

munkeyfish

munkeyfish

Aug 27, 2006
1,219
992
Home. (St.Augustine, FL.)
#1
I need a Rack for my Peavey Pro 500 head. Never bought a rack before and want something good that will hold up to many gigs. I will be putting a power cond. and maybe a tuner, so it will have to be at least a 4 space.

the head is 19" wide, 12.75" deep, 3.5" high (2 space right?) and weights 24.8lbs.

I never racked anything before, so would I have to remove the feet on the head too? What size rack do I need, depth wise?

Thanks!
 
#2
Any standard rack will do. Your head + tuner + power conditioner = 4 spaces so far. Yeah, the feet will have to go. I used an MBT rack for awhile, it worked, but seemed low quality and I always worried a bit about my gear. I'm not one to support a name brand just for the sake of the name. But. . . I picked up an SKB roto-rack and it seems quite sturdy. I remember reading once that you should buy a rack with at least 2 more spaces than what you plan on using. My extra 2 spaces are filled and I'm getting ready to move things to the back if I keep adding to it. You'll be happy once you get one--it's nice to have you're gear protected, and really nice to not have to worry about all your settings getting messed up when you transport your gear.

-sam
 
#3
I'd get a 3U case, and have the head in the middle (so you have a half unit on both sides).

That way you dont need to worry too much about heat or removing the feet.

You dont need to thought, could always just stick it in a two rack case (if you arent thinking of adding anything else). Heat usually isnt too much of an issue, my amp has been fine in its 4U case (it's 4U big) for years.

And don't worry about a power conditioner, snake oil.
 
#4
IMO, a 4 slot SKB ATA is what you want - 2 for the amp, 1 for the tuner, and a "spare" for whatever - in my case, "whatever" is a receiver for my X2 wireless... The reason why I recommend a 4 slot over a 3 slot, is that weight-wise and external dimensions aren't all that different between the 2, neither is cost - but the extra space WILL come in handy for something, sooner or later...

I also agree about the power conditioner - save your money, because they won't do squat for your amp... I've been gigging over 25 years, have never owned a power conditioner, and have never blown an amp - for what that's worth... ANY amp amde in the last 20 years or so will have built-in protection/filtration...



- georgestrings
 
#7
I once owned all SKB racks, about eight plus some SKB cases. I got rid of them all. The threaded inserts for the rack screws give trouble, the latches are cheapo, the aluminum edges with o-ring seals end up leaking, the lids warp.

Forget about the SKB type cases. Forget about rack bags if your total weight goes over 30#. Unless you want a rack that has to be babied.

Go with an ATA type road case, and it will probably last you your entire career. I like the "Road Ready" brand. I have three that I have owned for over three years, and they still look new.

On the power strip footnote: I have had a rack-mount power conditioner save my entire PA three times that I know of, so yes, I have one in my PA rack, and in both my bass racks. 220 watts twice on 110 outlets, and a lighten hit the other, I also carry a cheap ($5) outlet checker.

Mark
 

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