Rack Mounting Kits???

[GearHeadBassMan]

Yeah, so, my friend bought the Hartke VX3500 combo last year under my encouragement (I have a similar set up, only seperate pieces).

He recently bought an SKB four space and he tried dropping in the head only to find out the mounting ears were a whopping 23 1/2 inches wide!

Now he's mad at me for making him get the combo because he wants a rack and doesnt want to buy another amp (he's also a little baby, IMO ) But I told him to send an email to hartke and see what they say. As I have the same amp (mine's in the fancy 2u holder that came with it) and just picked up my own rack (used like new 4u gator $60!) I was wondering if there was a company that makes a rack mounting kit in case I decide to rack up my hartke (doubtful).

So, is there? Or is my buddy buying a new amp for his fancy rack?

Thanks for the Help!
-Alex

 

[anderbass]

Standard rack ears are just a piece of metal that's been bent to a 45% and had holes drilled and some hardware.

If you cant buy the rack mounting kits for your applications, and your components are 19" (or under) wide, you could make (or have a machine shop make) your own.

 

[Jonny B]

Standard rack ears are just a piece of metal that's been bent to a 45% and had holes drilled and some hardware.

If you cant buy the rack mounting kits for your applications, and your components are 19" (or under) wide, you could make (or have a machine shop make) your own.

Or buy a 19" wide rack.

Or am I reading the original post wrong?

 

[Bryan316]

45 degrees? You sure you don't mean 90 degrees?

And pics would help. I can't imagine how a 23-1/2 inch wide amp would squeeze into a rack with a 17-1/2 inside clearance width and 19" outside-of-rail width. This doesn't seem right.

 

[Jeff A]

Standard rack ears are just a piece of metal that's been bent to a 45% and had holes drilled and some hardware.

45 percent of what??

 

[greenboy]

Wow, practically every box car here is toppled off the tracks ; }

 

[anderbass]

Ok I made a mistake. (I should really stop posting after my 6th beer)

 

[evan_phi]

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[Dave W]

Ok...now I really confused. If it's more than 19" wide...read...from one end to the other (width)...it ain't gonna fit in any rack. A rack...any rack...is 19" wide no matter what kind it is. If this head is really 23 1/2" it's only gonna fit in a custom rack...which is gonna cost some money. Not to mention that no other equipment is going to fit in it, since all rack gear is universally made to be 19" wide and 1.75 inches high (per U).

Also...in looking at a pic of the amp in question, it looks like there are just extra wide rack ears mounted on the thing. I'm sure you could take them off and put the "standard" ears on it from Hartke...and I'm sure they'll sell em' to you.

As stated...pics would help greatly!!!

 

[GearHeadBassMan]

yeah, sorry, I'll clarify.

the amp is about 17 1/2 inches wide, so it fits in the rack just fine. However, the rackmounts are extra long so the amp fits in the rack but the mounts don't.

if i could take a picture I would, the amp isnt here. but after looking at the harkte website, it seems like none of their amps are built to be rackmounted, they all come in their own little cases.

I'll just wait it out and see if he hears back from hartke.
also, after looking at my example, i wouldn't really want to be drilling holes into the side of my amp to put on a rackmount, it just seems a little too risky for me.

 

[VRT_RONBO]

The HA3500 fits perfectly in my rack.

 

[Dave W]

it seems like none of their amps are built to be rackmounted, they all come in their own little cases.

How do you figure? They all have rack ears to mount on the sides. There are already holes...no need to drill new ones. Just order them from Hartke...THEY HAVE THEM!!!

I've seen countless Hartke rigs mounted in racks. What do you think Stu Hamm uses? He doesn't go on world tours with an unprotected head...

They aren't all custom jobs either. WHy would Larry Hartke make a product that wasn't easily usable in the most standard case design in the world???

 

[greenboy]

Ah - the thread that just keeps on GIVING! ; }

 

[T-Bird]

Hi.

Yep, Hartke should have them in stock.

If all else fails or the equipment is narrow:

http://www.google.fi/search?hl=fi&q=19"+rack+shelf&meta=

If it's a bit wider, go 23".

Regards
Sam

 

[GearHeadBassMan]

Ok, I found them on the hartke website
Invalid Link Removed

they're all out of stock though! anywhere else they would be availible or just wait it out?

 

[birdxofxprey]

A rack...any rack...is 19" wide no matter what kind it is.

i just want to double check this before i get a rack from an online source.

i have an amp and a bass pod pro that i want to rack. according to the above, any rack will be the correct width?

and am i correct in thinking that each of the units i need to rack takes up two "spaces," so that i'll need at least a 4 space rack?

 

[Dave W]

i just want to double check this before i get a rack from an online source.

i have an amp and a bass pod pro that i want to rack. according to the above, any rack will be the correct width?

and am i correct in thinking that each of the units i need to rack takes up two "spaces," so that i'll need at least a 4 space rack?

Yes. All standardized rack gear is 19" wide. Your POD Pro is 2 spaces...or 2U if you want to get technical. Without knowing what kind of amp you have I can't say that it's 2 spaces or not. Some are 1, some are 2, some are 3...and so on. If it's the same height as your POD, then yeah...it's 2 spaces and a 4 space rack would do you just fine.

1U (1 rack unit) is 1.75" high...so if you don't know, just measure and divide...

 

[birdxofxprey]

Yes. All standardized rack gear is 19" wide. Your POD Pro is 2 spaces...or 2U if you want to get technical. Without knowing what kind of amp you have I can't say that it's 2 spaces or not. Some are 1, some are 2, some are 3...and so on. If it's the same height as your POD, then yeah...it's 2 spaces and a 4 space rack would do you just fine.

1U (1 rack unit) is 1.75" high...so if you don't know, just measure and divide...

thanks bassgod!

 

[TrooperFarva]

Hi.

Yep, Hartke should have them in stock.

If all else fails or the equipment is narrow:

http://www.google.fi/search?hl=fi&q=19"+rack+shelf&meta=

If it's a bit wider, go 23".

Regards
Sam

google.fi? What the hell sort of google is that?

 

[Bryan316]

yeah, sorry, I'll clarify.

the amp is about 17 1/2 inches wide, so it fits in the rack just fine. However, the rackmounts are extra long so the amp fits in the rack but the mounts don't.

...I wouldn't really want to be drilling holes into the side of my amp to put on a rackmount, it just seems a little too risky for me.

Aww dude, this is an EEEEASY fix! Seriously! Did this for a Mackie mixer I wanted rack-mounted.

Okay. Go to either Home Depot or Lowe's, and find some plain sheet metal. Cut it to two strips as wide as the amp is tall. Bend a perfect 90-degree corner in the middle of it. A bench vise and a propane torch and a good ol' hammer will do this quite wonderfully. After you've bent it, measure from the outside surface of the bend, and draw cut-off lines to trim the excess. Make sure you measure this carefully. Now... BEFORE you cut them off, measure your screw-hole placements. Then with a sharp centerpoint punch, make your centers. Drill them holes a little larger than the screws necessary so you have wiggle room, and test fit. If all goes well, then you go get some hammered-texture black paint, and you've made your rack ears.


Of course, this all works only if you have tools, workroom, and some metalworking skills. If not... call up Hartke.



Suggestion B would involve drilling and cutting your existing ears.