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Rack questions

rhythm

rhythm

Dec 4, 2005
190
87
England
#1
Hiya,

Once I have some money (soon I hope), I'm thinking about assembling a rack, with something such as a power conditioner, rack tuner, and an amp head (possibly Euphonic Audio or Ashdown). One thing I hadn't really thought about till now was how the power is supplied to each individual unit. Do you somehow fix a socket into the rack with enough plugs for all the equipment in the rack (enabling you to just put 1 plug into the mains), or do you just carry an extension lead with you and use this instead?

Also, can anyone recommend a wireless system which can be rack mounted?

As you can probably tell, I'm not too experienced with equipment such as this.

TIA
 
#2
The power conditioner is a power supply. You plug your equipment into the back of it, then run the chord from the power conditioner into a wall outlet, flip it on and everything comes on. Make sure you keep your signal away from the a/c, if you don't you'll have inductant (spelling) noise. If you're going to buy a power conditioner go ahead and spend the extra money to get a really nice one with all the bells and whistles, just my opinion though. Hope this helped.
 
#3
Aah - I see! Thanks very much, I never actually realised the conditioner was the power supply as well, I just though everything had to be plugged into it as well as to the mains!

I'm looking at Furman conditioners, most of the pro's who's gear I've seen use them, anyone recommend a particular model.

Also, does anyone find it necessary to use more than 1 amp head in a rack? To begin with the most I'd be looking at powering is 2 x (4 x 10s), or a 4 x 10 and a 1 x 15. The amps I'm looking at are:

Euphonic Audio iAmp 800
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Ashdown ABM 500 RC EVO II Head (I'd prefer the ABM 900 Evo II but there's not a rackmountable version of it)
http://www.ashdownmusic.com/bass/detail.asp?ID=55

Cheers again!
 
#4
Hiya,

Couple more things, I'm assuming that in most racks there will be a space enough to run a patch lead or something from the back of the tuner (I'm thinking of a Korg DTR-2000) to the front of the amp heads? Or, is it possible to imput everything to the rear of the rack, so basically there are no leads at the front (unless I choose to use a wire, not wireless)?

And, how would I go about running to the cabs? Would I just need 1 lead from the amp (contained in the rack) into a cab, with another lead from the first cab to the second, or would I need to go to each cab individually? Would it also prove a problem (with the ohms/power) if for space reasons I could only use 1 cab?

Like I said, I'm not very knowledgeable with stuff like this!

TIA
 
#5
I actually found that a pedal tuner is easier to use than a rack tuner onstage. Just my .02

I originally bought a 4 space rack, with the same thing in mind, but wish I bought a 2 space rack bag for gigging ease now.
 
#6
rhythm said:
Hiya,

Couple more things, I'm assuming that in most racks there will be a space enough to run a patch lead or something from the back of the tuner (I'm thinking of a Korg DTR-2000) to the front of the amp heads? Or, is it possible to imput everything to the rear of the rack, so basically there are no leads at the front (unless I choose to use a wire, not wireless)?
Click to expand...
There won't be enough space to run leads unless you decide to leave an empty space between components. If you want to use the tuner in series you'll have to run your bass into the tuner input (on the front) then tuner output (back) into amp input (front).

When I'm using a rack tuner I just use the effects loop on my pre as a send. That way all of the patching is in the back. If I need to mute the signal I just change the FX loop from parallel to series with the pull of a knob. I rarely have a rack tuner though.

And, how would I go about running to the cabs? Would I just need 1 lead from the amp (contained in the rack) into a cab, with another lead from the first cab to the second, or would I need to go to each cab individually?
Click to expand...
One lead from the amp will be fine!

Would it also prove a problem (with the ohms/power) if for space reasons I could only use 1 cab?
Click to expand...
Never
 
#7
Hiya,

Sorry to be a pain!

Came across these pics of a rig belonging to a favourite guitarist of mine, Paul Crook http://www.metalloaf.com (a guitar rig, not a bass one, though the principle will probably be the same), and was just wondering if the system he is using is the same as what quallabone is saying, as there appears to be no wires at the front (Looks a great setup!)

http://www.metalloaf.com/images/bade1.JPG
http://www.metalloaf.com/images/desk-with-gear.jpg
http://www.metalloaf.com/images/the-rig.jpg
http://www.metalloaf.com/images/studio1.jpg

Also, if anyone's interested here's a rack belonging to Kasim Sulton (one of the people who inspired me to take up bass), it looks very nice, I'd like something similar. Not sure how many cabs he was using for it (it was the last Meat Loaf tour if anyone knows). It appears for The New Cars Tour he's just using an iAmp 800 and 2 x (4 x 10's) (I may be wrong - correct me if you know different!)

Link Removed

TIA
 

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