Rack systems making a comeback?

[trevcda]

I heard somewhere that rack systems were making a comeback. I've never stopped using them and my guitar, keys and bass systems are all in racks. Anybody heard any similar rumors? I hope so! I'm sitting on a gold mine!

 

[MIMike]

I had to check the date on your post to make sure it wasn’t a zombie post from the early 2000’s.
If this is true, it should be much less expensive this time around to buy up all that old, used stuff.

 

[SpyderX]

Like vinyl and muscle cars... maybe... in some circles, with some people. I hesitate to believe they will become the standard of the masses. I, for one, would like to see it; but also I, for one, would not like to participate

 

[Passinwind]

No idea, but I typically still have 10RU or so of stuff mounted up at any given time and my primary bass and acoustic guitar amp is a 2RU homebrew I’ve been happily using since 2014. But I’m also no longer gigging, so…

 

[Iristone]

I don't think so. The main problem with rack is its heft and power supply making it less portable, and is more popular for fixed sound. I don't think there are as many new rack effects for guitar or bass, either.

 

[Barticus]

Oh geese, not that I’ve seen. I’ve gone from a 4u to ampless with IEMs 4 yrs ago… no racks in my future

 

[N4860]

For bass, no, not likely but it's obviously still quite popular with touring bands to have loads of rack gear. Even my little band that does very little gigging will bring along a 8U rack with stuff for when we need to handle the sound on our own. It's handy when you have IEM's going so that everyone's stuff is ready to go and you just need to plug in each person's battery pack.

 

[flatwound62p]

I have also heard this rumour but in the context of cosmetic surgery.

 

[ashtray]

I have stacks of ‘em! Got power amps, preamp, 1u midi mixer, EQ, effects, tuners, comp, and a bunch of amps like my 400RB and AG500 in racks.

 

[fauxtoe]

For bass, no, not likely but it's obviously still quite popular with touring bands to have loads of rack gear. Even my little band that does very little gigging will bring along a 8U rack with stuff for when we need to handle the sound on our own. It's handy when you have IEM's going so that everyone's stuff is ready to go and you just need to plug in each person's battery pack.

Agreed. For small band setups the only racked gear I have involves the PA and it immensely tidies and speeds things up with some equipment that would otherwise be loose and awkward to move. I would absolutely rack my bass gear if it involved other people moving it or if I was doing weekly non-church gigs where I needed the setup to stay the same and keep it quickly plug and play. Racks totally kick butt for that.

 

[BrianVengeance]

I honestly hope so... because in a few years when people realize again how heavy this stuff is I can snatch up even more killer kit on the cheap.

 

[rolfplamperton]

Not for working musicians. I hardly even see amps anymore.

 

[mdogs]

Not a chance.

 

[IanStephenson]

My systems have always been racked... Unless you're running a jack cable direct into a head, with no fx, wireless or IEM then it saves a mass of time.

I think the confusion is with the massive wheeled, 15u racks of the old days... Modern racks can be fast and light...

My current rack is 3u, and holds a wireless receiver, a preamp/fx unit. a di box and my IEM transmitter. I can carry it in one hand. I just drop it at the side of the stage, plug in one mains plug, then run one xlr to the stage box, and one jack cable back for my monitor and I'm good to go. The cables stay plugged in a the rack end so its literally three cables to plug in, and I'm done.

Before we went silent stage I had a similar 4u rack with an Ashdown little giant class D amp in, which meant one extra cable for my cab. Still super light.

My set up time can be under a minute if it needs to be. Meanwhile the guitarist who has an exactly equivalent is taking his floor multi fx out of its box, looking for the cables, running power, looking through his bag for his DI, getting his cables out of another bag... wondering which bit he plugged in incorrectly when no sound comes out...

Plus all my kit is protected on stage and during transit. Nothing can ever get left beind at home or at the gig. It never gets connected incorrectly. It looks neater on stage, and stores more easily at home.

 

[SpiderBass1965]

I use most of rackmount preamps in my studio. They do come out to shows once and a while with a QSC power amp. And I am a working musician.

 

[Zooberwerx]

Ditched all my rackmount preamps (...but I still have the power amps & cases) in favor the smaller lightweight heads (Quilter and EBS). That being said, I wouldn't mind having an inexpensive replacement just for something to play around with at home. It would never see the inside of a venue.

Riis

 

[EdwardofHuncote]

Depending upon the gig, I'll use a 3u Gator rackbag with a preamp and poweramp sitting on top of a Mesa Diesel 15, or a couple cabinets if I really need to be obnoxious.

Any other time just go small/simple with a Mesa WalkAbout Scout combo.

 

[bucephylus]

Rack gear was part of a backline soundstage. I do still have mine; never use it.

Progress with PA systems, including many club level gigs, has relegated backline amps to be stage mix monitors. Sound Engineers tend to prefer not to have them, as it makes their mix more challenging.

We do have a long history of approaching the backline as part of a standard signal chain. Old ways die hard.

I made the jump this past year to a signal chain emphasizing flexibility for different monitor schemes, and prioritizing the FoH as my amplifier; since that is what the audience hears. Pedalboard preamps, powered stage wedges, or in-ears; for which the signal chain is selected for specific character and produces the same tones on stage and in the FoH.

BTW, those powered wedge monitors can also be set on a backline with spectacular results. If necessary.

No question great backline rigs are cool. Great racks were part of that. My gigs can’t use them.

 

[EricOnTheBass]

I was really proud of my rack rig back in the day. SWR head, tuner, power supply. But I much prefer the flexibility of a light Class D head and pedalboard. And I haven’t actually used my amp rig in over a year, I’m going from my pedalboard into the PA with IEM’s.

 

[newfuture]

The only things I have that are racked that ever leave the house are an IEM/xr18 setup (6ru) and a mobile recording rig (2ru x 2).

Never again for bass if I can avoid it.

That said, there's a lot of rack stuff in my recording space.