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Setting up a rack mount. Need Suggestions.

V

VTheHTyphoon

May 4, 2010
281
83
#1
Ok, so I have been looking into a rackmount system, because I have a rackmount bass head that I just sit on top of my amp. So I was looking at a 6 space unit. my Line6 LowDown 400 takes up 3. I was looking into a Nady Power condition which takes up 1 space and a Nady Quad Wireless which takes up one space. The last free space would be taken up by a Db meter on the front rails and a fan panel on the back rails.

Now before you all crucify my for Nady equipment, let me explain my situation. I play in a prog band and use 2 different basses. I use a Traben Phoenix which is active, and a Fender Jazz 24 that is active/passive, but I only use it passive. The LowDown head has a specific input for active and a specific one for passive. And I don't want to spend a large amount of time switching **** around when changing basses. With the Nady wireless, I could get two xlr-1/4" cables and hook each channel individually into the right input.

Any suggestions on a better multi wireless system would be great, or on how to improve this rack. Thanks

-Matt
 
#4
Skip the power conditioner - they're a huge ripoff... You can get the same protection and filtering from a surge strip by Belkin or others - for $20 or less - and save money, weight, and rackspace...

Next: Nady wireless units are junk - get atleast an X2 or something better, or stick with a cord...

Regarding changeovers: I use multiple basses in a night, and just put the transmitter in my back pocket... If I have basses with significantly different outputs, I make a quick adjustment on amp gain, and all is good... My changeovers never take more than 15 or 20 seconds, at most- and are often times quicker...

No tuner???

Here's what *I* would do, if I had a 3 space racked amp - I'd get a Korg DRT-1000 or 2000 tuner, and put it up front and above the amp, and either use an XDR-95 or G90 and put it in the back, using the rear rack rails, or buy an XDS-PLUS or G50, and velcro it in for transport, and set it on top while playing... From past experience, I can tell you that a 6U rackspace isn't nearly as manageable as a 4U rackspace - and anything you can do to avoid bigger racks will benefit you in the long run...



- georgestrings
 
#5
Here's my rack - it's been refined to being just about perfect *for me* :

MesaM-pulse600-4.jpg



M-pulse600rackback-1.jpg
 
#8
Power Conditioner's are nothing more than glorified power strips.

HOWEVER, if you are looking to protect your gear from unwanted electrical surges, spikes, etc you could get the Furman AR-1215 voltage regulator. It is not cheap but then again neither is all the gear you are going to plug into it.

Also, a small 1U or 2U drawer is nice to carry tools, extra strings, extra cables, an extra mic, etc...
 
#9
get a Tripplite rackmount power strip.. it's essentially a power strip with rack ears..

Nady wireless is garbage.. regardless of your application..

the dB meter is up to you.. if you're thinking of the radio shack dB meter, it's basically useless..

the fan would have an application in a rack with a tube amp.. but with your amp/components, it will just pull dust through the rack..
 
#14
All great advice, let me make some comments here.
I don't need a tuner, my head has one built in.
I do want a power conditioner. In all honesty I don't have a problem with buying a $40 rack mount power strip from Furman.
The dB meter is completely unnecessary, but I think it's interesting and gives it a little flair. it isnt anything expensive or heavy.
The only reason I said the Nady is because it is a multi-pack, multi-out wireless system.
let me explain this in detail: My amp has an input specific to active electronics and one specific to passive electronics. I play a passive bass, and an active bass. When you put active electronics in the passive input, there is alot of noise coming through. the Nady is a multi-out, so I can have the channel for my active going to my active input, and the channel for my passive going to my passive input. I wouldn't be switching from one bass to another once, it would probably be a couple times over the course of a set. If I only have a single body pack,with one cable going to my amp from the receiver, that consists of me unplugging the pack from my bass, putting it on my other bass, switching the cable on my amp, making sure the level is correct for my bass I'm using now, and then I'm ready. That's alot in between songs. I am not defending Nady at all, trust me I have owned a wireless crap system by them and wasn't impressed even for the low price it was awful. I am just saying that I need a system with multiple outs and multiple packs. If you have any recommendations on the issue please tell me.

Thanks
 

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