Rack Connecting

[GlassCasket]

hey all i finally picked my preamp of choice for my upcoming rack setup and i think a tube power amp like a mesa 50\50 from **** now i need to know everything else i will need including preferred power conditioners, i dont need a fx yet but i plan on getting a G sharp system eventually now i think i may need a compresser and maybe a few other things please give me a hand


My preamp will be a Rocktron Pro-Gap i heard they were amazing for tight pantera like tone

Power amp Mesa 50\50 type or maybe a 20?


anything else recomended is greatly apprciated thanks alot

[Lefty Robb]

you could get away with a Peavey 50/50 for similar tone to the mesa for 1/2 (or less) the price..

[bluealien]

Well I think the 50/50 is worth it, I played the Peavey and thought it was missing something... and can be kicked down to LO power 15/15 to play in your room. The other think is that it can be either mono or stereo.

I was also looking at the G-system, but then I would have to get a pre-amp

Heres my rig, Digitech GSP2101 (2x12AX7 - Preamp & Effects) & Mesa 50/50 (4x6L6, 3x12AX7)

[Lefty Robb]

Originally Posted by bluealien

Well I think the 50/50 is worth it, I played the Peavey and thought it was missing something...

How were the tubes in it? Still for the price there great...

[GlassCasket]

what exactly is stereo im new to racks period haha and also does anyone know of anygood cheap midi pedals to use with the pro grap

[Lefty Robb]

stereo allows you to run 2 cabs (or a stereo cab) for a right and left channel.

[GlassCasket]

so any advice on a power amp? i need to know asap, and does anyone know alot about the pro gap?

[bluealien]

Originally Posted by Lefty Robb

How were the tubes in it? Still for the price there great...

It was new in the Store, but it also could of been the Peavey Cabs, I guess I got use to the tones I can get with my rig, which I could not get with the setup in the Store.

This is my 3rd rig, I use to have Marshalls and Modified Marshalls, but once I play Mesa Boogie, I heard the tone I was always going for.

[bluealien]

Originally Posted by GlassCasket

what exactly is stereo im new to racks period haha and also does anyone know of anygood cheap midi pedals to use with the pro grap

If you run true Stereo, then you effects will pan between your 2 cabs, based on left & right channels. So in theory you can also set where your tone is. I notice a big difference when I run Stereo to Mono… Stereo has a much fuller sound.


If you go to a Store that sells both, I would compare them using the same setup, then you should hear the difference. For me, even though someone suggests something I have to see if it fits what Im looking for..

[David McCarroll]

Mesa stuff is about the best there is, full stop - for reliability, build quality, tone etc they just can't be beaten unless you want to delve into the hyper-expensive world of boutique gear.

If you have the pre-amp of your dreams, then I would really strongly recommend the TC Electronics G-Major for effects - basically a slightly scaled down version of the G-Force/G-System (as used by Mr Vai himself) with less software bugs and fasster patch change times (and that comes from TC themselves BTW) - the only shortfall I have found is that it cannot do intelligent pitch shifting, and does not have switchable loops (the G-System has this so that you can also use it to switch loops of stompboxes in and out). The G-Sharp is TC's somewhat dodgy foot switch system for the G-Major, and by all accounts is best avoided.

The guitar is a mono instrument - stereo effects let you do things like panning, stereo reverb, stereo flanging and chorus, panning a pitch shifted note to one side etc etc, ping pong delays and so on and so forth.

If you are using a programmable pre-amp as well as MIDI effects, the best approach is probably something like a Roland FC-200, or a Rocktron All-Access, or the DMG(?) Ground Control - the other cool thing about MIDI effects boxes is that you can connect an expression pedal to your foot controller and do things like manual flanging, panning, tremolo speed control and so on and so forth.

It's a bit of a chore to set up, but if you like controllable effects it's fabulous when you get it all happening!

Cheers

David

[S420]

I own/use a Mesa 50/50 power amp, and it is awesome. For a preamp, I use a Rocktron Prophesy, trust me it is a great match!

[bluealien]

I agree with all mentioned above, I have had my Mesa 50/50 almost 10yrs now, and I just love the sound, this yr again I replaced all my tubes, and still it wows me... but again this is your choice, just like some people like Vai's Legacy and others do not, it will really depend on what your looking for and how you play.

~ BA :.

[Lefty Robb]

It also depends on the size of your wallet and also don't forget your gonna have to get a nice cab to really bring out the best in the amp, like bluealiens Mesa cabs, which are a perfect match to any mesa power amp.

[GlassCasket]

ok im now thinking Pro Gap--> Mesa 50/50--->G System of some sort not sure yet ------.Cab( Crate Blue Voodoo Cab With Celestions now i need a power conditioner or if anyone has another preamp suggestion please share it i need a really high gain tight preamp cheaper the better, also anyone know anything about the MosValve 1160 preamp, i found one cheap (100$) btw limit for everything including preamp is 900-1200 thats why im right now just getting a Preamp and Power amp (and conditioner)

[Lefty Robb]

Marshall JMP-1($400) > G Major($300) > BBE Sonic Maximizer ($50) > Peavey 50/50 ($300)

That leaves you with about $200 to find a used cab...