Who Has A Rack vs. Who Has A Conventional Amp?

**jemaholic** · #1 10-22-2004, 05:58 PM

I just noticed reading the "Signal Chain" thread that almost everyone uses a normal type head/combo and few if any use a rack for head-end.

I know racks are more common with bass players, any "rack-heads" out there?

bpd111 · #2 10-22-2004, 07:03 PM

I use a rack primarily for space issues and requirements for my set up where I play at church. I'm actually thinking of buying a Carvin Legacy head to go with the Legacy 2x12 cab I already use.

Gresh · #3 10-22-2004, 07:11 PM

I used to have a rack set up, but I went back to a conventional amp and pedals approach for simplicity's sake. I'm a simpleton I suppose and got sick of the midi stuff in favor of a more "organic" approach, if you will.

vaijem777 · #4 10-23-2004, 05:40 AM

I've got a full rack (Rivera TBR-2SL, etc.), a head/cab (Matchless Chieftain) and a few combos (Bogner Shiva is the main one). In the past, what amp I took to a gig depended on how strong I was feeling at the time. Now, the Bogner gets about 75% of the use and the Matchless gets the other 25%. The rack will probably get parted out and sold soon, but I'll keep the Rivera- it's too sweet to let go

revsharp777 · #5 10-23-2004, 07:35 PM

Yep, I've been a full rack user for about 4 years now. Initially, I got into racks because my previous rig was just getting ridiculous to maintain (head, speaker cab, THIRTEEN pedals, & a 4-space rack full of stuff). Using a rack system allowed me to combine effects & switch them without having having to dance all over the pedal board. One switch does all the changes. Simple.

However, I'm using less effects now & I'm thinking of going back to a head.

**jemaholic** · #6 10-28-2004, 08:33 PM

Hmmmm...I think with technology getting better there may be less call for racks of stuff like the old days.

Tube heads IMHO will never go out of style, but the hybrid/tube/digital effect heads are really getting better these days. My Marshall AVT150H actually records better than my DSL and my 800 head. A little thinner, but EQ more than compensates...

I also moved from 4-12 cabs to 2-12 cabs and I'll never go back: I'm getting older and a 4-12 is a pain in the ass to move, and I highly doubt I'll play the Garden anytime soon.

**cerealk** · #7 10-28-2004, 09:13 PM

rack for me

Two hands31 · #8 10-28-2004, 10:17 PM

Where have I seen that guitar before...ah yes...Everywhere

...and my dreams

toshiro · #9 10-29-2004, 04:25 AM

Rack here:

Patrick Deno · #10 10-29-2004, 10:34 AM

Hmmmmm ... kind of a hard question to answer because ... well ... I guess you could say that I have both ... or neither ... sort of. Mine's like having a rack built INTO an amp head. Line 6 Flextone II HD

Used to be a rack only kind of guy. Had all my effects plus a clean amp in the rack and it drove a 4x12 cab along with a bunch of pedals. Great tone but what a pain in the ass the build up and break down phase was at gigs!! Now it's just the head, a 4x12, 1 control board, 2 pedals and a couple of cables. MUCH easier.

LJ

dot-dot-dot · #11 10-29-2004, 10:54 AM

the.godfather · #12 10-29-2004, 11:25 AM

I'm a rack guy too. Always prefered them because they are much more customizable. My rack isnt too complicated - because then things start to get heavy and confusing. My rack is simply a Boss GX700, into a Marshall 8008, into a Korg DTR-2000 then into a Marshall 2x12 because the 4x12 is just too damn big!

I know 3 units isnt the largest rack ever, and I know it aint too fancy either, but I would rather that than a head anyday. Hopefully the units will get updated when I get more funds, namely a Boogie power amp, and maybe a G Major.

I'll post pics when its done, as it is still being constructed!

dot-dot-dot · #13 10-29-2004, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by the.godfather

I'm a rack guy too. Always prefered them because they are much more customizable.

My amp was built to my spec - that seems much more customisable than just being able to sell on whatever is in a rack (at a loss) and then spending more on something else.

jem7vwh · #14 10-31-2004, 08:13 PM

I have a rack too.

ADA MP-1
Lexicon MPX-200
Behringer UltraGraph Pro
BBE Sonic Maximizer 482

I'm still considering switching from the MP-1 to a 5150 ( I love that gain ) , but it sounds pretty good most of the time.

mike777 · #15 10-31-2004, 11:52 PM

When it comes to FX, I'm a pedal guy. No racks for me, well, not for the guitar rig anyway. Guitar, pedals, amp. Sometimes no FX.

You'll find that the guitar rack market has been been barely hanging on since the earlier part/almost mid 1990's. If someone were to tell me that sales of rack-mounted guitar products declined by 90-95% over the past 10-12 years, I wouldn't be surprised but I haven't seen any industry statistics. Those who've been using it are die-hard fans of it and are very comfortable with their rigs. There's some great stuff out there that you just can't get in a floor unit of any kind. But, geez - if you ever see a Musician's Friend catalog or something from about 1992 compared to one more current - it's amazing!

A strong influx of consumers with lower budgets looking for a lot in a small package influenced a major change in the market and what's available in the lower and usual price ranges. On the average, most consumers and players want to do as much or more but carry less or take up less room. Rack does have it's benefits as far as your choice of preamps, power amps, effects, and other things you may wish to install in the same container.

Mike 777 Haug