80’s Rack Time!!!

  • Thread starter Thread starter glpg80
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glpg80
glpg80
Well-known member
Decided to put together a rack rig!

My gameplan:

Furman Voltage Regulator
Furman Power Conditioner
Voodoo Labs GCX Switcher
Samson SM-10 Stereo Line Mixer
Lexicon PCM81
Alesis Quadraverb Plus
Yamaha SPX90II
Klark 320 Chorus
Pedal Tray: Damage Control Timeline & Eventide Micropitch

I already have the timeline, PCM81, Quadraverb, and the SPX90II. I have a chip coming in for the Quadraverb to update it to a plus model

The Samson SM10 will control a fixed stereo mix for each unit and the effects gizmo will MIDI relay turn on/off whatever is needed.

The core of the tone will be from the damage control timeline and PCM81.

I’m splitting it up between two 6 space gator racks to make hauling it around easier.

Let the fun begin :rock:
 
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I’m not a huge Van Halen fan nor do I care about landau. But I am a fan of the massive thick chorus tones on rhythms as well as iconic effects like stereo flange.

I know a lot of people go Roland SD3000 for delay or korg 8000, but I’m using the timeline because i already have it and like it.

I will post pictures here as I get the build going. It will take a while as some of the items are big ticket. The Furman stuff alone is $,$$$
 
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glpg80 said:
I’m not a huge Van Halen fan nor do I care and landau. But I am a fan of the massive thick chorus tones on rhythms as well as iconic effects like stereo flange.

I know a lot of people go Roland SD3000 for delay or korg 8000, but I’m using the timeline because i already have it and like it.

I will post pictures here as I get the build going. It will take a while as some of the items are big ticket. The Furman stuff alone is $,$$$
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It would just be cool to have all those stereo delay/fx options and just sit around jamming on it. I have always used a rather spartan rig, so when I get a chance to play those real cool fx rigs..it's always fun.
 
what is a rack?
🤣

“I’m not a huge Van Halen fan nor do I care about landau.”

how dare you.
🤣

the leslie effect in the old timeline is a hidden gem
 
mentoneman said:
what is a rack?
🤣

“I’m not a huge Van Halen fan nor do I care about landau.”

how dare you.
🤣

the leslie effect in the old timeline is a hidden gem
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I know sacrilegious isn’t it? 💁‍♂️😂😂

Seems everyone that builds one goes for wonderlush types of tones with them but I’ve just never understood it myself. It’s why I don’t plan on a eclipse or H3xxx series. It’s semi-low budget and the eventide micropitch will do all that I need it to do. I myself can’t see spending insane eventide money just to keep it on detune settings.

Also Pat you’re the inspiration for why I even own a timeline! Your original videos were inspirational. I still have mine to this day.

Also I’ve also seen your rack videos as of late and mine once finished would pale in comparison 👀😂😂
 
psychodave said:
Nice. I prefer having rack gear over pedals.
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Yeah I’m the same way. The old units have a tone to them that don’t sound hollow like common all in one units these days. I’m very much a set it and forget it person but to have these units, some not even expensive anymore, would provide all that I have come to know and love from 80’s tones.

I plan to setup one rack with the lexicon and timeline/eventide as a 6 space rack that is grab and go ready. I then want a patch bay to add in the rest if I choose or just to expand. When I was gigging I remember how much I thanked myself splitting up the racks into smaller chunks so that it could be moved around easier.
 
japetus said:
I rememeber back on HC when I would hate on Pat's racks, now I am just jealous and wanting to play them. I was 20 and didn't know, I'm 40 now and wanting to...
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It also helps Pat has always gotten killer tones out of his rack setups. He knows what he’s doing 😎
 
Excellent! Are you running preamps,amps or something else for your main sound?
 
Little B said:
Excellent! Are you running preamps,amps or something else for your main sound?
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Right...are you running a separate power amp for a W/D/W setup? Careful, this particular rabbit hole can get deep...
Good luck! I really enjoy the color the SD 3000s provide my mini rack. I had a PCM 81 as well; great unit...tried an MPX 1 and while the PCM is better, IMO it wasn't a huge leap better for high gain guitar. Sold the PCM and kept the 1/4 the cost MPX.
 
Little B said:
Excellent! Are you running preamps,amps or something else for your main sound?
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The way it will be ran is unconventional from others. I want to go stereo W/D W/D.

I plan to run effects out of the source Marshall and that will be my mono source. One effects loop return from each head will then be fed a left and right separately.

I do plan on using one channel of the SM10 for level control to the slave amp just before going into its effects loop so that I have a safety. We all know effects return is 120W full tilt so you want some redundant volume controls LOL

Overall master volume will be controlled by the source preamp master of course.

I have no desire to run some of those big boy power amps. I have tons of viable amp combinations at my disposal and I’m also currently setup for stereo cabinet wise. By utilizing a second guitar head as a slave amp, I at least also have a second head for a mono source.
 
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Racerxrated said:
Right...are you running a separate power amp for a W/D/W setup? Careful, this particular rabbit hole can get deep...
Good luck! I really enjoy the color the SD 3000s provide my mini rack. I had a PCM 81 as well; great unit...tried an MPX 1 and while the PCM is better, IMO it wasn't a huge leap better for high gain guitar. Sold the PCM and kept the 1/4 the cost MPX.
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As said before I am not. I will run stereo W/D with two heads with effects loops.

Thanks! I’ll need it 😂

The MPX is better for reverbs over both the Alesis and the Yamaha. We both know the PCM81 compared to the MPX itself is one thing, but remember I have a dual FX card which has the onboard mixer which is a complete game changer and something even a PCM70 can’t touch.

There’s a reason those cards are so damn hard to find. I for the life of me will never understand why it never sold in the classifieds but I certainly won’t shy away from the chance to put it to good use.

I prefer the color my damage control provides even now so I can definitely relate to what you mean. It’s been on with almost all of my videos I’ve shared on the forum over the years.
 
Love a rack system, I've got two... budget versions of the "LA Session" racks haha.

Have you tried a JMP1 or ADA MP1 in the mix?
 
ghosty999 said:
Ahh what didn't you enjoy? The harshness/cutting attack thing it did? I sold mine but kepy my JMP1
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How thin it sounded in the loop compared to a 5150II. I just wasn’t a fan. Put the 3TM in it and then it sounded thin but with more gain.
 
One suggestion I’d make is to use a line out box (if the amp doesn’t have one) by Suhr or Bray for your source mono signal. Using the loop send will only send the preamp signal. Using the whole amps tone with a line out is a much better tone imo. I’ve tried both with the C+s I’ve owned and line out is the winner.
Unless I’m misunderstanding something….which is entirely possible 😂
 
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