80’s Rack Time!!!

[glpg80]

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

I can’t use a line out box because you can’t feed a line out box back into the same amp’s effects return for example. You’ll create a positive feedback loop.

 

[jabps]

I actually recreated my rack in a pedalboard format. Went the opposite way lol but that was just for convenience. I still love rack setups.

Last heavy playing I did I had my rack - Furman, tuner, wireless, Quad for Delay, GCX, racked pedals and drawer. Had extra space in case I wanted to tap a line level and go stereo with power amp but you just rarely do that these day so that generally stayed at home. Board was simple with Ground Control, Wah, another tuner and CAE Boost/Driver. That setup with small variants lasted me for nearly 20 years and tons of gigs, rehearsals and recording.

Now on my board I have everything that was in the rack in one way or the other powered by a Boss ES-5 switching system. In fact the only rack gear pieces I kept are the Furman and the Quad Delay in a two space.

Visually though and sometimes tonally if you're going stereo, nothing like a giant rack though.

 

[Racerxrated]

I can’t use a line out box because you can’t feed a line out box back into the same amp’s effects return for example. You’ll create a positive feedback loop.

Got it.
Have you tried a W/D setup this way: line out box to FX(rack) then out to 2nd amps FX return, nothing in the send and mono amps loop not used; then slave amp will have 2 cabs for the wet signal. If you have the LO or LO box. The Bray box is 50 bucks. I’d be willing to bet you’ll get a more full sound this way.

 

[glpg80]

Got it.
Have you tried a W/D setup this way: line out box to FX(rack) then out to 2nd amps FX return, nothing in the send and mono amps loop not used; then slave amp will have 2 cabs for the wet signal. If you have the LO or LO box. The Bray box is 50 bucks. I’d be willing to bet you’ll get a more full sound this way.

Slave amp would be projecting a mono W/D to two cabinets which isn’t the goal. I’m going for stereo W/D.

If I slave the amp for a line out I still have to have a load box for it which defeats the purpose, and is essentially a mono W/D/W without the dry cabinet - no better than running mono effects in an effects loop as normal.

 

[mentoneman]

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

mahalo my man-too kind thing has a sound and precursor to the now legend strymon timeline.

as far as delay pedals for me currently i have a dd-500 for the sde-3000 sound, bella epoch deluxe in the loop of a APE preamp for echoplex tape sound, and yamaha magicstomp II running reverb.
and on the sidelines a flashback x4, dd-2 and H9.

compared to wizards in the rack realm like italo and ryan/analogkid i am a slouch but it keeps me playing and interested

 

[mentoneman]

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...

don’t be hatin
i have been tinkering for a looooong time!
i just let my cousin try my rig a month ago at it was hilarious watching his facial expressions!

 

[Purpleibby]

I'm expanding my rack right right now too.....My plan is to line out box(pre and power amp tone) to feed the effects then to an SS power amp to a couple of 1x12s....dry 4x12 in the middle:

Added: Also, moving the MPX-1 to the synth rack and moving my second Eclipse(currently in the synth rack) into the guitar rack....so two Eclipses and an RSP-550 plus pedals. Studio Pre for cleans....I'm dumping the switchblade and probably will replace it with a Red Seven Multi-Stereo line mixer

This rig:

 

[mentoneman]

I'm expanding my rack right right now too.....My plan is to line out box(pre and power amp tone) to feed the effects then to an SS power amp to a couple of 1x12s....dry 4x12 in the middle

great plan. start simple. always preferred 4x12 dry for tone/1x12 wets for ease of cartage and minimizing footprint while spacing the stereo element too.

at the end of the day adding delay and verb via rack gear is just taking a great sounding amp tone and simply making it sound larger and majestic with more sustain/carry as if you were playing in a big room or hall. and different tiers of quality rack units provide more realism and control.

the stereo and modulation elements are extra icing to make things more interesting as the sound evolves. big verbs and chorus can wash out your sound to an extent, which is sometimes useful to the overall stage mix

 

[Purpleibby]

great plan. start simple. always preferred 4x12 dry for tone/1x12 wets for ease of cartage and minimizing footprint while spacing the stereo element too.

at the end of the day adding delay and verb via rack gear is just taking a great sounding amp tone and simply making it sound larger and majestic with more sustain/carry as if you were playing in a big room or hall. and different tiers of quality rack units provide more realism and control.

the stereo and modulation elements are extra icing to make things more interesting as the sound evolves. big verbs and chorus can wash out your sound to an extent, which is sometimes useful to the overall stage mix

Thanks, I updated my post up there. I admit I do worry about the 2x 1x12s needing more volume compared to the 4x12....but I'm just going to try it and hope for the best.

 

[mentoneman]

Thanks, I updated my post up there. I admit I do worry about the 2x 1x12s needing more volume compared to the 4x12....but I'm just going to try it and hope for the best.

rad. nice thing about 1x12s is better control of overall volume so you can get better tones down low if needed. what i found very helpful is some eq control in the wet cabs via the power amp to control any boomy/bright issues.

 

[Purpleibby]

rad. nice thing about 1x12s is better control of overall volume so you can get better tones down low if needed. what i found very helpful is some eq control in the wet cabs via the power amp to control any boomy/bright issues.

Thanks. I was considering one of those Duncan Powerstage 700s, it does have eq controls.

 

[mentoneman]

anoth

Thanks. I was considering one of those Duncan Powerstage 700s, it does have eq controls.

another 1x12 consideration is getting them off the ground and aimed at your head to further reduce how loud the cabs need to be running. i used folding tilt back stands and found those lightedt/easiest to pack and very helpful! doyle liked to use chairs to put his sedona and deluxe on. ymmv.

 

[Purpleibby]

anoth

another 1x12 consideration is getting them off the ground and aimed at your head to further reduce how loud the cabs need to be running. i used folding tilt back stands and found those lightedt/easiest to pack and very helpful! doyle liked to use chairs to put his sedona and deluxe on. ymmv.

Right on, much to think about. Thanks man.

 

[JTyson]

I still have one that's very effective, the secret sauce was the 2 Yamaha REV7's, I love those things, but they were a bit noisy. The BBE unit was sometimes used, sometimes not. I had a real love/hate relationship with that thing, it was usually not used, and never used in a live context

 

[glpg80]

I still have one that's very effective, the secret sauce was the 2 Yamaha REV7's, I love those things, but they were a bit noisy. The BBE unit was sometimes used, sometimes not. I had a real love/hate relationship with that thing, it was usually not used, and never used in a live context

I’m not the only crazy one that’s going to rock a quadraverb

Why did you want to go with the GT version? I heard there is a digital preamp section that can’t be bypassed in those models?

I like the SPX90II over the rev series but do agree they have the classic chorus settings that matter. I like what they add to the mix and I’m not talking about algorithms.

 

[Purpleibby]

I’m not the only crazy one that’s going to rock a quadraverb

Why did you want to go with the GT version? I heard there is a digital preamp section that can’t be bypassed in those models?

I like the SPX90II over the rev series but do agree they have the classic chorus settings that matter. I like what they add to the mix and I’m not talking about algorithms.

Funny thing about the quadraverb...it's considered an awesome fx unit for it's vibe for synths in the synth community.

 

[mentoneman]

Funny thing about the quadraverb...it's considered an awesome fx unit for it's vibe for synths in the synth community.

first rack fx i bought was quad gt brand new from west la music. $570 out da door.

 

[jabps]

I had a real love/hate relationship with that thing, it was usually not used, and never used in a live context

Same, totally forgot I had one of those as well. I used it some when it was just me jamming but rehearsals or live...nope.

 

[jabps]

Funny thing about the quadraverb...it's considered an awesome fx unit for it's vibe for synths in the synth community.

Other than my Furman the Quad Plus is the only rack gear I have left. I went through so many rack units trying to replace that thing but always came back to it - or them I should say. I had several old Quad carcasses lying around. When they would fritz out I'd data dump the presets into the new old one. Of course years ago you could find those things for $70-$100 a pop.

And I only used them for Delay and Verb. Nothing else. I had several multi tap programs dialed in perfectly whether in stereo or mono and a couple other Pad/swell textures that I've never been able to duplicate with other units. Something about where the delay sat behind the notes that I always liked. I can get close the Nemesis, even with the same settings as close as possible and it's still not quite there. I don't know how to explain it, just had a digital warmth to it that I always loved and since those were the only parameters I used never had to worry about noise or anything else. I'd even track with my two basic delays sometimes.

 

[PatF]

I have a rack project going too and a good friend is giving me a Quadraverb for it.

Two stack stereo rigs are badass!