Help Me Build a Rack Rig - UPDATED 12/7/2011

[dfrattaroli]

Looks great. Where did you get the plastic mounts to secure the wall-warts with the tie wrap?

 

[IndyWS6]

Looks great. Where did you get the plastic mounts to secure the wall-warts with the tie wrap?

Thanks - I appreciate the comment.

I got the mounts from an electrical supply company in Indianapolis, although you can likely get them from any number of sources on the web. I think the brand name was Hellerman-Tyton, but they might have been Leviton items - I'm not certain and I can't remember the part number (I could probably dig it up if you really need it...). I know the place that I got them from will ship to you for a reasonable cost. Here's contact info if you need it...

Wire Supplies Inc.
5620 Elmwood Court
Indianapolis, IN 46203

800-966-4485 toll free
317-786-4485 local

 

[dfrattaroli]

Thanks!

 

[dfrattaroli]

Here's a link to all the tie mounts that Hellerman-Tyton makes... The ones in this rack are MB29C2

http://www.hellermanntyton.us/products.aspx?cat=178

You can buy them here...

http://commtoolsuperstore.com/mm5/merch ... =804MB29C2

 

[IndyWS6]

Thanks for posting that - it might help others. I haven't ordered any in so long that I forgot the number

 

[nevusofota]

Just wondering how you were going to keep the sliding shelf from moving while in transport?

 

[Zachman]

Just wondering how you were going to keep the sliding shelf from moving while in transport?

One of these, connected on the outside of the rack shelf, that you just twist to prevent the tray from sliding during transport, will do it.

 

[IndyWS6]

Just wondering how you were going to keep the sliding shelf from moving while in transport?

One of these, connected on the outside of the rack shelf, that you just twist to prevent the tray from sliding during transport, will do it.

Exactly - or one on each side just to be sure

 

[Zachman]

Just wondering how you were going to keep the sliding shelf from moving while in transport?

One of these, connected on the outside of the rack shelf, that you just twist to prevent the tray from sliding during transport, will do it.

Exactly - or one on each side just to be sure

Metal ones like from home depot will last longer...

 

[IndyWS6]

True... I'll take a look next time I'm there. Lord knows I spend more than my fair share of time in home improvement stores...

I don't have any of the stomp boxes mounted or cabled, but I should be able to fire-up a lobotomized version of the rig this weekend (Eleven --> Power Amp --> Speaker Cabs). So far, I've just been playing through headphones or studio monitors. I'm ready to make a little more noise and start tweaking things a bit.

 

[IndyWS6]

OK - I was finally able to power up the rack tonight for the first time through my new speaker cabinets. Until tonight, I have only been able to play through headphones connected to the Eleven Rack. A couple of thoughts:

1) It F'n ROCKS
2) It can get F'n LOUD
3) Oh, and it F'n ROCKS

Disclaimer: I just powered down the rack and I'm on my 4th Coor's Light (don't judge me..) - I had to work through some hum issues and there's still a ton of work left to do, but I'll post info on that stuff later. For now, I'm just reveling in the sonic bliss

 

[jlbaxe]

4th Coor's Light (don't judge me..)

Try a Guinness

 

[IndyWS6]

4th Coor's Light (don't judge me..)

Try a Guinness

I'd be happy to, but I have to get up at 4:45 (AM) to go to work tomorrow - I'm chillin'

 

[jlbaxe]

 

[Zachman]

OK - I was finally able to power up the rack tonight for the first time through my new speaker cabinets. Until tonight, I have only been able to play through headphones connected to the Eleven Rack. A couple of thoughts:

1) It F'n ROCKS
2) It can get F'n LOUD
3) Oh, and it F'n ROCKS

Disclaimer: I just powered down the rack and I'm on my 4th Coor's Light (don't judge me..) - I had to work through some hum issues and there's still a ton of work left to do, but I'll post info on that stuff later. For now, I'm just reveling in the sonic bliss

 

[IndyWS6]

A little summary of the power-up session last night:
After connecting the speaker cables, I hit the master power switch in the rack and everything came on except for the power amp - that's intentional; I turn it on last to minimize speaker pops. When I did, I could hear a slight hum in the cabinets and figured that was a good sign - I was at least getting something from the amp on both channels. I plugged-in a guitar and.... nothing. Long story short, I'm a dumb-ass. The signal chain goes Eleven Rack --> EQ --> Power Amp --> Speakers. I haven't been using the EQ because I've been playing through headphones and hadn't needed it, so it was turned off. Once I turned it on, my guitar and poor playing technique could be heard on both sides. There was quite a noticeable hum, so I engaged the ground lift on the Eleven Rack. It helped, but didn't really solve the problem. There's also a ground lift on the EQ, so I engaged it and the hum went away. Now everything is right with the world

I still have a ton of work to do, namely installing and cabling the stomp boxes through the GCX, programming the GC Pro to switch presets and send continuous controller messages to the appropriate devices and edit the patches into usable tones for the stuff I plan to play. But, it's progress that I am happy to have made

 

[IndyWS6]

It seems like now that I have some of the big-ticket items purchased, the updates aren't nearly as earth-shattering (or as often). But, I'll take any progress as a win

Early on, Zachman gave me some information that showed what pieces and parts CAE uses when building racks, specifically the audio cable and plugs/jacks, so I ordered a slew of Switchcraft jacks (both straight and 90 degree) and 75 feet of Mogami #2319 cable to wire my pedal tray. Those items were delivered today, so I spent some time figuring out the best way to layout the pedals. I want it to be organized while leaving as much room as possible for pedals I may want to add in the future. I also ordered a Voodoo Lab Pedal Power 2 unit today that should be delivered tomorrow.

Over the next week or two, I hope to get all of the audio cables built and routed to the GCX and all of the power cables in place. I need to get some of the kick-ass Velcro and the self-stick mounts to wire-tie the cable bundles neatly to the shelf. Another step in the right direction...

 

[Zachman]

It seems like now that I have some of the big-ticket items purchased, the updates aren't nearly as earth-shattering (or as often). But, I'll take any progress as a win

Early on, Zachman gave me some information that showed what pieces and parts CAE uses when building racks, specifically the audio cable and plugs/jacks, so I ordered a slew of Switchcraft jacks (both straight and 90 degree) and 75 feet of Mogami #2319 cable to wire my pedal tray. Those items were delivered today, so I spent some time figuring out the best way to layout the pedals. I want it to be organized while leaving as much room as possible for pedals I may want to add in the future. I also ordered a Voodoo Lab Pedal Power 2 unit today that should be delivered tomorrow.

Over the next week or two, I hope to get all of the audio cables built and routed to the GCX and all of the power cables in place. I need to get some of the kick-ass Velcro and the self-stick mounts to wire-tie the cable bundles neatly to the shelf. Another step in the right direction...

Right on!!!! Progress....

These little things are cool. They are plastic hole plugs that you can put in unused jacks of your pedals etc... You can kind of see them in my volume pedals here:

http://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/Keystone-Electronics/8600/?qs=jLI/JnmL0oBoFQwvj1cXvw==

 

[jlbaxe]

It seems like now that I have some of the big-ticket items purchased, the updates aren't nearly as earth-shattering (or as often). But, I'll take any progress as a win

Early on, Zachman gave me some information that showed what pieces and parts CAE uses when building racks, specifically the audio cable and plugs/jacks, so I ordered a slew of Switchcraft jacks (both straight and 90 degree) and 75 feet of Mogami #2319 cable to wire my pedal tray. Those items were delivered today, so I spent some time figuring out the best way to layout the pedals. I want it to be organized while leaving as much room as possible for pedals I may want to add in the future. I also ordered a Voodoo Lab Pedal Power 2 unit today that should be delivered tomorrow.

Over the next week or two, I hope to get all of the audio cables built and routed to the GCX and all of the power cables in place. I need to get some of the kick-ass Velcro and the self-stick mounts to wire-tie the cable bundles neatly to the shelf. Another step in the right direction...

Right on!!!! Progress....

These little things are cool. They are plastic hole plugs that you can put in unused jacks of your pedals etc... You can kind of see them in my volume pedals here:

http://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/Keystone-Electronics/8600/?qs=jLI/JnmL0oBoFQwvj1cXvw==

I have a white board that is 48x24 and I set it flat and put all my pedals on it in order. I then take a marker around them, remove them and look at it to see if I missed anything or want to change things around. Just did that last week, I will post a pic later.

 

[IndyWS6]

It seems like now that I have some of the big-ticket items purchased, the updates aren't nearly as earth-shattering (or as often). But, I'll take any progress as a win

Early on, Zachman gave me some information that showed what pieces and parts CAE uses when building racks, specifically the audio cable and plugs/jacks, so I ordered a slew of Switchcraft jacks (both straight and 90 degree) and 75 feet of Mogami #2319 cable to wire my pedal tray. Those items were delivered today, so I spent some time figuring out the best way to layout the pedals. I want it to be organized while leaving as much room as possible for pedals I may want to add in the future. I also ordered a Voodoo Lab Pedal Power 2 unit today that should be delivered tomorrow.

Over the next week or two, I hope to get all of the audio cables built and routed to the GCX and all of the power cables in place. I need to get some of the kick-ass Velcro and the self-stick mounts to wire-tie the cable bundles neatly to the shelf. Another step in the right direction...

Right on!!!! Progress....

These little things are cool. They are plastic hole plugs that you can put in unused jacks of your pedals etc... You can kind of see them in my volume pedals here:

http://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/Keystone-Electronics/8600/?qs=jLI/JnmL0oBoFQwvj1cXvw==

Thanks for the information

After mulling over the possibilities, I decided to go with Velcro to attach the pedals to the shelf. I was still leaning towards drilling holes and using the case attachment screws through the bottom of the shelf, but after looking last night, realized that there isn't enough clearance between the bottom of the shelf and the power amp below it for the screw heads. I don't want to give up one RU to move it up, so... I'll be ordering some of the Velcro that you suggested, along with some self-stick cable tie anchors and maybe some hole plugs. I'm anxious to start cabling the pedal tray - it's geek work, but I don't mind.