Racks still rule

  • Thread starter Thread starter mentoneman
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CarlF said:
That looks complicatet!
I’m looking to put maybe a small rack together, either using the new Soldano X 88 IR or based around the Synergy modules, or both together, I don’t know yet.
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better late than never brother C!
it can get disgustingly complicated and discouraging if you dive deep right off the bat. i took a look behind my rig last night and wondered if i might need counseling!?

but a simple rig like one preamp or even a dry head/cab with a line out to drive one decent effect is a good manageable place to start.
 
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speaking of issues,

the last time i redid my rig, moving things around to add the 2290,
i picked up a irritating hum on the ch 4 of my eggie ie4 which is directly above the mesa 2:90.

last night i added a space gap between the ie4 and 2:90, and redressed the various power cables and main multi outlet power cable to the wall, to avoid running those close to the ie4/2:90 audio and power connectors.

problem solved.
 
For loop level/buffering issues, I really like the CAJ Loop Interface that I use with my SLO loop ! It has kill dry and bypass functions too. Very handy !

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Jack Luminous said:
For loop level/buffering issues, I really like the CAJ Loop Interface that I use with my SLO loop ! It has kill dry and bypass functions too. Very handy !

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looks sick!

i’ve only fairly recently gone down the road testing and applying modulation and delay pedals in my rack after the preamps.

the line signal slapping some pedals drives them into clipping easily or maxes their headroom so fluctuations in level can clip them, unless i can buffer and attenuate that signal coming in. then comes restoring the level at the pedal output to drive the next input (loop return, rack fx, mixer input, power amp, etc) properly.
 
mentoneman said:
leave no chorus stone unturned

View attachment 387890

haven’t gone through the steps of integrating it in my rack yet, but hooked it up in front of the mojave and mark III in stereo:
cali 76 stacked->lil wave->tri avatar=>>boss dd-500 sde3000 preset

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the lil wave stacked into the tri avatar is pretty sweet!
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How's that Chorus hold up to other rack legends? I'm *very* tempted to buy that and just straight up rehouse it in a rack enclosure. :ROFLMAO:
 
mentoneman said:
View attachment 372665

set up my wdw config tonight and it was the first time using the mark III return as the dry amp into the 4 x12.

everything’s better with a 4x12 middle dry core and loved being able to use the III’s graphic eq to fine tune the dry. kinda makes me wish my boogie stereo 2:90 had stereo graphics.

and for inspiration. here’s a guy who knows rack gear, tone, and how to use a tri stereo chorus tone amazingly well:



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Dude you got any clips of that peacemaker? I've heard the scorpion before and it was killer
 
Here is my latest setup. These are the core units I've been using for quite a while. With the Switchblade its an extremely versatile rig. I do switch heads regularly as most of this rig really shines with clean tones. This is just about a third of the rack units I have, but again, this setup will give me pretty much everything I need. My Boogie likes certain units and so does my Diezel, but at that moment the 71 Marshall was my main head. Since I snapped this pick the Boogie is the main so I've added a PCM42 as that amp shines with that unit. I do have real shock mount racks but this one doesnt really leave the house or the studio and the SKB is so much lighter than the others. I wouldnt really recommend touring with it though LOL
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vultures said:
How's that Chorus hold up to other rack legends? I'm *very* tempted to buy that and just straight up rehouse it in a rack enclosure. :ROFLMAO:
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i actually contacted Free The Tone and asked exactly that! Rack that bad boy up with the proper line level input controls!
The Tri Stereo Chorus was basically just that when it was born; 2 CE-2s with line input capabilities, unique mix functions and additional modulation controls.
 
DanTravis62 said:
Dude you got any clips of that peacemaker? I've heard the scorpion before and it was killer
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perhaps..😁

this is the day i picked up my second (and current) peacemaker from Victor, who was giving it a final play test after he did the HG mod to it

 
mentoneman said:
perhaps..😁

this is the day i picked up my second (and current) peacemaker from Victor, who was giving it a final play test after he did the HG mod to it

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Sounds excellent man! That tone at the beginning reminds me of the "sad wings of destiny" sound when youre palm muting, 100%
 
phil b said:
Here is my latest setup. These are the core units I've been using for quite a while. With the Switchblade its an extremely versatile rig. I do switch heads regularly as most of this rig really shines with clean tones. This is just about a third of the rack units I have, but again, this setup will give me pretty much everything I need. My Boogie likes certain units and so does my Diezel, but at that moment the 71 Marshall was my main head. Since I snapped this pick the Boogie is the main so I've added a PCM42 as that amp shines with that unit. I do have real shock mount racks but this one doesnt really leave the house or the studio and the SKB is so much lighter than the others. I wouldnt really recommend touring with it though LOL
View attachment 388289
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that oughta git’er done!
the switchblade is such a great concept and the next gen he was working on with the line level update would’ve been sick.

fractal should take over switchblade and carry on!
 
DanTravis62 said:
Sounds excellent man! That tone at the beginning reminds me of the "sad wings of destiny" sound when youre palm muting, 100%
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it is a really cool amp! that was Victor the owner of Mojave Ampworks/Plexi Palace playing though, not me.
 
mentoneman said:
that oughta git’er done!
the switchblade is such a great concept and the next gen he was working on with the line level update would’ve been sick.

fractal should take over switchblade and carry on!
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That IS the next Gen.. LOL Switchblade ET. I was friends with Ken and spoke with his family about continuing his work. Problem is he
"was" Sound Sculpture and everything was in his head. Not many schematics or notes for that matter. The ET has a USB connection on the front for updates but was not implemented in the release. Ken was going to implement it in further software updates, but unfortunately that never happened. It was full disclosure before purchase but I knew he would eventually have finished it. Overall software is solid though and havent had a glitch in months and months. The last version of Winblade was updated to work with the ET as well. At least he did get to see it released before he got sick again.

Oh, and yea.... the line level option is really a lot better than the GL!
 
phil b said:
That IS the next Gen.. LOL Switchblade ET. I was friends with Ken and spoke with his family about continuing his work. Problem is he
"was" Sound Sculpture and everything was in his head. Not many schematics or notes for that matter. The ET has a USB connection on the front for updates but was not implemented in the release. Ken was going to implement it in further software updates, but unfortunately that never happened. It was full disclosure before purchase but I knew he would eventually have finished it. Overall software is solid though and havent had a glitch in months and months. The last version of Winblade was updated to work with the ET as well. At least he did get to see it released before he got sick again.

Oh, and yea.... the line level option is really a lot better than the GL!
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stud!

was just thinking that since the axe-fx is already a mixer/router of sorts it would be a natural progression for them to inherit and implement the switchblade architecture and software.
 
In the process of wiring this bad boy....Is going to be a WDW (or mono or stereo) rig with the possibility of using modelled amps (via axe fx, which is taking care also of WET line fxs plus some in front fx and also fx in the center line via the shared power station fx loop) or up to 4 amps thanks to the amp switcher, 3 drawers of pedals etc...

Basically I dismantled couple of setups to configure a "kitchen sink" kind of setup for home studio purpose only. To play live, I just grab an amp and couple of pedals and be done with it (maybe later on I will pickup a quad cortex and try to replicate the main sounds I will get from this behemoth).

Some very minor pieces are still missing (radial input switcher and some pedals on the way) but I am starting as this is gonna take some time (wiring 1/2 cables a day due to work/family) but I am taking my time and will document everything (and probably create a dedicated post in the forum). I am fascinated by the work of art of some rack builders so I am gonna solder to lenght all the cables and wire it up with cables all on the side with power running on one side and audio on the other side, patch panels and so on and so forth.

Although, I can't really wait to have it finished! Right now I am deciding the final disposition of all the pedals to determine where to put power supplies, the best workflow placement and wiring all the main AC power cables for everything that is rackmounted.
 

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mentoneman said:
stud!

was just thinking that since the axe-fx is already a mixer/router of sorts it would be a natural progression for them to inherit and implement the switchblade architecture and software.
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There was quite a few names that were brought up but unfortunately without anything on paper afa schematics there was really nothing to go on.
Believe me, I wanted them to pass the torch to someone who could have taken it to the next level. We also discussed the possibility of releasing the ET as is but without support that would have been tough to do. I also think it would have been to much work for the family. Shame cause this unit would have really taken off.
 
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