Skyscraper rack people

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Sam Laming

Sam Laming

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I love the look of them with all their pretty lights and fiddly knobs and tons and tons of cables :o

BUT why have so much stuff?

I don't mean this argumentativley, I just mean literally what do these guys who have these huge racks have in them?

So far I understand people can have;

rack amps, like Mesa 'Racktifiers'

Multi FX like the G majors

Rack mount tuners

and what other stuff do people use?

thanks in advance :)
 
Some people like the sound of one particular unit for an effect so they have one unit each for Chorus, Delay, Pitch, Reverb, Wah etc.
 
Rack interfaces so they can connect all their pedalboard gear with just a few cables, wireless, amp switchers, preamps, poweramps, line mixers to run multiple effects in parallel, drawers to hold pedals, power strips for power, switchers to control pedals via MIDI, etc. etc.
 
I went with several dedicated units as opposed to one multi-FX box. I could've gone with something like a G-something, but instead I chose one for modulation, one for delay, and one for reverb. Gives me more variety, and in my opinion more power and versatility.

Plus, delay and reverb are far and away my most vital effects, so I wanted to make sure I had high quality versions of both.
 
adding tube gear to your setup is concidered essential to your tone
i know all that stuff looks complacated to those who are new to rack systems

ive spent a great deal of time getting all my stuff together
and dialing it in is the best of both worlds when i record with it
because i know what sounds good on CD's will sound good period
so i have been playing with my rack for a couple months now
and the ime ive spent setting up tones is more then all the gear is worth to me because ive grown to know my system even better

some units have decent presets and others you have to do it yourself
even the modelers out there
( you have to build on them presets or knock them out )
and do your own thing

this is where all the other brands come into play
i can use those presets off their famous stomp boxs
with my gear to build new sounds

and ive come into this game with 9 new tones that i love deeply
but it took months of doing them on the Boss GT 6
to get them the way i like my tone
mind you i had my GT 6 two years :)
 
Thanks alot for that post, so alot of people use more then one multi fx pedal because certain rackmount multifx have better quality presets then others correct?

Would anyone not mind explaining all the different kinds of rack units you can get? like synths, compressors and all? the only ones I seem to understand are tuners, multi fx and amps themselfs.

thanks everyone :)
 
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Sam Laming":3aad4 said:
I love the look of them with all their pretty lights and fiddly knobs and tons and tons of cables :o

BUT why have so much stuff?

I don't mean this argumentativley, I just mean literally what do these guys who have these huge racks have in them?

So far I understand people can have;

rack amps, like Mesa 'Racktifiers'

Multi FX like the G majors

Rack mount tuners

and what other stuff do people use?

thanks in advance :)
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Since 1982, I have been using Mesa/Boogie amps exclusively as my main gigging amps which have never failed me and have always provided me with a special blend of tone as only they can. Having toured across the country from California to Maryland with these amps in various configurations and receiving compliments on my tone (possible because Boogies are FANTASTIC)! I realized that they were the tool for the job for all of those years and still are.

I have since added a few more amps and guitars to my arsenal, along with a major project of re-working my Effects Rack. The design of my guitar rig, lead me to ‘Tone Guru’ Bob Bradshaw and His expert partners at Custom Audio Electronics, to help solidify the flawless creation of my “Ultimate Zach Rackâ€
 
I remember being in a music store back in the 80s, and watching some guy buy a rolling rack that was taller than he was! His girlfriend was with him, and all she could do was sit and shake her head.
 
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Sam Laming":c6560 said:
:o wow... haha I must get saving...
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Hey Bro,

This rig didn't happen over night, more like 20+ years running various versions of gear and ending up with this version. Unfortunately you're right, it can get pricey. Some guys get upset when I put up pics, but since you seemed interested; Here ya go:

Photoshopped pic, I am waiting for the final version from Bradshaw to be done.

photoshop%20rack.jpg



Right before I sent the rig to Bradshaw:
Picture%20136.jpg


Version prior: TC2290, Lexicon PCM80, Rocktron Intellifex, (2) Rane SM26 mixers, Rocktron 300G Compressor, Rocktron Hush IICX

1gear.jpg


Other Guitars:

Picture%20218.jpg
 
Some people get upset? dude this is rig talk! s'what I come here for and help on certain issues...

I love seeing huge racks :wink: :lol: and wow I love yours :D !!!
 
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Sam Laming":ef915 said:
Some people get upset? dude this is rig talk! s'what I come here for and help on certain issues...

I love seeing huge racks :wink: :lol: and wow I love yours :D !!!
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Thanks,

Someone, actually chastised me the other day for posting pics of my gear and accused me of showing off. Ehh, whatever... I certainly am not going to apologize for having the gear I have, I LOVE IT!!!

Thanks again and Best of luck on your tone journey. If I can help ever, shoot me an email anytime.
 
exactly!

You've taken all this time to acquire what I pressume is the gear or your dreams, then why the hell should you hide it?

I say the more for you :mrgreen: congrats on a fucking awesome rig man :) I'll stick with my Rack mount tuner and hopefully a g major/xpression multi effects soon.

what do you prefer in your experience?
 
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Sam Laming":8b661 said:
exactly!

You've taken all this time to acquire what I pressume is the gear or your dreams, then why the hell should you hide it?

I say the more for you :mrgreen: congrats on a fucking awesome rig man :) I'll stick with my Rack mount tuner and hopefully a g major/xpression multi effects soon.

what do you prefer in your experience?
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I built a rack for a friend and put a G major in there and think they are nice units, with a lot of bang for the buck. I haven't messed with the expression but have owned an Intellifex for years and LOVE the thing. The Intellifex isn't in the BIG rig, but I still have it for a mini rig and it sounds and works fantastically.

For me, the considerations for building a rig are:

Quality of Audio
Live (Realtime control) Don't want to be tap dancing on a million pedals
Flexibility (I sometimes do session work and the requirements of tones vary considerably)
Future growth (Get a rack a little bigger that is neccessary, so you can add stuff later, you WILL).

Don't skimp on paying for a REAL GOOD Shock Rack w/ GOOD casters. Oh ya, put the power amp in a seperate rack. Your back will thank you.
 
thanks alot for your replys :)

I already considered getting a larger rack then I need now, I've been looking at a Roadready shock mount rack.

Got some drum stuff to that needs racking.

God I love rackmount haha :mrgreen:
 
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Sam Laming":34cc6 said:
thanks alot for your replys :)

I already considered getting a larger rack then I need now, I've been looking at a Roadready shock mount rack.

Got some drum stuff to that needs racking.

God I love rackmount haha :mrgreen:
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:D
 
I know in the future I will get more rack mount stuff but I can't imagen myself getting more then an 8-10 u rack, I like minimalism.
 
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Sam Laming":d2971 said:
I know in the future I will get more rack mount stuff but I can't imagen myself getting more then an 8-10 u rack, I like minimalism.
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LOL, I said the same thing once or twice. As time goes by and your requirements change along with technology, well... you'll see.

Don't get me wrong, there was a time and there still are, that I only use a head and a 1x12 w/ a Dyna Comp, DD2, CE2 and a TU2 and that works great, BUT... PALES in comparison to the Big rig. Sometimes less is more but I have found that it's usually just less. Once you reach the top of Tone Mountain, settling for less is usually the outcome you'll try to avoid. (Then the rack starts to grow again...) :D
 
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Zachman":80453 said:
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I certainly am not going to apologize for having the gear I have
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You shouldn't have to either. The people who bitch at your setup are just jealous.
 
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