building my rig - please advise!

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axeman81

axeman81

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Hey everyone,

I need some directions on what to do with my rig! I have a Diezel Herbert which is my new #1 amp and I need a flightcase for it, and so I thought it would be nice to go for "the whole nine" and get one with a 8U space so I can fit various things like a furman unit, an ISP prorackG and a GCX switcher to control my various pedals and to also get a GC Pro to handle the switching of amp/effects. I think this is option #1 out of 3. This would be the coolest/most efficient+expensive way of doing it :rock:
My 2nd option is to get a standard flight for the amp head, and a separate flight for the effects/rack units, but I think this will be almost as expensive, and the only benefit would be a weight reduction as the flightcases are separate. But I think the total cost would be almost the same. And an added negative of having to run a couple more cables during setup/takedown.

The 3rd option I've come up with is definitely the least expensive, which is to just keep my pedalboard as it is, and add a small midi footswitch(like the 3 button Axess one, looks nice) for controlling amp channel/volume changes, and keep on "dancing". I have the MXR flanger, phase, delay and the Voodoo Lab chorus. I mostly use effects during lead breaks and also when I use the clean channel, so it's not a real pain for me to do 2-3 taps on the pedals but of course it would be really nice to have these things preprogrammed.

(I am looking to play live more and more, if you wanted me to take that into account ;) )
Do you guys have advice/experiences on what would be the best way to go about my rig expansion?

Thanks a lot for your advice! :rock:
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year :thumbsup:

- Rune
 
3 was out for me. After a few drinks and under the lights it was driving me crazy that dance. " Is my flanger on".

1 was good but I use different amps from day to day so I wanted some flex. And I already hate moving anything over 50 pounds all the time.

2 is what I am re doing now.
 
I myself am working towards the option number one. And getting one with casters to roll around.

Do you have an ISP Pro Rack already? I have one for sale...PM if interested.... :thumbsup:
 
Welcome Aboard,

I have some experience with this dilemma and have been down all roads ;) I would go with option A or Option D if You have help. :rock:

Option A:
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Option B:
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Option C:
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Crazy Mofo Option D:
bigrack.jpg
 
hey guys, thanks for the input! :) the 50-pound limit is definitely out, since the Diezel weighs about 65 pounds :lol: :LOL:
But of course the all-in-one flight solution would probably be about twice the weight of the amp itself...but still not much heavier than the 412 ENGL cabs I've got which are 50 kgs in their own right. :D
I still have my ENGL Blackmore so the added flexibility of separate flights would be cool of course.
Ah decisions, decisions... :doh:
 
You're only using 4 pedals, and adding a small midi? I'd probably go with 3 for the reasons Thump mentioned, the extra cases etc are heavy and a PITA to move around and carry. Plus, some places you play, you may not have enough room to have a monstrous head/rack case(s) as well as your cab. If you got a medium to large sized pedal board, you could put the midi pedal on it with your pedals and all you'd have to carry is the head and pedal board.
 
Hy Brad, thanks for the welcome! You sure got some nice stuff! :rock: Suddenly I don't feel as bad about this endless $ pit that is my guitarrig :D definitely still GAS'ing for option A here
rock on! :rock:

- Rune.
 
Thanks for the kind words :thumbsup:

Best case scenario for you IMO would be to go option A and get what you want and keep that around the bigger gigs you can wheel the case in for. Save up some extra dough and buy a Diezel Einstein combo w/ reverb for the smaller gigs where you don't have much room. Same tone voicing for the most part and you cover all bases. It might take a minute or two to save up but that would be the ultimate in versatility for the gigging guitarist.
 
OK so I've now got some parts on order! :)
A few more questions:

1. How do you guys get the GCX powered by a Voodoo PP AC box? (Can't seem to find a barrel->4pin DIN AC cable anywhere)
I suppose the impractical solution would be to cut the 4-pin connector off of the stock power supply and solder a barrel connector to the other end...

2. I know this is a bit of a "dead horse", but should I get the Furman Power Factor or just the "regular" plus2 model?
http://www.furmansound.com/product.php? ... d=PF-PRORE
Vs.
http://www.furmansound.com/product.php? ... L-PLUSE_II
The PRO has the "current reservoir" but it doesn't have the front lights which is kinda of annyoing. It also costs TWICE what the Plus version does. Many people have commented on low-end being more tight etc. when using the PRO. What do you think? My 180W Diezel -is- a hungry beast! :D

Happy New Years! :rock:
 
I agree with SgtThump, go for lightweight unless you have help to move; just looking at Brad's rig made my back hurt!

I was recently on another thread (can't remember where) about power conditioners vs. voltage regulators which are more expensive. I've used Furman power conditioners since the early '90s. I was looking for something that would tell me the current and commit suicide before my more expensive rack gear. I don't recall ever playing someplace where my power conditioner was in the red (i.e., the red LEDs were lit indicating too low or too high voltage) though I've played in the yellow zone without mishap. I recently purchased the PL-Plus Series II with the LEDs which is sufficient for me. If I was playing at places that had me in the red LED zone regularly, then I would get the voltage regulator version... in both cases these Furman units are supposed to protect your equipment, then why spend more unless you know you need it? If you get the power conditioner only and find you need the voltage regulator, then its time to sell it and upgrade.

In the other thread on this topic, a few people mentioned the voltage can actually change your tone; some disagreed with that. I never experienced this as I've never played in the red, in the yellow I didn't notice any change. This may be a reason to get the voltage regulator if this is a concern, but if you are never in the red, its a moot point.

My 1 farthing's worth.
 
I've played about 5 gigs where power was an issue.

One was a club that just had shitty wiring, I noticed I had less bass response in that room. Bass was dimed and still didnt sound how a chug-chug should sound.

The other was an outdoor type gig, but we had to plug in to straight outlets instead of a tap of some sort, and I noticed the same thing, no bass response at all.

I ended up with the Furman Voltage regulator that just has the led on the front to tell me what my current is at.
 
I do option A.

Its a roadcase with space for my Mk 50 II and a 10 space rack. I have my Ultimate Attenuator and an 8 channel sub snake mounted in the back. Its heavy as hell and we gig a lot. I also have to carry my own mics and stands as we are all in-ears with our own digital monitor board.
We do lots of summer outdoor festivals where set up and tear down speed is crucial. With this set up all I have to plug in is AC/Speakers/ and two cables to my pedal board. I then run my snake lines to our split snake and Im done. 10 minutes to set up..tops...and we do have 2 crew guys to put things in place. I did have to buy a 5x8 trailer last year to transport it, but it worked out OK because the band pays me 50 bucks per guy who has their gear traveling with me...so that usually translates to about 150 bucks extra a night.

I have a H&K Edition Tube for small gigs I do with a funk band. Does it compare to the real rock rig?...hell no...but neither do the crowds or the money :D

And go for a good VOLTAGE REGULATOR...like the Furman Ar-1215. The voltage drops are not the biggest concern...the spikes are what you should be weary of. Club owners/managers and festival officials generally have very little knowledge about power...and when their cooler compressors turn off and the power spikes, you have a 4000 dollar head that smells like burnt toast.
 
axeman81":whq1qnw5 said:
OK so I've now got some parts on order! :)
A few more questions:

1. How do you guys get the GCX powered by a Voodoo PP AC box? (Can't seem to find a barrel->4pin DIN AC cable anywhere)
I suppose the impractical solution would be to cut the 4-pin connector off of the stock power supply and solder a barrel connector to the other end...

2. I know this is a bit of a "dead horse", but should I get the Furman Power Factor or just the "regular" plus2 model?
http://www.furmansound.com/product.php? ... d=PF-PRORE
Vs.
http://www.furmansound.com/product.php? ... L-PLUSE_II
The PRO has the "current reservoir" but it doesn't have the front lights which is kinda of annyoing. It also costs TWICE what the Plus version does. Many people have commented on low-end being more tight etc. when using the PRO. What do you think? My 180W Diezel -is- a hungry beast! :D

Happy New Years! :rock:
Click to expand...

You can order the PPAC to GCX cable directly from Voodoo Labs :)

Mark
 
Had my rig adjusted 6 ways to Sunday. But, dammit - I keep going back and forth. But, I do keep my VH4 and Ubershall heads in a 2 head flight case. Now I squeak when I talk and my nuts are usually up around my watch pocket!

I swap between pedal board and an 8U rack for stuff, depending on what I am playing. But, hey....I like feckin with the wiring :rock:

Either way you go, you won't be happy for long....


Steve
 
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