Hello There ladies and gentlemen

[ChadVanHalen]

I was only thinking the RJM to keep the use of tube heads, but I don't have one that I would need to base my rig around yet. So until I buy myself a real nice Marshall or something, I think I'm gonna save some money and go the rack route... Get an ADA and a G-Major with a MIDI board to control everything and maybe have my wah out front to use it as a wah instead of solo boost (Huh, imagine that). That way I can get close to that sound (Hell I'm only playing bars, I can't get a decent sound out of tube heads anyway for awhile) and the drunks listening to me wont notice the difference between and all tube and a processor anyway

Wow, thanks a lot you guys, first thread and I have a bunch of new toys to drool over at work!

 

[rlord1974]

Forget THAT nonsense. You don't need a separate unit for your EQ and gain boost. That's why I suggested a Triaxis, but ANY midi-capable preamp with patches/presets will do what you want: an ADA MP-1, Marshall JMP-1, Rocktron Piranha, Mesa Triaxis, etc. You would just program a patch/preset for your lead tone that is close in EQ to your rhythm sound, but would have some boosted mids and a higher gain level. DONE.

Keep it simple, because simple IS better - especially if this will be your live rig.

If he likes the RJM amp gizmo then why not let him decide whichever setup is optimal for what he needs?

No offense meant by this, but the OP does not sound like a guy that is very technically proficient with "advanced" musical gear and guitar rigs. He would be better served having a simple rig, as opposed to having multiple pedals running through relay loops, power supplies, cable runs, etc. It's a money pit and a recipe for ground loop hell and many headaches.

Midi programmable preamp + midi programmable FX unit + power amp = Simple rig with minimal cabling and little chance of nonsense to deal with.

 

[Racerxrated]

Just throwing this at ya Chad..your cab really makes a HUGE difference in your sound...if you're running an avt 4x12 you can really improve your sound (IMO) with a top end cab like any of the following: Marshall 1960 series(V30s, G12T 75s, Greenbacks), any mesa 4x12/2x12(V30s, EV12), Fender tonemaster cabs(V30s), and on and on. The 1960 cabs can usually be had pretty cheap with the 75s in there. But just like everything else gear related, you can go nuts over this stuff and spend WAY too damn much! Good luck!

 

[Racerxrated]

Forget THAT nonsense. You don't need a separate unit for your EQ and gain boost. That's why I suggested a Triaxis, but ANY midi-capable preamp with patches/presets will do what you want: an ADA MP-1, Marshall JMP-1, Rocktron Piranha, Mesa Triaxis, etc. You would just program a patch/preset for your lead tone that is close in EQ to your rhythm sound, but would have some boosted mids and a higher gain level. DONE.

Keep it simple, because simple IS better - especially if this will be your live rig.

If he likes the RJM amp gizmo then why not let him decide whichever setup is optimal for what he needs?

No offense meant by this, but the OP does not sound like a guy that is very technically proficient with "advanced" musical gear and guitar rigs. He would be better served having a simple rig, as opposed to having multiple pedals running through relay loops, power supplies, cable runs, etc. It's a money pit and a recipe for ground loop hell and many headaches.

Midi programmable preamp + midi programmable FX unit + power amp = Simple rig with minimal cabling and little chance of nonsense to deal with.

This..ADA MP1+FX unit+footpedal+Power amp+cab...simple and decent rig for me for about 12 years or so...

 

[ChadVanHalen]

No offense meant by this, but the OP does not sound like a guy that is very technically proficient with "advanced" musical gear and guitar rigs. He would be better served having a simple rig, as opposed to having multiple pedals running through relay loops, power supplies, cable runs, etc. It's a money pit and a recipe for ground loop hell and many headaches.

Midi programmable preamp + midi programmable FX unit + power amp = Simple rig with minimal cabling and little chance of nonsense to deal with.

Well excuse you too lol ya, that looks like what I'm gonna get my rig to eventually

Just throwing this at ya Chad..your cab really makes a HUGE difference in your sound...if you're running an avt 4x12 you can really improve your sound (IMO) with a top end cab like any of the following: Marshall 1960 series(V30s, G12T 75s, Greenbacks), any mesa 4x12/2x12(V30s, EV12), Fender tonemaster cabs(V30s), and on and on. The 1960 cabs can usually be had pretty cheap with the 75s in there. But just like everything else gear related, you can go nuts over this stuff and spend WAY too damn much! Good luck!

I bought a JCM800 1960 cab to go along with the head, but I never bothered checking speakers, I just assumed they were some sort of Celestions

 

[JimmyBlind]

Midi programmable preamp + midi programmable FX unit + power amp = Simple rig with minimal cabling and little chance of nonsense to deal with.

I wouldn't recommend a midi amp & FX setup to anyone who wasn't technically minded. Midi is just about the most unintuitive language I can think of. Even getting a foot controller to talk to a piece of equipment can be hard enough sometimes, let alone running a message out & into a second device. Plus there are delays in the messages.

 

[rlord1974]

Midi programmable preamp + midi programmable FX unit + power amp = Simple rig with minimal cabling and little chance of nonsense to deal with.

I wouldn't recommend a midi amp & FX setup to anyone who wasn't technically minded. Midi is just about the most unintuitive language I can think of. Even getting a foot controller to talk to a piece of equipment can be hard enough sometimes, let alone running a message out & into a second device. Plus there are delays in the messages.

I agree programming a midi rig is not intuitive - you HAVE to read the product manuals. But in all fairness, it's not like designing a rocket here either. It's not THAT difficult. And a simple midi rig with just a footcontroller, preamp and a single FX unit does not present an insurmountable learning curve.

 

[glpg80]

Welcome aboard

Use the search feature here on the forum to find out more information on either of these units if you would like. This is a subject that rig-talk has tons of users of each and different viewpoints of how to complete your rack. There are even rack build following threads to show you what you need to know to do it right yourself.

Cant say the OP wasn't forwarned if he decided to build the rack himself. Ground loop hum can be a problem for any rig - especially rigs in bars and clubs. Just depends on what the user wants out of their gear

I went the rack way many moons ago and it pales in comparison to using MIDI to switch pedals. Use a 2x12 and you effects loop for smaller pubs and for the larger gigs, bring out the MIDI racks, DI boxes/impulse software, iso boxes, 4x12's, etc.

There is no wrong answer here - but use the correct tool for the job.

 

[rlord1974]

Perhaps an even simpler rig for the OP would be:

Egnater M4 + Midi FX unit + Power Amp

The M4 will still allow him to get the variety of clean and dirty/lead tones he's looking for, while simplifying midi programming and keeping tone tweaking knob-based, as opposed to digital menu-based.

 

[ChadVanHalen]

Give me some credit here guys... I may have some left over hairspray in my hair from the last gig but I'm not an airhead per say

Now I know power amps affect sound and rlord suggested the Mesas, any other suggestions for power to the ADA? This is the most expensive part of the rig so I can't really shop around too much and buy different ones to try out

 

[rlord1974]

Now I know power amps affect sound and rlord suggested the Mesas, any other suggestions for power to the ADA? This is the most expensive part of the rig so I can't really shop around too much and buy different ones to try out

I was suggesting the Mesa power amps IF you were to go with the Mesa Triaxis preamp. They'll work well with other preamps, but there are plenty of good power amps to choose from. The VHT/Fryette 2/50/2 or 2/90/2 would be a great option as well (although the 2/90/2 is more power than you really need for club gigs).

You could also go solid state. Doing hair metal, most of your gain is from the pre-amp anyways, so solid state could be a good, reliable option. Check out Matrix amps and the Rocktron Velocity series.

 

[ChadVanHalen]

Now I know power amps affect sound and rlord suggested the Mesas, any other suggestions for power to the ADA? This is the most expensive part of the rig so I can't really shop around too much and buy different ones to try out

I was suggesting the Mesa power amps IF you were to go with the Mesa Triaxis preamp. They'll work well with other preamps, but there are plenty of good power amps to choose from. The VHT/Fryette 2/50/2 or 2/90/2 would be a great option as well (although the 2/90/2 is more power than you really need for club gigs).

You could also go solid state. Doing hair metal, most of your gain is from the pre-amp anyways, so solid state could be a good, reliable option. Check out Matrix amps and the Rocktron Velocity series.

The Rocktron Velocity 300 is definitely cheaper... Any notorious qualms with it?

 

[Racerxrated]

Peavey classic 50 tube rackmount, 3-400. Also on the cheaper side Mosvalve makes decent stuff, used 100 on up. Mesa/VHT will probably put you in the 500+ range, but those power amps are some of the best out there.

 

[Mudder]

I have a mosvalve I can part with if you want to go that way, cheap.

 

[Mailman1971]

Welcome Chad....
I am sure your gonna love it here.

Danno

 

[ChadVanHalen]

I have a mosvalve I can part with if you want to go that way, cheap.

How much and how anxious are you on getting rid of it? I'm in the process of building a guitar (The one in my pic) so I wouldn't start building my rig until that's done... And I'd probably buy the preamp and FX and rack casing before getting a power amp since I can run it off my Marshall for a time

But if you're still interested in parting with it then, I'd love to give you some money for it!

 

[Michi]

Hello Chad & welcome! I'm sure you'll find this place very nice, and so will your bank account ...

As other posters have already suggested, there's a ton of ways to go about with your rig. I'll throw in a simple and basically low cost yet good sounding rack rig, the Digitech GSP1101 + Rocktron Velocity 300 1U. I think I'm singing an old song here, but to me the 1101+Velocity sound better and is easier to use than the Eleven Rack was.

I had the 11R first and now gig with the 1101+300 combo and couldn't be happier (well, I am waiting for mr. Dan to finish my JVM mod but until that I'm sure I'll get by very well indeed). The 1101 is dead easy to tweak on the fly even, and the fx are good too. Granted, the routing and other options aren't as many as with the Axe but it gets the job done. And then some. But... it's not all tube. It's actually no tube hehe.

 

[Shark Diver]

My 2 cents:

Figure out what you ultimately want. I wouldn't throw a rig together on the cheap just to hold you over until you can get what you want. At that point just use what you have.

Think long term. Get the amp/cab you want first. You may find you won't even need everything you are told, or read, you need if you really have a great amp. Build from your core tone out. Nothing will fit until you have your amp set. Try everything you can, and then go back and try it again.

Add a quality fx unit when you can get one. Anything had just to save $ will just frustrate you and cost you more in the long run as you go through equipment.

Buy used if you are going to flip a lot.

And I feel for anyone who thinks MIDI is hard. It's harder to get my car to recognize my phone.

And remember your hands are more of your tone than any gear, so play your ass off.

 

[Mudder]

I have a mosvalve I can part with if you want to go that way, cheap.

How much and how anxious are you on getting rid of it? I'm in the process of building a guitar (The one in my pic) so I wouldn't start building my rig until that's done... And I'd probably buy the preamp and FX and rack casing before getting a power amp since I can run it off my Marshall for a time

But if you're still interested in parting with it then, I'd love to give you some money for it!

$75 + shipping, whenever you want it. It ain't pretty but it works well. The model is MV962.

 

[rupe]

Welcome aboard!

I used an ADA MP-1 into a Rocktron Intellifex/Replifex and Mesa 2:90 for many years as my main hard rock/classic metal rig...and I don't necessarily get a better tone from my current head/pedals rig today. It's hard to beat for the type of material you play.

The midi programming can be incredibly simple as well. Using midi-thru out of the MP-1 and into the Intellifex, I'm able to assign any incoming midi channel to any effects preset...very simple and effective. This allows me to set my midi pedal to simply change presets on the MP-1, then assign any of those preset channels (anything from 1 to 128) to the desired effects preset (say MP-1 preset 35 is mapped to Intellifex preset 112). Very easy to set up and control.