Just ordered a 12U rack, my first step into the rack world.

[JTyson]

Get a Yamaha SPX90.

Hey that Marshall power amp in that rack is the same one I got from you over a decade ago, it’s still got the same SED winged C’s in it after all this time and they are still matched up tight to this day! (Well at least a bit over a year ago when I last tested them) That amp is a frikking beast pushed with that Langner DCP1 preamp.

It makes me so happy

 

[JTyson]

It officially begins. I snagged a used GCX off eBay for a good price. The power conditioner and the drawer for the RL and the pedals will be next.

I've started using the Fractal through my DSL's power amp and it is just so good. I've been using the Soldano X88 model for my main sound, but lately I've been looking at the JMP-1 as a possible purchase, so today I started digging into the Fractal's model of it. Using the JMP's manual as a guide I've been dialing in various factory presets and "LA Crunch" is the winner so far, it's that exact hot rodded sound I love. Going through a real Marshall power amp instead of a (very good) emulation just adds so much to the feel. The 5150 models also feel way better with the Marshall power amp, finally losing that stiffness I felt with the real deal, but the JMP-1 with the SD-1 in front is blowing me away.

Now I've gotta start figuring out all the ins and outs and figuring out what the I/O is gonna look like.

Those JMP1’s were great preamps. I should have kept the one I had…

 

[psychodave]

Hey that Marshall power amp in that rack is the same one I got from you over a decade ago, it’s still got the same SED winged C’s in it after all this time and they are still matched up tight to this day! (Well at least a bit over a year ago when I last tested them) That amp is a frikking beast pushed with that Langner DCP1 preamp.

It makes me so happy

I bet its closer to 20 years. Time flies.

Its a great power amp.

 

[mentoneman]

I think I see one in Mentoneman’s rack! (One of them)
Love those old REV7’s too!

spx 900 for micropitch and symphonic duties.

although i’ve been considering replacing it with something more interesting lately.

 

[srommes]

My WDW rack. Needless to say, it stays put.

 

[GreatRedDragon]

Finally made some progress.

I got held up for a long time over some dumb shit. For starters, realizing the GCX could only accept CC messages while the Fractal can only send 8 MIDI messages per patch/scene change. I didn't realize the only way to setup patches with the GCX was with the Ground Control. So I waffled a while trying to figure out what MIDI device I could use that could be programmed to receive PC messages and send CC messages. Total headache.

Then, realizing the pedal drawer I bought is wobbly unless mounted in the front and rear, while the rack I bought only has front rails. So I bought a set of rails, started doing the geometry to figure out where exactly to drill holes and what spacers to use to make sure everything lines up. Total headache.

In the end, I just said fuck it and did the easy thing. I bought a Voodoo Labs HEX to replace the GCX. The HEX only has six loops, but patches can be programmed, and two of them can fit side-by-side in one rack unit if I want to expand and get the full 12 loops. I also bought the (over fucking priced) mounting bracket so it's racked up proper. I also bought a 2U cantilevered drawer, which should be more stable without needing to modify the cabinet itself. Once that comes in I'll finally get my pedals mounted. I have a Radial power conditioner in place, so once I get the pedals in and everything wired up Phase 1 will be complete.

 

[ChurchHill]

Nice! As others have said, welcome to the club! I've been playing through a rack since '90 or so. When I put together my current "big" rack, there were a TON of people here who helped me make the most of it.

Whatcha got planned for Phase 2??

 

[Racerxrated]

My lil rack. Still a blast to play through....SD3000s and an MPX1. Can't find any HH power amps anymore. The mixer though is such a great addition...crazy how much better it sounds when you're able to mix in the dry signal this way. I just looked at what these things are going for these days...not a cheap proposition to build one like this.

 

[Airwave]

For ease of moving around I've gone to 6U there are times I'll just carry the rack for studio sessions using my AXE-FX III otherwise it's used for FOH...

or my home studio.

 

[shar-vell Dan]

i HAD 20 SPACE RACK AT ONE POINT, NOW I HAVE 6. THE END

Im down to a 3 space rack bag & my back is loving that.

 

[GreatRedDragon]

Nice! As others have said, welcome to the club! I've been playing through a rack since '90 or so. When I put together my current "big" rack, there were a TON of people here who helped me make the most of it.

Whatcha got planned for Phase 2??

Phase 1: Interconnecting my FM9, my pedals, and my DSL.

Phase 2: Adding a Syn-2, and something in the SPX family

 

[ChurchHill]

Phase 1: Interconnecting my FM9, my pedals, and my DSL.

Phase 2: Adding a Syn-2, and something in the SPX family

Nice! If you're looking at an SPX, I haven't found anything that will do Symphonic better. I think the FM9 will come close, I've got an AFX3 that will, check out Leon Todd's preset on the Fractal forum's exchange. I've got an SPX90, SPX90-II, SPX990, and SPX2000. They all sound great and will get you there, as will the FX500, FX900, and the REV500 is no slouch, either. The SPXs are a little more than a one-trick pony, their early reflections and reverse reverbs are actually good, the hall reverbs aren't bad, either, and Pitch Change C on the earlier ones is really special. The REV500 has many really nice reverbs, not like a Lexicon, but better than most '90s/2000's rack units and definitely more than just passable.

 

[GreatRedDragon]

Nice! If you're looking at an SPX, I haven't found anything that will do Symphonic better. I think the FM9 will come close, I've got an AFX3 that will, check out Leon Todd's preset on the Fractal forum's exchange. I've got an SPX90, SPX90-II, SPX990, and SPX2000. They all sound great and will get you there, as will the FX500, FX900, and the REV500 is no slouch, either. The SPXs are a little more than a one-trick pony, their early reflections and reverse reverbs are actually good, the hall reverbs aren't bad, either, and Pitch Change C on the earlier ones is really special. The REV500 has many really nice reverbs, not like a Lexicon, but better than most '90s/2000's rack units and definitely more than just passable.

Yea right now I'm copping the Symphonic on my FM9 with the Leon Todd preset, but it soaks up a massive amount of horsepower. Between Symphonic and Pitch Change C my two go-to flavors of grease are totally covered by a Yamaha.

 

[LanBaul]

That’s sick. really smart approach stacking everything in a rack, and I love the FM9 setup with the DSL/Ceriatone combo