rack setups?

[tunghaichuan***]

Now that is the rack setup of doom. : :

tung

I'm a recent convert to rack rigs now that there's a processor/ preamp that plays and sounds like a real tube amp and makes me extremely happy. The cool thing about them is that you can build your sound just about any way you want to - just add money.

[Plank_Spanker]

Now that is the rack setup of doom. : :

tung

Thanks, Tung!

I absolutely LOVE the sounds I get from it. The Axe FX is amazing!

[marnold***]

Now that is the rack setup of doom. : :

[Ascension]

I have owned a buch of different rack rigs over the years. My favorite preamps are
#1 the Carvin Tone Navigator
surprisingly it's a SS unit but sounds and feels REAL like a good tube amp. It does have built in effects but they are pretty basic and primitive it's more or less just a KILLER stand alone midi pre. Right now Carvin is blowing the last of these out on ebay for $270 + $30 shipping!!
#2 Marshall JMP-1
#3 Peavy Rock Master
Mostly I have found the best tones with stand alone preamps and not the full boat effects laden rigs.
With a pre power amp set up a GOOD TUBE POWER AMP IS ESSENTIAL FOR REAL AMP TONES!!!!

[tunghaichuan***]

I have owned a buch of different rack rigs over the years. My favorite preamps are
#1 the Carvin Tone Navigator
surprisingly it's a SS unit but sounds and feels REAL like a good tube amp. It does have built in effects but they are pretty basic and primitive it's more or less just a KILLER stand alone midi pre. Right now Carvin is blowing the last of these out on ebay for $270 + $30 shipping!!
With a pre power amp set up a GOOD TUBE POWER AMP IS ESSENTIAL FOR REAL AMP TONES!!!!

Thanks for the heads up on the Tone Navigator. I've been lusting after one of those since they came out. $300 shipped is a killer deal for one of those. BTW, have you ever tried Carvin's SX-300R? Carvin blew a bunch of those out about 2 years ago, dirt cheap. They still sell the SX-300H, which is the 100w head version which uses that preamp.

With a pre power amp set up a GOOD TUBE POWER AMP IS ESSENTIAL FOR REAL AMP TONES!!!!

I agree 100%. Nothing but tubes sound like tubes. However, I will say that the Tube Works MosValve power amps sound very good, especially if when on a budget.

tung

[deeaa*]

I agree 100%. Nothing but tubes sound like tubes. However, I will say that the Tube Works MosValve power amps sound very good, especially if when on a budget.

tung

Hmm...that's an interesting issue to me.

I agree nothing works like tube for the _player_ when they're playing the amp...they can pry my Ceriatone from my cold fingers...BUT on record, it matters very little what amp is used.

I once created a poll test where I had like two dozen amp samples I recorded using about six different amps, half of them SS and half all tube, some even D/I and got about forty people, all guitarists, to guess which were which type...and aside from a couple very obvious ones (like the POD) nobody could tell them apart. Nobody.

I wish I had the vid clip I made a long time ago here somewhere...I played on camera so that it looked like I was playing a 2204 Marshall, when actually the sound came from a completely D/I SS system...it got a LOT of comments like 'only a 2204 can sound so good etc.'...people hear what they see & think must be good in many a case. I'm sure if I recorded the 2204 and made it look like I was playing a Valve Jr. people would comment it sucks.

I know a LOT of great sounds and records were actually recorded with even tiny SS amps...for most part when I record guitars, I will also rather use my 10W SS Tech-21 than mike up my Ceria...and it even sounds better in many cases...it's interesting.

BUT yeah, when you stand in front of the amp, there is no comparison for the responsiveness and punch of a real tube amp. None.

[Suhnton]

BUT yeah, when you stand in front of the amp, there is no comparison for the responsiveness and punch of a real tube amp. None.

I agree.
Years ago, when racks were all the rage, I had an ADA preamp going into a Yamaha power amp (MOSFET). It sounded very cold. I changed the ADA out to a Lee Jackson tube preamp, same thing.
Nowadays I just use stompboxes into a Fender Twin (not mine, it's down at the rehearsal room), and it sounds MUCH better (either that or my hearing had deteriorated).

[Plank_Spanker]

I agree.
Years ago, when racks were all the rage, I had an ADA preamp going into a Yamaha power amp (MOSFET). It sounded very cold. I changed the ADA out to a Lee Jackson tube preamp, same thing.
Nowadays I just use stompboxes into a Fender Twin (not mine, it's down at the rehearsal room), and it sounds MUCH better (either that or my hearing had deteriorated).

Again, all I can say is that the Axe FX is changing all of that. I grew up playing tube amps, and own a very nice one now. I didn't jump into building a rack with the Axe FX lightly at all. It really does sound and respond like a real tube amp - no fizz, "can of bees", digital artifacts.....................cleans up when played soft or guitar volume dialed down, punchy like a real tube amp with plenty of thump, warm and vibrant, and infinitely tweakable to whatever pleases you.

I'm not saying it makes tube amps obsolete. I'm just saying that the Axe FX is not the fizz box that people normally assume with rack processors. Cliff Chase at Fractal Audio is changing the game.

[deeaa*]

I have owned a buch of different rack rigs over the years. My favorite preamps are
#1 the Carvin Tone Navigator
surprisingly it's a SS unit but sounds and feels REAL like a good tube amp. It does have built in effects but they are pretty basic and primitive it's more or less just a KILLER stand alone midi pre. Right now Carvin is blowing the last of these out on ebay for $270 + $30 shipping!!
#2 Marshall JMP-1
#3 Peavy Rock Master
Mostly I have found the best tones with stand alone preamps and not the full boat effects laden rigs.
With a pre power amp set up a GOOD TUBE POWER AMP IS ESSENTIAL FOR REAL AMP TONES!!!!

Well I must second this post except I haven't seen a Carvin Tone Navigator.

My rack setup for several years was a Marshall Jmp-1 which I ran direct to PA via the emulated outs and to a Samson 120W poweramp > 4x10" cab...very versatile, very portable rig which despite being mostly SS was VERY good indeed. (I never was afraid of using also SS rigs; I get some of my best sounds from SS systems and it really makes little difference to me what the rig is...I think always sound more or less the same if I play thru a JCM800 or a 10W Behringer amp once I set it the way I like with pedals I like.

On the JMP-1 I usually mostly used the 'classic clean' channel which I ran at 20 gain 20 vol when it crunched real well, and sent it over the edge with hot pickups and an OD pedal at times. Here's a live recording (direct to board from the JMP-1) on a 'bluesy setting' and for the lead I kick in a Tubescreamer (my trio band, I sing and play guitar): http://deeaa.pp.fi/Pelko.mp3

Here's another lengthy vid where I play the JMP-1 now with a 60/60 tube poweramp/4x12"...also some comparison to the VJr head I modded...just the vidcam mic used but you still get an idea how they sounded.

I always thought the JMP-1 was THE preamp for most any Marshall type sound and a very good basis to build a rig around.

I also played my Rockmaster rig (that also had a 60/60 classic poweramp - el84's) for a good while live...I LOVED the setup as well...perhaps even better than JMP especially for more metal sounds.

One clip from that: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7t86...eature=related - I play the lead melody but not the solos.

I'd be very interested trying that Carvin seeing you like similar preamps I do...

[Plank_Spanker]

Mostly I have found the best tones with stand alone preamps and not the full boat effects laden rigs.
With a pre power amp set up a GOOD TUBE POWER AMP IS ESSENTIAL FOR REAL AMP TONES!!!!

Haven't experienced the Axe FX yet, have you?

I don't want to get into a full blown discussion on preamps / processors here on the general guitar forum, but the Axe FX is an entirely new paragigm and has raised the bar for preamp / processors sky high.

My rig plays and sounds like a real tube rig.

Robert, mods - Why don't we move this thread to the amp forum where we can engage in a proper spirited discussion?

[pes_laul]

haha awesome. I havent seen invader zim in a long time