What power amp/rack system do you use

[Curtis Nicely]

And why do you feel it's the best? I am thinking of going to a rack system, and I need a little help. In the fact that I have no idea how they work!! What should I be looking for in one, and what are some good brands, and why? Are there any new amps that people are using? What speakers too?

[chas smith]

This might be more than you need, but when I use a rack, I have the "boxes" into a Revelation Pre into a MosValve 500 amp to a couple speaker cabinets with EVM 15L 200watt speakers.

[Bari Smith]

Steel to Black Box to Mesa Boogie Preamp to Stewart 1.2 to (2)JBL E-130-8 in Webb ext.cabs...using a TC M-300 for FX...that bout does it!

[Dave Flanagan]

Curtis; I've only owned one rack system and it was Evans pre-amp into pevey 1500 (500/side) into Lexicon eff. into two cabnets that had the same dim. as a nashville 400 with 1501 B/W and I am sorry I ever sold it the sound was awesome and you could get just about any sound you wanted, this is just my opinion for what it is worth

[Mike Perlowin]

I use a POD XT going into a Carvin power amp, 300 watts per side, and two 12" Peavey Black Widow speakers.

Is it the best? Probably not, but it's more than good enough. With the POD I can get any sound I want. After some experimenting, I found one that I like.

[Roger Crawford]

Not my set-up, but one I've seen a few people using is a POD-XT into the back of two Peavey NV112's. The POD has all the amp modeling/EQing you need, plus effects out the wazoo. The 112's offer a compact, light weight powered speaker. If the POD goes on the blink, you still have the 112's to go into the front of!

[Hap Young]

I use the Walker stereo steel amp w/ Quad 4 digitek processor and two 15 inch JBL speakers. It works for me.

[Roger Francis]

I have the Rev pre, mosvalve 500 amp,BW 112s, and effects is a TC electronics g sharp.Like Chas said, It all depends on what you need, and possible what you can afford or what you want to spend and if you want a tube sound verses transistor. Other than the the tone i like the rack for the convenience of having the controls of the pre beside me.

[Stephen Silver]

Earlier this year I started using a Rev pre amp, Stewart 1.2 power amp, and a TC Electronics M350. This feeds two 15in Rick Johnson cabs, one with a Peavey 1501-4 SB Neo the other a Fender Steel King 15in Speaker.

Oh, and a Hilton Volume pedal and Peterson Strobo Flip. I like having the preamp and effects handy to tweak.

SS

[Steve Feldman]

Here's mine:

• VHT 2/90/2 power amp (this thing KILLS!)
  Mesa Boogie V-Twin preamp
  Lexicon MPX-1 effects
  BBE Sonicator (or whatever it's called...)
  Furman power conditioner
  Korg DTR-1 tuner
  (2) JBL-E130s in Genz Benz cabs

Me likey!!

[Mark van Allen]

I used to use a Peavey ProFex II into a Mosvalve 500, with one 12" and one 15" Peavey cabinet. The unbalanced cabs actually seemed to spread out the sound spectrum somewhat, and the smaller one fit better on the edge of drum risers.
These days I'm using the Walker Stereo Steel amp with a TC electronics M3 in the effects loop, and matching 15" Walker cabs. Very fat, warm sound, which I'm after. I miss the sound of some of the Peavey effects, though. The TC is a little bit edgy.

[Steve Hamill]

I don't haul this around so I can make it as big as I want.
I use a Session 500 as the dry signal. Take the line out of the Session into a
Art tube pac pre to a TC Electronic G Sharp out to a Mosvalve 962 stereo out to a pair of Custom pine Theile cabs RL Mott made for me. This sounds really nice and full with a little delay or what have you from the G Sharp.
I use one input on the G sharp for steel and the line out from a Mesa Maverick on the other input. That way I can share the wet efx with the steel or six string.
I always use a volume pedal in line before the efx so I can mix the wet signal to taste on the fly with my foot. RL is making me a custom pine box to house an extra Session 500 chassis and all my rack stuff. Looks great and sounds amazing.

[Tim Harr]

(CARTER D-10) BL 705 > Revelation Preamp > NV 112 (2)
HILTON VP - in Revelation Vol Pedal loop
M-350 Reverb / Delay - in Revelation Effects loop


Superb Tone.

[David Mason]

My juice comes from a SWR SM-500 bass head in a rack with a fan, feeding two Peavey 12" Black Widows in their 112E cabinets. I have kind of a thing for modelers.... my least favorite sounding one is the PODxt, so far the best sounding one is a Digitech Genesis 3 but it runs hot and starts hopping patches on it's own... the best compromise is a Digitech RP250, but I just got a Boss VF-1 which I'll be figuring out for the next 6 months or so, looks like... I have some other rack stuff like a Lexicon MPX110, a compressor and graphic and parametric EQs but these modelers are taking over, the less separate preamp stages the better I think.

[Barry Gaskell]

I have a 4U rack with a Walker stereo steel pre-amp, a Lexicon MPX1, an ART SLA2 (280 watts a side), and a Presonus (comp 16)Compressor ( 1/3 rack size,a superb unit, easy to use, and cheap too. read the reviews on it)
I run these into 2 custom cabs with fender tilt legs. A widow 15 in one and a widow 12 in the other.
Best sound I've ever had, and all the power I've ever needed and a whisper quiet amp too.
Barry

[Don Sulesky]

I use an ADA MicroTube 200 and a TC G-major effects unit. If I did not have the G-major I'd go back to the Profex II I sold.
Most effect rack units I've found are for guitar and not steel but the Profex II and G-major have plenty of delay and reverb settings that fit nicely for the steel.

[Gary Dunn]

I use a Walker Stereo Steel with a Digitech Studio Quad V4, Hafler P3000 amp (because it is convection cooled, i.e., no fan, and is mosfet). Furthermore, I use two Peavey Classic 115Es with Spider-web Black Widow speakers.

[Bob Snelgrove]

Mesa studio pre/ Mosvalve 500/ PV 112-E speaker cabs. Korg A2 in mesa loop.

Add a Franklin w/ 705 pickups...... priceless



bob

[Paddy Long]

Revelation Pre, Peavey DPC750, TC M300, Peterson StroboRack, into 2 x Peavey Nashville 115E w/1501-4.

Or bypassing the power amp and into the back of a NV1000.

[Jack Ritter]

d10 8x5 zum--revelation pre amp--tc m350---Furlong split 12--n-112--hilton vp--bjs hughey bar--nickel jagwires.--geo L cables

these are the best for me---they speak for themselves!!!

[Jack Ritter]

d10 8x5 zum--TT pups--revelation pre amp--tc m350---Furlong split 12--n-112--hilton vp--bjs hughey bar--nickel jagwires.--geo L cables

these are the best for me---they speak for themselves!!!

[Jack Ritter]

pardon the double post, guys. guess my finger stuttered!

[Pete Smith]

4U rack. Furman in the bottom (when standing on end), Rev, M-300, Korg tuner facing up. Into SPLIT. The sound man, who is a darn good guitar picker ( plays through a silverface twin) is dying to try his guitar through it.He says it's the best clean sound he's ever heard.
Thanks to Chuck Back, who came in one night and gave me some very good criticism of my tone(which I was liking fine at the time) I took his advice and have been blown away since.

[Michael T. Hermsmeyer]

Hey Curtis,
Here's my two cents worth... and then some.

My two rack systems include:

System One: which has been all over the country with Daron Norwood and Holly Dunn.

Emmons 1992 Lashley LeGrande or Emmons 1973 push pull (both D-10's)
Goodrich Match-Bro or Match Box
Goodrich or Emmons Pedal
Evans DP2R Dual Rack Mount Preamp (Derrell Stevens Built)
two Accutronics short 3 spring reverb tanks (one for each of the dual independent preamps, I usually only use one)
Alesis Quadraverb GT or Boss RV-3 for delay and/or chorus/modulation (RV-3 for delay only)
Korg Rack Tuner
Alesis RA-100 Power Amp
(2) Evans tweed speaker cabinets with 15" Evans Eclipse speakers or
(2) A.D. (Audio Design- Myrtle Beach, SC) trapezoid cabinets with the same speakers.

It sounds great but a lot to haul. I could do the same thing with two good combos.

System Two is very similar:

Emmons 1992 Lashley LeGrande or Emmons 1973 push pull (both D-10's)
Goodrich Match-Bro or Match Box
Goodrich or Emmons Pedal
Mesa Boogie Formula preamp (Formerly Evans ESPA single space preamp or Mesa Boogie Studio Preamp or Quad Preamp)
In this configuration you have to use an external reverb. I have used a Peavey Valverb (Tube Reverb) at different times.
Alesis Quadraverb GT or Boss RV-3 for delay and/or chorus/modulation (RV-3 for delay only)
Korg Rack Tuner
Alesis RA-100 Power Amp
(2) Evans tweed speaker cabinets with 15" Evans Eclipse speaker s or
(2) A.D. (Audio Design- Myrtle Beach, SC) trapezoid cabinets with the same speakers.

My current direct system #1 is:
Emmons 1992 Lashley LeGrande or Emmons 1973 push pull (both D-10's)
Goodrich Match-Bro or Match Box
Goodrich or Emmons Pedal
Boss RV-3 (delay)
Mesa Boogie Formula Preamp with
Alesis Quadraverb (for reverb and chorus only) in Boogie's stereo effects loop
Recording output to two DI's

I was leary about having to go direct, but I am very impressed with Mesa Boogie's recording output circuit. A bit pricey though.

The new system that I am getting ready to try is:
Emmons 1992 Lashley LeGrande or Emmons 1973 push pull (both D-10's)
Goodrich Match-Bro or Match Box
Goodrich or Emmons Pedal
Behringer V-Amp Pro rack mount modeling preamp/processor with speaker simulating XLR outputs

I've had it hooked up at home and it sounds pretty good. I may try a POD Pro later on, but this will do for now. You can see then how much less gear I have to move after every show. I'm likin' it.

I only recommend these modeling preamp processors for direct use, not with an amp. Their EQ is optimized for a two or three way speaker system, not just a 15" woofer. You may not get the desired results using them this way. Profex II is great direct as well.

When using a Tube preamp, you will only get the most out of it with an all-tube power amp. A Mesa 2:90 would be great, also a TubeWorks Mosvalve 500, Peavey Classic 50-50... etc... Any tube powered amp with close to 100 watts per side or more. Look for at least 4 6L6's per side. Carvin has one too. I can't think of any others off hand.

I still prefer the sound of a good combo amp like a Fender Twin with a 15" speaker or an old Peavey Session 500, Session 400 or Nashville 400. The new Peaveys are great as are any of the "modded" amps. I love Evans and Webb amps too. Boogie made a combo with a 15 for a short time in their early days, sure would like to try one.

My amps include:
1969 130 watt Fender Dual Showman Reverb (Twin Reverb Head) converted to a combo with a solid walnut cabinet and a 15" Evans speaker. I would like to try this with a JBL D-130 someday.

1979 Peavey Artist 115 with original "spider web" Black Widow 15". Not my favorite stand alone amp for steel because of the thin sounding preamp, but I will discuss in a minute how I have been using it.

1999 or 2000 Fender 15 watt Blues Jr. I like this for the studio and I have gigged with it for very small venues. Just add a delay pedal for instant tone. Awesome with my T-8 Fender Stringmaster. Not the best for big fat pedal C6.

Throughout all this experimentation I found a wonderful combination of preamps, power amps and speakers. My Evans preamp into my Peavey Artist's tube power amp in jack is amazing with a 15" Evans!!! I've been rehearsing with it this week and the notes are so clean and clear. I love it!!! I believe the secret weapon of a great guitar rig is the Tube power amp. The preamp section of the Peavey is solid state and sounds very thin. The Evans is also solid state but when I hooked it up this way, it didn't even seem like the same amp. I had almost sold the Peavey a number of times. Glad I didn't.

(edit) Oh Yeah, I would really like to try the Revelation preamp!!!!!!

And Yes, I know I need a Hilton Pedal!!! Problem is I need about 10 of them for all my instruments, LOL. Keith, do you have a bulk rate, Ha Ha???

Hey Chas Smith, that is a very interesting steel you have there. What is it???

Hey Dave Flanagan, Long time no see!!!
How's that new Rains treating you???
Holler at me.

God Bless,
Michael T.

[Ray DeVoe]

Listed below in red.

To me, there is nothing that touches the Revelation but it's every man for himself.

RD