opinions on best rackmount guitar amp?

[madbutcher]

Wanting to buy a new amp soon and I am strongly wanting to go with a rackmount style.

What does everyone think the best choice (pre/power combos) is?

I really like a 5150 sound, playing mostly black/thrash style music...

 

[LSD-Studio]

best poweramp ever:

VHT 2150!!!

oreamp....try Recto Pre, Soldano SP77 (mod for gain), Rockmaster

 

[Metaltastic]

MESA BOOGIE RACKTIFIER!!! All the benefits of an amp head (pre- and power-amp share the same transformers), but rackmountable, and fucking awesome looking.

For some reason, UM isn't letting me paste a link I copied from ebay, so search for "Mesa Rectifier Rackmount" and you should find a primo example currently for sale

 

[Obscura]

The Racktifier is one of the greatest amps I've ever played. I've played own a Boogie .50 Caliber, a 5150, and in the past have used Triple Rec's, the Triaxis, Rackmount Rivera's and god knows how many other amps and this is hands down the best amp I own. The thing moves air, has none of the high end sizzle that some Rectifiers have, and is easy to transport. I found a crazy deal and grabbed one for $900 a few years ago. To hear ir mixed with a 5150, 2 tracks each through a Rectifier cabinet you can go to www.myspace.com/starkweather666 . The song is called 'Broken From Inside'. There is also a deetailed Blog of the recording and photo's if I remember correctly. You will not be disappointed.

 

[el-biczel]

I'd go with ADA MP-1 + VHT 2/50/2.
MP-1 is the best rack-mountable I've ever played. For me it didn't lack gain, just exercise your picking, but some people like to mod it. Visit www.adadepot.com for more details.

 

[Djabthrash]

Preamps i'd recommend : ENGL E570 (=preamp version of the ENGL SE), VHT Valvulator GP 3

I've heard good things about ADA MP-1, Marshall JMP-1 and Bogner Fish as well.

 

[el-biczel]

and Marshall JMP-1 is the worst tube pre I've ever owned
It sounds really unnatural. Over compressed, the sound has no body. It doesn't come up to any Marshall head.
Waste of money.

 

[Chryst Krispies]

MESA BOOGIE RACKTIFIER!!! All the benefits of an amp head (pre- and power-amp share the same transformers), but rackmountable, and fucking awesome looking.

I would pretty much kill someone for a Racktifier.

 

[Notuern]

ADA MP-1
VHT Valvulator GP 3(Kinda reminds me of the cowboys from hell tone, but with more punch to it.).
Peavey Rockmaster

Those are my favorite preamps.

My favorite poweramp is Tubeworks MosValve 120w Poweramp.
It kinda sound like a tubeamp, but still has that tight feeling you cant get with tubes.

 

[Sloan]

shit's xpensive dawgz.

 

[madbutcher]

Does a the racktifier sound exactly like a dual rec?

 

[LSD-Studio]

Does a the racktifier sound exactly like a dual rec?

yep, like the 2ch...same amp

 

[madbutcher]

yep, like the 2ch...same amp

So pretty much like buying the rectifier recording pre and the 2:100 power amp?

I like the rectifier sound, but was hoping to get something closer to that 5150 sound.

 

[Executioner213]

I get good tones out of my triaxis....just seems like I get a lot of buzz noise on some settings. I don't know if it's a ground loop issue or what: I've sent it in to Mesa to have them look at it and they said they couldn't understand what I was talking about and that "some buzz is normal" (yet this is a little excessive, anyone on this forum would be pissed if they had this much buzz). I've thought about replacing the power cord, as I think there might be a bad ground in it or something but who knows.

Long story short, the Triaxis is a good preamp. Pretty versatile. I just really wish I had the Dreaming Neon Black settings for it, which seem to be lost with time.

 

[pifos_2]

The ractifier is great but indeed, it does not sound of course any close to a 5150. I own one and the other guitarist of my band has a 6505. They both sound great but are completly different.

Well I don't know what you can get rack mountable that sound like a 6505.

If I were you... http://www.jeffserdins.com/images/studio_pics/guitar_rig1.jpg

RACKMOUNT a 6505

 

[madbutcher]

If I were you... http://www.jeffserdins.com/images/studio_pics/guitar_rig1.jpg

RACKMOUNT a 6505

That would be cool... Are those done custom by the owner or can you buy racks like that? I've never seen any in stores around here.

 

[Machinated]

After having a rackmountable rig....why not go with a 6505 head? Why must it be rackmounted?

 

[Razorjack]

My rack rig was a massive waste of money and energy, honestly - nothing beats a good amp head. Considering a 5150 can be had for less than the price of a Mesa preamp (in the UK at least) I know where my money is going next time I buy a guitar rig!!

 

[Executioner213]

Yeah... to be honest, my next rig is gonna be a 6505+ or a 3 Channel Dual Rec. I don't get along with Marshalls, but I'd like to try a JVM sometime. If I had an instant blast of cash, I'll probaby get a Mr. Hector or a Powerball. I'm not going to go rackmount again, though I would have whatever head I get thrown in a rack and still use some rack gear.

 

[madbutcher]

After having a rackmountable rig....why not go with a 6505 head? Why must it be rackmounted?

So all my gear is conveniently in a rack. (amp, conditioner, wireless, FX...) but after seeing the rack the amp head idea, I think I am going to go find out how to get one of those racks and get a 6505 or a 5150.