questions about rack gear in general

[stratman687]

I'm pretty new to tube amps and I'm now looking over boogie amps so i joined this forum cuz its full of boogie owners!

my first question isn't necessarily a boogie question but a rack gear question.... Can you have separate preamps (for example the triaxis and the recto preamp) in use that you can switch with some kind of foot switch or do you have to do the old school thing of switching the cables and all that? It would be handy during gigs.

and this is kind of a dumb question, but just how much is the Triaxis and the recto preamp? and how much are power amps in general?

 

[Meson Boogie]

Amps can be switched in several ways, I'm not entirely certan what you're asking. Anyway, be it midi or an amp switching thingy, there will be a way with the touch of a button.
As for price, if you're new to tube amps I would strongly suggest going second hand rather than shelling out top buck when you might not be entirely sure what you're after. On ebay triaxes go around 1000$, rectifier preamps go for around 800-900. Tbh I'm not sure about new, but in europe they go for the equivalent of 4000$ :shock:
As for poweramps, depends which model, but you can get top knotch stuff from 400-800 (second hand again).

 

[scottkahn]

Yes, you can get a switcher that would enable you to switch between multiple different preamps. Of course if you get the Triaxis it's almost like getting a ton of different preamps in one box. Products from RJ Music and Voodoo Lab will easily accommodate your switching needs, but the switching systems will cost you a few hundred or more dollars.

Rack gear rules for flexibility. You can mix and match preamps and power amps to really create your own sound.

 

[GIG4FUN]

From 1990 up to 2003 I played a rack....

You can do anything you want. It is ALL out there. I left it behind. But to answer you quickly. Anything you can think/dream of...Yes is the answer.

I for some reason...maybe my roots.... I am glad to be doing the gigs with basic gear.

 

[Whoopysnorp]

Mesa makes a 4 amp switcher (it's pretty expensive ~600). see the catalog in the modern amps section of this forum.

I think Radial and some other companies make some as well...

http://www.tonebone.com/tb-headbone-vt-using.htm

You don't need something like that for what he's talking about. The main advantage of that type of device is that it provides a dummy load for the power section of each amp while it's not in use. If you're just switching preamps, there's no need to worry about a dummy load, and a simple line-level A/B switching functionality is all you need.