Rack Question

[MysticTriad]

Hi Everyone, I am new to the Rack world (Guitar Wise) :wink: . I Had a few questions, as I am not yet fully familiar with everything.
1st question is, can i get some really good tones using a Triaxis and a power amp live? Is it the same thing as using a Head?

2nd Question: Do alot of arists use only racks and no heads or how do they do it to get some awesome guitar tones?

3rd Question what do you all think, I am thinking of making my own rack, Can you guys help me by suggesting things to add to it to get a bad ass Live sound?

Thank You Very much!!

 

[mcmanus]

Hi Everyone, I am new to the Rack world (Guitar Wise) :wink: . I Had a few questions, as I am not yet fully familiar with everything.
1st question is, can i get some really good tones using a Triaxis and a power amp live? Is it the same thing as using a Head?

2nd Question: Do alot of arists use only racks and no heads or how do they do it to get some awesome guitar tones?

3rd Question what do you all think, I am thinking of making my own rack, Can you guys help me by suggesting things to add to it to get a bad ass Live sound?

Thank You Very much!!

1.) The TriAxis + 2:90 combo sound pretty good live, although I think they sound better in recordings than they do live. The Mark III/IV sound way better live.

2.) TriAxis + 2:90 is pretty much equivalent to a head. Pretty darn close, with the only major difference being that they don't share the same power transformer....? (IIRC)

3.) Get an EQ, compressor, and a nice delay on top of a nice pre-amp&poweramp/head. That's all you really need as the foundation for your sound. Well, I guess a good guitar, too.........

 

[MysticTriad]

is it a common thing to use a Triaxis Live? And how do they hold up, do they actually nail all the tones of the mark series and Rectifiers?

 

[screamingdaisy]

It does a really good job at nailing the Mark series, and a decent job at nailing the Rectifier.

 

[mcmanus]

I can't get my newer post-'05 NAMM TriAxis to sound _anything_like a Rectifier.

As far as sounding like a Mark, I thought it sounded really close to a Mark... until a buddy brought one over! It's about 90% there, I'd say. It definitely sounds good, don't get me wrong, and it has a tone all of its own. But if you want a Mark sound, buy a Mark.

 

[samhill]

Here's my rack setup...I love it!

Mark
www.thesamhillband.com

 

[MetalMatt]

A little off topic...where are you guys getting those cool gear drawings?

 

[samhill]

A little off topic...where are you guys getting those cool gear drawings?

There is a great guy on the Huge Racks Inc forum that does them, at this point he is still doing them for free, just give him signal path and models and within a day or two you'll have your diagram. You will have to register, it's a really cool forum btw.

Here's the link, just go to the first "sticky" topic, his ID is sickwindsor.

http://www.hugeracksinc.com/board/viewforum.php?f=1

Mark
www.thesamhillband.com

 

[bigbomb2u]

samhill what do you think of the recto pre.. I am running a 4x12 rec cab with the 2:100 and a digitech valve fx. I tried the recto pre on it and I couldnt get that deep heavy distortion im looking for. I was thinking of a triaxis but mesa told me not to use it with the 2:100 and get the 2:90 since they match. Whats your sound and music type like on that recto. Maybe I didnt hook up right. I also like to play at low levels when at home which I know it sounds better the louder it is. Let me know.

 

[phantomlord2oo]

i got this one guys.

1. i've used my triaxis rig live a LOT. it's a great live amp and a great studio amp setup. it's very versatile. i set up the distortion to sound like a mark ii c+ and it's very close. i just recently got a mark ii c+ and got an excellent tone out of it. i've been waiting for this weekend to a/b the 2 to get my triaxis as close as possible to the mark iic+.

2. some artists only use rack amps, some only use amp heads and some use a mix of both. rack setups can be pretty extensive. check out http://www.montyjay.com/metgearmain.html to check out metallica's rack setups. you'll get the best idea of all sorts of different setups from there.

3. here are the essentials for a bad ass sound:

furman pl-plus series 2 power conditioner (protects your stuff and provides power)

triaxis pre amp

2:90 power amp

isp decimator noise supressor or rocktron hush super c noise supressor (i keep my noise supressor in the fx loop since you can assign it to any preset you want. this way the noise supressor can be on your distorted tones and not on your clean tones since it'll probably cut the clean notes prematurely)

ground control pro (lets you control your preamp and anything else you may add on in the future through midi. it's VERY easy to set up. 2 minutes no joke)

31 band rack eq (i use the dod 2 space single 31 band eq. costs $130 and it really unlocks the tone of the triaxis, i don't even use the dynamic voice on the pre amp)

maybe throw in a korg rack tuner

quality cables are also must

also get a shock proof rack case. rack setups can be a little on the heavy side so make sure it has wheels on it! the shock proof makes it so that if it ever falls down for whatever reason nothing should break.

hope this helps!

+Mike+

 

[MysticTriad]

i got this one guys.

1. i've used my triaxis rig live a LOT. it's a great live amp and a great studio amp setup. it's very versatile. i set up the distortion to sound like a mark ii c+ and it's very close. i just recently got a mark ii c+ and got an excellent tone out of it. i've been waiting for this weekend to a/b the 2 to get my triaxis as close as possible to the mark iic+.

2. some artists only use rack amps, some only use amp heads and some use a mix of both. rack setups can be pretty extensive. check out http://www.montyjay.com/metgearmain.html to check out metallica's rack setups. you'll get the best idea of all sorts of different setups from there.

3. here are the essentials for a bad ass sound:

furman pl-plus series 2 power conditioner (protects your stuff and provides power)

triaxis pre amp

2:90 power amp

isp decimator noise supressor or rocktron hush super c noise supressor (i keep my noise supressor in the fx loop since you can assign it to any preset you want. this way the noise supressor can be on your distorted tones and not on your clean tones since it'll probably cut the clean notes prematurely)

ground control pro (lets you control your preamp and anything else you may add on in the future through midi. it's VERY easy to set up. 2 minutes no joke)

31 band rack eq (i use the dod 2 space single 31 band eq. costs $130 and it really unlocks the tone of the triaxis, i don't even use the dynamic voice on the pre amp)

maybe throw in a korg rack tuner

quality cables are also must

also get a shock proof rack case. rack setups can be a little on the heavy side so make sure it has wheels on it! the shock proof makes it so that if it ever falls down for whatever reason nothing should break.

hope this helps!

+Mike+

Does the triaxis sound very digital or does it sound like a natural amp?

 

[phantomlord2oo]

it's very natural since it's not digital. the only digital components in it is whatever controls the presets and midi. all tone it analog (i'm pretty sure on this).

+Mike+

 

[bigbomb2u]

As much as I hate to buy something this much online, there is one that looks great and is the 2.0 with no mods but the serial number is I believe 8151. Does that have the Phat mod in it or is that a lonestar board?

 

[samhill]

samhill what do you think of the recto pre.. I am running a 4x12 rec cab with the 2:100 and a digitech valve fx. I tried the recto pre on it and I couldnt get that deep heavy distortion im looking for. I was thinking of a triaxis but mesa told me not to use it with the 2:100 and get the 2:90 since they match. Whats your sound and music type like on that recto. Maybe I didnt hook up right. I also like to play at low levels when at home which I know it sounds better the louder it is. Let me know.

Here's a clip recorded using my Recto Pre, Recto 2:100, Recto 4x12 cabs
http://www.thesamhillband.com/satall.mp3

Mark
www.thesamhillband.com

 

[bigbomb2u]

how are you getting that fluid solo sound though? Mine was really dry and I was running the same setup. I know it sounded alot better the louder it got but I also need to keep it down when practicing but try to achive the same heavy sound at low levels

 

[samhill]

how are you getting that fluid solo sound though? Mine was really dry and I was running the same setup. I know it sounded alot better the louder it got but I also need to keep it down when practicing but try to achive the same heavy sound at low levels

I am using a Digitech 2101 for a dual delay (420ms and 480ms) and a Digitech Studio Quad for some chorusing. That adds a lot to the fluidness of the sound without being overbearing or washy..the benefits of using a rack preamp and poweramp in conjunction with FX, a switcher and the all important line mixer.
I love the way my rig sounds even at a bedroom volume.
My pre's EQ section is set as follows for all distorted tones, Modern switch engaged..gain=full, treble 11:00, mid between off and 8:00, bass 10:30, Presence=11:00. I do not use the Recto inputs on the 2:100 because I use a line mixer..Modern mode is engaged on the 2:100 presence is at about 11:00 and main vol is at 12:00 both channels.
I use EMG 85's with SPC EQ tone control on full(for extra gain).

Hope this helps

Mark
www.thesamhillband.com