Need Suggestions for Rack Setup

William Carter · From: Cedar Rapids, Iowa, USA

I am starting to think about a rack setup in case I ever have to play with a band that doesn't do amps on stage. I am only interested in country music. I am trying to get as close as possible to the sound of a Nashville 400 or Session 115.

I only want rack mount hardware. I do not want a box full of pedals, or any pedals or boxes that have to be strapped into the rack with zip ties.

I looked at Quilter's Steelaire rackmount, but I assume it is a power amp and not just a preamp. I also do not like the lack of mid-shift, as there is no way to cut around 800-1000 on this model. Their hi-mid is around 2k and lo-mid is 500.

I saw Line 6 Pod HD which looked like it might be a good turnkey setup. Does anybody know if it can get close to a Nashville 400?

One forum post mentioned the Presonus tube preamp as being a good one. Does anybody have experience with this one?
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ZumSteel D10, Mullen G2 SD12 Universal, Rittenberry SD10

Bob Hoffnar · From: Austin, Tx

https://vintageking.com/milkman-sound-the-amp-19-rack-version-vintage-king-exclusive

http://www.sarnomusicsolutions.com/products/rtp.html

There are so many options these days. I would make a list of the functions you need.

Will you be powering speakers at all ?
In ears only ?
Reverb ?
EQ ?

I wouldnâ€™t be so set on 19â€ rack stuff. I can do everything I need with a standard Milkman â€œthe ampâ€ and it fits in my pac seat or in my carry on when I fly. I would also take a look at â€œthe Oxâ€ and the kemper modeling stuff.

Basically everybody is making a desktop instrument di these days that will suit your needs. The home recording market is blowing up. The quality in sound and build in the pro level stuff is astonishing. Even the guitar center/consumer level gear is getting really good.

Look at channel strips for more choices in the 19â€ and lunchbox format. There are amazing units available that are built for pedalboards also.
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Bob

William Carter · From: Cedar Rapids, Iowa, USA

So I'm looking for this to completely replace a Nashville 400. I will add a rack unit for delay/reverb if the preamp does not include it. I am not looking for anything to power speakers, because to me it doesn't make sense to replace 1 piece of gear (Nash 400) with 2 or more pieces (rack and speakers).

The end goal is to be able to play on stage without an amp, meaning possible in-ears and definitely a direct out to the main mixer console.

I hope to find a preamp with EQ similar to Peavey, with a mid-shift that can be set to 800-1k. I can always add a rack EQ unit if more is needed.

If Walker Stereo Steel were still in production, it would be the perfect fit for what I want, but nobody has filled that void since Walker retired.
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ZumSteel D10, Mullen G2 SD12 Universal, Rittenberry SD10

Bob Hoffnar · From: Austin, Tx

Why do you need it to be in a 19" rack form ? I'm sure you have your reasons. I'm just wondering.

Also if you want a Walker amp I'm sure you can find one used. Maybe put a notice in the wanted to buy section.
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Bob

William Carter · From: Cedar Rapids, Iowa, USA

I want a rack just for convenience. Anything in a rack is stuck there really good, doesn't shuffle around. Once you put the covers on, you don't have to worry about what gets put on top of it, etc. Things shuffle around inside a tool box or pack a seat. Racks, you can leave everything plugged in together. When you open the top, you just have to plug it into AC power and the instrument/mixer.

Walker preamps do not come up for sale very often. I have been looking for a long time. Walker still sells preamps that he has refurbished, but they are twice the cost of what a used one would normally be. I am also not sure about buying something that is out of production, since I would not know how to get it serviced in the long term should anything go wrong.
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ZumSteel D10, Mullen G2 SD12 Universal, Rittenberry SD10

Bob Hoffnar · From: Austin, Tx

Check this thing out:

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/ColourBoxV2--jhs-colour-box-v2-preamp-pedal

Stuff like this is actually better than rack gear that was popular in the 90's in every way. Full analog signal path, great transformers, studio quality EQ and versatile gain staging. Plus it fits in your pocket !
Massive progress is being made these days.
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Bob

Bob Hoffnar · From: Austin, Tx

I'm with you on the convenience ! As far as Walker amps go they should be pretty easy for any amp tech to repair. If I was you and wanted to stick with a 19' rack I would buy that Milkman rack from Vintage King. The EQ and reverb are great. Also there is nothing better made or sounding than anything Brad Sarno builds. Both of those guys are real pedalsteel players with super customer support. They are both building amps for the best musicians on the planet and are at the top of there game.
If you want a more solid state punchy sound maybe look at Quilter gear.
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Bob

Larry Dering · From: Missouri, USA

I have the Pod HD bean and it comes nowhere near the same as the Nashville 400. One of the worst equipment eq layouts ever. And unless you use the eq effects your sound will suffer. My old Pod Pro and Pod XT was much better to use but with less features. The line 6 helix can sound great but I don't see a rack unit.

Patrick Huey · From: Nacogdoches, Texas, USA

Jerry Overstreet · From: Louisville Ky

Look for one of the Peavey Tubefex or Transtubefex multi-fx units. The Profex II was the first one but it doesn't have the XLRs out.

Make sure it has the Newman steel presets and very important that it has the batteryless mod. These are all you need to go to FOH. Connections allow for a XLR direct line out. The steel presets have the eq and effects already programmed into ea. patch so all you have to do is select a patch.

If you want a dedicated amp to go along with this, one of the 1 rack spc. lightweight DPC Peavey units such as 750, 1000 or 1400 bare amps work well with these.

Also consider one of the 1 rack space Stewart amps, but they are heavier.

All this stuff is 90s vintage, so older technology.

Quite frankly, I can't understand why this type of stereo rack stuff has lost favor with so many steelers.

It is so versatile and that's why I'm still using rack stuff. Mine is all TubeWorks and Boss/Roland gear, but that's just because that's what I found at the time I was setting it up or it might very well have been the Peavey fex units.

By all means the Walker pre or combo units as they are based on the Session circuitry. They come up from time to time if you are patient.

Patrick Huey · From: Nacogdoches, Texas, USA

Could you not rack mount the chassis from a Nashville 400? Iâ€™ve seen that done with a Session 500 before.
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Pre RP Mullen D10 8/7, Zum 3/4, Carter S-10 3/4, previous Cougar SD-10 3/4 & GFI S-10 3/4, Fender Steel King, 2 Peavey Session 500's, Peavey Nashville 400, Boss DD-3, Profex-II, Hilton Digital Sustain, '88 Les Paul Custom,Epiphone MBIBG J-45, Fender Strat & Tele's, Takamine acoustics, Marshall amps, Boss effects, Ibanez Tube Screamer, and it all started with an old cranky worn out Kay acoustic you could slide a Mack truck between the strings and fretboard on!!

Larry Dering · From: Missouri, USA

Not positive but it may fit. A rack is 19 wide and the Nashville cabinet is 20 wide. Need to measure the actual chassis width. I'm thinking maybe with a slight bracket mod it would fit. However the heat sink may require a several space rack to accommodate the size.

Johnie Helms · From: Oklahoma, USA

Try and checkout a older Roland GP100, single space preamp, they also have great sounding Verbs & Delays. And plenty of Preamps to choose from...

Scott Duckworth · From: Etowah, TN Western Foothills of the Smokies

Here may be an idea for you. This details how I "split" a 112.

https://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=270418&highlight=
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I may, in fact, be nuts. However, I am screwed onto the right bolt... Jesus!

Len Amaral · From: Rehoboth,MA 02769

What Johnie Helms said. Another vote for the Roland GP-100
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Roger Crawford · From: Griffin, GA USA

Donâ€™t pass on the Quilter Steelaire rack mount. Yep, itâ€™s power amp/pre amp. Between the Lo-Mid and Hi-Mid controls, you can get where you want to be. The onboard reverb is very good, but if youâ€™re looking to get other effects, pair it with a Lexicon MX200 or similar unit and youâ€™ll be good to go.

Roger Crawford · From: Griffin, GA USA

Deleted double post.

Dave Mudgett · From: Central Pennsylvania and Gallatin, Tennessee

If you want a Stereo Steel - if it isn't already sold - https://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=366102

I have nothing to do with that sale. It just sounded like what you're looking for, all ready to go together with TC Electronics effects in the shock-resistant rack.

I also personally love my Sarno Revelation rack preamp. No effects onboard, but a good effects loop. Basically a Twin Reverb preamp with a few extras in rack-mount form. I have two, don't really need them both, but just leave one set up at home and one in a rack for gigs periodically. That is - if any of us had any gigs. Muttering

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