Live Rack Stand Solution

7910 Views 60 Replies 16 Participants Last post by Soopahmahn, Aug 1, 2012

Soopahmahn

Discussion Starter · Jan 12, 2011

So my rig is entirely contained within an SKB 6U Roto-Rack, which is around 21" deep. I've been playing live with it on top of my Atomic Reactor cab, which generally works out fine, but it's only 11" deep.

A couple of times, it's rolled off the front during rehearsal (I caught it!) even though I center the weight of the rack over the cab. I think the guitar cable tugged on it slightly.

A standard guitar cab is usually more like 14" deep which must offer more stability. Do you rack guys usually just plop your rack right on top of your cab? Do you plug into the front of the rack?

This is a lot easier for bass players with racks, because their cabs are so deep.

Does anyone have a good suggestion for how to secure this thing better, short of just setting it on the floor?

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Stitch

· #2 · Jan 12, 2011

Do you need access to it while playing? I'd stick it on an angled amp stand:

However, if the weight distribution is too far forward (likely) then putting on back to front would be the only option, which is as good as having it on the floor. Short of using ballast, but racks are so fucking heavy already adding an extra 8kgs of ballast seems...backbreaking. :lol:

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Soopahmahn

Discussion Starter · #3 · Jan 12, 2011

Stitch said:
However, if the weight distribution is too far forward (likely) then putting on back to front would be the only option, which is as good as having it on the floor. Short of using ballast, but racks are so fucking heavy already adding an extra 8kgs of ballast seems...backbreaking. :lol:

Yes, it's very weight-forward, probably 75/25. Total weight is probably 50 lbs.

Do not really NEED front access, but would probably get paranoid without it.

Did not leave room in the back for rocks. :lol:

I've even considered running bungee cords through the handles of the rack and cab to strap it down. :lol:

Leon

· #4 · Jan 12, 2011

When I ran my Mesa Nomad 2x12 with a rack'd GMajor, I would actually have my Nomad on one of those tilt stands (so I could hear myself on stage), then I'd use motorcycle straps to strap the GMajor to the top of the now-angled-up Nomad. Looked silly, worked like a charm.

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Vince

· #5 · Jan 12, 2011

I had my old 6 space racks on top of my Mesa or Avatar cabs with no problems. The Avatar cab was a 2x12 and not very deep, and I still never had the rack roll off.

You could also put a towel, folded up, underneath the rack between it and the cab. That could provide you a little more friction to keep it there.

Bottom line though, you've probably got a lot of expensive stuff in the rack. If it's got any chance of rolling off the cab, just put it on the floor or get a wheeled rack of some kind. I'm particular to my Odyssey 8 space carpeted wheeled rack, but there are a decent amount of good wheeled racks out there and they won't cost an arm and a leg.

Here's an older rack of mine sitting on top of my 4x12:

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Soopahmahn

Discussion Starter · #6 · Jan 12, 2011

Leon said:
When I ran my Mesa Nomad 2x12 with a rack'd GMajor, I would actually have my Nomad on one of those tilt stands (so I could hear myself on stage), then I'd use motorcycle straps to strap the GMajor to the top of the now-angled-up Nomad. Looked silly, worked like a charm.

:yesway:

Vince said:
You could also put a towel, folded up, underneath the rack between it and the cab. That could provide you a little more friction to keep it there.

:yesway:

Wheeled rack isn't in the budget at the moment, and my car is smallish so I'm enjoying the portability of my rack. I wonder if I could add casters to mine, but then, it might as well just be on the floor at that point.

It might also be wise to run my guitar cable through the back of the rack to the front input, so that if it does get tugged, it would be more likely to spin it sideways than to roll off the front?

Vince

· #7 · Jan 12, 2011

Soopahmahn said:
Wheeled rack isn't in the budget at the moment, and my car is smallish so I'm enjoying the portability of my rack.

I get the small car thing, but for the price of a mid-to-high end overdrive pedal, you could have this:

Amazon.com: Odyssey CRP08W 8 Space 18.5 Deep Carpeted Pro Rack With Wheels: Musical Instruments

$239. Not a bad price. That's what I use for my rack and I love it. Even with the rack loaded, it's not terribly heavy (well some will argue b/c I have the 2:90 in there :lol: ), and the construction/strength/wheels are all top notch. I've stood on the thing during a gig.

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Stitch

· #8 · Jan 12, 2011

Drill a hole in the roof of it, route all your cables through there, and sit in on its end? You can look down on it to see faceplates, worse case someone really hits and it lands normal-side down...It'd be safer on the floor, but you can still see stuff without crouching...

Vince

· #9 · Jan 12, 2011

Stitch said:
Drill a hole in the roof of it, route all your cables through there, and sit in on its end? You can look down on it to see faceplates, worse case someone really hits and it lands normal-side down...It'd be safer on the floor, but you can still see stuff without crouching...

:yesway:

A glory-hole for your rig. Awesome idea Stitch.

Stitch

· #10 · Jan 12, 2011

Vince said:
:yesway:

A glory-hole for your rig. Awesome idea Stitch.

Sarcasm? :lol:

Demeyes

· #11 · Jan 12, 2011

I normally run my rack (poweramp and 2 pres) on top of cabs, it stays put fine even on my 2x12. A few times I have ran it off the ground when other bands had heads on the cabs and it was too much hassle to move them. If you play on small stages this can be an issue for space though.
I do like that idea of running cables from a hole, you could probably make a rack case with a little patchbay on the top for you main ins and outs. That would be pretty cool but the rack wouldn't be as safe to throw around then.

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eleven59

· #12 · Jan 12, 2011

Would a Fubar work?

And if not, have you tried nailing someone's sister?

Ah hell, I'm all out of ideas. :scratch:

Soopahmahn

Discussion Starter · #13 · Jan 12, 2011

A 2x12 and a 4x12 of the same build generally have the same depth. I think that extra few inches of depth over my current cab really makes a difference

jj

.

I'm not so sure about the Glory Hole. :lol:

Regor

· #14 · Jan 12, 2011

Listen, I can take a pic later for you. But what my brother and I did, was to take a sheet of plywood, and put little rubber feet on the bottom of it. The larger plywood sheet will hold the rack's weight and distribute it across the surface of the plywood, and then the rubber feet you position to sit on whatever it is you're setting it on. It actually works quite well. Allows you to put the rack 'back' a bit, without risking it tipping over.

Reactions: 1

Soopahmahn

Discussion Starter · #15 · Jan 12, 2011

I can't hear you all the way from MI, can you please speak up a bit? :lol:

j/k, will appreciate pictures later. :yesway:

Vince

· #16 · Jan 12, 2011

Stitch said:
Sarcasm? :lol:

nah I actually like the idea

darren

· #17 · Jan 12, 2011

What's the deepest piece of gear in your rack? Is using a shallow rack case an option?

Also:

WS-540 - Quiklok - Professional Music Equipment and Accessories

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eleven59

· #18 · Jan 12, 2011

darren said:

See, if I had one of those, I'd have to put big angry eyes and a pair of robot arms on my rack :lol:

Leon

· #19 · Jan 12, 2011

Soopahmahn said:
It might also be wise to go wireless.

:yesway:

Leon

· #20 · Jan 12, 2011

darren said:
What's the deepest piece of gear in your rack? Is using a shallow rack case an option?

Also:

WS-540 - Quiklok - Professional Music Equipment and Accessories

I wanted one of those, but it just looks WAY too flimsy. Kick out one of those small legs, and it'll come tumbling down.

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