Setting up a Guitar Rack
Setting up a guitar effects rack requires a considerable investment in equipment, but allows the use of higher-quality effects than compact floor models. All rack-mountable effects and racks are 19 inches wide, which is a standard set by the audio industry. The height of effects (also called components or devices) is measured in "rack spaces," which is 1.75 inches per each space. Most effects devices are one rack space, with power amps and larger effects two rack spaces or more in height.
Instructions
1. Determine the size of the rack you will need by adding the combined rack space height of all devices to be installed. If you are unsure of how many rack spaces a device is, you may use a tape measure. One rack space = 1.75 inches, two rack spaces = 3.5 inches, three rack spaces = 5.25 inches and so on.
2. Place the rack on its back with the front facing up, and place the devices inside the rack. The device's "rack ears" will contact the side rails of the rack on each side, suspending the device inside the rack.
3. Install the mounting screws by inserting them into the holes in the rack ears, and tighten them to the threaded rack rails firmly with a screwdriver.
4. Turn the rack upside down to gain access to the back of the installed devices.
5. Determine which devices will be the main input and output devices. The input device will be the one that your guitar will be plugged into, and the first in the device chain. The output device will be the one that will be connected to your amplifier, and will be the last device in the chain.
6. Connect the output of the first device (the one your guitar will be plugged into) to the input of the next device with a patch cord (standard guitar cord, but short in length). Continue "daisy-chaining" devices by plugging patch cords from one device's input to the next device's output, until you have plugged a patch cord into the last device's input. The output of the last device will be used to plug into the guitar amplifier.
7. Turn the rack on its bottom, and place a power strip on the bottom inside of the rack. You may use adhesive-backed Velcro strips on the bottom of the power strip to anchor it to the rack, or leave it loose.
8. Plug all device power cords into the power strip, and plug the power strip into an electrical outlet.
9. Connect the guitar to the input of the first device with a guitar cord, connect the output of the last device to an amplifier, turn on all power and check for operation.
