Nice Rack Canada

When it comes to guitar tone, big things can indeed come from small packages. Nice Rack Canada is always pursuing the greatest possible user value from the smallest possible dimensions.

We recently put this rig together for a retired physician who is pursuing his musical passions by playing in a 60’s & 70’s tribute band.

The client expressed to us that he wanted to focus on performance & enjoyment, not mechanical cues. We designed this programmable system that allows the user to instantly recall hundreds of settings combinations for a wide variety of material.

Gear manufacturers have been able to produce incredible sounding diatonics, dynamics. modulations, delays & reverbs from compact DSP based, MIDI controlled pedals. Harmonic stacking in the MIDI controlled DSP realm is joining the list of it’s digital cousins at a quality never experienced before.

In years past digital attempts at dynamically expressive harmonic stacking pedals have left users wanting for better. Chase Bliss Audio has been forging bold new colours with their “Brothers” OD/Fuzz/Boost, and now we can enjoy Strymon’s Sunset - a collection of “bread & butter” OD sounds in a MIDI controlled DSP pedal that sounds amazing!

The Sunset is a dual voice OD, the “A” side of the pedal is switchable between 3 voices.

“Ge” - A diode based transparent drive.

“Texas” - Classic TubeScreamer voicing.

“Treble” - Treblebooster ala’ Dallas Range Master

The “B” side of the pedal is switchable between 3 voices.

“2 Stage” - Think of jumped inputs on a British amplifier.

“Hard” - 0-50% on the drive knob lands in OCD territory with the jerk factor, 50-100% on the drive knob is all the Rat you’ll ever want.

“JFET” - Classic JFET pre-amp tones.

The Sunset has 300 slots in the user memory, allowing MIDI equipped players to recall any combination of settings & routings. Voices can be routed  A —> B, B —> A, or Parallel. Bright Cut or Boost can also be recalled on a per preset basis.

The Sunset is a massive “win” for players who know the value of MIDI. In this rig’s application the Sunset provides every OD flavour that the set list could ever call for in the smallest possible dimensions.

The Boss MS-3 is reflection of the “smaller, more powerful, lighter, better sounding” pursuit by Roland’s design team. The MS-3 is multistage audio platform, audio switcher & MIDI controller in a very small footprint.

The MS-3 incorporates hundreds of Boss pedals & Roland rackmount algorithms into a signal path that can be dynamically ordered on a per preset basis. Imagine owning every boss pedal ever made, using only what you want when you want in the order that you want - on every single preset in your set list.

To provide the smoothest transition for our client from his analog past to digital future, we build a number of “template presets” for the system prior to the client collecting the system from our shop. During a 2 hour training session with the client, he was able to learn the MS-3’s external editor & librarian application. By the completion of the session the client was building his own presets, ready to confidently conquer any new setlist additions.

Dynamic control over any parameter can be added to a preset. Functionality is controlled by a Boss EV-30 Expression Pedal and a Nice Rack Canada Expression Switch Box. We globally assigned 1 of the switches to Tempo, the 2nd switch assignable on a per preset basis,

To further “future proof” the system we added 2x Audio Insert Points with 9VDC to the system’s In & Out Connections box, routed to 2x of the MS-3’s external audio loops.

Working musicians need to travel light, and pack a tonne of tone. Working musicians need tools to help them beat the odds that are stacked against them by feckless & rapacious travel vendors.

At Nice Rack Canada we understand the battle, we are always working on new ways to build smaller & ever more powerful sonic palettes for our clients.

We recently built this compact pedalboard system for Toronto based working guitarist, Mike Danckert. Mike works a wide variety of pub, sideman & tribute gigs that keeps the demands on the player’s tools high, while offering a minimum of logistic possibilities.

We managed to pack 15 different effects into a system, that in it’s rolling case fits in a overhead baggage compartment on commercial aircraft.

The signal flow for this series wired, many splendoured temple of tones is;

Guitar —> Xotic SP Compressor —> MXR Mini Fuzz —> Mad Bean Rabbit Hole (Muff circuit) —> Xotic SL Drive —> Ibanez Tube Screamer Mini —> Wampler Tumnus —> Insert Point #1 —> Xotic EP Boost —> MXR Phase 95 —> TC Electronic Corona Chorus Mini —> TC Electronic Flashback Delay Mini #1 (Short Delay Time) —> TC Electronic Flashback Delay Mini #2 (Long Delay Time) —> TC Electronic Hall of Fame Mini —> Nice Rack Canada Output Buffer & Boost to Amplifier with Tuner Split to TC Electronic PolyTune 2 Mini.

Before the Compressor or at Insert Point #1 & #2, the player can insert the Boss FV30H Volume Pedal or Xotic Wah.

Mike doesn’t need the Wah & Volume on every gig, to keep the system footprint & case dimensions as small as possible the Volume & Wah sit beside the board, connected to the Insert Points.

The System I/O box provides Audio Connectivity to the pedals, and 9VDC to the Wah.

The system is powered by 3x Strymon Ojai PSU’s.

Given the wide variety of repertoire that the system must cover, we found The TC Electronic Mini Pedals to be a great fit for the job. The pedals can be tone printed from the client’s iPhone giving the user an entirely different sonic angle for Chorus, Delays & Reverbs as gigs dictate. What used to require swapping pedal can now be done in seconds between takes.

Nice Rack Canada is about creating value beyond the invoice total for the client on a gig by gig basis.

The system sets up & tears down in under 2 minutes. Allowing the client more preparation or travel time between multiple gigs on the same day. Arriving earlier with better preparation & confidence always leads to more gigs.

Quality & consistency of tone helps the player have an enjoyable playing experience while bringing higher standards to the client's gigs.

Having a pro quality array of tools paired with musical skill says more about the player than words ever could.

Every working musician deserves tools that create time & money for them. Let Nice Rack Canada show you one of the ways you can enjoy more time & better net out per gig.

Building guitar rigs at Nice Rack Canada is an enjoyable way to spend every work day, but occasionally things get dialled up a notch, or 3.

A fantastic client recently came to our shop with a few boxes full of his favourite audio tools, wanting them built into a comprehensive guitar rig that could answer any of his creative urges.

The client gave us carte blanche to devise the signal flow and make hardware choices as we deemed fit for the task.

The criteria for the rig was;

Pristine Dry Tones

Lush, Warm & Deep Effects

Homages to the client’s musical heroes

Instant Accessibility to every function & favourite presets

Forward Flexibility

We developed this Wet / Dry / Wet system to capitalize on the client’s extensive collection of Marshalls and Marshall clones. Although the client is a dedicated Jimmy Page fan, he does not like the aesthetic of three of Page’s “secret weapons”, Supros, the AC30 & Whammy pedal. Hence we added the Fractal Audio Axe FX II XL+ to cover the Supro, AC30 & Whammy Pedal tones.

Starting right from the beginning of the signal chain at the guitar we spec’d the Shure Axient UHF system. Switching the input frequencies was the first homage to a hero, the Mike Hill Input Switcher as used by Angus Young.

Sharp eyes may notice that the 3x Furman units are seeing different input voltages. Here’s why. The primary Furman is the P1800AR which regulates output to 120VAC from the 105 to 125VAC input range, this unit powers the Effects Rack & the secondary Furman (PL-8) in the UHF Rack. The PL-8 supplies power to the UHF system, switcher, battery chargers & VariAC. The output of the VariAC supplies the 3rd Furman (PL-8) , which supplies “browned” 110VAC to the Amplifiers.

Continuing the homage to heroes a Solo Dallas Shaffer Replica Boost was installed in the system. The companding effect of this boost is truly it’s own unique flavour that must be played through to understand the simple beauty of this tool that helped shape the history of rock n roll.

Also visible in this photo is a custom system mixer for Delay & Reverb “Spillover”, with switchable Phase Inversion for the Wet signal. Also in the box are Switchable Phase Inverters & Ground Isolation Transformers for each amp feed

A 2nd homage can be seen in this photo, a pair of Tape Echoes in stereo. We had pushed for original Maestros, but based on availability had to settle for units pictured made by some jerk in California. As with any product made by the Trumpian pedal cloner who hates Canada, we’ll discount the labour time involved in substituting any of his pieces in any system build. Once we can find the right Tape Echoes in mint condition, the Tape Echoes by Asshat will be gone.

To fully exploit the potential of the Axe FX II XL+’s signal routing capabilities, we have engineered a switching solution using the RJM Music Effect Gizmos to be able to place the Axe FX “pre” connections before or after the collection of analog Boosts, OD’s & Fuzzes.

The “post” connections of the Axe FX on a per preset basis can be routed into the analog Left & Right Wet Amps for effects only presets, or into the FRFR cabinets with Amp & Cabinet simulations in use.

The TC Electronic G Major 2 was chosen for the system to cover the myriad of classic TC Electronic Effects flavours in the most compact & MIDI integrated unit that TC manufactures.

In Drawer #1 we have some modern classics by Strymon, the Big Sky, TimeLine & Deco. The Deco has been modded to accept MIDi control via an RJM Music Mini Amp Gizmo to engage the Saturation, Double & Favourite Functions.

The Analogman Chorus has a unique flavour about it that the client loves and it stands out from the other Choruses in the rig by Fractal, TC Electronic & Strymon.

The MXR Phaser has been owned by the client since it was brand new. To honour it’s history we replaced the bottom plate with a modified version that allows for connections to a regulated & isolated power supply without devaluing the enclosure.

In Drawer #2 things get a lot hairier, and a little smoother.

The Tone Bender comes with a little modern rock history having been acquired from Mike Turner of Our Lady Peace.

Stuart Castledine’s beautifully crafted Olympic Fuzz takes the harmonics a little hotter. For convenience and ethics, we replaced the bottom plate with a modified version that allows for connections to a regulated & isolated power supply, while allowing battery source materials to be used to power the economy of the future.

Chicago Iron’s take on the Octavio cranks the harmonic stacking into “hang on for the ride” territory, with all the bliss you can imagine that the ride would bring.

Each of the Fuzz pedals has a custom Nice Rack Canada “Fuzz Buffer” in line before the pedal to optimize the input impedance to match the output of the client’s favourite Les Paul.

Regardless of which effect may be in the signal path before the fuzz, the fuzz pedal “breaks up” as it would with the Les Paul plugged directly into the fuzz.

Robert Keeley’s modern perfect take on a classic compressor provides the smooth. Just enough sponge to dig into without it getting annoying, and a super low noise floor. Keeley is setting the standard for independent brands making analog effects.

In Drawer #3, we’ve got a plethora of harmonic stacking devices from mild to wild. This drawer is wonderful snapshot of current guitar technology by some of the brightest minds of our time. Mad Professor, Lovepedal, Skreddy, Catalinbread, Barber, Friedman, J Rockett & Xotic, all competently demonstrating why they populate the rigs of pros who know and tone junkies that crave the good stuff.

In Drawer #4 sounds wobble so pleasantly, they punch and they get creamy.

Stuart Castledine’s Supra Vibe will get you right into “Machine Gun” mode and we mean that in the most reverent way possible.

The Strymon Mobius provides a wide array of modulations with distinct flavours to separate it from the TC Electronic & Fractal Audio  modulations.

The Xotic EP boost is used in unity setting to widen the bandwidth of the signal when desired.

The Lovepedal COT50 provides a nice punch to the front of the amp to take it from clean to breaking when pushed.

The Klon Centaur provides the creamy smooth breakup that has spawned a legion of follow on designs.

As you can see in each drawer, we used the often imitated & never duplicated power supplies by the legendary Voodoo Lab.

Tucked in next to the Solo Dallas Shaffer replica and the RJM Music Mini Amp Gizmo is the “secret sauce”, The Chase Tone Secret PreAmp.

The controller board for the rig features a Castledine Wah, TC Electronic PolyTune 2 Mini, modified Boss FV500 expression pedal and the last word in MIDI controllers.

When building a rig of this magnitude the only acceptable controller for the job is the RJM Music MasterMind GT-22.

We’ve been proud to be installed the MasterMind series of controllers dating back to serial # Beta 1 of the GT series, and serial #1 of the LT/7 & PBC controllers as well. RJM Music’s contribution to guitar rig technology and the music industry is a unheralded accomplishment. RJM Music has made many things possible for guitar players that were but a dream a decade ago.

While RJM Music is a little over a decade old there is compelling testimony to say that they are setting standards that leave the competition far behind. Check out their pro users list and you’ll  see exactly what we mean.

Nice Rack Canada recently shipped this Fractal Audio AX8 pedalboard system to a “Praise & Worship” Bassist in Connecticut. There’s going to be some fat bottom Sundays in the “Constitution State”.

As with many other P&W players the rig’s output is being sent direct to FOH & IEM’s, with no speakers in use. Based on this criteria and the degree of forward flexibility that the every changing setlist presents, the Fractal Audio AX8 is the perfect tool for this job.

To facilitate any future use criteria, Nice Rack Canada included connectivity for DAW / Sequencer MIDI In, MIDI Out to Keys/DAW etc, Stereo Outputs to FOH & Monitors with Switchable Ground Isolation on each Output.

The Expression Pedals are assigned as, #1 Global Volume, #2 Per Preset External Control.

The Connections for Expression Pedals #3 & 4, have been re-assigned as Expression Switches to toggle between the two values as opposed to sweeping. There are 1x Momentary & 1x Latching Switch, both assigned as necessary on a “Per Preset” basis.

These are great tools for Rotary Block Speed Switches, Momentary Feedback Swells, Momentary Input Breaks for “Stutters”. The uses are only limited to the player’s creative demands.

Nice Rack Canada recently built this stacked double pedalboard system for a local client who is a connoisseur of harmonics.

This system combines some of the best in modern music engineering with the grass roots of guitar effects.

The audio switching & MIDI control is provided by the RJM Music MasterMind PBC. Since this unit's arrival on the market a few years ago, this machine has defined the standard for "all in one" Audio Switcher & MIDI Controllers.

By fully maximizing the audio & MIDI capabilities of the MasterMind PBC we were able to develop a "Wet Dry Wet" signal flow that encompasses 15 audio devices under MIDI control.

The signal flow for this double decker of tone is;

"Dry Board "   Guitar --> PBC In 1-4 --> Loop 1 Berkos Third Stone --> Loop 2 rehoused Dunlop Octavio --> Loop 3 RMC Wah --> Loop 4 MXR Dyna Comp --> PBC Out 1-4 --> Strymon Mobius Pre Connections --> PBC In 5-6 --> Loop 5 Dry Bell Vibe Machine --> Loop 6 Xotic RC Boost --> PBC Out 5-6 --> MIDI Controlled Audio Insert Point --> PBC In 7-10 --> Loop 7 Hermida Zen Drive --> Loop 8 Vemuram Jan Ray --> Loop 9 Strymon Mobius Post Connections --> Loop 10 Ernie Ball MVP Volume Pedal --> PBC Out 1 --> Dry Amp,

"Wet Board"   PBC Out 2 --> Eventide H9 #1 In --> Strymon TimeLine --> Eventide H9 #2 --> Left & Right Wet Amps.

The system's power is much like it's effects choices, a combination of old & new technologies. On the new front the Strymon Zuma + 2x Ojai are in use and on the old school route, a Vertex Battery Power Supply.

Experienced giggers know that the first rule of gigging is "when not if", so be prepared. In the system's custom In & Out Connections boxes we included some special considerations to adapt to the real world of rental backline gigs.

PBC Output 1 to the Dry amp can be switched into the system "bail out" mixer. Combining the 100% dry signal with the 100% wet Signal from the H9's & TimeLine into a "50/50" blended signal to the Wet Amps. This reconfigures the system output from Wet Dry Wet to Stereo Wet & Dry Parallel.

Another switching function in the Wet Board's I/O Box is the Right Output from the Wet Board can be mixed into a Phase Corrected, "Stacked" Mono signal. This reconfigures the rig to a Mono Wet & Dry Parallel System.

Each of the two board fit into custom gig bags that are the same dimensions as the owner's telecaster case. Making the entire system (3 amps, 2 boards & 4 guitars) fit comfortably into the back of a hatchback car.

A few of our favourite pieces of gear all in one Nice Rack Canada system for a local client.

Many pieces of guitar gear enter the market, and often leave just as quick. There are certain well designed & built items that sound amazing and hold their market position very well. This system features some of those stalwart items.

Harmonic & Dynamic shaping provided by the limited edition Red version Xotic SP Compressor, EP Booster, SL Drive, Soul Driven & Wah.

Standard setting classic tape delay emulations by the Strymon El Capistan with modification for MIDI Tempo Sync.

The Eventide H9 is a veritable studio quality workbench of effects processing. In this application the H9’s cover delays, modulations, diatonics & sub octaves.

All of this tasty tone hardware is switched by the RJM Music Effects Gizmo. The RJM Music Switch Gizmo is also employed to help with the El Capistan’s sync, Favourite Settings and System Mutes. All controlled by the world’s best MIDI controller for Guitar, the RJM Music MasterMind GT-10.

The entire system including controller, wah & cabling all travels in the rack, minimizing case count and truck space.

Just in time to commemorate 151 years of colonial nationhood, Nice Rack Canada built this colour-centric ensign of tone. This July 1st, we're celebrating the already completed small steps forward, and the massive leaps yet to come for our nation.

We celebrate the diversity of our multicultural social fabric composed of immigrants, refugees & asylum seekers that have made and continue to make our nation what it is today. We're celebrating the nation that Canada will become as we move forward. A nation of progressive thought & purposeful action. A nation that will make amends with it's First Nations people. A nation that understands that it's greatest strength is commensurate to it's weakest links and act accordingly to ensure the wellbeing of all it's citizens. A nation built upon hard work, innovation and tireless pursuit of passion & truth. So while the fireworks are going off, a very special customer of ours will be rocking in his cottage with a pedalboard that like Canada, punches far above it's weight class.

By working cooperatively with some American friends, Nice Rack Canada was able to pack a plethora of tone options into a compact footprint. Tasty analog mains from the Xotic & Nice Rack Canada circuits with sweet compliments by the incredibly versatile Eventide H9 effects host. The signal flow is;

We were recently contacted by Toronto based DJ Sara Simms about putting together an effects pedalboard to be incorporated into her Traktor rig. Sara has history as a jazz guitar player and loves classic sonic colours for guitar being applied to new means of creativity. Given the transport logistics for a DJ and set up & tear down time, we needed to design a broad palette in a small footprint that would integrate as seamlessly as possible with a DJ mixer. We selected the "500" series pedals by Boss for the Stereo Connectivity, wide array of effects in the pedals and the MIDI functionality.

The MD500's Phaser & Filter effects are a natural fit with many house tracks, the Ring Modulator adds some fun colours to banging techno tracks and drum breaks.

The DD500's collection of classic Roland / Boss delays is a "big bang small package" value winner. The SDE3000 algorithms are everything you wanted from that machine with none of the "yea buts". The classic DM-2 & DD-5 algorithms have a home in a plethora of recorded music for good reason.

The RV500's Space Echo program was an instant fit for a variety of tracks during testing sessions. The Plate, Hall & Room algorithms added a nice dimension of separation for tracks when mixing two tracks together.

Next we chose the Disaster Area DMC3XL as the best MIDI controller available to cover the Scene Recall and Expression Control assignments with the smallest possible footprint and power supply concerns.

To add further control over the system we built up an "Expression Box", with one 10kΩ Linear potentiometer wired to the DMC3XL's expression pedal port. The "Expression Knob" can be assigned on a per preset basis to any parameter or multiple parameters as desired.

We also included 3x Momentary switches that are connected to the Control Jacks on each of the 3x Boss pedals. Again these switches are assigned on a per preset basis to control expression functions in the effects preset.

Power is a paramount concern for any rig and especially when the rig will be gigging internationally with no ability to carry a step down transformer. With this in mind we designed & built a custom power supply for all components in the system. The Power Supply accepts a primary voltage of 100 - 260 VAC with regulated & isolated secondaries of 9VDC @ 500mA.

DJ mixers and Guitar Effects are not natural partners on the impedance front, to compensate accordingly we built up Stereo Input & Output Buffers. The input buffer loads the Send of Mixer to allow for lower noise floor when sending signal into the effects chain. The Input buffer has an output impedance of 8kΩ, similar to a punchy but not obnoxious guitar pickup. The output buffer loads the Effects Output to 1mΩ emulating the manner in which a guitar amp would interact with the pedals. The Output Buffer's output impedance is 150Ω, allowing the Mixer return to pull every bit of signal possible out of the board without any clipping artifacts.

Whatever your criteria maybe, Nice Rack Canada can engineer solutions to allow maximum creativity from your audio tools.

You can read an in depth blog explaining the application of the rig here http://bit.ly/NIBlog

Nice Rack Canada recently built a 2 Board Pedalboard System for Windsor/Toronto based project “I Hear Things” guitarist Andrew Barlow.

Every client provides us with new challenges & inspirations. In this instance building a system for a person with an extensive engineering & fabrication history helped us push boundaries and into some new prototyping.

The system is split into the “Controller Board” & “Audio Board”. The Controller board features RJM Music MasterMind GT-16 serial #1, and 2 BOSS FV30’s modified to 10kΩ Linear Expression Pedals. The unique External Switch enclosure was fabricated by the client & wired by us.

The Audio Board applies MIDI control to the entire Audio Path. For songwriting & soundscaping purposes, the client wanted the Looper placement to be switched between the Start & End of the Signal Chain. To accommodate this we built up a Stereo Order Reverse circuit using 3x DPDT relays with remote MIDI switching.

The signal flow for this functional art pedalboard is;

Guitar --> Input Buffer --> Buffer Out A --> TC Electronic PolyTune 2 Mini Noir & Buffer Out B -->Signal Order Reverse Circuit Input

Signal Order Reverse Send A (Stereo) --> Pigtronix Infinity Looper --> Return A (Stereo)

Signal Order ReverseSend B (Mono) --> RJM Mini Effects Gizmo #1 Input --> Loop 1 Eventide H9 “X” In 1/Out 1 --> Loop 2 Nice Rack Canada “Fuzz Buffer” --> Loop 3 Vemuram Shanks --> Loop 4 ElectroHarmonix Big Muff Nano --> Loop 5 Chase Bliss Audio Brothers --> RJM Mini Effects Gizmo #1 Output --> Eventide H9 “A” In 1/Out 1 --> RJM Mini Effects Gizmo #2 Input --> Loop 1 Insert #1 --> Loop 2 Insert #2 --> Loop 3 Eventide H9 “X” In 2/Out2 --> Loop 4 Send --> Eventide H9 “B” Input (H9 Stereo Output to Mixer) --> Loop 5 Send --> Eventide H9 “C” Input (H9 Stereo Output to Mixer) --> RJM Mini Effects Gizmo #2 Output --> RJM Music Mini Line Mixer Dry In --> Mini Line Mixer Stereo Out  --> Signal Order Reverse Return B (Stereo)

Signal Order Reverse Circuit Output --> System Mute --> Left & Right Amplifiers.

System power provided by Strymon Zuma & Ojai Expander.

The entire system with cabling packs into a Pelican 1650 rolling case for ease of transport.

The controller board is connected to the Audio by 1x 7 Pin XLR for MIDI In & Out + 12VDC, and 1x 3 Pin XLR for Tuner Connection. The 7 Pin Jacks in the In & Out Connection boxes on both boards are parallel wired to 3x 3 Pin XLR jacks. This "just in case" feature allows the client to use Standard Microphone Cables to connect the 2 boards in the unfortunate event of the 7 Pin XLR cable being lost or stolen.

The Audio Board's MIDI In & Out Box features the Nice Rack Canada to Chase Bliss Audio MIDI Adapter, and a rehoused versions of MIDI Solutions Quadra Thru & Relay.

Toronto based producer / writer / sideman / guitarist extraordinaire Dusty Chesterfield recently visited Nice Rack Canada for a chat about pedalboards and making his work flow easier & better sounding.

The results are pictured here. It's a Evidence Audio cable with SqaurePlug & Switchcraft connectors, series wired affair featuring some of the absolute standards in effects pedals & amplification.

Given the wide variety of Dusty's work load between producing, writing, gigging & scoring he needed a wide variety of standard setting tone tools all packaged in a easy to set up & tear down pedalboard system to compliment his Mesa Boogie Mark V combo amp.

The signal flow for this genre spanning pedalboard is;

Guitar --> Input Buffer --> Signal Order Reverse Circuit Input Send A --> Jim Dunlop Guitar Products/CAE Wah Pedal --> DigiTechWhammy --> Return A Send B--> KHDK Scuzz Box --> Ibanez Guitars Tube Screamer Mini --> Xotic Guitars & Effects RC Boost --> Return B Signal Order Reverse Circuit Output --> Xotic SP Compressor --> Mark V Input --> Mark V Send --> BOSS Chorus Ensemble --> MXR/EVH Phase 90 --> Tribute Audio Designs Tremor --> StrymonEl Capistan --> Boss DD5 Delay --> Tribute Audio Designs Verbo --> Nice Rack Canada Clean Boost & Tuner Split --> Xotic EP Booster --> TC Electronic Ditto --> Mute Switch --> Mark V Return.

In every "electric" guitar system, full considerations must be given to the quality of the voltage & current powering the audio devices. This system is powered by the clean, quiet, isolated and built like a tank MXR/Custom Audio Electronics MC403.

We often include "special" items in a system build that reflect the unique needs of the player we're building the system for. In this instance we've built a custom footswitch for the Mesa Mark V that has only the functions the client wants on the switch and none of the functions he doesn't want.

We also included a Favourite switch for the El Capistan to expand it's functional use in the system and a Tap Tempo switch that syncs the DD5 with the El Capistan for creating rhythmic delay patterns that don't sound like shoes in a dryer.

You can hear this rig in action on the new Irene Theo release on SynchAudio Inc., or you can skip right to the good stuff and buy it at http://bit.ly/IreneTheo.

Nice Rack Canada started off 2018 with this compact, lightweight pedalboard system that is built to rock.

This tasty little slab of guitar tone tools is a fly rig for Toronto rockers "The Swine". The legendary Les Paul & Plexi combination with this pedalboard does indeed produce some very fat tones for rocking of the classic variety.

This series wired affair is packed with some of our favourite small box pedals that punch far above their weight & dimensions.

The signal flow is Guitar --> Xotic Wah --> Xotic Soul Driven --> Xotic SP Compressor --> Xotic EP Booster --> TC Electronic Mimiq --> MXR Phase 95 --> Strymon El Capistan --> Nice Rack Canada Clean Boost &  Tuner Split to TC Electronic PolyTune 2 Mini --> Amplifier.

The client wanted to emulate the tones of some legendary rock records of yesteryear. To help achieve this we introduced the Mimiq to help get the "overdubbed" sounds. Giving an extra dimension to a power trio's sonic depth.

The SP Compressor & EP Booster are on all the time to help provide sustain & warmth to the tone.

The MXR Phase 95 offers the user their choice of Phase 45 or Phase 90, Block or Script logo variations of the one of the most ubiquitous effects pedals ever made.

The El Capistan has a custom Favourite Switch to double the number of Tape Delay emulations available in the compact footprint.

Powered by the Strymon Zuma system PSU. This power supply is quickly becoming an industry standard due to it's lightweight & compact design. But more importantly Zuma's clean, quiet DC output with current headroom to spare for even the most demanding of modern pedal designs.

The last pedalboard system build of 2017 by Nice Rack Canada is done and delivered to it’s owner.

We managed to pack a mountain of tone flexibility into this 27” x 17” system, MIDI Controlled Buffered & True Bypass system.

Starting with the Harmonics section of the system. The Chase Bliss Audio OD/Fuzz/Boost has 122 user presets in it’s local memory. Multiplied by the 3 internal routing options gives the user 366 different OD/Fuzz/Boost combinations.

By stacking the Tribute Audio Designs Classy Lady or Xotic Soul Driven with the Brothers, the user has over 1000 different Harmonic stacking options at their disposal.

We modified the Classy Lady & Soul Driven with click-less relay kits that can be remotely controlled by the RJM Music MasterMind LT/7 MIDI Controller’s Function Switches. Effectively making these pedals respond to MIDI so that they can be Activated or Bypassed as part of a system preset.

We built a custom buffer circuit with user adjustable values for Output Impedance & Gain. This allows the user to dial in the exact harmonic response they want from the system even though there are other audio devices in line between the pickups and the Harmonic stacking section of the system.

To help keep the footprint as compact as possible, we wanted to maximize the functionality of the Expression Pedal. Using the MasterMind LT/7 the user can assign the expression pedal on a “Per Preset” basis to control the Wah or Volume control presets in the ProStage Remote Wah.

Alternatively the expression pedal can be assigned to controlling any collection of parameters the user desires in the 2x Eventide H9’s.

By tapping into the parameter control possibilities of the H9, the user has the ability to use a sweepable Volume Control at 5 different places in the signal path depending on the desired signal flow of the currently selected system preset.

The first H9 is wired in a “Pre / Post” configuration so that the Effects algorithm can be placed in the signal chain Before or After the Harmonics stage of the system.

The signal flow is Guitar --> Input Buffer & Tuner Split --> Remote Wah --> H9#1 Pre Connections --> Nice Rack Canada Harmonics Optimizing Buffer --> Brothers --> Classy Lady --> Soul Driven --> SP Comp --> H9#1 Post Connections --> H9#2 --> Mute --> Amplifier.

Powered by the original, often imitated and never duplicated Voodoo Lab Pedal Power Digital & 4x4.

Some of the extra features we built into this system include a custom MIDI buffer for communication with the Brothers, 2 Button External Switch for the LT/7, custom power supply for the Remote Wah, and modifying the Boss FV30L into a linear taper expression pedal.

No matter where your tone quest takes you in 2018, Nice Rack Canada can be there for you to make all of your sonic dreams come true.

Fresh from Nice Rack Canada comes a pedalboard build with a Fractal Audio AX8 modeling platform system and a very powerful companion, the Fishman TriplePlay.

This pedalboard system is an infinitely configurable system on a "per preset" basis. From one preset to another the user can choose from hundreds of studio quality amplifier models, speaker cabinets & effects in the AX8. By adding a Fishman TriplePlay in parallel with the modeling platform guitar rig, the user can double their parts on any virtual instrument they choose.

The Fishman TriplePlay expands the creative possibilities of this system to absolutely infinite and is completely DAW compatible for recording in any location. Live performances can become more dynamic with a fuller bandwidth of instrumentation in a logistics friendly package.

The TriplePlay is a wireless pickup and transmitter system that clips onto the guitar and transmits to a computer that hosts the factory sound library as well as any custom virtual instruments and samples the user creates.

Aside the from the sonic value of the TriplePlay in a user's arrangements, the system is also a great notation tool that write charts for you as you play. Instead of tedious note taking, the user can simply play the piece of music and the software will write it out for you in realtime. This valuable time saving tool makes the TriplePlay a worthwhile investment alone.

The TriplePlay is complemented by it's FC-1 footswitch companion that allows the user to scroll through presets and apply a "hold" to any note or chord. TriplePlay presets can also be accessed by any MIDI controller including the AX8.

For the busy working pro, a system like this is a very strong value in that the player always has the perfect rig for every gig with no hardware reconfiguration needed. The AX8 Edit software allows the user to organize and upload their presets as necessary for each gig. The user community for Fractal Audio products is a great way to access presets to emulate tones you may need for your next gig.

Traveling at checked luggage weight in it's roadcase and packing tonnes of tones the derived value for users is only limited by their creativity.

This build was done like many of the AX8 builds we do, without the customers' gear.

We used our shop's AX8, expression pedals and FC-1 as "stand ins" for the customer's gear. The custom pieces & cabling were built & installed. Then our gear was removed, and new fastening tape with backing paper was attached to the fastening tape strips on the board, along with removable "guide marks".

This method also keeps the outbound shipping weight low for lowest possible cost the client, while not having to separated from their gear for any period of time.

When the package arrives, the client removes the backing paper from the fastening tape and mounts their AX8, Expression pedals & FC-1 in place.

All of the cabling is custom labelled making the patching of the system completely trouble free and only taking seconds.

The AX8 has 4x Expression Pedal Inputs. We built 2x Custom Expression Switches connected to Expression Pedal Ports #3 & 4 to expand the system's functionality and to maximize the value of the system for the user.

Nice Rack Canada is a strong proponent of protecting, enriching & expanding the domestic  music electronics manufacturing industry. We’re building up a collection of demonstration pedalboards in our shop where visitors can interact with a variety of well made Guitar Effects & Amplification devices by Canadian builders.

The latest addition to our CanCon section is Ottawa based effects maker, Retro-Sonic. Coming out of the nation’s capital with a selection of 7 different designs. These guitar effects are sonically sweet & priced to compete head to head with any import. The line recalls the finest of vintage effects in a robust construction at a wallet friendly price tag. If you haven’t had a chance to have a listen to these world class tone machines yet, book yourself a visit to Nice Rack Canada as soon as you can.

A few months ago, Nice Rack Canada had a chance to meet the owner of Chase Bliss Audio at an effects pedal show.

We were immediately impressed with the Audio, MIDI, and System Integration aspects of the designs, and the staff at Chase Bliss Audio are some really nice people too!

The MIDI functionality of the pedals is a necessary & forward looking shift in pedal design. Nice Rack Canada is always seeking new avenues for creating value for our clients in the systems we build. Chase Bliss Audio’s functionality fits perfectly with our quest.

Every knob and switch on the pedal is connected to a digital brain while your guitar signal stays 100% analog the entire time and never gets digitally processed. Since the control of the effect is digital, it opens up unprecedented effects and features that have never been heard or offered in analog stompboxes.

The warm, rich analog tones with robust MIDI implementation in a compact footprint with low demand criteria on system power supplies make Chase Bliss Audio an absolute winner in our opinion.

We’re very happy to have in our shop a demonstration pedalboard featuring the entire Chase Bliss Audio pedal line. To completely utilize the MIDI aspect of the pedals we employed an RJM Music MasterMind GT16 MIDI Controller.

The MasterMind GT16 gave us the ability to create a multi layer controller that can handle basic bypass switching and presets on it’s home page, with further pages accessed from each Pedal’s Bypass Instant Access switch by pressing for 3 seconds to launch a page of Instant Access to Favourite Presets in the Pedal and Continuous Control options.

When you’re ready to expand your sonic horizons & rig functionality, you should explore the world of Chase Bliss Audio under our tutelage in our shop or at a guitar show near you.

Nice Rack Canada recently got a phone call from RainDogs guitarist John Cook, looking for a particular type of compressor for his guitar rig.

We had a chat about his slide guitar based criteria for a slow attack, optical compressor that would allow for full note bloom before compressing.

John wanted to get our opinion on some expensive imported units that had internet forums abuzz.

In our conversation we were able to tell John that one of the best examples of this type of compressor is made by Tribute Audio Designs in Peterborough, Ontario.

John came by for a listen test of the Fresh Squeeze compressor and within a minute he was ready to purchase the pedal.

During our in shop conversation John expressed his love for vintage Fender amps like the Deluxe Reverb & Vibrolux, and particularly those amps Tremolo & Reverb circuits.

John also mentioned that on some rental backline gigs rental amps sometimes left him wishing he had more control over the tone he could extract.

At this point we introduced John to a pair of Tribute Audio Designs pedals, the Tremor & Verbo. The Tremor is a Kay Tremolo inspired pedal. The Verbo is an Accutronics module based reverb to emulate the classic Accutronics Spring Reverb synonymous with many Fender amps.

Next a plan was made for us to put together a small pedalboard system for John that would incorporate switching controls for his Fender amps. By adding pedals that emulated the amp versions so well that he would be able to have 2x sets of Tremolo & Reverb settings when using his own amps.

When using rental backline with less than desirable Reverb & Tremolo qualities, John has a pedal version on the board that gives him the tone he wants. Filling out the board we included John's favorite fuzz, the Wampler Velvet Fuzz, an Andy Summers TonePrinted TC Electronic Corona Chorus, a TC Electronic PolyTune 2 Mini and a Nice Rack Canada Clean Boost. All powered by the Voodoo Lab Pedal Power 2+.

Nice Rack Canada recently completed this Axe FX II modeling platform build for a recreational player.

Without a fixed catalogue or criteria for use we engineered a system that offers the user a great deal of flexibility in amp & effects choices with a super easy & expeditious interface for programming and control.

The audio configuration is endlessly reconfigurable with the click of a switch with pristine, studio quality audio and dynamic performance from any of the amp models in the Fractal Audio Systems Axe FX II.

The monitor outputs from the Axe FX are routed into a Matrix Amplification GT1000FX stereo power amp into a Port City Amplification 2x12" Speaker Cabinet. We re-wired the cabinet from a Mono 2x12" into a Stereo 2x12".

For quick access to all amp parameters a FXUnits RAC12 controller is running in parallel with the RJM Music MasterMind GT-22 main system MIDI controller.

To expand the user control range of the system we included 4x External Switches & 3x Expression Pedals. The Tempo & Tuner switches are programmed globally with the Magic switch being available on a "per preset" basis for any expression switching function necessary in the local preset. External Switch 3 is wired in parallel with the Toe Switch in the Mission SP1 Expression Pedal. The switch function is globally programmed to Activate or Bypass the Wah Block in the Axe FX. In the event that no Wah Block is present in the preset, the switch can be purposed as necessary. The Boss FV500L Expression Pedal 1 is programmed on a "per preset" basis as necessary.  A 2nd Boss FV500L is used for Expression Pedal 2 and is globally programmed for Volume Block control. The Mission / RJM Music SP1 is used for Expression Pedal 3 and is globally programmed for the Wah Block control.