Empty Rack Mount Chassis?

[5150fan87]

I didnt know where to post this, sorry if this is the wrong place but i think it is where it goes. please moderators dont hesitate to move it.

i think im going to make the jump into building my own amplifier, but with a twist.

this will be my first build. a 2 channel relay-controlled clean/lead, with a clean boost and a lead boost. (grid levels on each, 5150 EVH crunch channel design modified for the clean channel basically)

i would like to do just the preamp circuit for my first build, and make it a rack mount so that i could use whatever power amp i desire and just plug and go.

i dont have enough wits to tackle MIDI, and i dont even want to fathem how complex it would be.

but to the main question, where can i find a single or double rack chassis thats empty? id like to start the design phase and getting a rough price together for parts. any suggestions?

-Matt

[mackie2]

5150fan87,

I would think 3 rack spaces--I have built a couple over the years--tubes mount to the back--horizontally.  It takes some clever planning and layout to get it all in a 3 rack space design.  I used some studio power supply racks that were throw-aways. Smaller rack space cabs aren't a good idea--everything is so close.  The PT and OT are also a problem in small spaces.  Just check the deminsions of parts available keeping in mind your layout and heat build-up.  Peavy had the old T.J. Raxx single rack space, but just a preamp.  I have found confined spaces for amp building lends itself to problems of signal interaction and pick-up of stray energy from Trannies and chokes--also the filaments.   

Good Luck!

Mackie2

[tubesornothing]

Did you check out Hammond and Bud?  They can be purchased from most any electronic supply.   Mouser, Digikey, etc.

[Megachunk]

I have an aluminum 4 space that's very nice and light I'll give you for next to nothing. PM me for pix.

-Megachunk

[OldHouseScott]

Mid Atlantic Products makes a couple different lines of blank chassis. I actually prefer their economy chassis as it's only two pieces. Their higher line is a piece for every surface and can be a bear to put together.

Par-Metal is another good source for blank chassis. Lots of different styles.

[PRR]

Jameco stocks some, not great, not sucky. Their online listing has trouble finding them, try the print/PDF catalog:
http://www.jameco.com/Jameco/catalogs/c292/P131.pdf

Surplus Sales of Nebraska  www.surplussales.com/  is always worth a look.
http://www.surplussales.com/Cab-RacksHardware/Cab-Racks.html
The "(EQP) PLEXSYS" has a TV-window to show-off your bottles, and telephone to call your soundman or dealer (some improvisation needed).

WeirdStuff.com has, uh, Weird Stuff. Not much today, but ya never know what will show up tomorrow.
http://www.weirdstuff.com/cgi-bin/category/CAS000
http://www.weirdstuff.com/cgi-bin/category/110082

Apex and ApexJr:
http://www.apexelectronic.com/
http://www.apexjr.com/
(Jr's "Cervin Vega 6" Midbass Driver $6.00" might be a kickbutt mini-amp guitar speaker.)


For 1-U cases, sometimes it is cheapest to pick up dead Beeringer studio-gear and strip the guts out. For small squalid-state gizmos, you may even get a usable PT, and maybe jacks if you can melt them off the PCB.

[triode]

These guys seem to have nice rack mount chassis, both with and without
rack mounts (for amps explicitly). They also sell non-custom ones on ebay...
$62 for a 2u all aluminum with vent holes is not great, but at 1/3 the
price of a hammond, they are worth a look.

http://www.par-metal.com/

I am not affiliated with them in any way, nor have I purchased anything
from them, so I can not attest to it, but I am ordering one from them
for a home stereo preamp I am building.