Record Handling and Storage Tips

Does The Tribute Rack Stack Up With Per Madsen's Rackit Racks?

Michael Fremer  |  Nov 7, 2012

In the recent news item about a replacement for the no longer manufactured Per Madsen Rackit record storage racks, we wondered whether they were of equal quality. So when Tribute Rack manufacturer Jef Fowler of Portland, OR's Two Can HiFi emailed and offered to send a review sample, I refused.

I told Fowler I'd rather buy one and I did, PayPaling him the money.

The dis-assembled rack arrived the other day and today I put it together. It's the top rack in the photo and as you can see it is a perfect replica of the original. It is equally well-made and as easy and/or difficult to assemble, though Fowler's instructions are superior.

As he writes in the instructions, you have to be extremely careful when you screw in the hex head bolts. They can be a bitch to screw in and it's easy to slip and strip the bolt head. I found that a coating of wax on the bolt before insertion can make the job much easier.

Also, he does supply a long allen key that makes the job reasonably easy but times twelve it can get tedious. I really recommend getting a hex head bit from a hardware store and doing it with a portable drill set to less than full torque.

Then, building one is easy and when it's finished it will be indistinguishable from the original. Happy days!!!!!!!!

And highly recommended!

COMMENTS
Jody's picture
Submitted by Jody on Wed, 2012-11-07 22:25

I would love to find something similar, that is stackable, but with a closed back (my brick walls produce a lot of dust) preferably closed sides too.

Michael Fremer's picture
Submitted by Michael Fremer on Thu, 2012-11-08 09:47

Per Madsen produced such a rack for a short time but it proved unpopular so he stopped. You could always get these and easily have rear and sides made from wood or plastic...

jllaudio's picture
Submitted by jllaudio on Sat, 2012-11-24 12:05

Did I miss the link (or phone#) in the article to contact the rack maker?

John C Freeman's picture
Submitted by John C Freeman on Thu, 2012-11-08 12:02

Hello Michael,

I have a set of six rackits from Per Madsen. Purchased them about 7 years ago.  Met Per as I went ot his shop in San Francisco.  A interesting and friendly guy and really into cross-county skiing.  The shop was clean and neat, but not really busy, only him and another worker.  Really large presses for making the wood stick together.  Like you I love my system, I also have one of his cabiniets that hold both DVD and CD at the same time. Very clever.  System holds up my turntable and it is very stable, no movement or problems with providing an excellent turntable mount. Glad to know about a vendor that can provide extra units that look alike and fit together.

Thanks,

33Rackit's picture
Submitted by 33Rackit on Sat, 2017-05-20 09:44

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