Pedal board ideas

[julius_deane]

If I had more money (well, lots more, because I'd buy more pedals and guitars first), I'd have no problem spending $200 on a great one, but it just doesn't make sense with my budget and the rate at which I'm expanding.

Right now, I'm using the top of an old computer case, but I've already outgrown it. I was thinking of using the side panel of the same case, but it's too wobbly.

I could just attach it to piece of plywood, but I have nothing big enough/the right shape to put it in. I'd also prefer to have most of my stuff in a line.

Ideas? What does everyone else have?

[arnoldtheduck]

I built one of the Armchair Bronco Ikea Gorm Pedalboards. It's super cheap, and seems really functional if you follow his instructions step for step. I saw it on Harmony Central and TDPRI (I'm not members of either), here's the link: http://acapella.harmony-central.com/....php?t=2271963

[Uome]

http://s152.photobucket.com/albums/s...ps/Pedalboard/

This is my board. 3 years ago we had the idea to make the board part of a suitcase that could be mounted on it for transport and taken off of it when needed. It turned out to be really functional.

[Doctor J]

Originally Posted by Uome

http://s152.photobucket.com/albums/s...ps/Pedalboard/

This is my board. 3 years ago we had the idea to make the board part of a suitcase that could be mounted on it for transport and taken off of it when needed. It turned out to be really functional.

That's a really awesome idea.

[GMGM]

I like my SKB Stage 5 pedalboard, but I've also wakled through WalMart and seen that they have some rifle/gun cases that would make fantastic pedalboard cases. Probably better selection at a sporting goods store.

For example, for $35 you could try... http://www.casesandmore.com/Flambeau...e-FLB1021.html

There's some other great options if you're willing to spend $75+

[GMGM]

OOOH LIKE THIS ONE, FOR $75...

http://www.casesandmore.com/SportLoc...1018.html?cv=3

[GMGM]

Then again, in a post-Dimebag world, maybe it's a bad idea to try and carry a gun case into a venue... just a thought.

[Uome]

Originally Posted by GMGM

Then again, in a post-Dimebag world, maybe it's a bad idea to try and carry a gun case into a venue... just a thought.

As would be having a picture of Muhammed on your case. Though I wonder how they know how he looked like since the man died 13 centuries ago...

[julius_deane]

That IKEA thing is pretty sweet. Did he post dimensions? I'm also wondering about transporting that thing. I think it's easy to make a cheap one, but where does that leave you as far as portability and protection go?

My roommate (our bassist) has made a couple, but they're bulky. He has 4 pedals and his is 25x18x5.

I actually have a gun case somewhere, but most of those things are long and/or narrow, I think. I may take a look at the one I have, although I agree carrying one around is a bit questionable. Now, horn cases . . .

[GMGM]

Man, forget about gun cases, I was just checking the Cabella's site, and saw these...


http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/te...rid=2146251080

(Bow & Arrow / Archery cases)

[Concretebadger]

I'm using a TKL pedal case. They're not the best build quality though, and with internal dimensions of around 22"x12" my effects chain has about outgrown it. I'm thinking of a tough-as-nails, fancy-pants flight case effort now...this one ought to be big enough. You get what you pay for and it looks sturdy but it's much more costly.

[Timoren]

I built mine using 1/2 birch plywood and 1x3s. I upholstered the bottom and top riser in indoor/outdoor carpet from Lowes (dirt cheap btw) and added the panel-mount breakouts on the side.

The smaller board is my friend Dave's that was the prototype for mine. It's much smaller and has 3 small routing holes for patch cables and extension chord in the back. It's a pretty straight forward dual loop/bypass rig with 2 pedals in each loop and a switcher and tuner up front.

Together, they probably cost less than $40 to build (not including the huge $20 roll of Velcro). You could easily skip the carpet and just use the velcro, but I like the finished look of the carpet.

[julius_deane]

Interesting, Timoren. It does look nice. How do you get to / use the back row?

That gives me some ideas about a sliding top with handles, but I don't have the tools to do that kind of thing.

Forgive me if this is a stupid question, but what are the "breakouts"? Just holes or 1/4" outlets?

I blueprinted my current dream pedal board and came up with 6 square feet. Erg.

http://twitpic.com/1nwbr3

[arnoldtheduck]

Did he post dimensions? I'm also wondering about transporting that thing. I think it's easy to make a cheap one, but where does that leave you as far as portability and protection go?

To be honest, with all the velcro and cable ties, picking it up and carrying is fine because there's no chance anything will fall off. As for dimensions, I bought the smallest Gorm shelf available (this is the same size as the PedalTrain Jr. according to my poor maths), but that was a mistake; try fitting a Big Muff Pi and a Crybaby and a Whammy on the smallest shelf... not happening. Try a bigger shelf for practicality. Only thing then is, it.. has... become... Cumbersome (Seven Mary Three ), a little difficult to carry.

[Timoren]

Originally Posted by julius_deane

Interesting, Timoren. It does look nice. How do you get to / use the back row?

That gives me some ideas about a sliding top with handles, but I don't have the tools to do that kind of thing.

Forgive me if this is a stupid question, but what are the "breakouts"? Just holes or 1/4" outlets?

I blueprinted my current dream pedal board and came up with 6 square feet. Erg.

http://twitpic.com/1nwbr3

All of the pedals are in the loops of the MusicomLab controller, so they just stay on all the time and are engaged when the respective loop they reside in is activated. The Modfactor is in loop 6, but the patches are switched via midi from the MusicomLab.

The top riser is stationary and provides a good deal of structural support. The only special tools I needed were a hole saw bit and blade bits for the power and line breakouts. The rest is all just straight cuts with a miter saw or circular saw. I did use a right angle clamp on the corners, but it wasn't necessary, just made things a little easier.

The breakouts are 1/4" panel-mount outlets that are wired to the input (as seen in the side photo), output and footswitch jacks of the MusicomLab. That way they are easily accessible and all in one place. They also have a locking function so it's really hard to disconnect them during a performance. The AC inlet is hard wired to the small, 3 outlet power strip too with a dust cap made from the bottom of a plastic spice jar (I think it was cayenne pepper).

The total dimensions are 18x21". I saved a lot of space with the riser because it provides room for the straight 1/4" jacks out of the back of the MusicomLab as well as for the line lump power supply and cable runs.

I used Adobe Illustrator (because I'm a graphic designer from 9-5) to create an exact layout for the board. Every measurement was taken, even the depth of the right angle jacks. Once I got it all in there, it was a breeze to experimental with different layouts. In fact, I have 20 or so layouts in the file, some have pedals I don't even own on there. lol