I need suggestions on a pedal board!

BassSlapFreak · #1 12-31-2010, 09:32 AM

Just looking to buy a board and wanted some advice on what might be a good choice.

I'm going to need something with plenty of space so I'm looking for a larger board.

Right now I'm going to need it to fit a CryBaby Wah, Electro-Harmonix QTron, Big Muff, and a Sansamp...but I want more room to add as well.

Floyd Eye · #2 12-31-2010, 02:36 PM

I just started my weekend project, which is to build myself one out of plywood and 1X and 2X material. It will be just the right size and have all the options I need on it. It will cost me about $5 in screws.

kbi the crowing · #3 12-31-2010, 03:07 PM

I would also suggest building one. Pre-made ones seem way to expensive, at least to me.

**jmattbassplaya** · #4 12-31-2010, 03:30 PM

I built mine out of spare wood I had from a desk that was falling apart.

Cost of the board - Free (16in x 20in)
Cost of velcro - $12

I'm thinking of cutting some wedges so the board will lay at an angle.

Diddii · #5 12-31-2010, 04:31 PM

i just ordered pedaltrain pt-2, they come in diffrent sizes.
check them out, you can attach voodoolabs pp2+ under it which im also ordered. looking forward to it

jwr · #6 12-31-2010, 04:38 PM

I've looked at making one and buying one for the last several months. To me it seems like buying one would cost the same amount or close enough to the same to justify just buying one. That is of course depending on what size of board you want. You can buy Pedaltrain on Amazon.com for pretty cheap. People on Craigslist sell boards too for pretty damn cheap sometimes. One guy was selling a Voodoo Labs Power Supply with a Pedaltrain Pro for 200 bucks. I wish I would had the funds then. It was a great price.

Plus I don't have any of the tools required to build my own board unless it's one that's just a piece of plywood.

jwr · #7 12-31-2010, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmattbassplaya

I built mine out of spare wood I had from a desk that was falling apart.

Cost of the board - Free (16in x 20in)
Cost of velcro - $12

I'm thinking of cutting some wedges so the board will lay at an angle.

Where do you get velcro for that cheap?

ElMon · #8 12-31-2010, 04:43 PM

Tip from my guitarist about sizing up a pre-made pedal board like Pedal Train: lay out your pedals like you plan on using them and then measure in a rectangle around them for dimensions. This should get ya in the ball park. Plan on doing this when I finally settle on my setup.

**Staccato** · #9 12-31-2010, 05:06 PM

iamdenialNJ · #10 12-31-2010, 05:17 PM

Buy velcro from china off of ebay. It might take three weeks for the shipment but you'll save yourself a lot of $

iamdenialNJ · #11 12-31-2010, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jwr

I've looked at making one and buying one for the last several months. To me it seems like buying one would cost the same amount or close enough to the same to justify just buying one. That is of course depending on what size of board you want. You can buy Pedaltrain on Amazon.com for pretty cheap. People on Craigslist sell boards too for pretty damn cheap sometimes. One guy was selling a Voodoo Labs Power Supply with a Pedaltrain Pro for 200 bucks. I wish I would had the funds then. It was a great price.

Plus I don't have any of the tools required to build my own board unless it's one that's just a piece of plywood.

$200 for a pedalboard and power supply? That's like buying two new pedals. OUCH.

I built a 16" deep x 36" wide pedalboard with velcro for ~ $40 TOPS. My power strip is attatched underneath the pedalboard and that was $3 from the thrift store.

Borrow some tools from neighbors? friends? family?

Floyd Eye · #12 01-01-2011, 05:03 AM

I found this link AFTER I built mine yesterday.

http://www.rondomusic.com/pedalcases.html

Mine was free, because I am a carpenter and had plywood and 2X4s and screws and all that already, but mine will have to be painted or covered and these are flight cases. I have never seen them this cheap. I might buy one anyway. The one that is comparable to mine size wise costs $45 + shipping. Mine is 28.5X 16.

Floyd Eye · #13 01-01-2011, 05:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmattbassplaya

I built mine out of spare wood I had from a desk that was falling apart.

Cost of the board - Free (16in x 20in)
Cost of velcro - $12

I'm thinking of cutting some wedges so the board will lay at an angle.

Rip a 2x4 down to 2.5 inches and attach it to the underside of the board at the top, then take the scrap piece, rip it down to 3/4 and attach it to the underside of the board at the bottom. This will give you a 2" rise.

Floyd Eye · #14 01-01-2011, 05:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jwr

I've looked at making one and buying one for the last several months. To me it seems like buying one would cost the same amount or close enough to the same to justify just buying one. That is of course depending on what size of board you want. You can buy Pedaltrain on Amazon.com for pretty cheap. People on Craigslist sell boards too for pretty damn cheap sometimes. One guy was selling a Voodoo Labs Power Supply with a Pedaltrain Pro for 200 bucks. I wish I would had the funds then. It was a great price.

Plus I don't have any of the tools required to build my own board unless it's one that's just a piece of plywood.

You will need $5 in screws, one half sheet of plywood, one 2x4, one 8' 1x6, a piece of matte black outdoor carpet, some velcro and 4 hasps for the lid. You will also need a circular saw and a screw gun. It couldn't possibly cost more than $40. Still, if you look at that link to Rondos I just posted, it would appear you are correct.

ga_edwards · #15 01-01-2011, 05:42 AM

If you're thinking of going the pedal train route, give this site a go to decide how big you need.
http://pedalboardplanner.com/

iamdenialNJ · #16 01-01-2011, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Floyd Eye

You will need $5 in screws, one half sheet of plywood, one 2x4, one 8' 1x6, a piece of matte black outdoor carpet, some velcro and 4 hasps for the lid. You will also need a circular saw and a screw gun. It couldn't possibly cost more than $40. Still, if you look at that link to Rondos I just posted, it would appear you are correct.

Go to homedepot or Lowes and ask for their left over wood. All I needed for my pedalboard was wood, nails, velcro, a saw, and some imagination. I did already have a saw and nails though...

Those rondo boards are pretty nice and very nicely priced but it feels much better knowing you built your own.

Floyd Eye · #17 01-01-2011, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iamdenialNJ

Go to homedepot or Lowes and ask for their left over wood. All I needed for my pedalboard was wood, nails, velcro, a saw, and some imagination. I did already have a saw and nails though...

Those rondo boards are pretty nice and very nicely priced but it feels much better knowing you built your own.

I like mine better. I wish it was clad in SS or aluminum though. I think I'll spray the outside with some of that spray on Rhino truck bed liner though. It should be cool.

insomniac2295 · #18 01-01-2011, 07:48 PM

I just built a board out of:
2'x4' pegboard (resized to fit my needs), some 14" zip ties, and 4 rubber feet from an old combo amp.

Total cost > $20

Fits my needs perfectly. Additionally, I don't have to deal with velcro!

HolmeBass · #19 01-01-2011, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Floyd Eye

I found this link AFTER I built mine yesterday.

http://www.rondomusic.com/pedalcases.html

Mine was free, because I am a carpenter and had plywood and 2X4s and screws and all that already, but mine will have to be painted or covered and these are flight cases. I have never seen them this cheap. I might buy one anyway. The one that is comparable to mine size wise costs $45 + shipping. Mine is 28.5X 16.

The guitarist in my band just got one of these, and it is pretty sturdy, although it's mostly just a good box- no power conduits or even Velcro attachment points. But they are big, sturdy, and super cheap, er, inexpensive. It's given me pause over the Furman (pwr inluded) or Pedaltrain route. As far as DIY, I'm not very good at carpentry, plus I'm worried about how heavy an all wood pedal board, including a cover, would be.

CaptainSir · #20 01-01-2011, 09:55 PM

for the amount of money your going to spend and the time you are going to put into it... your just as well of buying a premade board
Pedal train PT-2 will be plenty large
+ if you going to want a case to put it in you can buy the pt2 with the case and its fitted for it....
you can run a power strip under the pedal train boards or attach a pedal power or so on
i have built a few boards but if you build something yourself by the time you build something really nice it ways way to much and is hard to move around just save up a little cash and get something nice you will be much happier in the end