lightest weight pedalboard?

quadrogong · #1 04-03-2011, 10:13 AM

I love the pedaltrain, the soft case is great, I need very lt weight gear due to back problems, I was trhinking of constructing a wood version of a pedaltrain to shave a few lbs off,
it's a major project though,
I was wondering if anyone can suggest something I could put in a soft pedaltrain type case, but that's lighter in weight?

BoomSTICK · #2 04-03-2011, 10:32 AM

Have you checked out the thread buried in the archives here about the DYI pedal board? It's pretty great! about as light weight as it gets. You could cut and trim from there to suit your needs.

If that won't cut the mustard, maybe less pedals?

**Bryan R. Tyler** · #3 04-03-2011, 10:44 AM

LYT pedalboards are basically a sheet of really thin, light composite board- they weigh almost nothing. For a slotted, angled board like a Pedaltrain though, you would be better off using an actual Pedaltrain board. You'd need a lot of stiffness/sturdiness, and the aluminum-type metal they use is lighter than just about any wood comparison you could make.

quadrogong · #4 04-03-2011, 10:56 AM

makes a lot of sense, thank u,
I have 5-6 fx including my pitchblack plus,one is heavy,the crybaby,but I use it for guitar only,and not on bass gigs, so I have few pedals,really.. like pedaltrain mini. or something like that size.

I see the Lyte 16,their smallest size,weighs 3.5lbs,
exactly the same as the PT mini.
I'd leave off that top teir though,too bulky.
The pedaltrain seems like an efficient design. I guess I may need the sturdiness.

IntrepidCellist · #5 04-03-2011, 11:17 AM

If you've only got three or four small pedals, the Pedaltrain Nano works great. I take public transportation to all my gigs and rehearsals, and it straps on to the outside of my gig bag without issue; weighs around 6 lbs fully loaded, and most of that is the monstrously heavy Planet Waves tuner.

jtapp2556 · #6 04-03-2011, 11:31 AM

you are probably not going to find anything much lighter than the pedal train. those lyte boards aren't much lighter and the pedaltrain's are made of metal. the lyte boards also have the tier which will make it more bulky. I use this one ==> http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/p...ase?sku=430425 it comes with the hard case can't beat it for the price. also comes with mounts for voodoo lab power supply.

stflbn · #7 04-03-2011, 11:41 AM

Durable wood weighs as much as the thin metal in a pedal train nano. IMHO. People underestimate the weight of wood thick enough to remain durable enough to 'stomp' with metal pedals on it.

If the pedal board is to heavy I'd recommend either not using pedals, or getting a multi unit, or buying smaller pedals. IMHO.

One Bad Monkey · #8 04-03-2011, 11:44 AM

Lyt Pedalboards all the way. They recently unveiled their new bags, which fit all of their boards correctly (in the past, you had to buy the 32 bag even if you only had the 24) and are very easy to put the boards in and out.

Weight is one thing to consider in a board, but if you think about it, the bulk of the weight really rests on the pedals themselves when put on the pedalboard.

cultrvultr · #9 04-03-2011, 12:08 PM

EHX (or similar ) pedalbag. I used one for a few years before I got a PT. holds 5-6 pedals including a wah pretty easily and I never had a problem with it, even while touring in a van.

Alper Yilmaz · #10 04-03-2011, 12:27 PM

My experience is that the pedals and the power supply actually are the units that cause a pedalboard be heavy. I have a few boards by Pedaltrain and by themselves they are quite light. As soon as I start installing the pedals, they get quite heavy. Apart from some very light composite materials, I cannot see any wood board being lighter than Pedaltrain...

Quote:

Originally Posted by quadrogong

I love the pedaltrain, the soft case is great, I need very lt weight gear due to back problems, I was trhinking of constructing a wood version of a pedaltrain to shave a few lbs off,
it's a major project though,
I was wondering if anyone can suggest something I could put in a soft pedaltrain type case, but that's lighter in weight?

quadrogong · #11 04-03-2011, 03:17 PM

yes, definitely true, I need to look for a couple of micro pedals a la Malekko chiklet, etc
but u get used to the feel of certain things, my crybaby,my pitchblk plus' A/B box,my cheapo Boss Limiter, I'm SO used to them, it's hard to switch.

maybe those plutonium micro sized wahs are light,
my crybaby is always the heaviest thing.

something minimal like a pedaltrain w soft case should do it. maybe I'll get a Nano and a Mini,use the nano for those days I wanna keep it light.

Those electro harmonics pedalbags look really light,

I never researched them, it's like a bag,more than a board,or something?
Electro-Harmonix Padded Pedal Bag Black BRAND NEW! - eBay (item 310293677094 end time Apr-05-11 22:38:00 PDT)
$39 new,free shipping on ebay?.. that's attractive.

I have a very small collection of fx, this could definitely do..looks very light to me.
and if it's in a soft bag,on the floor,u can stomp as hard as u want,it need not be "sturdy" like a board,right?
but do they stay as still and secure while walking around? i dunno,

btw
my fx are:

Frequency Central Tube Overdrive(12 VDC,has it's own wall wart)
pitchblack +(tuner-A/B box)
Boss LMB3 limiter
DOD Meatbox
Red Witch Micro Compressor (waiting:to be released in May)
EHX Bass Micro Synth (only some gigs)
crybaby classic(guitar rig only)
I use batteries for most of these, and a wall wart for the tube OD
..there are a few pedals that have different voltages

I keep the one 9v 1spot in my bag as well as batteries,
which I change a couple of times a year,but they never seem to die(except for the 1 in the tuner,once or twice)
I gig 1x a month and don't use the board at every rehearsal..so batteries are ok.
.

cultrvultr · #12 04-03-2011, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by quadragong

Those electro harmonics pedalbags look really light,

I never researched them, it's like a bag,more than a board,or something?
Electro-Harmonix Padded Pedal Bag Black BRAND NEW! - eBay (item 310293677094 end time Apr-05-11 22:38:00 PDT)
$39 new,free shipping on ebay?.. that's attractive.

I have a very small collection of fx, this could definitely do..looks very light to me.
and if it's in a soft bag,on the floor,u can stomp as hard as u want,it need not be "sturdy" like a board,right?
but do they stay as still and secure while walking around? i dunno,
.

yup. The bottom is some kind of thin plastic or cardboard stay in it so it is a bit more rigid than just cloth. It comes with removable side protectors and I/0 flaps. My guitarist and I loaded them up and toured with them, heavy gear stacked on top. Even fragile pedals like the microsynth were fine. My guitarist even put a small piece of wood in there to make a second tier.

I have a pt-2, pt-jr, diy pedalboard and I still use the ehx sometimes cause it is so handy. I think gator and some other companies make similar versions.

sonic assassin · #13 04-03-2011, 05:40 PM

ive got one of those aluminum ones from rondo. almost weightless. just dont try to crush them and you'll be fine

quadrogong · #14 04-03-2011, 07:07 PM

Thanx ! Yeah, rondo doth rule

quadrogong · #15 04-03-2011, 07:08 PM

Don't the Rondos have hard cases?
I guess I could just change cases
Probably try that EHX thing
Looks really light.

chaosmic · #16 04-03-2011, 07:33 PM

The Trailer Trash boards are really light. I saw one when I stopped by to talk to Greg & Danny (& of course check out the Roscoe's) at Rocket Music this weekend.

quadrogong · #17 04-05-2011, 10:27 AM

I'll check them out
I may need to go ultra ultra light
Like more of a bag.. Like the EHX pedal bag type
I saw another two bag types last night
By 2 other guitar brands.

Even a pedaltrain or a brick type power source adds weight
I'd like to keep it light or else I get lazy and tend to leave it home.
It kinda sucks but it's the way I am.I know myself..

If the bag type proves to lack stability
I'll upgrade to a PT or something