How to keep a clean desk (pedals)

[dnp41]

So I'm using a room upstairs as a room for my bass gear, and recording (bass). But it's also used for sports (we have some weights and stuff) and our kids use it as a play room.

My wife is not really too happy with my pedals and cables just lying around the desk/floor. I'm not to happy with my 1 year old chewing on the cables and trying to rip the pedals from the board whenever I leave it on the ground (which I now never do). I tend to not use my gear as much as I would like.

I've been thinking how to fix this and keep a clean looking desk where I can just plug into and at least have a tuner, compressor and preamp ready for use.

I'm leaning towards a rack that I can build into the desk, but is there another obvious solution?

 

[silky smoove]

Pictures of the room would be helpful.

 

[FDR Jones]

Assuming this is a computer desk, how about a monitor riser?

 

[seamonkey]

Myself I would just build a box, like this but appropriately sized:
https://smile.amazon.com/US-Art-Supply-Artist-Storage/dp/B00OTZW578/ref=sr_1_3

With plenty of room under the shelf to route wires and power supplies around.

 

[JRA]

i would get a new family.

 

[JRA]

https://www.talkbass.com/members/seamonkey.45085/ 's solution looks great! and you could stay with your family! good luck sharing space with your loved ones!

 

[CC7]

Closable and lockable pedal case might work?




Sliding rack shelf/drawer is an idea if you don't need them on the ground.


I'm using this midi switcher to switch the pedals in the drawer,
with either instant access or presets.
It can slide into the bottom of the rack (under the Furman rack power) when not using it.


Just a couple possible idea's, hope it helps!

 

[dnp41]

Closable and lockable pedal case might work?




Sliding rack shelf/drawer is an idea if you don't need them on the ground.


I'm using this midi switcher to switch the pedals in the drawer,
with either instant access or presets.
It can slide into the bottom of the rack (under the Furman rack power) when not using it.


Just a couple possible idea's, hope it helps!

that looks great, thanks for the inspiration

 

[EastCoastThump]

Just a heads-up: if you go for pedalboard cases, look for cases with removable tops. And close and lock them unfailingly.

Hinged lids?: toddlers will pull them down, risking fingers, eyes, necks, etc.

 

[MuttThud]

So I'm using a room upstairs as a room for my bass gear, and recording (bass). But it's also used for sports (we have some weights and stuff) and our kids use it as a play room.

My wife is not really too happy with my pedals and cables just lying around the desk/floor. I'm not to happy with my 1 year old chewing on the cables and trying to rip the pedals from the board whenever I leave it on the ground (which I now never do). I tend to not use my gear as much as I would like.

I've been thinking how to fix this and keep a clean looking desk where I can just plug into and at least have a tuner, compressor and preamp ready for use.

I'm leaning towards a rack that I can build into the desk, but is there another obvious solution?

+1 for the 19” rack drawer suggestion. Either a 2U high or 3U high version (latter will give you more space for taller pedals). Cut a bit of MDF or marine ply to the size of the floor of the drawer minus half an inch all the way round and cover this with strips of the fluffy side of self-adhesive Velcro (easy to find rolls of this on Amazon/eBay). You then just put your pedals straight down onto the Velcro base inside the drawer and they won’t go anywhere. For a really neat set up you may want to drill two holes in the backplate of the drawer: one for a power lead to come in and the other to run guitar cables to and from the pedalboard. That way you can literally just turn on the power supply, plug one cable into your bass and the other cable into your amp or recording interface. Ready to go in about 3 seconds. Best of all, rack drawers generally come with a lock and two keys: when you’re done, slide it closed, turn the lock and hide away the key. No risk of kids’ fingers straying where they shouldn’t.

You can mount the pedalboard drawer on a readymade desktop 19” rack frame, or pick up a used 19” rack mount flightcase. Lots of options for this online. Pretty neat, and not expensive.

Another option - if you just want a preamp, tuner and comp - is to buy a desktop 19” frame or a flightcase and then search eBay, CL etc for used old studio rack gear. There are tons of old DBX 19” compressors out there (most people now mix in the box so outboard is out of fashion unless it’s high-end stuff) - I bought one recently for about $40 equivalent plus shipping. A used rackmount tuner (Korg are good) will be pretty cheap too. For a 19” preamp, I’d recommend a SansAmp (I like the RBI) which makes for a great recording front end. Harder to find used I think, but they’re out there (and would be a solid purchase for years if you did go for new). Means spending some cash, but would give you a v good setup, and high up on a desk within a 19” rack or flightcase would be out of rugrat reach!