Pedal "coupler" question...

[gregmon79]

I'm also looking to switch to "disaster area" cables or I guess EBS if they are really *all that*?!

The EBS patches are great too. I use a few. The only thing I don't liked, they only go so long. With a kit, you can cut any one you want to the length you want. But the EBS ones are inexpensive. I still really like the disaster area ones. Then lava now has the pistons ones. I think that's who makes them. They are the same thing as the disaster area ones. You really can't lose with the disaster areas. They will actually save just as much space as the couplers and they will be more manageable.

The couplers SEEM like to they'd make your board seamless. And they totally would. I still don't trust them at all. Because they had in fact messed up inputs on a couple of my pedals so I'd never use them again. Plus, even is they are dead even, there is still goin to be pressure put on the jacks IME.

 

[onosson]

I've been using a couple of these Planet Waves offset couplers for years (probably over 15 years to be precise) without a pedal board with zero issues at all.

 

[Chris 'Wighat' Jordan]

PS, I did a search and the search engine on here is useless as always.....

Maybe TB can apply your supporting membership fee toward improving the search function.

I just broke one of those connectors last night which tells me they do get stress on them. It was the only one on my board. I think cables are best.

 

[rafitoprtx]

I try them in my small pedalboard. They didnt wirk even in same brand pedals. I hooked up my tc pedals, tuner, mojo OD and sparkbooster and the pedals raise up from the velcro. I get better results with the asimetrical ones but still give me problems. Just buy slim cables.

 

[BadExample]

Quick question, short 90 patch??

Sorry, 90 degree, like @SteveCS posted or the free hosa! posted by @hintz

I should disclaim, I have no pedal board or real pedal experience. I do have a heck of a lot of cabling experience and professional training, ranging from avionics to computer networking and instrumentation (laboratory). Factory molded ends like the EBS are your friend. Good strain relief is 2nd only to a good molded end.

You can't stop vibration, but you can attempt to get things to vibrate more or less in unison. These might help: Amazon.com: ADEL-187 Adel Clamp 3/16": Automotive Works on jet aircraft! DIY store or harbor freight for knock-offs that would be more than adequate, or even the all plastic automotive version.

 

[walterw]

I'm referring to theseView attachment 1036901

I have some on the way, but a good friend strongly advised against these as they can mess up the jacks!

your friend is right!

most pedals have an angle to the sides, even pedals with supposedly straight sides can have a bit of angle, putting pressure on the jacks.

velcro and dual lock mounted pedals give a little when you step on them.

if you have to remove one pedal in a chain you have to remove them all, a disaster in the middle of a gig.

just bad news all the way around.

(besides, there are plenty of jumper cable solutions that take up less space anyway.)

 

[farace]

Will I be excommunicated if I admit I've been using cheap colored cables from Radio Shack kind of like these?

 

[gregmon79]

I use the exact ones the op referenced with great success. The offset ones work really well with different brand pedals..that's how I use them.

Enjoy the board build.

View attachment 1037199 View attachment 1037200
.

You can get just as close it not closer with the disaster areas @hintz. I'm just trying to save you possible damages to your pedals man. I know, not everyone has had problems. But for guys like me who use their boards for band and gigging purposes on the regular (as in I use it almost every day. With actual stepping on them regularly two times a week for a few hours at a time), they will most likey give you problems.

I swear man, I was right where you are when I first had them. I thought they'd be awesome. I was warned though. I weighted it and figured I'd be fine. It did take time. Maybe 8 months to a year, but it did happen eventually. They just aren't a good idea imo/IME. If they were, you'd see them on a lot of other boards in my eyes. And I rarely ever see them on others boards. I'm no expert on them. I'm just speaking from experience. And anyone who asks me about these, I strongly recommend to steer clear.

If it's someone who rarely takes their board out, who just plays in their bedroom or basement, I'd say they would probably be fine. But me, I now avoid these things like the plague because I learned the hard way despite what some told me.

 

[gregmon79]

Will I be excommunicated if I admit I've been using cheap colored cables from Radio Shack kind of like these?

View attachment 1037208

If they work, they work!! I've seen quite a few guys use these.

 

[pbass2]

Even with my most "pro" board I never had it so that there couldn't be a chance of even a little "wiggle" when stomping. Hence, I have avoided these as they made me a little nervous.

 

[AngelsBassBall]

You can get just as close it not closer with the disaster areas @hintz. I'm just trying to save you possible damages to your pedals man. I know, not everyone has had problems. But for guys like me who use their boards for band and gigging purposes on the regular (as in I use it almost every day. With actual stepping on them regularly two times a week for a few hours at a time), they will most likey give you problems.

I swear man, I was right where you are when I first had them. I thought they'd be awesome. I was warned though. I weighted it and figured I'd be fine. It did take time. Maybe 8 months to a year, but it did happen eventually. They just aren't a good idea imo/IME. If they were, you'd see them on a lot of other boards in my eyes. And I rarely ever see them on others boards. I'm no expert on them. I'm just speaking from experience. And anyone who asks me about these, I strongly recommend to steer clear.

If it's someone who rarely takes their board out, who just plays in their bedroom or basement, I'd say they would probably be fine. But me, I now avoid these things like the plague because I learned the hard way despite what some told me.

This guy is right. Wasn't looking for an argument, but I've had the exact opposite experience with equal if not more use.

Best of luck with whatever you decide.

 

[walterw]

Will I be excommunicated if I admit I've been using cheap colored cables from Radio Shack kind of like these?

i always saw these as "cheaping out" compared to proper, repairable metal ends, but...

I do have a heck of a lot of cabling experience and professional training, ranging from avionics to computer networking and instrumentation (laboratory). Factory molded ends like the EBS are your friend. Good strain relief is 2nd only to a good molded end.

interesting!

 

[AngelsBassBall]

This guy is right. Wasn't looking for an argument, but I've had the exact opposite experience with equal if not more use.

Best of luck with whatever you decide.

I should note that I have only used these between two pedals and not to link multiple pedals in a row. For whatever that's worth. It seems like I am in the minority of having good luck with these. The EBS cables look nice and Bassstringsonline carries them.

 

[hintz]

Well, I've decided completely against the couplers! Someone mentioned earlier about Hosa cables, which I have many! But these are all pretty nice pedals and want equally nice cables so I'm gonna look at both EabS and distater area since EBS only get so long(the actual FX will be in a loop, that Ibanez chorus was for measurement purposes and for sale at the moment)....

So here it is all measured out and traced so I can have it nice, tidy and spacious....

After I measured and traced the pedals outline, I place industrial strength loop fastener on and I will let it dry or cure for 24 hours before placing the feint row on! This wait worked like a charm last time and I left enough room to plug/unplug any cables!!

!!

and I also drilled/mounted my voodoo labs power supply to the bottom where it wont interfere with the pedals on top

Yep, ill be a happy camper in a few days, Thanks everyone!!

 

[Old Garage-Bander]

I don't have any experience with these either way, but I do have experience with searching Talkbass. Your best bet is to use google and just add Talkbass to whatever topic. Works way better than the site's search.

Thanks for that tip.
I've used the MORE function with the TB search engine as it allows you to do some filtering of search parameters.
But I like your idea as well.

 

[Aidenn7]

unless you are using a solid piece of wood bolting your pedals to it with roll bars. I would not use a the couplers. because you have no give on them. lava kits or a cable kit would be better. you could cut them to the length you need-always give yourself a few inch more tham you think you need. lowes and menards have synthetic products you can use as board. Just look around. a drill and the correct screws can be a best thing ever. no couplers unless you bolt or screw down your pedals

 

[NortyFiner]

I have an entire shoe box full of nothing but pedal patch cables and couplers. The rigid couplers are best for pedals of the same size and brand so that the jacks are aligned. Otherwise, I have come to favor the Hosa flathead patch cables for my pedal board. I really, REALLY wish that there was more standardization among pedal makers...

 

[hintz]

I have an entire shoe box full of nothing but pedal patch cables and couplers. The rigid couplers are best for pedals of the same size and brand so that the jacks are aligned. Otherwise, I have come to favor the Hosa flathead patch cables for my pedal board. I really, REALLY wish that there was more standardization among pedal makers...

I actually have a bunch of Hosa patch cables and never had an issue, but I do wonder if they degrade your signal or not ya know?! I've had issues with more expensive cables every time unfortunately!! . I still wonder though, I cant help it....but the Hosa ones I already have might be the answer?? I got a bunch and none ever went bad!!

Anyways, I have couplers on the way and a George L. kit, but a good friend highly recommended this "disaster area" brand and since i will need different sizes which the EBS apparently dont have, so ill hold on that. I'm just gonna keep it simple and go with those and get a cable tester finally!!

Really, my point was to see if there was a safe way to use these and I'm hearing mixed results so for now I'm just using cables and ill just text them periodically as well as cleaning them and the jacks with deoxit on a qtip to hopefully give them a longer life!? I also left plenty of space to be able to unplug them if needed...

I love how on TB I usually find the answer within the first page or two! Thanks everyone, really!!

 

[walterw]

The rigid couplers are best for pedals of the same size and brand so that the jacks are aligned.

not even then!

like i said before, most pedals have sloped sides, stepping on the pedal moves it slightly, and you can't remove one pedal without being forced to lift out the whole row, all of which stress the jacks.

rigid couplers are not a good idea for anything.

 

[NaH]

I'm trying these Peavey 4" patches (from Parts Express) on a "tiny board" (also from Parts Express):



Note that the board was made for smaller pedals. TC Electronic stuff is wider, etc. Had to cut the foam to get it to fit. I think I'm also going to adjust the foam in the lid because TC stuff is also taller. Not completely impressed by the bottom part (which is sitting over foam underneath), but it seems to work and was cheaper/smaller than others.