• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Pedalboard cabling

Pedalboard cable routing

  • Concealed under the board

    Votes: 20 40.8%

  • Accessible on top of the board

    Votes: 29 59.2%
  • Total voters
    49
EricF

EricF

Habitual User
Sep 26, 2005
7,829
536
Pasadena, CA
www.myspace.com
#1
Having cables concealed beneath your pedalboard looks very neat and clean. However, for a performing musician, I'm starting to think that having things accessible might be better in case of a problem. Having to disassemble a pedalboard to replace a bad cable at the last minute could be a problem. On the flip side, having the cables concealed means they are better protected and therefore less likely to have issues.

I'm about to completely renovate my pedalboard setup, and I'm looking for your opinions.
 
#3
I believe that if you use good cables (i.e., Planet Waves or George L's, and others like theirs), and don't plan on changing your board very much once it's complete, concealing cables is ideal. It keeps them out of the way and prevents you from damaging cables and jacks with your foot! Because I'm now very comfortable with my setup, I've decided to go the concealed route (using a Pedaltrain made this easier :smug:).

If you're changing constantly, concealing them works against you - cables will likely get worn out from constant plugging and unplugging, and so it's easier to keep them out in the open if your board is a constant and dramatic work in progress.
 
#4
Concealed routings definitely look better. However, I have always opted to keep my cables where I can get to them quickly. I've actually had a good record with my George L's not failing; but when something has failed, it's a lot quicker to diagnose with everything right in front of you.
On the other hand, even if you have concealed cables, I have considered another option. Simply having some spare jumper's handy on the board could still bail you out relatively quickly.
9 times out of 10 it's just a jack only partially plugged in to begin with!

my current board:
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showpost.php?p=3707117&postcount=580
 
#5
It depends on the board. I made a pedal board akin to this: Invalid Link Removed

So some of the wires are below... some are above. I can change them on the fly.

Pedaltrain is also a unique solution to this problem. You can wire the pedal beneath the aluminum bars, but you're still able to access them.

As far as building a pedalboard where the pedals are set in a thin layer or plywood or something with the cables running underneath the whole plank... I don't think this would be such a good idea.

Expect things to go wrong, they usually do. While it may look nise and clean to have everything hidden, it may not be practical. Generally I haven't had problems with wires that are exposed on my pedalboard. So I don't think that leaving them on top would increase the chance of a problem, but if there is, the problem will be easily dealt with.
 
#7
Mine are mostly concealed underneath the Pedaltrain, I have used high quality cables in hopes that nothing goes wrong. I also have a spare pack of Hosa jumpers for backups, which I don't plan on ever using, but hey, they're there. :smug:
 
#8
I gig alot and I have my pedaltrain jr wired in george l's and they all go under the board where if you need the you can still get to them.

If a cable or pedal goes mid gig its much easier to just bypass your entire board then get on your hands and knees trying to figure out the problem because I promise no matter how fast you think you are the audience won't be entertained by it and you make nasty popping noises and such. Best bet is to get the highest quality you can and have a backup plan for what to do when it breaks.
 
#9
IMO, the biggest factor facing your boards' reliability is how well your pedals are secured.
I've never hit a pedal hard enough to dislodge it during a performance. I've had to totally rebuild it after a flight, however! Ground touring, (bus, van, etc.), has always been fairly easy on my board.
I still prefer industrial adhesive velcro to attach pedals. I just don't fly with my whole board anymore.
I am thinking about a smaller board for flying with just the nescessities. For that it will be in an aluminum breifcase w/ 2" foam padding on all 4 sides. I'll stick with top of board cabling, but use zip ties to physically secure the pedals (along with the velcro). It's going to be expensive as I'll need to have duplicates of the pedals I use on my flight board!
Maybe I should just go back to the days of Bass > Cable > Amp! :)
 
#10
TaySte_2000 said:
I gig alot and I have my pedaltrain jr wired in george l's and they all go under the board where if you need the you can still get to them.

If a cable or pedal goes mid gig its much easier to just bypass your entire board then get on your hands and knees trying to figure out the problem because I promise no matter how fast you think you are the audience won't be entertained by it and you make nasty popping noises and such. Best bet is to get the highest quality you can and have a backup plan for what to do when it breaks.
Click to expand...
+1 !!!!
Bypassing the board is the quickest, least obtrusive way to go.
 
#12
I made my own pedal board that is a little bit like the pedal train board. The top is basically slats of wood spaced to allow cables to run under. I also concealed the power supply.
dcp_0601.jpg
 
#13
i have a two tiered system on my pedalboard, it allows me to hide the powerstrip under the upper level as well as some wires that go to up there and between pedals

so I guess I am 50/50, but it is pretty easy to change things when i need to

I have been thinking recently about making a new one though, its kinda large and bulky, and i thought it would be cool to have input and output plugs on the pedal board and just have everything wired into it. oh, a power supply plug too
 
#17
Just as a side note, I just got some fx patch cords from Bayou Cables, the 6" Canare wire with G&H RA plugs. Man, are they nice and solid. I'm still a "George L" fan, for the super customizability and flexible low profile, but the Bayou Canare ones have the edge for ruggedness.
 
#18
bongo - I bought a batch of Bayou cables including speaker cables, instrument cables, and patch cables. They're all awesome quality. The only issue I'm having with the patch cables is that the right-angle plugs sometimes give me routing challenges in tight spaces on my pedalboard. I've since purchased a George L's kit to use on my future pedalboard.

I defintely lean towards the "neat-freak" side. I love having my equipment well-organized and worry-free. Some of the boards in the "pedalboard" thread are great examples of thoughtful planning, others make me cringe.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back