What do you consider the maximum practical pedalboard size for live gigging?

[Fuzzbass]

Just a nano+ for me because I only ever need dirt and occasional comp. CIOKS DC5 underneath. I'd like to put together a second board just for variety... maybe a larger one?

I suppose I'm a heretic for using elastic, but I have a couple dozen pedals and don't feel like bothering with velcro or whatever.

 

[Ender_rpm]

for bass? 5-6 pedals, max. Tuner, comp, EQ, DI, some flavor of dirt and some kind of filter. I used ot use one of the Rondo aluminum cases, fit just about perfectly.

For guitar, I DIYd a 2 tier jobby that will fit inside a pelican 1615, so its about 27" long, 11" deep, and 4" high. currently has 11 pedals, on it, though 3 are boss 500 series so theyre really more like multi FX.

To some extent, bass and guitar are like shooting pics in B&W or color. B&W (bass) your technique needs to be solid, but wth color, you can get a bit more impressionistic

 

[D.A.R.K.]

Nice! That’s the one I’m looking at. I like how you have it arranged.

If they could just make the damn Whammy smaller, it would be a lot easier. I used the size down riser to accommodate it. Above the whammy is an active split with tuner mounted on top. I currently have a few different smaller pedals configured, but that's the fun of it- there are 4 parallel fx loops possible. The Pelican it travels in is the light version, can't recommend those enough. One thing I do miss though, is being able to mount power underneath. it does rob some space, necessitating the riser.

 

[ThinCrappyTone2]

If they could just make the damn Whammy smaller, it would be a lot easier. I used the size down riser to accommodate it. Above the whammy is an active split with tuner mounted on top. I currently have a few different smaller pedals configured, but that's the fun of it- there are 4 parallel fx loops possible. The Pelican it travels in is the light version, can't recommend those enough. One thing I do miss though, is being able to mount power underneath. it does rob some space, necessitating the riser.

Thanks for the rundown, that's an awesome setup. I was going to ask about the shelf. Interesting point about the power supply!

 

[Stubb]

I think I could gig with Pedaltrain Classic Jr, I think. If I could get away with a Nano+, I would, but I've got two large pedals that necessitate a Metro 16. I'm happy with that.

 

[MYLOWFREQ]

For me, any pedlaboard that can take more than six boss-sized pedals in a row is too big.

 

[mcrawfordmusic]

I use to run a PT Pro with about 10 pedals but I always found myself focusing too much on tweaking sounds on a gig than actually just playing music. It also took up way too much space on stage and was a PITA to lug around. I now have two smaller boards, a PT Nano + and a Metro 16 that I swap out depending on the gig.

 

[TOOL460002]

I got a PT Pro in 2008 but have only used a PT 2 at gigs/practice. However, I recently ran out of room and got another Pro for the hard case. It is a bigger board, but I think the wheels make it an easier transport. You could probably find something smaller that has wheels, but I forgot how convenient it is. Now, it is going to weigh a lot, but lifting it in and out of the case is easier than getting a cab into/out of my trunk. I almost have wheels on everything. Some day. Goals. I'm not saying that my eventual setup will be perfect, but I think it'll be better than just a PT 2. Could be wrong. Not getting rid of the PT 2 anyway. Time will tell.

 

[lomo]

....coming soon to your favourite music equipment retailer: Pedal Board Stilts, for those who play a board big enough to surf (or, as would be more appropriate in the case of my hometown, toboggan) . Seriously, for me, anything wider than my cabs (16.25") or having >1 row is much more trouble than it's musically worth. YMMV.

 

[MoireBass]

It's too big if two people can't carry it up a stairwell and around a corner into a venue, maybe 4½' by 2½'. If your pedalboard takes three people to carry, time to split it into two parts.

 

[JakobT]

As big as you need, but as small as you can.

 

[vvvmmm]

As big as you need, but as small as you can.

Good advice for chamberpots and loans, also.

 

[sunbeast]

For me it’s a PT Jr. Tried a bigger one once and hated it. But that’s only me, not saying my way is the only way.

Same for me, anything bigger starts to become a liability when there is no space on a stage. I’ve found a PT Jr can usually be squeezed into some nook or cranny on stage (sometimes directly in front of my amp, or worse-case scenario it can fit on top of my amp!). Most of my gigs the last dozen years I actually used a PJ Jr that I cut in half long-ways because of space concerns

 

[Bob_Ross]

1st question: How big a board does the music warrant?

All other questions should be subservient to question number one… But they should probably include does it fit in the car? And, does it fit on stage?

 

[Johno Dunn]

Got a new compressor (Alma) and didn’t fit the way I had planned! Xpand board to the rescue!

 

[craigmack1979]

Never seen this before I think I'm stuttering already but this is it for me

View attachment 5196348

 

[2saddleslab]

If it doesn't fit in a Boss BCB30 it ain't getting used.