Super Cheap Power Block

JordanD · Post by **JordanD** » Fri Jun 13, 2014 10:55 am

A lot of people used to use the diago power station. This was a few years ago before I stopped posting though. I still have my old one and it works great. Doesn't seem to get much mention around here any more.

ekwatts · Post by **ekwatts** » Fri Jun 13, 2014 11:17 am

Because people found the Johnny Shredfreak one which was something like Â£12 and was actually manufactured by the exact same company, just without the Diago labelling, making it a good Â£30-Â£40 cheaper or something.

Totes hilars.

JordanD · Post by **JordanD** » Fri Jun 13, 2014 11:36 am

Well shit, I didn't know that. I bought mine when the hype train from the likes of Doog and Mike was still in full swing.

Post by **Doog** » Fri Jun 13, 2014 2:10 pm

Tastemakers, the pair 'f us.

Fakir Mustache · Post by **Fakir Mustache** » Fri Jun 13, 2014 2:43 pm

Noisy Cat wrote:I've always just used a daisy chain â€“ with no issues.

What's the advantage of a power block?

That's what I use with different adpters, and would like an answer too. Of course one advantage is if you use 12v or 18v, but otherwise I can't see why either.

Ro S · Post by **Ro S** » Mon Jun 16, 2014 10:47 am

Noisy Cat wrote:I've always just used a daisy chain â€“ with no issues.

What's the advantage of a power block?

Usually, or at least one would hope, isolated and cleaner power. E.g. Voodoo Lab, TRex. They're bloody expensive though.

I use a 1 Spot and the Caline for analogue pedals, and dedicated wall warts for digital delay and reverb pedals - and those that have specific power requirements or dedicated wall warts.

ekwatts · Post by **ekwatts** » Mon Jun 16, 2014 11:40 am

I've used the Johnny Shredfreak for years now. Before that I had the Rocktron power-all (which was just a rebranded Godlyke but Â£15 cheaper lolfuckyouGodlyke) and they've mostly been fine for me. I'd love a nice tiered pedalboard with a big fat isolated power supply underneath but that would cost me more than some of my guitars so I'll probs just carry on with the setup I have now for a bit longer.

moogmusic · Post by **moogmusic** » Tue Jul 29, 2014 9:26 am

Anyone any experience with this Mooer PSU?

Post by **Doog** » Tue Jul 29, 2014 12:14 pm

Looks like your standard wallwart, rather than anything nifty like the Shredfreak/Diago one.

moogmusic · Post by **moogmusic** » Tue Jul 29, 2014 12:25 pm

Yeah, but it outputs 2000mA which is enough for my power needs and is considerably cheaper than the 1 Spot which seems to be pretty much the only option after the demise of the Shredfreak/Diago and Godlyke options.

Post by **Doog** » Tue Jul 29, 2014 1:11 pm

moogmusic wrote:Yeah, but it outputs 2000mA which is enough for my power needs and is considerably cheaper than the 1 Spot which seems to be pretty much the only option after the demise of the Shredfreak/Diago and Godlyke options.

They're not making the Diago Powerstation anymore?

NB: I've been using the power supply from my old dead Boss BR-8 recorder in place of a Diago Powerstation for my board in London and it's been FAB; 2A, 9v, centre negative.. pretty sure it was Roland branded:

This looks to be the same thing, but slightly smaller

moogmusic · Post by **moogmusic** » Tue Jul 29, 2014 2:25 pm

Doog wrote:They're not making the Diago Powerstation anymore?

NB: I've been using the power supply from my old dead Boss BR-8 recorder in place of a Diago Powerstation for my board in London and it's been FAB; 2A, 9v, centre negative.. pretty sure it was Roland branded:

This looks to be the same thing, but slightly smaller

My bad, they are. I was looking for something wall-warty but that Roland thing looks a good shout.

bradzeera · Post by **bradzeera** » Thu Jul 31, 2014 1:57 am

I've got a Mooer Micropower, pretty good little power brick but I got a pretty good deal for mine.

othomas2 · Post by **othomas2** » Thu Jul 31, 2014 6:44 am

As well as the 'Powerstation' Diago also do the 'Micropower 9' for about Â£27, and then you need to buy a daisy for about a tenner. Powers up to 6 pedals but I'm sure you could power a few more at least:

ekwatts · Post by **ekwatts** » Thu Jul 31, 2014 8:19 am

I'd wait until somebody tracks down the Chinese factory that makes them and starts selling them for Â£12 instead.

paul_ · Post by **paul_** » Sat Aug 02, 2014 4:37 am

Fakir Mustache wrote:
Noisy Cat wrote:I've always just used a daisy chain â€“ with no issues.

What's the advantage of a power block?
That's what I use with different adpters, and would like an answer too. Of course one advantage is if you use 12v or 18v, but otherwise I can't see why either.

Less flimsy wires, ease of replacement or repair for wires/jacks, surge protection, noise protection, way handier in a rack'd setup, and yeah: different voltages.
Basically we've just all been going pedalboard-crazy since the '90s though, so I never argue with a "less is more" attitude. It seems like a rite of passage for young guitarists nowadays to velcro and PSU about 10 pedals, it's nuts. The market for pre-made pedalboards and power supplies exploded really quickly.

I always remember my introduction to pedalboards being during the Foo's Colour & The Shape tour in '98 when I got a magazine with a Dave Grohl/Franz Stahl interview and rig showcase: Grohl had 3 or 4 boss pedals duct-taped to a TORN piece of particle board [MDF] shelf with one jagged, splintery corner. They were placed far enough apart to pull all the input jacks out and save them batteries, natch. Stahl had the more professional option: he'd velcro'd pedals inside the lid of a flight case (placed far enough apart to pull all the input jacks out and save them batteries, natch). After my dad disappeared into the toilet with that issue one evening he came out asking my brother and me what all this "sticking pedals to boards" shit was all about, and what advantages it had to a professional band over a duffelbag or suitcase between gigs. Later when I got my SKB pedalboard with a power supply his attitude was "ah, a power supply... now THAT I understand".

moogmusic · Post by **moogmusic** » Tue Aug 05, 2014 3:07 pm

Bought a Visual Sound One Spot in the end and it arrived - first impressions is it is quiet and powers everything I've asked it to so far so it's a winner.

Practice tonight so I'll see if it remains that way at band volumes.

NickD · Post by **NickD** » Tue Aug 05, 2014 6:27 pm

paul_ wrote:
Fakir Mustache wrote:
Noisy Cat wrote:I've always just used a daisy chain â€“ with no issues.

What's the advantage of a power block?
That's what I use with different adpters, and would like an answer too. Of course one advantage is if you use 12v or 18v, but otherwise I can't see why either.
Less flimsy wires, ease of replacement or repair for wires/jacks, surge protection, noise protection, way handier in a rack'd setup, and yeah: different voltages.
Basically we've just all been going pedalboard-crazy since the '90s though, so I never argue with a "less is more" attitude. It seems like a rite of passage for young guitarists nowadays to velcro and PSU about 10 pedals, it's nuts. The market for pre-made pedalboards and power supplies exploded really quickly.

I always remember my introduction to pedalboards being during the Foo's Colour & The Shape tour in '98 when I got a magazine with a Dave Grohl/Franz Stahl interview and rig showcase: Grohl had 3 or 4 boss pedals duct-taped to a TORN piece of particle board [MDF] shelf with one jagged, splintery corner. They were placed far enough apart to pull all the input jacks out and save them batteries, natch. Stahl had the more professional option: he'd velcro'd pedals inside the lid of a flight case (placed far enough apart to pull all the input jacks out and save them batteries, natch). After my dad disappeared into the toilet with that issue one evening he came out asking my brother and me what all this "sticking pedals to boards" shit was all about, and what advantages it had to a professional band over a duffelbag or suitcase between gigs. Later when I got my SKB pedalboard with a power supply his attitude was "ah, a power supply... now THAT I understand".

I'll be honest, no one I knew even thought of a pedalboard in the late 80s/early 90s - you just put them on the stage and wired them together.

moogmusic · Post by **moogmusic** » Wed Aug 06, 2014 7:30 am

moogmusic wrote:Bought a Visual Sound One Spot in the end and it arrived - first impressions is it is quiet and powers everything I've asked it to so far so it's a winner.

Practice tonight so I'll see if it remains that way at band volumes.

It does.