Designing a New Pedal board

roachello · Post by **roachello** » Tue Mar 17, 2009 8:01 am

Hello all,

I'm currently designing a new light up pedal board for my lighting project. I'm thinking about integrating colored super brite LEDs to make it look like an entertainment device as well as provide light. For those who have experience with pedal boards or just use a plank of wood, can I get some feedback on what I should include?

Questions:
1.) What kind of lighting will improve it?
2.) How should it be turned on?
3.) What components does it need to have?
4.) What's a more classy way to stick the pedals on without velcro?

My ideas are to integrate a power strip into the board (existing idea, but maybe I can expand upon it) and also to integrate a daisy chain system in order to eliminate the number of power slots and encourage organization. Also, perhaps an integrated tuner and use a wireless RF transmitter. I guess since it's a lighting device, the main focus should be on lighting and how I can include and improve it, make it look cool, and useful.

Feedback is much appreciated. Thank you!

Post by **Doog** » Tue Mar 17, 2009 9:26 am

With my serious hat on:

1.) What kind of lighting will improve it?
In terms of functional "can see my junk on dark stage", a nice striplight pointing down at the pedals on a gooseneck would be cool. It's gonna be no good if you're just blinded by the lighting, so I guess it can't be too bright

2.) How should it be turned on?
Maybe, inkeeping with the pedals, a big cartoony ACME style red button that you can activate with your feet?

3.) What components does it need to have?
A patch bay in the middle-back of the board, where your guitar and amp leads plug in vertically into the board, ala the Boss pedalboard, seems like a good ideea to me.

4.) What's a more classy way to stick the pedals on without velcro?
Recessed suction cups?

Post by **Mike** » Tue Mar 17, 2009 9:36 am

Personally I don't think that a more suitable connection system than velcro will present itself, after all, it needs to be universal to accomodate all the different pedal sizes and shapes, and personally I really dislike the cable tie method.

As regards lighting, I have to admit since I'm less of a knob-twiddler and more of a set and forget player that I don't really feel the need personally for a light on the board, but if you're going to have one, then I guess it's job is to illuminate the pedals themselves without causing glare off the metal casings and/or obscuring status LEDs, so you're looking for actually a low and soft light source to just raise the ambient light level a bit.

I also agree with Doog's in and out jack idea and also integrated power, but make sure to add provision for 18V, 24V and also AC powered pedals.

Empires · Post by **Empires** » Tue Mar 17, 2009 10:29 am

Sausage

Just an idea.

Lighting suggestions.
1) Footswitchable audience blinding strobe light?
2) Integrated scrolling LED sign? (for all those bands looking to plug their myspace, most likely)

kim · Post by **kim** » Tue Mar 17, 2009 1:50 pm

when it comes to height and angle of the board i realise it's actually more comfy the lower the board is (flatter) and no angle...like as if you'd just put pedals on the ground

what about a connected gooseneck lamp ? that would look geek

Haze · Post by **Haze** » Tue Mar 17, 2009 3:28 pm

that would do you a workout

let me hit the blue box
fuck and delay, [run 10 feet] FUCK the bluebox isn't loud enough! [funs and hits boost]
FUCK THE DELAY IS OSCILATING [runs and DIES]
fin

Post by **Mike** » Tue Mar 17, 2009 3:30 pm

Some people spend more time organising and building pedalboards than they do playing them.

Haze · Post by **Haze** » Tue Mar 17, 2009 3:44 pm

^Sad but true

kim · Post by **kim** » Tue Mar 17, 2009 4:41 pm

yeah it's such a hassle really i remember having to break my head over signal splitting and clean blending and looping and all that crap when using pedals for bass i hated it, i had to think more about getting shit to work and sound right than rock out anda certain point.

i just sold more than half of my pedalboard going back to just five/six pedals including a tuner and it's such a relief, limiting in a way but you always find a way around stuff really.

the pedaltrain for instance, it's quite high above the floor level and the back is tilted, i used it for a while it keep your pedals clean off the ground and crap but it's really not that nice to really stomp on pedals like you wanna, you have to lift your leg, make sure not to lose balance whilst getting your foot to reach the pedal you need lol

not good if you have short legs i tell you

really flat boards like just a strip of plywood or even cardboard might not seem classy but it's much more close to the feel of having pedals on the ground

timhulio · Post by **timhulio** » Tue Mar 17, 2009 4:42 pm

Despite building pedals now I've not used one in rehearsal for about six months. It's really liberating.

Stacey uses that trem that I made though.

First thing I thought of was those two lights on stalks like in the Beavis pic, but now I think they look uber dorky.

Post by **Mike** » Tue Mar 17, 2009 4:45 pm

Funnily enough I'm the opposite now, I used to be just using my amp but now I've had some time I've built three pedals for myself for my board, which is great. 2 are completely done and 1 just needs wiring up.

kim · Post by **kim** » Tue Mar 17, 2009 4:52 pm

i like how fuzz pedals can make it a bit more nuts than just amp dirt though so i couldn't do without. the other thing i can't do without it very short delay getting close to a reverb ish sound.

also just realised three of those five pedals were gifts. haha

paul_ · Post by **paul_** » Tue Mar 17, 2009 5:21 pm

For my next pedalboard I'm pretty sure I'm just gonna get a big long board and nail my existing pedalboard to it so I have room for 2 more or whatever.

Post by **dots** » Tue Mar 17, 2009 7:35 pm

Mike wrote:Personally I don't think that a more suitable connection system than velcro will present itself, after all, it needs to be universal to accomodate all the different pedal sizes and shapes, and personally I really dislike the cable tie method.

As regards lighting, I have to admit since I'm less of a knob-twiddler and more of a set and forget player that I don't really feel the need personally for a light on the board, but if you're going to have one, then I guess it's job is to illuminate the pedals themselves without causing glare off the metal casings and/or obscuring status LEDs, so you're looking for actually a low and soft light source to just raise the ambient light level a bit.

I also agree with Doog's in and out jack idea and also integrated power, but make sure to add provision for 18V, 24V and also AC powered pedals.

this, although cable ties don't offend me as a connection method. they're just not always practical.

Mages · Post by **Mages** » Tue Mar 17, 2009 9:26 pm

Mike wrote:Some people spend more time organising and building pedalboards than they do playing them.

srsly.

heavium wrote:really flat boards like just a strip of plywood or even cardboard might not seem classy but it's much more close to the feel of having pedals on the ground

this.
when I saw Octopus Project they had a pedal board made with peg board and the pedals zip tied down. this stuff:

pretty cheap solution. can put it in a suit case for transportation.

Sloan · Post by **Sloan** » Tue Mar 17, 2009 9:46 pm

^ using a board like that with zip ties was kinda what I had in mind for a nice system to hold down pedals without the HASSLE of STICKY VELCRO.

Nick · Post by **Nick** » Wed Mar 18, 2009 5:02 am

Honestly I wouldn't want a tuner built in, since they're something a lot of people are very particular about. Lighting would be good, and maybe some sort of modular system to raise up pedals to be accessible in the back row.

Really these days I only use my tuner, overdrive (for very subtle crunchy boost), and analog delay, in addition to my twin's reverb/tremolo. I think my pedal whore days are over for good.

the isaac eaton · Post by **the isaac eaton** » Wed Mar 18, 2009 6:41 am

Get your best friend who is a beast at tools and what not to help you make one. that's what i did.

for what its worth here's a video

[youtube][/youtube]

Sublimedo · Post by **Sublimedo** » Wed Mar 18, 2009 7:13 am

Your board has alcoholz!

nomorebridge · Post by **nomorebridge** » Wed Mar 18, 2009 7:58 pm

Doog wrote:With my serious hat on:
....

4.) What's a more classy way to stick the pedals on without velcro?
Recessed suction cups?

That's absolute genius, have you just come up with that on the spot doog or is it a system you use?

does anyone know a place to buy 'double sided' suction cups so you can stick them on a pedal and a board?

I'm doing this! (if I can)

Designing a New Pedal board

Designing a New Pedal board

Re: Designing a New Pedal board

Re: Designing a New Pedal board