tips for pedalboard?

[marc]

so i think i'm going to build us some pedal boards. having all those boxes rattling around in briefcases is freaking me out. i suppose i should whip up an a/b (bypass all) type switch. anything else i should consider?
thanks,
marc.

[R.G.]

1. consider how you'll carry the whole mess into/out of a gig. I recommend going to good will and getting a used small suitcase. Then cut plywood to match the inside of the suitcase and put the pedalboard on that. Not only easy carrying, but it looks like you've hauled in your dirty laundry and discourages thoughts of theft. Foam keeps things from rattling around.
2. How will you power the thing? I recommend putting a strip of steel stud (see the GEO article) across the back end and putting a Spyder power supply inside, as in the multi-transformer picture. Helps eliminate hum. Also, this way you don't have to make up special non-continuous shield cables for hum.
3.two level things leave room for cables underneath. Make up feet under the board and leave holes for running cables around.
4. Bicycles are our friends. Get a bicycle chain, and have a shop punch out the pins to get a bunch of those dogbone shaped pieces. Use the bottom screws on many pedals to screw the dogbone to the pedal,  and then the dogbone to the board. Or coat it with carpet and use industrial strength Velcro to place the pedals.

[Paul Marossy]

Here's the pedal board that I made. I absolutely love it! Hopefully, it will at least give you some ideas.  

http://home.att.net/~paulnkim/NewPedalBoard.html

I just bundled the interconnecting cords together and made it all nice and neat. It works well for me.

But, like RG says, a suitcase may work well for you, too. I personally don't like the two level thing, but that's me.  :wink:

[idlefaction]

great minds!!!  i have a bass case also!

[marc]

thanks paul, R.G. some good ideas. i just found a bunch of heavy duty grey felt laying around that i might put to good use here.
marc.

[timrand]

www.caseman.com.au

[aaronkessman]

i just finished building my board. pics may follow. here are some notes:

I used 3/8" (i think) plywood, about 16x24".

I used *plastic* pipe strapping to attach pedals to the board - much easier to deal with than metal, and cheaper, and less likely to give me cuts. I didnt use the bike chain technique because this stuff was just cheaper. 99 cents for a roll that will last a lifetime.

it's kind of 1.5 levels. some back pedals are raised up using scrap 2x4 blocks. there is more room on top of the PS (Spyder, thanks RG!) for 1-2 more pedals.

It's all in a goodwill suitcase. It's fastened onto the lid part by little amp-like feet screwed in from the bottom. The top part is about 4" deep and filled with foam - compact closed cell foam, then soft open cell eggshell foam on the pedal-facing part.

the suitcase was a bit of a bitch to get working right. Once i removed the hinges, I used cabinet latches on the bottom and kept the original latches for the top. THe latches are reinforced/screwed into two 1" thick wooden boards for the lid and body of the suitcase. The hard part was getting everything lined up right. The lips of the lid and body of the suitcase are aluminum-reinforced, so i had to drill through this, and keep the latches level - you'll see in the pics. I used scrap copper-clad board as spacers, because it's drillable, but tough. It's not perfect, but it's solid and will do what I need it to do.

[Paul Marossy]

I want to see it.  

[aaronkessman]

it's not as nice as yours paul!

[Paul Marossy]

it's not as nice as yours paul!

That's OK, I still like to see other people's ideas and solutions.  

[audioguy]

4. Bicycles are our friends. Get a bicycle chain, and have a shop punch out the pins to get a bunch of those dogbone shaped pieces. Use the bottom screws on many pedals to screw the dogbone to the pedal,  and then the dogbone to the board.

Someone actually makes these- does anyone know what they're called?

Audioguy

[Paul Marossy]

Man! I forget, but it's like on the tip of my tongue.

[audioguy]

I've seen them on Ebay a bunch but cant find em now.

[Paul Marossy]

It'd be easy enought to make them yourself. Just buy a bike chain, or find an old worn out one. Spend $10 on a chain link removal tool and then you'll have as many as could possibly want.  :wink: