As electric guitar enthusiasts, we all like our effects pedals. A collection that typically starts with a drive pedal, then maybe a delay, a looper and so on. Eventually we all get to the point where the pedals sitting on the floor are too wieldy and need to be organized and locked down either for transport or simply for our mental sanity, and so begins the search for a pedalboard. After many years and probably a dozen or so pedalboards, I have decided to start making custom boards that fit my need, and maybe yours.
The Flatboard
This board is perfect for the player who wants a clean demo area for making videos, or for an enthusiast who likes to grab a couple pedals off the shelf at random and doesn’t need all of their pedal available at any second. It’s fully carpeted (even the bottom) so that it can be placed on a desk/table without worrying of scratching while also making it Velcro compatible for temporary but solid layout.
Single Level Hinged
When players start to look for a cleaner option, they begin to look at hinged-top pedal boards that let them hide all the power and wiring, but still allows you get in there and make changes easily. These self-contained boards are nice for gigging musicians as well since all the wires are kept safe and secure and you plug into the board itself making multi-amp setups a breeze.
The downsize to these boards comes when you mix in a pedal loop switcher or base mounted power supplies. In this case the large hinged top means having to run long cables to the back of the board then along the bottom of the top to allow the top to open while keeping the cables in place. Custom cabling and small power supplies that can be mounted to the bottom become very important increasing cost.
Two Level Clamshell Hinded
In order to minimize the effect of a hinged top, while still allowing many pedals in a small area, a two level clamshell style board allows for the board to split in the middle meaning shorter cable runs and less chance for noise to creep in. Modular power supplies and custom wiring is still a good idea if using loop switchers, but wiring is a good bit easier to handle.
Ordering a Custom Board
If you’re interested in ordering a custom board, just email me through the contact page with your contact information and what kind of board you’re interested in. A list of pedals and any needs will be discussed so we can get you exactly what you need. Otherwise I will be building more boards in the future and putting them up for sale.
If you want a fully setup board, I can do that too. We can discuss wiring, any additional power supplies, switchers or custom options you would like to see on your dream board.