SVL'S Pedal Board Build

[sunvalleylaw]

Begins:

OLD: mess of a board spilling out of an old laptop case seen here:

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w92/sunvalleylaw/pedals.jpg
The pedals have changed since then.


NEW, Begin the begin:

Cut a 22.75 inch by 16 inch board. Start laying stuff out

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w92/sunvalleylaw/IMG_0888.jpg

This is not even close to the lay out. I am going to move some stuff around, and see what I can move off, to allow for an expression pedal to use for wah, and anything else I end up playing around with on the M9. I anticipate the Expression pedal and M9 being next to each other somewhere on the right.

The board will end up being about the same size as a PT-3. Once I have the lay out figured out, it will have a couple channels cut in it for cabling, and will be raised in the back with some board, and the whole thing will sit on rubber feet. I am not sure how I intend to secure the pedals yet. I may use bicycle chain links, zip ties, or just velcro. I plan on finishing the board with some clear or tinted clear when I am done.

It will be housed in and old 50's samsonite leather suitcase, 24x17. I have a line on one that looks good and sturdy and looks good for the purpose. Looking for kinda a "Briefcase full of (rock and) Blues" look, with a board that can be pulled out and set down at gigs or playing out. Thus the 23x16 board to fit the inside dimensions. Once I actually get the suitcase here, I may slice the 16 inch dimension just a hair for fit. I don't think it will hurt my real estate too much to lose a 1/3 of an inch.

I am going to pull all of this current set up apart and start over. And so it starts.

Comments, hints, etc. welcome!

[sunvalleylaw]

Here is one possibility. Shows a fake expression pedal, and the NS-2, which might go away sideways in the middle. Could work! I want the Expression pedal and the M9 next to each other at the bottom so I can toggle off the wah, and get to the M9 looper button easily. I have the polytune going into a noise suppression loop with the NS-2 including all the separate dirtboxes, then over to the M9, then out to the separate chorus and carbon copy, then to the amp.

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w92/sunvalleylaw/IMG_0895.jpg


It will look better when I replace some pedal cables with right angle types and the correct lengths, and cut the slots to tidy up some of the cabling and power cord. The 1spot, the brick for the M9, and the power strip will go underneath the board after it is raised in the back. I have it sitting on some scrap wood in the back in this pic.

[marnold]

I thought the whole point of an M9 was to be the pedalboard itself?

[sunvalleylaw]

I like my individual dirt boxes, and the Carbon copy. I plan on using the M9 for reverb, for an additional delay, and for mostly modulation effects, and sometimes wah, as much as I use a wah, which is so far, never. ;)

[Tig]

I like individual stomp boxes as well, but I bet some of yours could get replaced by the M9.
Oh, and thanks for clipping your toenails before the 3rd picture. The interwebz isn't a long toenail friendly place, ya know! :poke

This reminds me that I really need to put together some kind of board for my pedals, now that I've collected so many.

[oldguy]

Looking good, Steve. At least you've got a plan, that's the first step.
I've swapped pedals around before, it's fun, but it's a pain at the same time.

And Tig, thanks for the toenail advice, I had to have the big toe nail removed years ago off my right foot.......pretty gnarly looking. :messedup:

[sunvalleylaw]

Thanks OG. As I play around with this layout, I find that I am going to have to adjust the area where the NS-2, ZYS, and DS-1 currently sit. Too tight for easy access right now.

Once I get some better cable lengths with right angle jacks, and dump the cables down into the channels I plan to cut, it will fit together better. The NS-2 will also move over a bit to go above the Carbon Copy and CE-5. More room there than over the end of the M9. Then I think the pedals will fit together just fine.

@Tig, yeah, a couple could probably go as there is definitely some duplication there. But I like the particular sounds I have dialed in with a couple combinations of those pedals, so until I match up those sounds with some patches on the M9, they stay. Also, the DS-1 and Bad Monkey were my first pedals so it is hard to part with them.

It is great fun to get the Little Big Muff back on the board. It had dropped off when I had run out of room. I love playing around with that thing.

[sunvalleylaw]

Well, ordered some guitar cable and jacks to make a couple 18 inch right to rights to move that NS-2 farther to the left, and to convert my straight-in guitar and amp cables to right angles. Then I will see if I want to cut another piece of ply to raise the dirtboxes up 1/2 an inch or so. Then once I know how I want it to fit together, I will cut channels to dump the cabling into, figure out how I want to attach the pedals to the board, whether by bicycle chain link or velcro, and finish it. I think it should work out!

[kidsmoke]

Love the bike pedal link idea....but it's too much of a commitment for me. I have reason to pull one pedal off on occasion...

Velcro comes un-glued, collects pet hair, causes you to lose rubber feet from pedals...but still. It allows for the inevitable what if....

Looks like fun, Steve. thanks for keeping us posted.

[Tig]

Velcro comes ungled, collects pet hair, causes you to lose rubber feet from pedals...but still. It allows for the inevitable what if...

The standard hook and loop velcro gets funky. I'd suggest the industrial type that looks like tiny posts on both sides of the tape, like 3M Dual Lock.

http://www.appareltrader.net/upload/6/buyOffers/328/103441094_Buy_velcro.jpg
http://blog.applebazaar.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/blocks.jpg
http://www.itapestore.com/productimages/dual_lock/coins/sj3560_0.75/0.75_sj3560_single_1000.jpg

[sunvalleylaw]

Maybe that type would be thick enough to avoid having to remove rubber feet.

Or here is a "how to" on the bicycle chain idea. http://jstrassburg.blogspot.com/2008/09/guitar-effects-pedal-board-ninja-style.html

[Tig]

Yes, it is pretty thick once both sides are together. It wouldn't need too much since it is very strong.

[kidsmoke]

Maybe that type would be thick enough to avoid having to remove rubber feet.

Or here is a "how to" on the bicycle chain idea. http://jstrassburg.blogspot.com/2008/09/guitar-effects-pedal-board-ninja-style.html


Yes, it is pretty thick once both sides are together. It wouldn't need too much since it is very strong.



http://www.itapestore.com/productimages/dual_lock/coins/sj3560_0.75/0.75_sj3560_single_1000.jpg

Yes, it's thick enough to leave feet on? I like that material idea with or without that characteristic, but that'd be great.

I have a Gator board that is just a deck, covered 100% in the good old Hook n Loop. Super versatile, but I think this could work well also. Board size is perfect, handy "gig bag" for it, and it's small enough to keep me from getting any crazy ideas.

Any sourcing ideas for those of us without a McMaster account?

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l58/tiokimo/pedalboardII.jpg

[sunvalleylaw]

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w92/sunvalleylaw/IMG_0908.jpg

Updated layout pic. Not much new built here. I did not find time to solder my new cables or build more on the actual board, but I do have the expression pedal now (seen at lower right on the board), and moved the NS-2 over by unplugging the cables to see how it would all fit. I think it will do for now. I may remove the Bad Monkey and the DS-1, as I can cover those probably with my Rodent and ZYS, and the dirt box models in the M9. But for now, I will leave them. Now I just have to make the cables so I can truly move the NS-2 over there, get the industrial velcro or what ever I am going to use, then cut the channels for cleaning up the cables and finish it.

But I am going to play a fair amount with this arrangement before I fully commit to this being the lay out.

[Tig]

It looks just about ready to go, Steve. I agree that the Rodent and ZYS could cover the other two pedals well.

I need to do the same for my pedals now.

Arriving today...

http://www.theboutiquelab.com/i/catalin/rah.gif

[sunvalleylaw]

It looks just about ready to go, Steve. I agree that the Rodent and ZYS could cover the other two pedals well.

I need to do the same for my pedals now.

Arriving today...

http://www.theboutiquelab.com/i/catalin/rah.gif

Cool looking pedal! It looks like it is the bomb! :D

Yeah, I know I can get pretty close (or spot on with the ZYS and the Monkey) with the ZYS and Rodent. The Rodent does not really want to do a stock DS-1 tone, but that was never DVM's favorite tone anyway. I kind of like the idea of simply having them there set up as very different tones than the ZYS and Rodent so I can click over quickly to different tones without having to adjust the ZYS and Rodent. But it is possible I can dial up models in the M9 that will cover well enough. So we shall see.

@Tio Kimo, I found that industrial velcro stuff at multiple places on the internet for instance that tape store where Tig got the picture. Even Amazon has it. I found some that is being marketed as pedal tape even on Amazon! It comes in black too, which I may go with as I don't know that I am in love with the clear.

[Tig]

I kind of like the idea of simply having them there set up as very different tones than the ZYS and Rodent so I can click over quickly to different tones without having to adjust the ZYS and Rodent. But it is possible I can dial up models in the M9 that will cover well enough. So we shall see.

@Tio Kimo, I found that industrial velcro stuff at multiple places on the internet for instance that tape store where Tig got the picture. Even Amazon has it. I found some that is being marketed as pedal tape even on Amazon! It comes in black too, which I may go with as I don't know that I am in love with the clear.

Ah, having extra choices is wonderful!
I'll have 1 fuzz (Big Muff Pi with Tone Wicker), 1 distortion (BYOC Mouse), and 3 boost/OD's (BYOC Boost/OD-2, Voodoo Lab Sparkle Drive, Catalinbread RAH).

As for the super velcro tape, most electronic supply stores should have it as well.

[The Grand Vizier]

I used standard velcro on my first pedal board & it is not up to the job, it hangs onto the pedals fine but I found the sticky side came unstuck off my pedal board when I moved the pedals around, like Tig says the industrial stuff is much better the sticky side is stronger as well as the velcro.
I used 3M off ebay.

I had a look at the bike chain idea, probably ok if you are not a Tweaker but I swap & change pedals around often, sometimes I like to move my fuzz infront of my Wah for slightly different fx etc etc, would be a pain unscrewing all the time.

[mrmudcat]

Personally I like Tigs idea. I would need the option to rip out a pedal and possibly throw out the window and replace with my new best pedal.I do like that chain link idea if you have a certain setup and plan to gig with it. JMHO!!!!:socool

[Tig]

Personally I like Tigs idea. I would need the option to rip out a pedal and possibly throw out the window and replace with my new best pedal.I do like that chain link idea if you have a certain setup and plan to gig with it. JMHO!!!!:socool

I don't know squat about pedal boards! But...
I have used the 3M velcro for years in building racks and servers, etc. You get used to the good stuff, and it's hard going back.

[sunvalleylaw]

I don't know squat about pedal boards! But...
I have used the 3M velcro for years in building racks and servers, etc. You get used to the good stuff, and it's hard going back.

Look! Here it is! Marketed specifically for pedal boards!

http://www.amazon.com/Power-Grip-Pedalboard-Velcro-Alternative-Mounting/dp/B004ZKIHVU/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1353419081&sr=8-1-fkmr0&keywords=industrial+pedal+board+velcro

Honestly, the 3M industrial is the way I think I am going to go. Easier to move stuff around, etc. the only negative is removing it if you go to sell a pedal. Can you get the stuff come off if you want it to Tig?

[Tig]

You can roll off most of the goo with your thumb unless it has been in the heat a long time.
Some goof off citrus would work for anything stubborn.

Edit: Now remember why I thought of heat. I used to have a recycled mat in the bed of my truck that was fastened with the 3M tape. The adhesive backing lasted a few years in the elements before loosing grip. It was a pain to get off the metal bed, but considering the abuse, it makes sense. A truck bed in the Texas sun can burn your skin instantly.

[sunvalleylaw]

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/12/11/27/ese4yzuz.jpg

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/12/11/27/etatyhu3.jpg





Here is my "pedalboard case". It is a 50's era Samsonite suitcase I got for $10 off eBay. It will hold a pedaltrain pt-3 size board which is what I am building. Seems pretty sturdy. Now to confirm my real world measurements and finish building the board. I will add some foam to fit over the top of the board for transport and may or may not use the dividers along with the foam.

[Spudman]

Nice suitcase...but you'll never cook a decent lunch in it.

I'd leave the dividers in place. If the latches still work for the dividers you can store the board in one side and your cables on the other. Makes it easy to get the board out without a pile of cables in the way.

[mrmudcat]

Yep thats a winner..........fo-sho

[Tig]

It needs handcuffs for the full effect. :socool

http://www.freewebs.com/jakeandelwoodbackstage/Blues-Brothers-briefcase-sm.jpg