Question:
Hello to all my CGR friends!
I know I have changed my mind a lot but i'm getting down to the wire and to where I know what I need the most. #1 is a volume pedal...but lets not worry about that. I need a pedal board. I want to build my own, as that way I can customize and save money. Here's a list of pedals I will need space for:
-Vox volume pedal
-Vox FS2 footswitch (two button)
-Fender PT-100 tuner
-Digitech HyperPhase ("Boss" size)
-Crybaby wah
-room to expand 2 pedals
I will also need to make room for a power strip with 2-3 adapters (Pedal power may be condensed to a power brick later, but not for a long time).
I like the idea of the Pedal Pad AXS design, with the hinged compartments under the pedals for the power. The tilted board is a plus, but not necessary. I am open to design ideas...I want it as clean as possible. I'd like to go with the ATA case style shell. So basically, heres the to do list:
-Get design idea
-List components to get
-Estimate cost
-Buy
-Build
Thanks!
Answer:
I looked at the Pedal Pad and the Pedal Train when I was considering my board. I went with the Pedal Train with the Pedal Power because of the design. I like the spaces between the three bars running the length of the board. And I like being able to mount the Pedal Power under the board. The Pedal Pad is a two tiered design that might work, but the PT had more space and seemed more flexible. The modular design of the PP seemed to lock you into each module. I would use the PT design if I were you, making sure you can mount your power supply under the board so your power, AC and patch cables are tucked under and out of the way.
Answer:
ok, i've been thinking along the EXACT same lines as you soapbar, and here's my story:
basically, i wanted to build a nice, big, angled, powered board for all my pedals. so i went and found the pedals i wanted, measured them, and made cardboard cutouts at home. i then put them all together how i would on a board to determine how big the thing would have to be. it was big. at first i was ok with it, but then i realized "what if i want a pedal tuner too?? or an EQ?? o a noise gate??? ahhhhh!!!!" so then i was like "screw this board, its gona be as big as my kitchen table soon". so i came up with an ingenious solution.
you get a block of wood (like 2in(H)x7in(W)x3in(D)) and drill holes in it for cable connections (ie, to amp, from amp fx loop to pedals, from pedals to amp fx loop). then you make another block of wood with the same demensions, only this one has outlets on it. the whole purpose of this thing is to basically be an extension from you pedal rig to your amp. i made a crappy drawing in paint so you can see what i mean if i wasn't clear
but after you make those boxes you just slap everything down onto a no-slip pad and your set. tell me if that made no sense, i was typingfast so i could get to school on time
Answer:
Im not exactly sure how that helps me with where to put my pedals, but I tried my best to understand and I appreciate the help!
I have built the pedal surface...what I want to do is mount the power strip on the back side and make the outer case big enough to fit it. here is a picture and a labeled one and a side shot.
Anyone got any ideas as to where to go from here?
Answer:
ah, my point back there was that you don't really need a hard surface to carry your pedals around. i don't know what my point was, i am very confused on teh matter right now, cause i don't know if i want to build one or not... screw my "advise" from before, your board looks cool
oh yeah, an +1 on the visual sound one spot, those things rock
Answer:
Originally Posted by SoapbarII Im not exactly sure how that helps me with where to put my pedals, but I tried my best to understand and I appreciate the help!
I have built the pedal surface...what I want to do is mount the power strip on the back side and make the outer case big enough to fit it. here is a picture and a labeled one and a side shot.
Anyone got any ideas as to where to go from here?
If your board can handle it without sacrificing strength, I would suggest you cut spaces so that you can run your cables and cords under the board like this (notice the three parallel spaces, but you could probably do two):

Answer:
Nice board, Wayne
Answer:
Originally Posted by Steve Lowe Nice board, Wayne
Thanks, and thanks for the tip on Ed Reed - Super NICE Guy. He did a good job with the millwork for the Pedal Power and all. You gotta love those guys at CMR.
Answer:
The board isnt tall enough to do it...nor is it deep enough. I dont think i like that idea anyways...with wood you give it one hard stomp and you crack the panel. However...I may drill large holes in it and play connect the dots underneath.
I guess the next thing to do is get the dimensions for the outershell. I wont have the pedal surface attached to it, that way I can easily change or fix something underneath. I want to fit the inside with foam...anyone know where to get that? Im talking about the kind in ATA cases.
Answer:
I built my own pedal board a while back out of wood, sweat, tears, vinyl and carpet. I don't use it anymore since I have my XTLive, but I really do like it. I might be selling it, but I spent a LOT of time on it, so I'm kind of hesitant to sell.
It was pretty dang big, but heres the 'frame'
And here it is with the plywood top on it...It was either half inch or quarter inch plywood.
Then I went to they fabric store and bought some vinyl. I wanted to do a cool design....like an adidas type stripe, but I don't have a sewing machine, and even if I did, you need some special stuff for vinyl...Luckily, my grandmother has run her own sewing business for almost 30 years. So I took it to her, and she made it even better than I could have thought.
I laid the carpet on the top for this picture.
This is how I laid it all out.
First I placed the pedals where they were going to go, and drilled holes so that all the cabling could go below.
Then I cut little x's in the carpet so that the cables could stick through but not have a huge hole showing.
Then I ran all the cabling and installed a powerstrip...
and hooked it up
Like this:
And in the end, along with my old amp, It looked like this:
Have fun with yours!
Answer:
I'm with RVW on this one. I know the OP said he was not mechanically inclined, but making a board is pretty simple and, IMO, much cheaper than most options for buying one.
Mine consisted of an 18" x 24" sheet of 1/2 inch plywood, with a second 2-inch wide or so strip installed along the back edge to give it a little lean toward me. Sand the surface and edges. Originally I covered it in black felt for the velcro, but over time the felt became ragged from repeated removal of pedals. Eventually, I tore the felt off, painted it black, and just put the fuzzy strips of velcro wherever I wanted a pedal. Add a wal-mart power strip at the top and a couple of 1Spots to power everything and it was finished. MAX two hours of work, $8 for the wood at Home Depot, $2 for the paint and the rest of the stuff I had lying around already.
For a case, I went to Goodwill and got one of those old hard plastic shell suitcases. I tore out the cheesy satin lining and lined it with eggshell foam I had lying around. The suitcase was a neon 1970s red color, so I took some tape and black spraypaint and gave it some U2-Vertigo-album red and black diagonal stripes. $5 for the suitcase, $3 for spray adhesive for the foam. Again, including the paint job, 2 hrs MAX of work.
So, for a grand total of $18 and 3-4 hours of easy work, I have a custom-built board and a case that gets attention everywhere I take it.
Answer:
The carpet X's are a very good idea, and I might do that even though its just a cosmetic thing. I like my pedal board CLEAN! The board I built is some left over wood from when we built our house and its very thick and hard, so it would be a pain to drill holes in it. Im thinking i'll get some 2x4's and create the frame like you did RVW and use plywood as the pedal surface so I can drill the holes. Your pedal board is probably the most exact thing I want to do...except i'll be spray painting the outer shell black and making it ATA style.
Answer:

$39 guitar case used to hold an affinity strat for 5 years. The best multi plug with 15 foot cord I could find got it at Lowes