Looking to build a cheap pedalboard?

Alcatrax

Hi All

I was looking to build a cheap pedalboard for my studio and came across the following:

http://www.makrak.co.za/product/angled-shelves/

Remind you of anything?!

The 300 x 900mm shelf is about R173 =VAT. The end pieces are only screwed in, so you can remove them, trim off whatever length you want (750mm was fine for me) and then make some guide holes and screw the end piece back onto the shortened battens.

Some black spray paint, 50mm x 750mm velcro strips (I used 100 mm cut in half lengthwise and glued on with contact adhesive - the self adhesive type is horrifically expensive) and rubber feet and you are good to go.

The shelves can be ordered directly from Makrak or purchsed from a few retailers but I have never seen the angled shelves in a retail outlet.

I have no affiliation with Makrak but I thought a Pedaltrain-a-like for around R400 including velcro and paint looked pretty good.

Cheerio

Alcatrax

Alcatrax

Hi For info, I went with the 5-slat shelf and sawed off one slat which I used to create a back and angle for the board. I drilled a 30mm hole in this piece to allow access to the power supply mains input. Came out OK I think. Cheerio Alcatrax

JGP

With all due respect that is a decent effort at a home made pedalboard that may work fine if left in place. It is in no way, shape or form a "Pedaltrain-a-like". Pedaltrain is a light weight, aluminium, very strong device with a quality hard case or bag with high grade velcro fittings.

Alcatrax

Yep, like I said - it's for my studio.

I gig with a rack-based Digitech GSP1101 effects unit.

Cheerio

Alcatrax

Norman86

JGP wrote: With all due respect that is a decent effort at a home made pedalboard that may work fine if left in place. It is in no way, shape or form a "Pedaltrain-a-like". Pedaltrain is a light weight, aluminium, very strong device with a quality hard case or bag with high grade velcro fittings.

With all do respect, pedaltrain is overpriced, and not that light.
There are other better options than pedaltrain in the same price category.
Pedaltrain are also assholes for patenting such a generic design, therefore stifling other builders, especially in the US.

I'm also willing to bet that this homebuild is more than strong enough for life on the road if needs be.
And it's pedaltrain alike enough in the sense of it has slats and sits at an angle.

Alcatrax, it looks good. Now where's the pedals?

JGP

"There are other better options than pedaltrain in the same price category"
There are certainly alternatives but better at the same price? Name one.

"Pedaltrain are also assholes for patenting such a generic design, therefore stifling other builders"
The same then applies to Gibson, Apple and others. The whole point of a patent, copyright or trademark is to "stifle" other builders who, in this context, just want to rip off others ideas or work on the cheap.

I have nothing against Alcatrax or his plenty good enough for the job pedalboard only the implication that it is in some way a Pedaltrain on the cheap. Let's call it "Pedaltrain inspired" and I will have no issue with that.

Stoffeltoo

Supercool idea Alcatrax and well done on seeking cheaper alternatives. Like the approach and it looks super robust and roadworthy.
Now where are them pedals? Hmmmm? ???

Wizard

Looks excellent!

Simple design.
Functional.
Easy to build.
Aesthetically magic.

What's not to like?
?

Norman86

JGP wrote: "There are other better options than pedaltrain in the same price category"
There are certainly alternatives but better at the same price? Name one.

"Pedaltrain are also assholes for patenting such a generic design, therefore stifling other builders"
The same then applies to Gibson, Apple and others. The whole point of a patent, copyright or trademark is to "stifle" other builders who, in this context, just want to rip off others ideas or work on the cheap.

I have nothing against Alcatrax or his plenty good enough for the job pedalboard only the implication that it is in some way a Pedaltrain on the cheap. Let's call it "Pedaltrain inspired" and I will have no issue with that.

oh wow, you really want to go there?!
Okay... Ever heard of the Warwick Rockboard? Check Thomann.de for one. pedaltrain alike enough for you? oh, also, check the prices. For another, Palmer pedalboards, trailertrash and a whole host of others.
A custom hardcase and my new 42" trailertrash board cost me all of R3k. whats the cost of the pedaltrain grand and hard case?

The whole point of a patent is to protect something that is not a generic design. apple and their rounded rectangle, and pedaltrain with the slats should NEVER had been patented. they are TOO generic. THAT is the point i am making. I have nothing against unique patents, but let's be real here.

JGP

Funny how the Warwick and Palmer boards have been released almost as the Pedaltain patent expired. I have seen both and the Palmer is possibly better built than the Warwick but neither are quite the same quality as the PT which uses thicker aluminium and better Velcro.. Maybe others could comment here?

Pedaltrain Classic Junior with soft case. 457x317mm discounted store price about R2,250
Rockboard Club with soft case 430x310mm, about R1,500
Palmer Pedalbay 40 450x305mm about R1,900

You get what you pay for I guess.

Nothing wrong with Trailertrash if that's the style of board you want but they are nothing like a Pedaltrain board. I am not sure if they are still available in SA?

ezietsman

JGP wrote: Funny how the Warwick and Palmer boards have been released almost as the Pedaltain patent expired. I have seen both and the Palmer is possibly better built than the Warwick but neither are quite the same quality as the PT which uses thicker aluminium and better Velcro.. Maybe others could comment here?

Pedaltrain Classic Junior with soft case. 457x317mm discounted store price about R2,250
Rockboard Club with soft case 430x310mm, about R1,500
Palmer Pedalbay 40 450x305mm about R1,900

You get what you pay for I guess.

Nothing wrong with Trailertrash if that's the style of board you want but they are nothing like a Pedaltrain board. I am not sure if they are still available in SA?

Dang. Its just a board onto which you stick some floorpedals. How hard do you stomp yours? Anything sturdy will do.

Edit: Alcatrax, that's a really nice board you made there. Well done.

singemonkey

Pedaltrain is shit.

Your board is 186% better.

?

G-Man

I made my pedal board out of discarded wood and sprayed it black. I only had 4 pedals on it but it worked great.

Not sure I'd pay 2 grand for the privelage unless I had 20k worth of pedals to show off but to each their own I guess.

Alcatrax

[quote author=Stoffeltoo link=topic=25015.msg267993#msg267993 date=1449252162] Supercool idea Alcatrax and well done on seeking cheaper alternatives. Like the approach and it looks super robust and roadworthy. Now where are them pedals? Hmmmm? ??? [/quote] Here's the board with pedals attached. I built it to keep the effects tidy and cut down on cables to trip over. You will notice that most of the pedals are multi-effect units of one kind or another. I have divided the board into two halves, with two units on each line. I built the switching unit on the left to switch between the outputs of the two halves and and to route the signal to two different amps. The AB-2 switch is to route the guitar signal to either side of the board: Tube Factor/Brian May Red Special or Fender '65 Deluxe Reverb/Zoom G3. The two connected amps are mid-60's Vox AC30 and Fender Tremolux Head + cab. Thanks for the comments on the board. Cheerio Alcatrax

Stoffeltoo

No Problem! Much better with pedals! Thanks for sharing. Nothing as lekker as a full pedal board.

Norman86

sweet board alcatrax.
almost thought you had a rotosphere with that hk pedal.

as for pedaltrain, been there, done that, i don't like slatted boards, especially with smaller pedals. built my own board, had a pedaltrain pro, now i have a trailertrash. flat boards are a lot more user friendly imo, and work better for me.