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  • Building My Own (Small) Pedalboard?

So I really want my own pedalboard and I'm thinking of building my own.

Why?

Mostly to tidy up the floor and keep my "setup" all in one place for easy "plug n play". If I can (carefully) chuck it into the car for a jam, that would be a bonus but I haven't jammed in years so it's not a current need.

What do I need for the build?

Help me out here... what do I need?

Materials?

  • Plank of wood? Maybe from Builders?
  • Velcro strips? These are easy to get from PnP for hanging frames.
  • Little connector thingies? What do you call them? And where do you get quality for a good price? Like maybe a bulk pack of 10 or 20?

Tools?

  • I have a drill.
  • Got a handsaw.
  • Got (some) patience and time.

(And not keen on spending on expensive tools until I prove to myself that I actually like building things ?)

What's going on the pedalboard?

Not much honestly...

  • A power bank.
  • Morley wah pedal (which I'll hopefully replace with a dunlop cry baby at some stage)
  • DD-3
  • Maybe a boost pedal (don't have one yet)
  • Maybe a looper pedal (don't have yet)
  • Maybe a reverb pedal (don't have yet)

What do you guys think? Good start for a small pedalboard? Am I missing anything?

  • V8 replied to this.

    You realise this is the start of a lifelong journey? I predict a thread in a year: "Expanding my DIY Pedalboard". A year later: "Three-tier pedalboards, How To..." Maybe "Running out of space, what pedals should I ditch?", "What pedals could you not do without?", "Bulk import pedal suggestion: There's a hard to find pedal only available in the northern suburbs of Timbuktu. Who's in @ R12k a pop?"

    @ChrisDanger I hope not! I like to keep things simple. I got my first pedal probably in my early 20s. Still only have about 5 pedals of which, I use like 2. But... I'm always open to being wrong! As long as it's fun along the way ?

    Like that thread with all the Fender pedals... that made me wanna buy the whole set in one shot. Nuts!

    Back to the DIY build... you know what would be soooo funky...?! Getting one of those old school cases and using it as a pedalboard case ?

    Or.... an old PC case, strip it, stick in the pedal board, and replace the screws with ones you can screw by hand!

    Oh dear... what I have I started? ?

      NorioDS Little connector thingies?

      ? ? ?

      Patch cables! There's cheap ones (R10-20) you an get in 5's, but long term/regular gigging use I see most people getting ones made up with legit (neutrik) plugs. Or there's solderless ones you can trim to length and then attach the plugs (both pricey though).

      Sure I recall someone 'round here has made up one from something like this : https://www.mrphome.com/en_za/wood-duckboard-2201112841

      Only thing is getting a cover/box for transport (if you had plans to). That's where the store bought pedaltrain stuff becomes useful.

        V8 Oh that duckboard looks nifty and easy. Although I really wanna try with a blank piece of wood. Gives me a chance to play with DIY a little. Sanding, sawing, etc.

        My dad never did this stuff so I have to teach myself ?

          NorioDS Fair enough. I've always been anti pedals, but just bought a strobe tuner, and am waiting for a booster and noise gate. I have plans to buy another few, just deciding which ones. It might well be me posting those threads I listed!

            NorioDS Gives me a chance to play with DIY a little. Sanding, sawing, etc.

            If you must...! @Wizard is also threatening to build a pedalboard from scratch - me, I'm a re-purpose, re-use kinda guy. The PC version of lazzzzyyyy ?

            ChrisDanger . I've always been anti pedals

            ...I am still. But not entirely - I've pretty much always had a multifx. And my current p.o.s Zoom has the best autowah I've yet found. And I've tried a heap of pedals looking for something in a stompbox. Distortions could be a lot better though, so I'm upgrading at some stage. To another Zoom :facepalm:

                V8

                Yeah, I've tended to agree with Bonamassa that you can get all the tones you need with a decent amp and using your guitar tone and volume knobs and pickup selector. But I've recently bought a few guitars and a versatile amp, and some guitars sound better in some channels than others (who would've thought vintage-voiced Strat and an EMG-loaded V would sound different), so I figured I could get even more versatility with a boost pedal. I thought it was time to get a good tuner, and I kind of need a noise gate with the amp I bought. These are all utility pedals though, so they have a good purpose (or so I tell myself). Next on the list is a good delay and reverb. And I might also benefit from a good EQ, like something parametric (?!). And those are just shaping my amp's tone. I'm trying not to head down the drive path but I at least wouldn't mind a nice fuzz (there are so many variants!), and I really like the sound of germanium treble boosters...

                I had a modelling amp with tremelo/chorus/phaser and never used them so when I start buying pedals with that stuff then I know it's time to get help.

                But I think you can see where this is heading. ?

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