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DeFrag
Moderator
USA
3409 Posts |
 Posted - 04/12/2007 : 05:57:13
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Since my main pedalboard for home use holds 12 Boss pedals & I still have 4 more on the floor, coupled with the fact that I really needed a portable board to actually gig with.. I ended up making my own small pedalboard for under $15.
As you can see below, it holds 5 Boss pedals, is extremely compact & portable, & I'm just proud as the dickens about my effort & wanted to share the idea with you guys in hopes that it may prompt you to build one yourself.
I chose a 12"x24" Poplar hardwood plank about an 1" thick, cutout a template with business paper & large yellow stickies to simulate placement, measured everything a billion times & really took my time with it. After cutting & shaping with a rasp & wood files, I sanded it thoroughly, I stained it with Watco oil & layered 5 coats of Minwax Polyurethane.. (sanding lightly with fine paper) the last coat on the top while the board was horizontal as to eliminate any final drips.
Then I pre-drilled & mounted 8 rubber feet with embedded washers for rigidity & had a neat idea. I added 2 Velcro straps to the bottom so I could carry a couple guitar cords to the gig fairly easily in one nice & tidy package. I'd like to further add one of those Dunlop pick dispensers to complete the deal. Velcro pads hold the pedals on & at the moment I'm searching for a decent soft carrying bag that the whole shebang will fit into. I'm using the 1Spot power adapter which is overkill but it should run cool.
Anyway, check the pics, let me know what you think, & go build your very own gigging pedalboard! 
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jack
Platinum Member
USA
1418 Posts |
Posted - 04/12/2007 : 07:32:56
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Nice work!
If they cost you less than $15 to make, I bet you could sell them for about 3 times that on eBay, or through some other retail outlet like a local music store or something...DePedalBoard by DeFrag perhaps? If you use that name, I want a free board
My first pedal board back in the early 90s was just a section of a sheet of plywood I somehow managed to cut off with a dull saw, and not a powersaw or motorized saw, but a regular handsaw...I wish my first was as lovely as yours... |
Edited by - jack on 04/12/2007 07:35:47 |
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ptero
Silver Member
Mexico
218 Posts |
Posted - 04/12/2007 : 08:01:37
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| Are you tired of Defragmenting your pedals every time you play?? Here's the solution: DeFrag-Boards!!! |
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ronster
Gold Member
Australia
645 Posts |
Posted - 04/12/2007 : 09:19:47
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| Nice one! Very tidy!!! |
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Dr. Bob
Moderator
Australia
6593 Posts |
Posted - 04/12/2007 : 09:47:32
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| Nice .. |
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Dirk
Platinum Member
Netherlands
1309 Posts |
Posted - 04/12/2007 : 17:02:51
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Yes, very nice indeed.
I love the oilfinish
Oh, one thing, you accidentally plugged the patch from the tuner into it's bypass jack, it won't work that way |
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DeFrag
Moderator
USA
3409 Posts |
Posted - 04/12/2007 : 17:23:54
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quote:
Originally posted by Dirk
Yes, very nice indeed.
I love the oilfinish
Oh, one thing, you accidentally plugged the patch from the tuner into it's bypass jack, it won't work that way
Thanks guys!
According to the TU-2 manual, the Output jack is used to mute the signal when the pedal is on so you can tune silently. Whereas the Bypass jack will always output the signal allowing you to hear as you tune which can be critical if you use the tuner to get close then finish up using harmonics.  |
Edited by - DeFrag on 04/12/2007 17:25:09 |
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mattoqua
Silver Member
Canada
438 Posts |
Posted - 04/12/2007 : 21:33:37
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very nice, but how do they stay on?
is it velcro?
I was thinking about making one as well, but I would want a roadcase box for them too. Something like that would work if it could slip inside a case.
Good Job |
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DeFrag
Moderator
USA
3409 Posts |
Posted - 04/12/2007 : 21:53:01
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I always buy Pelican cases for my non-music gear, they're fuggin' awesome. Road Ready seems to have just what the doc ordered: http://www.instrumentpro.com/P-ROARRLUC.html at 130 clams.
I'd think I'll opt for a softcase if I can find one today after work.
(yeah, velcro)  |
Edited by - DeFrag on 04/13/2007 02:53:41 |
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jak84
Bronze Member
USA
95 Posts |
Posted - 04/13/2007 : 02:49:37
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Great work Defrag. I hadn't looked at the pics before reading and did not expect to see that. Very good workmanship. You have a good eye, very consistent and smooth radii. Apparently not the only woodworking you've done?
I've been going back and forth on how to make my own pedal board, and I'm not sure if this made my decision any easier. Function over beauty or vice versa? You've got both going and I'm not sure if I can accomplish it quite as nicely.
Good job. |
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DeFrag
Moderator
USA
3409 Posts |
Posted - 04/13/2007 : 03:02:14
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Thanks for the kind words! With the new '59 Bassman as the centerpiece (literally), she sounds as good as she looks (if I could only play guitar well).
I can't really think of any more "tasteful" features I could have added except for routing underneath, at least the power. Offset double-ended plugs could clean up the signal cables I suppose.
I got the big zero today trying to find a soft case. Too big, too small, too wide, too tall! I just can't justify a $130 hard case due to the fact that it really detracts from the grab-n-go portability even though I do love protection of my beloved Boss! Hmmmm...  |
Edited by - DeFrag on 04/15/2007 05:11:06 |
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jak84
Bronze Member
USA
95 Posts |
Posted - 04/13/2007 : 03:24:17
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See, you seem to be able to plan ahead and yet think of new additions as you go along and also features to add afterwards.
I on the other hand am the ultimate procrastinator. I will sit and think of or stare at a project forever trying to figure out how best to achieve what I want and end up achieving nothing.
Occasionally I eventually say what the hell and plow ahead only to end up with a somewhat satisfying result but a big "what if I had done this?"
Here's to undying dreams |
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DeFrag
Moderator
USA
3409 Posts |
Posted - 04/13/2007 : 04:13:35
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Lets kick around some ideas for your bad self then & getcha goin'! How can I help? Take it offline if you want..
I am the ultimate procrastinator.. I have 3 Hammond project boxes a couple with holes drilled & TRS/XLR jacks mounted! Reconfiguration & space changes slow me down. I end up rethinking what I want to do with them especially since I have to drive 2.5 hours for the closest I can lay my hands on. These aren't for homebrew FX, rather simple switching A/Bs, & the like. |
Edited by - DeFrag on 04/13/2007 06:17:31 |
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Dirk
Platinum Member
Netherlands
1309 Posts |
Posted - 04/13/2007 : 16:38:46
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quote:
Originally posted by DeFrag
According to the TU-2 manual, the Output jack is used to mute the signal when the pedal is on so you can tune silently. Whereas the Bypass jack will always output the signal allowing you to hear as you tune which can be critical if you use the tuner to get close then finish up using harmonics.
Oh, I see, I didn't know that, I thought it was a jack for connecting an external switch. |
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mattoqua
Silver Member
Canada
438 Posts |
Posted - 04/13/2007 : 21:09:43
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Im a procrastinator too 
I started building a guitar because I thought it would kill some time and be cheaper than buying a new one. I started with absolutely no knowledge how to make them, I thought it was easy. So as I went along, I found more and more things that had to be done, and just left it because it was too much work. So its been sitting around as a half done $700 piece of wood. A couple months ago I finally finished it though and it was well worth it. It ended up costing a lot more than I expected though...
(and im still too lazy to put in some straplocks ) |
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jak84
Bronze Member
USA
95 Posts |
Posted - 04/14/2007 : 03:56:22
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Seeing as how I'm not a gigging musician (or a 'musician' period for that matter)I'm just looking to make a pedal board or case that I can store up to, say a dozen or so pedals at a time. I'm at a point where I'm constantly tweaking my sound and playing around with different pedals and like to keep multiple setups going, but I'm limited for space and would like to be able to 'fold up' my board at the end of the day and kind of lean it up against the wall.
I'm sure there's one out there I could buy that would suit my needs, but I'd prefer to custom make my own... somewhat cheaply of course. |
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Topic |
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Homemade Pedalboard
