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Flenix
Bronze Member
United Kingdom
74 Posts |
 Posted - 04/10/2010 : 00:30:50
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OK guys, I have finally outgrown my BCB-60 after managing to run it with 10 pedals in. I've now got 13 in my rig (through an NS-2 and LS-2 so not too much suckage at least :)) and I'm designing a much bigger board to hold them all. I've designed and planned out a board to hold a whopping 24 pedals easily, with all the larger wires going underboard, 3 tiers to make further back pedals a little higher and a space at the side for footswitchs (my amp has a 6 button one). Now there is one thing left to do other than actually build it: Decide how to attach the pedals!
I have a few options I know of, but all have their flaws:
1. Build it when I get it out:
Basically I store them tightly somewhere then stick em all on the board whenever I set it up. IMO, that will take WAY too long but some people do it like that....
2. Velcro:
Velcro seems like the best option, but I'm worried about my poor labels. I saw Laurie post about how to reattach labels that velcro ripped off, and it seems like a lot of hassle! I don't want to have to go through all that just to keep my pedals on the board
3. Screws:
I've seen these little sets you can get, which are little clips that screw onto the base of the pedal (using the base screws) then screw onto the board. These are obviously the sturdiest, but it also means I can't swap pedals out whenever I like, as I'd have to do a whole load of screwing first.
So all have their pros and cons (except 1. no pros there..) - but which should I go for? or maybe some of you have a much better idea that would be perfect?
Also before you say anything, yes I know this board will be HUGE. I already have some of the parts and have layed out my pedals on the base, and yes it is huge :) I will only be using this board for gigs where the stage can take it, which is most of the ones we play but not all. for the smaller ones I'l revert to my 10-strong BCB with maybe a few off-board pedals I can set up on the day. (another reason option 3 isn't good) - And yes it will weigh a tonne. We're fitting wheels and a handle, like a luggage case.
So, any ideas of how to keep my pedals in place on the board? :) |
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Radioheading
Silver Member
United Kingdom
494 Posts |
Posted - 04/10/2010 : 00:33:43
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| Cable ties work with a DIY wooden board, and dont damage the pedals atall. |
Edited by - Radioheading on 04/10/2010 00:34:09 |
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Flenix
Bronze Member
United Kingdom
74 Posts |
Posted - 04/10/2010 : 01:01:13
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hm, yeah thats a good idea. Especially as I found out how to remove them without cutting them, just squeeze the little head bit with some pliers and they open up!
how would I attach them though, to the board i mean? |
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Radioheading
Silver Member
United Kingdom
494 Posts |
Posted - 04/10/2010 : 01:02:01
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Lil drill holes?  |
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Laurie
Double Platinum Member
Canada
4854 Posts |
Posted - 04/10/2010 : 01:10:19
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quote:
Originally posted by Flenix
hm, yeah thats a good idea. Especially as I found out how to remove them without cutting them, just squeeze the little head bit with some pliers and they open up!
how would I attach them though, to the board i mean?
Or use releasable cable ties...
http://www.rccn.com.cn/cabletie/RELEASIBLE%20CABLE%20TIE.html
Drill LOTS of holes in a grid all over the board - lets you move pedals anywhere. |
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Flenix
Bronze Member
United Kingdom
74 Posts |
Posted - 04/10/2010 : 01:15:35
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Looks like cable ties may well be a winner then! I'l leave it a few more days in case there are any other good ideas, I'm in no rush and the board wont be finished any time soon anyway. Its a project I'm doing with my dad, so I'm only working on it while I'm with him anyway.
Also, Laurie, surely those are more expensive? I have a pair of pliers in my room and a load of cable ties somewhere anyway  |
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Laurie
Double Platinum Member
Canada
4854 Posts |
Posted - 04/10/2010 : 01:17:52
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quote:
Originally posted by Flenix
Also, Laurie, surely those are more expensive? I have a pair of pliers in my room and a load of cable ties somewhere anyway
Yes, they are much more expensive, but have the upside that you don't need tools and a supply of spares. |
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zerksies
Double Platinum Member
USA
3406 Posts |
Posted - 04/10/2010 : 03:52:37
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| Servo Tape works pretty well |
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Dr. Bob
Moderator
Australia
6593 Posts |
Posted - 04/10/2010 : 04:34:12
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Hi Flenix & Guys
You may want to consider what a few member s here have already done.
Use a PB1000 12 way pedal board from BehringClone.
Or in your case with a 24 pedal setup, Buy 2 of them.
All you would then need to do is run a jumper cable between the two cases.
Just remember how BIG, HEAVY, & Cumbersome a 24 pedal board is going to really be.
2x12 boards/cases will be a lot easier to to lug around, set up & break down.
On stage you could have one on the left & right sides of the Mic.
Or any other arrangement you can think up.
The PB1000 is not too expensive in the USA.
I just bought another PB600 6 way case, to run a 2 by 6 pedal setup.
The Boss BCB-60 is just so ridiculously priced out here in Oz.
RRP fro a BCB-60 is around $349au.
and if you bargain really hard you can sometimes get a dealer down to around $299au or so. 
My mate just purchased a PB1000 within the last month for $179au.
Regards Dr. Bob  |
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PaulH
Gold Member
535 Posts |
Posted - 04/10/2010 : 09:38:16
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24 pedals... That's one BIG pedal board.
Your audience will expect miracles when they see that!
Other musicians at a gig will think you're mad... still each to their own I suppose.
For studio use you may well need/use a variety of sounds and set up some/all the pedals as and when you need them.
For live use, just a basic handful are all you need (usually sonme sort of distortion, maybe modulation, and delay, and a tuner if you can't tune by ear). Leave any reverb to the main house mix.
I assume you a fairly new to playing guitar.
Effects are not the be all and end all.
Over the years I've found less is more.
If you really have to have them all, then mount them on slide out trays in a rack case with some sort of patch bay to control them.
Your signal path will be much better.
Then you can have a simple midi-switching unit at your feet. |
Edited by - PaulH on 04/10/2010 09:46:06 |
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Miky
Silver Member
Czech Republic
184 Posts |
Posted - 04/10/2010 : 12:56:56
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Wow, 24 pedals. How can you possibly use them all? Constructing a big pedal board and finding out how to attach pedal is probably just a question of figuring out.
What I would do (and what I did) before building a pedal board is spend some time thinking about what pedals are essential and how much tone you're going to lose with 24 on board. I would also recommend true bypass looping anything above ten pedals.
I have only six pedals on my PB and the tone loss is just acceptable.
And I'm using nr. 3 - screws - which as you say is sturdy but pretty annoying when you want to replace pedals, therefore, if you use this option, think before you mount. |
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Flenix
Bronze Member
United Kingdom
74 Posts |
Posted - 04/10/2010 : 14:16:23
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quote:
Originally posted by PaulH
I assume you a fairly new to playing guitar.
Effects are not the be all and end all.
Over the years I've found less is more.
Well I've been playing nearly 4 years, so I suppose it depends what you consider "new"
Most of the effects i'm using do different stuff. I do have multiple distortions on there yes, but only 3 or 4 (my main Metal Core, blues driver for lower gain, then DF-2 for awesome feedback solos and dyna drive for gain swelling) then I have all the usual chorus flanger etc. Also its 24 in compact pedal sizes. Some of my pedals are bigger such as a couple of double pedals etc so there isn't actually 24 individual pedals on the board :P
And finally everything is in a loop, using boss LS-2. It may not be true bypass but its pretty close :) I have my modulations in one and distortions in another, so when I turn them off it simplifies the chain to just the tuner (which I might put in another loop) then my acoustic simulator, amp factory and loop station :) so tone sucking isn't going to be an issue either
as for weight/size, like i said I'l only use it when I will have room, it will be at the edge of the stage and it will have wheels for transport.
all this was mentioned in my original post, I'm looking for attachment options not comments on the size/weight/necessity :) |
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Radioheading
Silver Member
United Kingdom
494 Posts |
Posted - 04/10/2010 : 14:18:28
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Surely you get insane signal depreciation/tone loss with 24 pedals... No wonder you need something bigger than a Clio  Have you ever considered MFX? I'm not talking about something like an ME20 or anything but... The TC Electronic G-System. If its good enough for steve vai to drop most his pedals/racks, its good enough for us  |
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Flenix
Bronze Member
United Kingdom
74 Posts |
Posted - 04/10/2010 : 14:28:47
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quote:
And finally everything is in a loop, using boss LS-2. It may not be true bypass but its pretty close :) I have my modulations in one and distortions in another, so when I turn them off it simplifies the chain to just the tuner (which I might put in another loop) then my acoustic simulator, amp factory and loop station :) so tone sucking isn't going to be an issue either.
considerably less tone loss, there is never more than 8 pedals in a chain :)
Also I might not nessecerily use all the spaces. I want this to be an all around board that I can use any time and CAN hold up to 24 pedals. that doesn't mean I'l be using 24 live, i'd only have that many in there if I plan to record multiple songs without the need to change them... Anyway for gigs it would be more around the 14-15 mark including double pedals etc. |
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Radioheading
Silver Member
United Kingdom
494 Posts |
Posted - 04/10/2010 : 14:31:04
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| 15 is still alot Like I said... G-System! |
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Flenix
Bronze Member
United Kingdom
74 Posts |
Posted - 04/10/2010 : 14:38:37
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is that some kind of multi effects? They're usually digital :( and none can quite get the sounds of the CE-2 etc, plus there are songs where I use as many as 7 or 8 different effects within one song so I can't bend over half way through.
*Update*
Been playing around with layouts and I think I'm gonna go for two 12-size pedal boards instead (3 rows of 4, not 2x6) - that way I can probably fit about 15 in somehow for gigs (or have a few off-boarders) and have the full 24 for bigger occasions. There, now you dont need to worry bout size/sound and can focus on helping me attach them 
*another edit*
off topic, but nice new avatar Radioheading! I could stare at that for hours... |
Edited by - Flenix on 04/10/2010 15:06:40 |
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Topic |
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Pedal Board Mounting
