how beneficial is a pedal board?

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i've considered the possibilities of just carrying around a pedal board with me...not some big digitech board or whatever that hass every sound ever conceived by the human mind....but a pedal board consisting of just some simple stuff like an OD, Wah, Delay, etc...

im not used to using a pedal board, i've always just used the various effect on my amp (marshall avt 150) which aren't bad but kinda difficult to mess with when im on stage.

what are the benefits and bad points about having a pedal board?

 

[Jeff Dunne]

Re: how beneficial is a pedal board?

Benefits is a nice palette to work with, the bad part is having to set it up, run cables, troubleshoot, deal with stepping on ****, etc...


Easiest thing to do? Find one tone that kicks ass and use only it .

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: how beneficial is a pedal board?

The benefit is that analog FX sound better than onboard modelers and more convenient than midi rack setups. Guitar - pedalboard - amp.

 

[JohnnyGuitar]

Re: how beneficial is a pedal board?

One of the bad things about pedal boards is that the more effects you have and the more cables you run between them it takes away from your tone... The best solution is a good midi pedal that you can plug many effects to... but they are usually very expensive... if you use two or three effects with good short cables between them then it would sound fine.

 

[spuds]

Re: how beneficial is a pedal board?

It sounds better and its flexible because you can buy more pedals as you go to expand your range of sounds. And once you've got everything placed, you just need to plug in the lead from your axe, a lead to your amp, and plug in the power supply and you're done.

And, it looks cool!

 

[stevie_bees]

Re: how beneficial is a pedal board?

If you're only using a few effects, then I think it's a must-have. It's convenient to have evrything in one place, without the danger of one pedal sliding off across the stage, or a rats nest of cables.

 

[Loserchief]

Re: how beneficial is a pedal board?

pedalboards are way cooler than any multi effects or onboard unit. Wiith a pedalboard you can get the exact pedals you want and that sound best to you, and then you just link them together. No digital modeling and no limitation to just one maunfacturer.

 

[That90'sGuy]

Re: how beneficial is a pedal board?

One of the bad things about pedal boards is that the more effects you have and the more cables you run between them it takes away from your tone... The best solution is a good midi pedal that you can plug many effects to... but they are usually very expensive... if you use two or three effects with good short cables between them then it would sound fine.

This is why there are true bypass pedals (or if you don't have a true bypass equipped pedal and you don't want to mod the switch, buy a true bypass looper box). On a pedalboard, pedals are usually pretty close together, so the signal loss from the cable run is so low it can be practically negligible. If for any reason long cable runs kill that "direct to amp" sound, they can be overcome with a product like Axess Electronics BS2 line buffer: http://www.axess-electronics.com/_p_bs2.htm

 

[JohnnyGuitar]

Re: how beneficial is a pedal board?

This is why there are true bypass pedals (or if you don't have a true bypass equipped pedal and you don't want to mod the switch, buy a true bypass looper box). On a pedalboard, pedals are usually pretty close together, so the signal loss from the cable run is so low it can be practically negligible. If for any reason long cable runs kill that "direct to amp" sound, they can be overcome with a product like Axess Electronics BS2 line buffer: http://www.axess-electronics.com/_p_bs2.htm

When you have more then one cable between you and your amp you loose tone.. no way around it... whatever bypass the pedal has...
some people are sensitive to it some people don't care ('specialy the ones using lots of distortion). Good short cables between effect are critical IMO.

Some players used really short cables from their guitars to their amps.. I watched a recorded concert by CCR and all of them had cables that were so short they hanged in the air most of the time... these approcah is a little radical (and it also means you're always really close to the the amp and that creates feedback).

 

[Mr Wolf]

Re: how beneficial is a pedal board?

If you are like me and don't need a zillion different tones and just a few pedals then a board is great. I made my one from an MDF off-cut, painted it orange and black and put the 3 pedals i use on it. It fits perfectly into a backpack, is tidy and i have easy access to the tones i need.

 

[rspst14]

Re: how beneficial is a pedal board?

A buffered bypass pedal can help with this issue. Boss and various other manufacturers use this design. I'd go with true bypass on any pedal with a stomp switch, and then use a pedal or two with a buffered bypass to help prevent tone loss. I have four pedals, two are true bypass, two are buffered. I run one buffered pedal upfront and one in the loop, and I don't have any noticeable loss of tone.

 

[Skarekrough]

Re: how beneficial is a pedal board?

Pedalboards ar eusually the result of "need" versus "want."

There comes a time if you're playing out enough where you get tired of the setup and breakdown every time you play, especially if you're doing the opriginal rock act thing and have a whopping 35 minutes to set up, play, and break down.

I got involved in building a nice pedal board and the found out that all I really wanted was an overdrive and tuner, and both could be left on top of the amp because I didn't need them mid-song or anything.

 

[That90'sGuy]

Re: how beneficial is a pedal board?

When you have more then one cable between you and your amp you loose tone.. no way around it... whatever bypass the pedal has...
some people are sensitive to it some people don't care ('specialy the ones using lots of distortion). Good short cables between effect are critical IMO.

Some players used really short cables from their guitars to their amps.. I watched a recorded concert by CCR and all of them had cables that were so short they hanged in the air most of the time... these approcah is a little radical (and it also means you're always really close to the the amp and that creates feedback).

I don't believe it has anything to do with the amount of cables, it's more about the length of the cable that determines how much highs are rolled off (which is the tone loss you're referring to). A good buffer pedal (like the Axess BS2 I posted) will strengthen that line signal and restore that highend. I like true bypass pedals because it keeps the tone intact and with my setup, it sounds as good as directly into the amp.

I agree with Skarekrough, pedalboards are a necessity for folks who use more than one or two pedals. When you're playing out live and you have a few minutes to set up, you don't have time to play with cables. A pedalboard keeps things neat and organized.

 

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Re: how beneficial is a pedal board?

now another question... what would be better... to make my own case for the pedals or to buy one. i dont remember the brand, but a friend of mine has one of those cases where you can plug all this stuff in rather than wasting away batteries.

 

[JohnnyGuitar]

Re: how beneficial is a pedal board?

I don't believe it has anything to do with the amount of cables, it's more about the length of the cable that determines how much highs are rolled off (which is the tone loss you're referring to). A good buffer pedal (like the Axess BS2 I posted) will strengthen that line signal and restore that highend. I like true bypass pedals because it keeps the tone intact and with my setup, it sounds as good as directly into the amp.

More cables mean tone loss... one long cable is better then a few short ones (one short cable is best but that's weird).
Instead of a cable running to your amp you got cables conecting through plugs? It's breaking the conection in the middle and then reconecting.. that's not good.
Three or four effects between the guitar and the amp it's still ok... but when you seperate your line with more "stops" you loose overtones... If you don't feel it when all of the effects are bypassed you're lucky... but so far any big pedal board i've been plugged to made the tone of the guitar I've played dry.

 

[Rushfan2112]

Re: how beneficial is a pedal board?

More cables mean tone loss... one long cable is better then a few short ones (one short cable is best but that's weird).
Instead of a cable running to your amp you got cables conecting through plugs? It's breaking the conection in the middle and then reconecting.. that's not good.
Three or four effects between the guitar and the amp it's still ok... but when you seperate your line with more "stops" you loose overtones... If you don't feel it when all of the effects are bypassed you're lucky... but so far any big pedal board i've been plugged to made the tone of the guitar I've played dry.

I was always told it's feet. At 20 feet you're losing some highs, and it goes from there.

I'd say if you have some pedals, and you want to keep them safe, a pedalboard is nice. I'd say make one, though. Get an old suitcase or briefcase and go from there. Grab a power supply like a Voodoo Pedal Power or something and a few small patch cables and you'll be good to go.

 

[gordon_39422]

Re: how beneficial is a pedal board?

Not to do a salespitch, as I have nothing to gain from it, but here's my experience and thoughts on it....

I have a Furman SPB-8 pedal board... it's got a built in power block that has eight outputs for pedals (and the necessary cables for BOSS-style pedals), and 3 more AC outlets all regulated by the conditioner. The mounting surface of the board is covered with the female (plush) side of Velcro and it includes a rather large strip of the male (spike) side.... It comes with a gig-bag style case that you set the entire board in and has a strap to go across the board to keep it snugly fit while transporting. I even pile extra cables on top before zipping it up....

When I get to the gig, I test the power quality and unload... place my amp, unpack the pedal board... plug the board in to the power supply, the amp into the board, and run one cable to the amp from the board, and then plug my guitar into the board.... Occasional the dials on my pedals will be A LITTLE off, but most of the time, they are unaffected by transportation....

That sure beats the old school way of lining pedals up.... and fussing with wall warts or batteries for each box...

It was COMPLETELY worth EVERY penny I offered.... the cool thing?

Musician's Friend is currently offering a George L cable kit for pedalboards if you buy the Furman board.... that's another lifesaver in itself and a $60 value!!

Hope this helps,
Allen

 

[Skarekrough]

Re: how beneficial is a pedal board?

now another question... what would be better... to make my own case for the pedals or to buy one. i dont remember the brand, but a friend of mine has one of those cases where you can plug all this stuff in rather than wasting away batteries.

Building means you can shape it to fit your needs and pedals. The one I was putting together was smaller than anything out there, more rugged, and held twice as many pedals as I would be able to fit on a pre-made unit.

There was also a porject in the works to affix one of those LED signs to the front of it and rig it up via MIDI triggers to certain songs, etc.

When you build something, you learn alot more about how you are going to want things.

 

[Mincer]

Re: how beneficial is a pedal board?

i dont have a problem with multi effects or pedals...if you only need a few pedals, just get a few. but if you like lots to make all kinds of noise, go for it: modeler, true bypass, whatever...anything goes for me if I like the sound.

 

[Rich_T]

Re: how beneficial is a pedal board?

i dont have a problem with multi effects or pedals...if you only need a few pedals, just get a few. but if you like lots to make all kinds of noise, go for it: modeler, true bypass, whatever...anything goes for me if I like the sound.

Same. I use a fair few pedals for my sounds. One tone is not enough. I like to make the guitar not sound like a guitar a lot of the time, so i've got a lot of effects. I need a board to keep them all together and reliable. Although, they do crap out on me a fair bit. I'm gonna have to tidy it all up and get everything working again soon.