Homemade Pedal Board
A pedal board is a board upon which guitar and bass effects pedals are mounted for easy access and transportation. It is possible to purchase a prefabricated pedal board, but they typically cost $100 or more. Many musicians opt to build their own pedal boards, which allows them to choose the perfect size, configuration and any custom modifications, typically at a fraction of the cost of a prefab board. With just a few materials, building a homemade pedal board is relatively straightforward.
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Things You'll Need
- Plywood board
- Sandpaper
- Roll of velcro
- Duct tape
- Pedal board power supply
- Patch cables
Instructions
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1
Lay out all of the effects pedals and the power supply in the desired arrangement. If there are many pedals, it is common to have multiple rows of pedals rather than one long string of pedals, but this is entirely a matter of personal preference. Connect each of the pedals with 1/4 inch patch cables. Short, angled cables are recommended because they conserve space very well, and are readily available at music stores.
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2
Measure the dimensions of the final arrangement to determine the size of the pedal board. It may be beneficial to have extra space in case more pedals are added later on. Purchase a smooth piece of plywood and have it cut to your desired dimensions. Most home improvement stores will cut purchased wood free of charge. The plywood should be sturdy, but thin enough to be lightweight; a thickness between 1/4 inch and 1/2 inch is optimal.
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3
Sand the edges of the plywood board until they are smooth, then wipe away excess sawdust. Cover the bottom and edges of the board with strips of duct tape placed lengthwise across it. The duct tape will prevent the board from slipping and from scratching the floor. Cover the top of the board with strips of "loop" velcro (the softer half of the velcro). If the adhesive side of the velcro does not bond very well with the plywood, use a staple gun to fasten it more securely.
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Apply the "hook" velcro (the rougher half of the velcro) to the underside of each of the effects pedals and to the power supply, then attach them to the pedal board in the desired arrangement. Connect each of the pedals to the power supply. Plug the power supply in, then connect the guitar or bass and amp, and begin playing. When you are finished, unplug the power supply to turn off all of the pedals.
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Tips & Warnings
Depending on the size of your effects pedal arrangement, you may be able to experiment with using a briefcase or similar type of case instead of a wooden board.
Make sure that the power supply is compatible with all of the effects pedals. If it is not, consider purchasing another power supply or simply using battery power for the incompatible pedals.
