Jack of All Trades: Build a Modular Pedalboard Part 3
February 27, 2018
In this last article of the series, we'll put the finishing touches on our modular pedalboard and bring everything together into a finished project.
Securing Your Pedals and Power Supply
A lot of players have discovered the advantages of using hook and loop tape to secure their pedals. You can add and remove pedals with relative ease. Unfortunately, doing so tends to pull the tape off, weakening the adhesive. But since the modules swap out quickly, you won't have to pull the pedals off the boards to get ready for the next gig. You can also use hook-and-loop tape to keep your patch cables and power supply cords neatly in place. For flexibility in case you decide to redesign your pedalboard later, consider using indoor-outdoor carpet on the board faces instead of the loop side of the hook and loop tape. Take a piece of tape with you to the carpet aisle and see which carpet makes your hooks really stick tightly. Use spray adhesive to glue the carpet to the faces of your motherboard and modules (you might want to paint your other faces before installing the carpet but don't paint under it). A couple of phone books or your heavy cable bag make a good way of weighing down the carpet while it dries. Now apply the hook tape to the bottom of your pedals and power supply. Situate the power supply in its spot between the riser blocks and put each pedal in its place. Press the pedals down firmly and slightly twist back and forth to lock them tightly to the board. Make sure to use a lot of tape on your heavier pedals; you don't want them coming loose on the road! Connect all the patch cables and power supply cords and give your new pedalboard a test drive!
Keeping Your Pedalboard Safe During Transport
If you aren't worried about transporting your pedalboard uncovered you might want to cut a handle at the back of the motherboard so you can carry it easily. Drill a big hole in the middle and use a jigsaw to cut it right out of the plywood. You can round the corners with a wood rasp or wrap the opening in tape to cushion your hand.
On the other hand, you may want to protect your pedalboard a little better, especially if you travel or do a lot of shows around town. Try searching for a gig bag the same dimensions as your board. Depending on your design this might be a large computer bag or padded duffle, a smaller keyboard bag, a compact suitcase of the right size, etc. It's probably a good idea to consider the bag when designing the pedalboard so it will be a good fit. To save money try searching thrift stores for used bags which can often be had for only a few dollars. You can also find specialty bag makers on sites like eBay that will make you a custom bag to your exact specifications, right down to embroidering your name on the front of the bag for extra security.
With a little bit of planning and creative problem solving, you can build a practical pedalboard that allows you to bring only what you really need to each gig, almost as conveniently as if you had multiple specialized pedalboards for each style. Your imagination is the only limit to your design. Now go out there and build the custom modular pedalboard that is just right for you! Have you learned any good construction techniques for building pedalboards? What ideas did you discover? Let us know in the comments below.
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