Need ideas for hand-operated pedal board

Bryan Daste · Post by **Bryan Daste** » 18 Sep 2016 3:37 pm

I've gotten more and more into the world of stompboxes lately, and I now have some pedals that I don't want to gig without. Has anyone built a pedal board that can be mounted (with good stability) to a steel leg? Ultimately, I'd like to have it just below view near my right hand so I could reach over and tweak a knob or two without much movement.

I was looking at something like this:
https://www.amazon.com/Pearl-PTT1212-Mo ... ssion+tray

But wondered if anyone has a better, more streamlined idea for steel?

Thanks for all advice!

Scott Duckworth · Post by **Scott Duckworth** » 18 Sep 2016 4:45 pm

Bryan, I have a mixer that sits on a seat height folding stand.

Put your pedals on a board the make or buy a stand (a folding camp stool might work).

Bruce Derr · Post by **Bruce Derr** » 19 Sep 2016 9:21 am

Run a Google image search on "microphone stand accessories shelf".

I was looking for something like that and I ended up buying an OnStage MST1000 tray:
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/MST1000
I didn't end up using it. It's not bad but not ideally suited, at least for me. It's cheap to try, though.

Here's an interesting bracket:
https://www.amazon.com/rolls-MSC106-Sta ... lls+msc106
You could bolt a small pedalboard to it. But I don't know how it would hold up to pressure from pressing on the footswitches.

Speaking of which... and slightly off-topic... is anybody else annoyed by the loud footswitch click from most effects boxes? With low stage volumes common these days, pedals ought to use quieter switches. End of mini-rant.

Brett Lanier · Post by **Brett Lanier** » 19 Sep 2016 12:48 pm

I've tried a few different things, and my favorite solution is a briefcase.
Cost me 5 bucks at a thrift store, then I cut a piece of plywood the size of the case and cover it in velcro or lock-tite.

It may seem a bit unstable but I've never had it topple over, even when wacking pedals with my hand.
Personally, I don't want anything clamped to my guitar. seems a little too geeky to me.

This array of pedals isn't actually hooked up right now. I just threw some pedals on there to give you an idea of what kind of space it gives you.
Flexibility and adaptability is one of the biggest factors for me with pedalboards. I'm always moving things around and grabbing different pedals for different gigs.

Nathan Guilford · Post by **Nathan Guilford** » 19 Sep 2016 4:17 pm

what about a latin percussion tray table? Would look professional on stage.

https://reverb.com/item/751393-clearanc ... trap-table

I use an old vintage suitcase and a small nightstand table. Sturdy and vintage cool, but two more things to carry.

Bryan Daste · Post by **Bryan Daste** » 19 Sep 2016 10:35 pm

You know, a thought occurred to me - what if I took my existing pedal board, which is basically a small metal briefcase, and just installed folding legs on the bottom? That would solve the problem and not create another item to tote around. Anybody done this? Any source for the legs? I had trouble finding anything by googling "small folding table legs" or "folding bench legs."

Tim Russell · Post by **Tim Russell** » 20 Sep 2016 2:09 am

Check ebay for "folding legs" - I saw a bunch of stuff on there that gave me ideas for what you are looking for.

Scott Duckworth · Post by **Scott Duckworth** » 20 Sep 2016 3:08 am

I think Jimmie Hudson sells legs for his seats...

Might check with some of the other seat makers also.

Jon Light (deceased) · Post by **Jon Light (deceased)** » 20 Sep 2016 3:33 am

Something you could consider, if you want:

Some pedals have soft-touch switches which make them easy to turn on/off but many do not. 'Stomping' a pedal by hand means that you need a very sturdy rig.
I chose to use a looper box like this.

Except that I since I could not find one with my needs, I built one from scratch using toggle switches in place of the stomp switches.

It is true bypass and is mounted to the pedalboard with short runs to the individual pedals.
The pedals are all ON and are brought into line with the loop switches. This frees up the rest of one's thinking in terms of how secure the mounting of the board needs to be. You can even just stand it up vertically beside the steel.

Yes, of course it takes space on the board. One of the things that needs to be considered.
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Walter Killam · Post by **Walter Killam** » 20 Sep 2016 4:48 am

Being a cheap guy myself, I'd grab a folding TV tray and verify that having stomp boxes for hand use will actually work.

Rick Barnhart · Post by **Rick Barnhart** » 20 Sep 2016 6:18 am

Bryan, Joe Naylor of steelseat.com makes an elevated pedal rack with folding legs.

Jeff Mead · Post by **Jeff Mead** » 20 Sep 2016 6:54 am

Bryan Daste wrote:You know, a thought occurred to me - what if I took my existing pedal board, which is basically a small metal briefcase, and just installed folding legs on the bottom? That would solve the problem and not create another item to tote around. Anybody done this? Any source for the legs? I had trouble finding anything by googling "small folding table legs" or "folding bench legs."

Why not just put it on a small stool (one is usually available in pretty much any venue) or a beer crate from behind the bar?

Mark van Allen · Post by **Mark van Allen** » 21 Sep 2016 8:11 am

Hey, Bryan, for some time I've been using a three-space "sidekick" rack made for putting 19" rack gear at the height you need next to your endplate. I just took the rack ears out and flipped them over and it dropped them down far enough to give me room for 5-6 foot pedals to fit with the cover closing over them. Also room for a power strip so I have power for tuner, Telonics pedal, ad phone charger all hooked up, open and go. Fairly narrow as well so a good fit for my preferred stage right setup position.

Cartwright Thompson · Post by **Cartwright Thompson** » 21 Sep 2016 10:38 am

I use a heavy duty music stand. Just add Velcro and holes. Power supply is mounted on the underside. It fits in an old brief case I used to use with photo gear. Portable, with a small footprint and height and angle are adjustable. Cheap too...

Philip Garcia · Post by **Philip Garcia** » 21 Sep 2016 1:44 pm

I think the cleanest way to do this is (cable management wise) to buy a 6u or 8u rack case with rear rack rails too so you can put in sliding rack drawers with all your guitar pedals and have the wires cleanly out-of-the-way going to the back .
This rack case would go on a smaller table and or piano bench height surface .
You can also install rack drawers for accessories cables picks, and stuff .
Since it's sliding the pedals can slide forward all the way in when not needed.
I'm trying to build one myself.
But keep us posted and let us know what you come up with

Pete Burak · Post by **Pete Burak** » 22 Sep 2016 8:58 am

This "upright" style pedal board is made from a 10-space rackmout-rack. It has a small footprint and is easy to gig with for me.
The little wooden tray mounted on the side of my seat works great too. It folds up for transport (first pic).
I got the 8-loop Loop-Master pedal because it is 19-inches long, the same is the rack. You can use some loops for Steel and some for guitar (I often gig with both).

Olli Haavisto · Post by **Olli Haavisto** » 22 Sep 2016 12:40 pm

My Pedaltrain Jr sits on it's flight case at just the right height.
Stabile enough to use the switches, with a little practice...

Ken Metcalf · Post by **Ken Metcalf** » 22 Sep 2016 12:58 pm

Used Pedaltrain Off craigslist. Bent aluminum straps to hang on the rack.
Most of the time I don't use this stuff but it seemed silly to lug it around and have it sit in the case not hooked up when someone breaks into a song and I wish I had this or that.

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 23 Sep 2016 11:37 am

Mine:

Jon Light (deceased) · Post by **Jon Light (deceased)** » 23 Sep 2016 1:48 pm

Ken and Pete--

My compliments. Good creative solutions to the unique problems of steeling w/ fx. My vertical board has some merit but it is not durable enough to be roadworthy.

Jim Fogarty · Post by **Jim Fogarty** » 23 Sep 2016 6:36 pm

Rick Barnhart wrote:Bryan, Joe Naylor of steelseat.com makes an elevated pedal rack with folding legs.

Heh. Looks like a little Star Wars robot buddy!

Stephen Williams · Post by **Stephen Williams** » 25 Sep 2016 7:35 pm

Check out the Fender PSG Forum on Facebook. Somebody there has a bunch of mini pedals that he put underneath I believe.

Bryan Daste · Post by **Bryan Daste** » 26 Sep 2016 11:54 am

These are all great ideas! Thanks guys!

Joe Naylor · Post by **Joe Naylor** » 8 Oct 2016 4:44 pm

My effects boxes on legs are a couple standard sizes. 12 1/2 X 16 3/4 inside usable and 12 1/2 X 24 inside. Legs fold up like my steelseats and removable lid makes it into a brief case carrying case. Foam in lip holds pedals in place.

joe.naylor@att.net www.steelseat.com or 480-215-8853

Joe Naylor
www.steelseat.com.

Tony Glassman · Post by **Tony Glassman** » 8 Oct 2016 6:24 pm

Brian, sent you a PM

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Need ideas for hand-operated pedal board

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