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pedals you use, the more real estate you can lose
to unwieldy wires or alternate power supplies. In
addition, footswitches on the devices in that row
of pedals furthest from your feet can be difficult to
activate without hitting the knobs of pedals in the
first row. Recently Stage Trix addressed this issue
with its Pedal Riser (Street $11.99,
stagetrixprod-ucts.com), which creates an elevated surface for
pedals to create room underneath for wires.
Pedalboard manufacturers aren’t unaware of
these issues, and many take cable-routing considerations into their designs. Pedaltrain offer
pedalboards in various sizes—including the PT-JR
(Street $99, prostagegear.com)—and all feature
an open-framed, angled construction that facilitates both easier activation of second-row pedals
and unobtrusive routing of cables and power
supplies. MKS Professional Stage Products takes
a slightly different tack with its Pedal Pad MPS
II Tour Series boards (Street $299.95–$349.95,
pedalpad.com), which have a modular, stair-step-like design that uses interchangeable metal panels
to let you arrange and fasten pedals in just about
any configuration—including flat or angled.
Many pedalboards, including most of those
discussed here, come with an option for a gigbag or
hardshell case. A hardshell case virtually guarantees
pedal safety, and it’s the only real option if you’re
flying to a gig and need to check your pedalboard
as baggage. However, keep in mind that a large
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1. The Stage Trix Pedal Riser units let you raise stompboxes in the second row of your
pedalboard for easier activation, and they also feature a center channel for neater cable routing.
2. The Furman SPB-8C measures 28. 5" x 20. 125" and features a hardshell case with wheels and an
extendable handle, as well as 12 power outlets (eight 9-volt DC and four 120-volt AC).
3. The Pedaltrain PT-JR measures 17" x 12. 5" and features a lightweight metal frame that
facilitates neat cable routing and is angled for easier activation of second-row pedals. It’s also
available with an ATA flight case.
4. The Pedal Pad Pro Series MPS II Tour Series Pedalboard’s two-tiered design lets you attach
your pedals (with Velcro) to individual metal plates that can be set flat or angled. Its hardshell,
carpet-covered case also includes the Power Pad II power supply, which has eight 9-volt DC
jacks and one 110-volt AC plug.
