Pedalboard pedal mounting - Boss and JD wah?

[MJG]

Anyone got any experience with reversing the back/base plates on Boss pedals to get a smooth/flat surface to apply velcro to? I gather that its a common technique from what I've read elsewhere on the internet...

However I opened up my TU-2 and DD-7 only to find there isn't enough room for the reversal. Surely I can't force it in can I????

And...

Has anyone mounted a Jim Dunlop Wah to their board with velcro?? How did you do it if so??? Thanks

 

[ehamady6]

I ditched velcro a long time ago and made custom fasteners. They handle the rise created by the rubber pad and use the pedal's existing screws. Each pedal stays locked in place when playing and when transporting the pedalboard. I attach one in each corner and there is absolutely no "give" when I stomp. They anchor all of my Boss and MXR pedals, including my Boss FV-500H volume pedal, and I bend a couple fasteners to lock down my VooDoo Labs power supply. I've even sold a few dozen fasteners to friends.

I use long screws to mount my Wylde wah and Dunlop Rotovibe from under my pedalboard. But for those who like velcro, Stompin Ground makes special mounting plates for wah style pedals:
http://www.stompin-ground.com/products/sgwahplate.htm

 

[firesgt911]

+1 on the chain link.

I have several vintage pedals that I can't bring myself to put velcro on. Then again, I've ditched my boards and just run my stuff on the floor since I have been adding lots of stuff and moving them around so much.

 

[Deftone]

Good idea!

 

[huw]

Reversing the plate? Seems like a lot of fuss. I have two Boss pedals on my pedal board, & they both took velcro just fine - I stuck it to the part of the base that touches the floor & now they stay put on the board just fine. If you hold the board upside down they will just hang there happily until you get bored.

Is this something that lots of people get stressed about? because I've not come across it before, & like I say I've never had trouble getting the pedals to stay put.

 

[ehamady6]

Is this something that lots of people get stressed about? because I've not come across it before, & like I say I've never had trouble getting the pedals to stay put.

I've tried most velcro products out there and they do hold well. Plus velcro makes it easy to move pedals around. But in my case it ended up damaging the rubber pad on some of my pedals when removing it, thus lowering their resale value. I build my own pedalboards and have honed my ultimate effects chain, so I wanted a more solid way of mounting my pedals. I've been using the custom fasteners I made for about a year now and they're so rock solid that I likely won't go back to velcro.

 

[5er driver]

If you have the time & patience and want to make a project out of it, you could remove the bottom covers and screw the pedals directly to the board from the bottom. You can also run the power up from underneath the board to the pedals' battery clips so the only wires above board are the patch cables. In the pic below, the bottom of the board isn't finished, so the power wiring looks funky. At this point of the build I used duct tape to hold the wiring in place so I could test the board electronics.

 

[JMV]

On my Boss pedals I just cut the velcro into thin strips and put them along the rubber parts that would have contact with the ground. That way I avoided peeling the stickers off the bottom.

With the wah, I had to be a bit more creative. You need to take the feet off, but you need a low profile spacer to take their place so the bottom won't rattle. I drilled small holes in 4 pennies and put the screws through them. Add velcro to the bottom plate and you're good to go.

 

[huw]

...it ended up damaging the rubber pad on some of my pedals when removing it, thus lowering their resale value...

Resale value? Ok got it. That doesn't bother me, my gear's for using & I'll worry about value if I ever have to sell - which I probably won't.

Heck, I even velcrod my Pete Cornish pedals...

 

[ehamady6]

Resale value? Ok got it. That doesn't bother me, my gear's for using & I'll worry about value if I ever have to sell - which I probably won't.

I'll trade in an older pedal when an upgraded version or better alternative is available. I will obviously get more resale value for the trade-in when the pedal is in good shape rather than knackered. A chewed up rubber pad resulting from peeling off velcro definitely decreases the value. If you like older technology and to hang on to your gear then that's great. Maybe the style of music you play sounds better through that gear. For me, if a newer version performs better at gigs, is built better and sounds better, then I trade up for it.

I play death and black metal and just traded in my Boss Metal Core for the new MXR Fullbore Metal which blows it away in every way. Because my Boss pedal was in such good shape I only paid $25 for the MXR after the trade in. If I had used velcro that marred the pedal, then I would've paid MUCH more. Locking down my pedals with my custom fasteners rather than velcro is simply a better option for me on just about every level.

 

[ehamady6]

If you have the time & patience and want to make a project out of it, you could remove the bottom covers and screw the pedals directly to the board from the bottom. You can also run the power up from underneath the board to the pedals' battery clips so the only wires above board are the patch cables. In the pic below, the bottom of the board isn't finished, so the power wiring looks funky. At this point of the build I used duct tape to hold the wiring in place so I could test the board electronics.

Great board! That's exactly the clean and sturdy result I shoot for when building my pedalboards. I screw in my wah and Rotovibe from the bottom with long screws and love how they don't budge. It's just a very solid feeling. I also like to install Neutrik input and output jacks to save wear on the first and last pedals in my chain. I wire a flanged power inlet to my VooDoo Labs power supply that I hide and lock down in the wedge along with most of the wiring. It makes for easy transport and plug-n-play setup at gigs. Here's the "no velcro" board I'm in the process of building now out of scrap wood (before black paint):

.

 

[BluesLover]

Did you model that pedalboard after a Trailer Trash board?

 

[slowpokerhino]

With the wah, I had to be a bit more creative. You need to take the feet off, but you need a low profile spacer to take their place so the bottom won't rattle. I drilled small holes in 4 pennies and put the screws through them. Add velcro to the bottom plate and you're good to go.

I do the same but go to Home Depot and they have spacers in the hardware section that work quite well. If I remember correctly I used 2 or 3 spacers on each screw.

 

[ehamady6]

Did you model that pedalboard after a Trailer Trash board?

Trailer Trash boards are really cool and I'd get one if they weren't so expensive. I actually made my first wedge long before discovering TT. I like the wedge's angle for stomping on pedals and reading their settings, the way it hides the power supply and cables, how well it accommodates the Neutrik jacks and power inlet, how easy it is to replace the top or any piece if damaged, how well it handles the order of my effects chain, the way it looks, etc.

My board probably resembles Pumaboards more than TT, even though I didn't model it after those either. IMO, the wedge is such a logical and optimal design. They're also easy to build using a table saw. I built and wired mine over a single weekend.

 

[Deftone]

I'll trade in an older pedal when an upgraded version or better alternative is available. I will obviously get more resale value for the trade-in when the pedal is in good shape rather than knackered. A chewed up rubber pad resulting from peeling off velcro definitely decreases the value. If you like older technology and to hang on to your gear then that's great. Maybe the style of music you play sounds better through that gear. For me, if a newer version performs better at gigs, is built better and sounds better, then I trade up for it.

I play death and black metal and just traded in my Boss Metal Core for the new MXR Fullbore Metal which blows it away in every way. Because my Boss pedal was in such good shape I only paid $25 for the MXR after the trade in. If I had used velcro that marred the pedal, then I would've paid MUCH more. Locking down my pedals with my custom fasteners rather than velcro is simply a better option for me on just about every level.

I'm kinda in the same camp so I have to agree. A lot of stuff I swore I'd never sell is gone, so it behooves me to keep everything in nice shape and original looking as possible. I'm no pack rat. If it 'aint be used, I want it gone.

 

[Deftone]

Great board! That's exactly the clean and sturdy result I shoot for when building my pedalboards. I screw in my wah and Rotovibe from the bottom with long screws and love how they don't budge. It's just a very solid feeling. I also like to install Neutrik input and output jacks to save wear on the first and last pedals in my chain. I wire a flanged power inlet to my VooDoo Labs power supply that I hide and lock down in the wedge along with most of the wiring. It makes for easy transport and plug-n-play setup at gigs. Here's the "no velcro" board I'm in the process of building now out of scrap wood (before black paint):

.

Exactly what I'm looking for. Very nice! I'll be building something similar. ehamady6 is super meticulous about his gear. I appreciate that.

 

[ehamady6]

Exactly what I'm looking for. Very nice! I'll be building something similar. ehamady6 is super meticulous about his gear. I appreciate that.

Many players ask me about my boards so this time I took photos of every step of the building process -- cutting and assembling the wood, my adjustable table saw jig for cutting the sides, installing the side handles, mounting the jacks, mounting the power supply, running the cables, etc., so let me know if you have any questions when building your board.

You are so right about me being meticulous about my gear. I take great care of and appreciate my pedals, what they do, and their order in the chain. It has served me well. And a couple that I thought were useless in their stock form -- Boss CS-3 Compressor/Sustainer and SD-1 Super Overdrive -- I've modded (Monte Allums mods) to become integral pieces to my tone.

Green switch = TubeScreamer mod.
Red switch = double volume boost.

I used to have multi-effects processors like the Boss GT-10, but I can get every sound I want out of my current rig and I think individual pedals just sound better. I'm even more meticulous when it comes to my guitar's setup!

 

[5er driver]

.

That is a beautiful board ehamady6!

 

[ehamady6]

That is a beautiful board ehamady6!

Thanks. It was fun to make and the pedal locks work great. I hate Velcro!

 

[Steven]

I had to resurrect this thread. I was thinking of starting a "Pedal mounting with Velcro on flat surface carpet pedalboards for dummies" thread but I'm happier I found this thread. Mounting a wah & rubber bottomed pedals with velcro to adhere to the SKB-8 board are all new concepts for me. I wasn't sure if I should, wanted to, or even needed to remove the rubber on several hundred dollar pedals.

I am restricted to this velcro board however. I'm not about to build a board so I need to go the velcro route since I just purchased this SKB carpeted surface. Never thought about resale of the pedals I have, and will be purchasing as I expand my first pedalboard. I'm totally inexperienced in this area. Is the best bet just to put the velcro over the rubber bottoms of boss pedals, and similar pedals ? I'll be buying another wah that takes DC power soon. (Don't wish to modify my pristine vintage boomerang wah) so I'll also need tips on mounting a wah or volume pedal.

I just have a few pedals, some have rubber feet screwed into them, others have rubber bottoms. I'll be purchasing many more.
Never thought of this stuff prior to buying a board. The board I have is the powered SKB board that holds up to 8 pedals. SKB-8.

Pedalboard newbie.