Best Pedal Boards to Arrange Your Effect Pedals the Way You Need

If you take a closer look at the Boss BCB-60, you’ll notice that it is not only a board for the neat pedal arrangement but also a case for its handy transportation. The outer material of the case is made of molded resin that looks simple yet stylish. But, unfortunately, this material isn’t as strong as one might expect, and it should be treated carefully in order not to be damaged by accidental bumps. As for the inside of the case, it is covered with foam to keep pedals securely in place. All in all, this pedalboard from Boss will become a great choice to use in rehearsal rooms where the hazard of damage is minimal.

If you still decide to take this board with you, keep in mind that it weighs 8 pounds. Yes, it’s not the lightest pedalboard available but let us remind you it is a powered model, and taking it to a gig, you also have an electrical supply for your effects pedals. Although it might be not very easy to transport the board (especially when you put pedals inside), it is safe and convenient thanks to two locks and a handle.

We dare suppose your chances of choosing the Boss BCB-60 will increase once you find out what else comes with the board. The manufacturer has done its best to provide all the accessories necessary for you to start using the device as soon as you unpack it. Thus, you’ll find an AC adaptor, three pre-cut inserts, one spare insert, parallel DC cord, 5 short and 3 long L-L cables in the box.

If you are only at the beginning of your music career and are not sure what effect pedal to choose, we’d like you to consider several most popular ones:

• Distortion effect pedal is a must if you play rock music. No matter what rock genre you prefer, this effect is used everywhere. As its name implies, the pedal distorts the sound of your guitar, yet, makes it richer.
• Guess what effect you’ll get using the Wah-Wah (also known as Cry Baby) pedal. Yes, you’re right, the long A sound. But keep in mind that it might be challenging to learn to produce the right sound.
• To make your solos more expressive, a compressor effect is the right choice.
  

To connect pedals to the board with the maximum convenience, it has hook & loop surface. Just attach Velcro straps to pedals, and place them on the board.

If you need to carry the pedal board around, for example, to rehearsals, the carry bag included in the box will definitely come in handy. By the way, it’s capacious enough to put inside not only the board itself but also pedals.

No need to mention that the proper maintenance of your pedal board will prolong its service life. For example, storing the DB-3 in a bag (comes in the box) when it’s not in use will protect it from dust. We’d like to point out that although the bag is great to use for storage, it might be not sturdy enough for the board transportation. The thing is the canvas the bag is made of might not withstand frequent load and thus may wear out pretty quickly. So, it’s recommended to think of a more durable transportation case if you need to travel with a pedal board often.

Just like most pedalboards, this one also has Velcro surface for fast and hassle-free pedal attachment. Having included special tapes (with one sticky and one hook side) in the box, the manufacturer has saved you the trouble of thinking how to join effects pedals to the board.

In spite of its impressive capacity, the Donner DB-3 weighs only 2.5 pounds, thus, it is considered one of the lightest models represented on the market. Opt for this pedalboard, and enjoy the functionality and usability in one device.

Taking a quick look at the specifications of the G-TOUR PEDALBOARD-LGW, one can notice its considerable weight. If you wonder how it is possible to handle this large 12-pound pedalboard during tours, worry not! The case is equipped with reliable locks that prevent it from accidental opening, thus ensuring the safety of transportation. You’ll also find handles and wheels on the body and the bottom of the case that allow for both vertical and horizontal transportation.

Once you open the case, you’ll find a detachable platform (the pedalboard itself). It is equipped with handles so you can take it out of the case effortlessly. And the rubber feet on the board bottom provide stable position of the G-TOUR PEDALBOARD-LGW on the stage. One more advantage of this case is that it is capacious enough to hold more items than the board with pedals. The thing is that under the board, there is space to keep cables, adapters, batteries, and other stuff you might need during rehearsals or gigs.

For sure, the G-TOUR PEDALBOARD-LGW is one of the biggest boards represented on the market. Maybe, some users might consider its 24"x11" size bulky, but just imagine how many effects pedals you can place there! We dare suppose, up to ten of your most favorite pedals will find its place on this decent pedal holder.

Arranging effect pedals in the right order is of the utmost importance if you want to produce clear and high-quality sound. To avoid muffled sounds, it’s recommended to stick to the following order:

• If you use a tuner before you start playing, it should be located at the beginning of the chain so the sound it perceives is clear for the right tuning;
• The next part of your chain is filters, for example, Wah or Auto-wah effects;
• The compressor, the aim of which is to level sound dynamics, should be placed in this part of the chain;
• Distortion, overdrive, or fuzz effects will find their place here;
• Equalizer will come in handy after the previous effects to improve the tone of the sound;
• If you like the effect provided by octave or pitch shifter pedals, they should be connected in this part of the chain;
• Here, chorus, flanger, noise gate, or tremolo effect pedals will fit perfectly;
• Delay or reverb complete effect pedal chain.

The cables you use for pedal chain connection should be of high quality as they directly affect the guitar sound. Do not go for cheap wires, if you want to achieve the studio sound quality. Also, pay attention to the wire length – the shorter cable you choose, the better it will transmit the signal from your guitar.

For hassle-free and reliable pedal attachment, Velcro straps and tie wraps are included in the box.