Suggestions needed for pedal board and power supply.

brianlux · May 23

Hey guys, first a confession: Until very recently, I did not know that pedals should be hooked up to a power supply. I have been just connecting them together and then the last one is connected to a 1Spot True Tone 9 volt adapter plugged into a surge protector, plugged into a wall outlet. I gather this is NOT the way to do it, right?

So with that in mind, and with wanting to kind of tidy up my pedals, I'm thinking of getting a pedal board and a power supply, or a pedal board with a built in power supply, and hope the Guitar Gods will help me figure out how to hook it all up correctly.

For best use of the space I have, I am hoping to find a board that can run the pedals two deep instead of in one long line.

Thanks so much for suggestions!

These are the pedal I have (I don't have the chorus yet, but hope to soon, so I made a card to represent it)

Image: https://i.postimg.cc/N0VpdyPw/20250522-201503.jpg

StardogChamp79 · May 23

Hey man! I hope you are doing well! Nice pedals. I recently finished my board and ended up using a Voodoo Lab Power Plus 3. It was a little pricey but way worth the investment especially if you want to expand later on. They make different sizes based on need. But the sound is fantastic little to no hum or buzz due to the isolated power supply. Here is the link. Hope this helps.

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/PedalPwr3Pls--voodoo-lab-pedal-power-3-plus-high-current-12-output-isolated-power-supply

brianlux · May 23

StardogChamp79 said:

Hey man! I hope you are doing well! Nice pedals. I recently finished my board and ended up using a Voodoo Lab Power Plus 3. It was a little pricey but way worth the investment especially if you want to expand later on. They make different sizes based on need. But the sound is fantastic little to no hum or buzz due to the isolated power supply. Here is the link. Hope this helps.

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/PedalPwr3Pls--voodoo-lab-pedal-power-3-plus-high-current-12-output-isolated-power-supply

Hey, Stardog, thanks for the recommendation! That power supply might be a bit out of my price range, but the Voodoo gear seems to get a lot of good reviews.

But I'm beginning to see the whole concept is something I don't know a whole lot about. For example, I think all the smaller pedals are 9 Volt, but the big Chandler Industries Tube Driver has it's own power chord (as you can see below), so I'm not sure how that would work or not work with a pedal power supply. I must openly confess to being an idiot about electronics!

Perhaps, despite the cost being higher and the closest place being an hour away, I need to gather all of this stuff up and go down to Skips Music and get set up there.

StardogChamp79 · May 23

Good morning @brianlux! I am all for supporting local business when possible. Hopefully they can sort you out. My biggest mistake was not leaving myself room for wanting to expand later like adding a new pedal etc. I also have a smaller PS by Joyo that runs a smaller board. That has also worked out great. I will say you will probably want something isolated as that cuts back on the noise/interference. If you have not checked out Sweetwater they are a fantastic company with great customer service. They give you a dedicated rep to assist you in all your gear needs. Check them out if you like. Here is a link to all their PS. They do make some you can plug a pedal like yours into. Here is my current setup.

https://www.sweetwater.com/c961--Power_Supplies

Merkin Baller · May 23

Following as I hope to upgrade my pedal board this summer.

DE4173 · May 23

StardogChamp79 said:

Good morning @brianlux! I am all for supporting local business when possible. Hopefully they can sort you out. My biggest mistake was not leaving myself room for wanting to expand later like adding a new pedal etc. I also have a smaller PS by Joyo that runs a smaller board. That has also worked out great. I will say you will probably want something isolated as that cuts back on the noise/interference. If you have not checked out Sweetwater they are a fantastic company with great customer service. They give you a dedicated rep to assist you in all your gear needs. Check them out if you like. Here is a link to all their PS. They do make some you can plug a pedal like yours into. Here is my current setup.

https://www.sweetwater.com/c961--Power_Supplies

Such a clean board! 🫡

StardogChamp79 · May 23

DE4173 said:

StardogChamp79 said:

Good morning @brianlux! I am all for supporting local business when possible. Hopefully they can sort you out. My biggest mistake was not leaving myself room for wanting to expand later like adding a new pedal etc. I also have a smaller PS by Joyo that runs a smaller board. That has also worked out great. I will say you will probably want something isolated as that cuts back on the noise/interference. If you have not checked out Sweetwater they are a fantastic company with great customer service. They give you a dedicated rep to assist you in all your gear needs. Check them out if you like. Here is a link to all their PS. They do make some you can plug a pedal like yours into. Here is my current setup.

https://www.sweetwater.com/c961--Power_Supplies

Such a clean board! 🫡

Thanks man! I still have some tweaks to do as a couple of the pedals are not in the right order. Waiting on cables.

DE4173 · May 23

When you have time (and if you want to share), could you let us know what is the right order and also why that is. I find this all fascinating. 😄

gimmesometruth27 · May 23

there are a few ways to go about it. i prefer a powered pedalboard for gigging for a few reasons. mine has a power conditioner built into it and it came with a hardshell case so that nothing touches the knobs while transporting it and it just kind of protects everything. it was more expensive but it came with power cables for the pedals and everything i needed, and it had wheels so i didn't have to carry it around.

for home use on a clean amp i use a holeyboard. it is modular and allows for you to expand. you can always buy an expansion deck to add to it. things i don't like about it is that it does not come with velcro on the board. it gives you the option to apply your own, or you can use zip ties to hold your pedals onto it so it makes it easier to move things around. velcro makes it more difficult. i also do not like that there is no transport case with it so your pedals are just exposed and your dog can step on it and fuck up your settings. i also do not like that you have to buy your own power supply. this can get fucking expensive. the power supply i bought cost more than the holeyboard itself.

for patch cables i have all kinds of issues with the premade ones, so i just use george ls and make my own. sometimes I do get a grounding issue, which can be frustrating, but its an easier fix than having to run to the guitar store and pay $15 for a fucking 6 inch patch cable.

i'll post a few pics later so you can see what I am talking about.

brianlux · May 23

StardogChamp79 said:

Good morning @brianlux! I am all for supporting local business when possible. Hopefully they can sort you out. My biggest mistake was not leaving myself room for wanting to expand later like adding a new pedal etc. I also have a smaller PS by Joyo that runs a smaller board. That has also worked out great. I will say you will probably want something isolated as that cuts back on the noise/interference. If you have not checked out Sweetwater they are a fantastic company with great customer service. They give you a dedicated rep to assist you in all your gear needs. Check them out if you like. Here is a link to all their PS. They do make some you can plug a pedal like yours into. Here is my current setup.

https://www.sweetwater.com/c961--Power_Supplies

I to like supporting independent local stores. Unfortunately, the the only local shop we had (and it was a good little shop) was run by a guy who retired years ago and since then, we have nothing. The closest good shop is now an hour away. So yes, Sweetwater has been good to me. I just got another guitar stand from them The price was great, and it showed up super quickly!

That one fine looking set up you have there!

Thanks again for good suggestions!

brianlux · May 23

gimmesometruth27 said:

there are a few ways to go about it. i prefer a powered pedalboard for gigging for a few reasons. mine has a power conditioner built into it and it came with a hardshell case so that nothing touches the knobs while transporting it and it just kind of protects everything. it was more expensive but it came with power cables for the pedals and everything i needed, and it had wheels so i didn't have to carry it around.

for home use on a clean amp i use a holeyboard. it is modular and allows for you to expand. you can always buy an expansion deck to add to it. things i don't like about it is that it does not come with velcro on the board. it gives you the option to apply your own, or you can use zip ties to hold your pedals onto it so it makes it easier to move things around. velcro makes it more difficult. i also do not like that there is no transport case with it so your pedals are just exposed and your dog can step on it and fuck up your settings. i also do not like that you have to buy your own power supply. this can get fucking expensive. the power supply i bought cost more than the holeyboard itself.

for patch cables i have all kinds of issues with the premade ones, so i just use george ls and make my own. sometimes I do get a grounding issue, which can be frustrating, but its an easier fix than having to run to the guitar store and pay $15 for a fucking 6 inch patch cable.

i'll post a few pics later so you can see what I am talking about.

I like the idea of your powered board with hardshell case. The extra protection (including keeping dust out) sounds like a good idea.

gimmesometruth27 · May 23

brianlux said:

gimmesometruth27 said:

there are a few ways to go about it. i prefer a powered pedalboard for gigging for a few reasons. mine has a power conditioner built into it and it came with a hardshell case so that nothing touches the knobs while transporting it and it just kind of protects everything. it was more expensive but it came with power cables for the pedals and everything i needed, and it had wheels so i didn't have to carry it around.

for home use on a clean amp i use a holeyboard. it is modular and allows for you to expand. you can always buy an expansion deck to add to it. things i don't like about it is that it does not come with velcro on the board. it gives you the option to apply your own, or you can use zip ties to hold your pedals onto it so it makes it easier to move things around. velcro makes it more difficult. i also do not like that there is no transport case with it so your pedals are just exposed and your dog can step on it and fuck up your settings. i also do not like that you have to buy your own power supply. this can get fucking expensive. the power supply i bought cost more than the holeyboard itself.

for patch cables i have all kinds of issues with the premade ones, so i just use george ls and make my own. sometimes I do get a grounding issue, which can be frustrating, but its an easier fix than having to run to the guitar store and pay $15 for a fucking 6 inch patch cable.

i'll post a few pics later so you can see what I am talking about.

I like the idea of your powered board with hardshell case. The extra protection (including keeping dust out) sounds like a good idea.

it's big though. i don't know if they make them smaller than the one i have. it was made by furman. i'm still trying to find a pic but will probably just have to snap a new one.

brianlux · May 23

gimmesometruth27 said:

brianlux said:

gimmesometruth27 said:

there are a few ways to go about it. i prefer a powered pedalboard for gigging for a few reasons. mine has a power conditioner built into it and it came with a hardshell case so that nothing touches the knobs while transporting it and it just kind of protects everything. it was more expensive but it came with power cables for the pedals and everything i needed, and it had wheels so i didn't have to carry it around.

for home use on a clean amp i use a holeyboard. it is modular and allows for you to expand. you can always buy an expansion deck to add to it. things i don't like about it is that it does not come with velcro on the board. it gives you the option to apply your own, or you can use zip ties to hold your pedals onto it so it makes it easier to move things around. velcro makes it more difficult. i also do not like that there is no transport case with it so your pedals are just exposed and your dog can step on it and fuck up your settings. i also do not like that you have to buy your own power supply. this can get fucking expensive. the power supply i bought cost more than the holeyboard itself.

for patch cables i have all kinds of issues with the premade ones, so i just use george ls and make my own. sometimes I do get a grounding issue, which can be frustrating, but its an easier fix than having to run to the guitar store and pay $15 for a fucking 6 inch patch cable.

i'll post a few pics later so you can see what I am talking about.

I like the idea of your powered board with hardshell case. The extra protection (including keeping dust out) sounds like a good idea.

it's big though. i don't know if they make them smaller than the one i have. it was made by furman. i'm still trying to find a pic but will probably just have to snap a new one.

Yeah, smaller would be better for me. I doubt I'll even need or want more than a half dozen pedals. Nevertheless, I'll look forward to seeing a photo of your setup!

gimmesometruth27 · May 23

here is the holeyboard. you can see how you can expand it to make it wider. you can also see how the power supply is zip tied on to it. this is my leave out all the time combo amp board. it does what I need it to do and if I ever need to expand it I can buy another half of a board and another power supply. the holes are useful for passing cables through them so it can look cleaner than mine does it you want to go that far.

gimmesometruth27 · May 23

here is my gig board. it's made by furman and I've been using it for probably 12 years. I like that it has on board power supply and on board power conditioning. it's simple, just plug and play. all you need are patch cables. the only issue I've ever had with it is when dust gets into the ports I just spray some contact cleaner in there and it works just fine. It's not as pretty as a lot of board out there and it looks like a mess of cables. I bought some pedal risers to set the back row of pedals on so I can run cables under them. I think they quit making this model but I like it so much it would probably be the only board I would ever gig with.

Go Beavers · May 23

I have a Donner DP-2 that was $46. No noise or anything. Works Jim Dandy.

StardogChamp79 · May 23

@brianlux I would second that HoleyBoards are fantastic as they are super functional and and be configured to suit your needs. Just be careful as the they often come up with new versions that are not compatible with old versions. I have the 1-2-3 from like 5 years ago and the parts are discontinued so I had a heck of a time trying to get parts (finally found some on Reverb and EBay). But I was like you and was like I only need 3 or 4 pedals. Yeah right?! It’s addictive and there are always great ones coming out to try. You can always check with Sweetwater and see what their reps recommend and then hop on Reverb to see if you can buy it used or on sale to if budget is an issue. I bought new because I didn’t want to inherit junk. Also for attaching I used the 3M Dual lock as I can flip my board upside down and the pedals stay waaaay better than Velcro that wears out and gets trashed. There is not a perfect way to run your pedals as you can get different sounds depending on what your needs are but I was not aware of this as well until I started hooking up things and it was sounding weird. Yep. There is an order. I found these videos helpful when working on my layout.

https://youtu.be/f2VdAkerfNQ?si=pW29TnR7u5T7gfDp

https://youtu.be/cU3cQjJ0HS8?si=KojieSKCw04jFcBc

DE4173 · May 23

Thank you! 👀👀👀

brianlux · May 23

gimmesometruth27 said:

here is my gig board. it's made by furman and I've been using it for probably 12 years. I like that it has on board power supply and on board power conditioning. it's simple, just plug and play. all you need are patch cables. the only issue I've ever had with it is when dust gets into the ports I just spray some contact cleaner in there and it works just fine. It's not as pretty as a lot of board out there and it looks like a mess of cables. I bought some pedal risers to set the back row of pedals on so I can run cables under them. I think they quit making this model but I like it so much it would probably be the only board I would ever gig with.

Look great, thank for the photo!

StardogChamp79 said:

@brianlux I would second that HoleyBoards are fantastic as they are super functional and and be configured to suit your needs. Just be careful as the they often come up with new versions that are not compatible with old versions. I have the 1-2-3 from like 5 years ago and the parts are discontinued so I had a heck of a time trying to get parts (finally found some on Reverb and EBay). But I was like you and was like I only need 3 or 4 pedals. Yeah right?! It’s addictive and there are always great ones coming out to try. You can always check with Sweetwater and see what their reps recommend and then hop on Reverb to see if you can buy it used or on sale to if budget is an issue. I bought new because I didn’t want to inherit junk. Also for attaching I used the 3M Dual lock as I can flip my board upside down and the pedals stay waaaay better than Velcro that wears out and gets trashed. There is not a perfect way to run your pedals as you can get different sounds depending on what your needs are but I was not aware of this as well until I started hooking up things and it was sounding weird. Yep. There is an order. I found these videos helpful when working on my layout.

https://youtu.be/f2VdAkerfNQ?si=pW29TnR7u5T7gfDp

https://youtu.be/cU3cQjJ0HS8?si=KojieSKCw04jFcBc

Oooh, that first video is SUPER helpful. Thank you!

brianlux · May 23

Here's what my Sweetwater rep recommended. It looks great but at close to $500, ouch! Also, they don't have any reviews yet.

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/DingBatMBn3--voodoo-lab-dingbat-pedalboard-with-12-output-isolated-power-supply-medium-22x-13.5-inch?_queryID=5f3b4e6390182895e9b7ac917ccd6ac2&_index=production_products

Thoughts?

And hey, thanks so much for helping me out here. You guys are awesome!

StardogChamp79 · May 23

Hey @brianlux I have seen worse but the good news is that is upfront investment and you’re good. Here is the link for HoleyBoard they are based out of MN. They have been great to work with. https://holeyboardpedalboards.com/

I guess I would base it off of need and budget and what would be right for your needs and if you are out giging or playing at home. It would be all down to personal preference and how much more you want to add later on. This looks like an all in one package though so that is handy!

Go Beavers · May 23

brianlux said:

Here's what my Sweetwater rep recommended. It looks great but at close to $500, ouch! Also, they don't have any reviews yet.
https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/DingBatMBn3--voodoo-lab-dingbat-pedalboard-with-12-output-isolated-power-supply-medium-22x-13.5-inch?_queryID=5f3b4e6390182895e9b7ac917ccd6ac2&_index=production_products

Thoughts?

And hey, thanks so much for helping me out here. You guys are awesome!

Seems steep. I got a 20” X 12” Ghostfire board with a padded bag for $70. Goes well with the Donner power supply I mentioned earlier.

DE4173 · May 24

Love all of this! Thank you all for your time and information! 🤘🫡

brianlux · May 24

StardogChamp79 said:

Hey @brianlux I have seen worse but the good news is that is upfront investment and you’re good. Here is the link for HoleyBoard they are based out of MN. They have been great to work with. https://holeyboardpedalboards.com/

I guess I would base it off of need and budget and what would be right for your needs and if you are out giging or playing at home. It would be all down to personal preference and how much more you want to add later on. This looks like an all in one package though so that is handy!

That modular style looks cool, and the name Holeyboard fits!

Go Beavers said:

brianlux said:

Here's what my Sweetwater rep recommended. It looks great but at close to $500, ouch! Also, they don't have any reviews yet.
https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/DingBatMBn3--voodoo-lab-dingbat-pedalboard-with-12-output-isolated-power-supply-medium-22x-13.5-inch?_queryID=5f3b4e6390182895e9b7ac917ccd6ac2&_index=production_products

Thoughts?

And hey, thanks so much for helping me out here. You guys are awesome!

Seems steep. I got a 20” X 12” Ghostfire board with a padded bag for $70. Goes well with the Donner power supply I mentioned earlier.

I'll check those out, G.B., thanks!

DE4173 said:

Love all of this! Thank you all for your time and information! 🤘🫡

Yeah, gear talk is fun stuff!

brianlux · May 24

This looks very cool, but the question is not so much a matter of quality, but rather a matter of value. I honestly don't know. But then, everything seems expensive to me these day, haha!. Is being almost 74 too old to go back to work?

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/DingBatS2Pl--voodoo-lab-dingbat-pedalboard-power-package-small-with-pedal-power-2-plus

StardogChamp79 · May 24

Good morning @brianlux! I hear yeah! My first pedal board was a 3/4 piece of OSB that I wrapped in Velcro so it all a matter of need and what you are looking for. Depending on what you get it may very well last a lifetime unless you blow a power supply or something. I know Sweetwater has a fantastic warranty and even then they will still try to help you when something blows up. I checked Reverb and they are all around the same price. This one is $20 off used so it looks like they hold their value.

https://reverb.com/item/90210697-voodoo-lab-dingbat-small-pedalboard-w-pedal-power-2?utm_source=rev-ios-app&utm_medium=ios-share&utm_campaign=listing&utm_content=90210697

brianlux · May 24

StardogChamp79 said:

Good morning @brianlux! I hear yeah! My first pedal board was a 3/4 piece of OSB that I wrapped in Velcro so it all a matter of need and what you are looking for. Depending on what you get it may very well last a lifetime unless you blow a power supply or something. I know Sweetwater has a fantastic warranty and even then they will still try to help you when something blows up. I checked Reverb and they are all around the same price. This one is $20 off used so it looks like they hold their value.

https://reverb.com/item/90210697-voodoo-lab-dingbat-small-pedalboard-w-pedal-power-2?utm_source=rev-ios-app&utm_medium=ios-share&utm_campaign=listing&utm_content=90210697

Good morning to you as well, Stardog! Thanks for the link. Knowing something holds its value is good to know. I'm fairly certain the small Dingbat is the one I'll go with. I pretty much only play at home these days, so something that holds 5 pedals (with the big Chandler Tube Driver off to the side) would be big enough, and I could switch out pedals if I should eventually have more.

Thanks again for good information!

Suggestions needed for pedal board and power supply.

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