The "Best of everything" pedalboard.

Romain909

Romain909

Mar 31, 2022
525
1,353
1,196
Paris, FRANCE
#1
I purchased my first effect pedals in 2008. A Behringer delay and a Big Muff that stayed on the ground when I was using them.

Last year, I decided to use effects pedals again and learned about the different effects, the makers, the pedalboard options... I first picked industrial pedals then slowly moved to boutique ones because most sound better, are more durable, but mainly because I prefer supporting small companies.

I have spent the past year thinking about every single details on this board in order to assemble the best of everything, from the pedal to the solder used in the cables. One year going back and forth with my choices, but I finally settled on this board :

Page-1 copie.jpg


This boards is meant to be versatile :
-It allows me to generally have a great tone
-I can go in to synth bass territory
-I can have fun with time based effects (whether I play on my JB fretless or fretted JB)
-I can have some distortion and some growl too.

I love it.

The pedals are mounted on a handmade DESS HPB2 OL pedalboard, the 720mm long version (2ft, 4 1/2 in roughly)

DSC_3463 copie.jpg
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There is an integrated patchbay and 12 outputs power supply (not shown) beneath the board, both handmade by DESS. The MP12 is similar to a CIOKS, switch transformers with isolated outputs.

IMG_4266.jpg

I received the pedalboard this Saturday. I am still missing 4 pedals, so I use cardboard instead in order to place the other pedals now with 3M Dual lock. 3 of them should arrive soon. The Noble that will be added to the board in March 24.

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I am starting the long process of making the cables myself. But they look SO nice !
-Square Plug SP500 connectors
-Evidence Audio Monorail cable
-MDPC-X Midnight Blue Sleeve XTC
-MDPC-X HeatShrink
-97% Sn 3%AG solder.

I now have to finish making all the cables, which takes a lot of time, then I will make nice path for them beneath the board ! I can't wait to show you the finished board.
 
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#2
Someone put a lot of thought in his pedalboard for sure. Would be too big for me, but no doubt that’s a lot of cool pedals.

How will you use it ? (Gigs, home, recording ?)
How will you transport it ? (If it will be moved, I guess you get good protection for the board and what’s on it)
Since you are from Europe, where did you get the cables and connectors?
 
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#4
Thanks !

Dr. Gonzo82 said:
How will you use it ? (Gigs, home, recording ?)
Click to expand...

That's my home studio board, this is why I don't really mind the size. I will never need all of those effects on stage. I have already ordered from DESS a compact 36cm long board (1ft 2in) (with the adapted patchbay and an MP5 power supply, but in black).

This way, I can travel with the cheaper and lighter one !
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The compact board will be built assembled just like i am assembling the big one.
I am not sure what I'll put on it yet. Strobostomp, Empress ParaEQ, Empress bass comp, and JDI ? Maybe a DCX. I don't know yet.

Dr. Gonzo82 said:
How will you transport it ?
Click to expand...
I will build a custom flight case later.

Dr. Gonzo82 said:
Since you are from Europe, where did you get the cables and connectors?
Click to expand...
Thomann sells those cables.
DESS is an official Square Plug distributor.
 
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#8
Naack said:
If you were going for "The Best of Everything", I feel like this would be the board to get:
https://www.schmidtarray.com/custom
Click to expand...

If I was ?
I am.
Don’t get me wrong, those boards are nice. I also like Pistola pedalboards.

But I prefer DESS. The founder is an Effects switcher builder, he knows how to make power supplies and patchbays the right way. They focus on signal clarity and purity and design pedalboards to implement their products.
The HPB2 is the only board I found that can integrate such a great power supply and patchbay.

It’s just a matter of tastes in the end. As always, there is no consensus on what’s right or wrong.
 
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#10
Romain909 said:
If I was ?
I am.
Don’t get me wrong, those boards are nice. I also like Pistola pedalboards.

But I prefer DESS. The founder is an Effects switcher builder, he knows how to make power supplies and patchbays the right way. They focus on signal clarity and purity and design pedalboards to implement their products.
The HPB2 is the only board I found that can integrate such a great power supply and patchbay.

It’s just a matter of tastes in the end. As always, there is no consensus on what’s right or wrong.
Click to expand...

Sorry, I definitely meant to write my post in a much more playful manner! I sometimes forget tone is lost online. Overall, very impressed with your board. I also approached my board in a similar manner (find the best in each category for my tastes) and ended up with the Aclam Pedalboard as it required no velcro.
 
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#11
Naack said:
Sorry, I definitely meant to write my post in a much more playful manner! I sometimes forget tone is lost online. Overall, very impressed with your board. I also approached my board in a similar manner (find the best in each category for my tastes) and ended up with the Aclam Pedalboard as it required no velcro.
Click to expand...

Great ! We have something in common :)
 
#12
I am done for now !!
Result is purely amazing. It turned out great ! Doing the cable takes a LOT of time but it is worth it.

I have prepared the cables for the next pedals I have preordered (Octabvre, the Pill, Noble) but the cables are unplugged.

I will receive a 12 outputs power supply soon so I’ll readapt the power cables at this moment and change one cable that ends up being too short.

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#13
Romain909 said:
I purchased my first effect pedals in 2008. A Behringer delay and a Big Muff that stayed on the ground when I was using them.

Last year, I decided to use effects pedals again and learned about the different effects, the makers, the pedalboard options... I first picked industrial pedals then slowly moved to boutique ones because most sound better, are more durable, but mainly because I prefer supporting small companies.

I have spent the past year thinking about every single details on this board in order to assemble the best of everything, from the pedal to the solder used in the cables. One year going back and forth with my choices, but I finally settled on this board :

View attachment 5152538

This boards is meant to be versatile :
-It allows me to generally have a great tone
-I can go in to synth bass territory
-I can have fun with time based effects (whether I play on my JB fretless or fretted JB)
-I can have some distortion and some growl too.

I love it.

The pedals are mounted on a handmade DESS HPB2 OL pedalboard, the 720mm long version (2ft, 4 1/2 in roughly)

View attachment 5152539 View attachment 5152541
There is an integrated patchbay and 12 outputs power supply (not shown) beneath the board, both handmade by DESS. The MP12 is similar to a CIOKS, switch transformers with isolated outputs.

View attachment 5152549
I received the pedalboard this Saturday. I am still missing 4 pedals, so I use cardboard instead in order to place the other pedals now with 3M Dual lock. 3 of them should arrive soon. The Noble that will be added to the board in March 24.

View attachment 5152546 View attachment 5152547 View attachment 5152548 View attachment 5152550
I am starting the long process of making the cables myself. But they look SO nice !
-Square Plug SP500 connectors
-Evidence Audio Monorail cable
-MDPC-X Midnight Blue Sleeve XTC
-MDPC-X HeatShrink
-97% Sn 3%AG solder.

I now have to finish making all the cables, which takes a lot of time, then I will make nice path for them beneath the board ! I can't wait to show you the finished board.
Click to expand...
Nice, got some awesome pedals on there.
 
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#17
Eric Cioe said:
Gorgeous build that'll do just about anything. Are you using the Vulcan for regular overdrive? And what's the Pill?
Click to expand...
I use the Vulcan as a regular overdrive. The eq is useful to shape the overdriven tone but it is off by default.

The pill is an analog ducking effect pedal. It is triggered by an external source like a drum machine or a drum kick.

Every time the pedal detects a sound, the effect is triggered, which means the volume of the bass will be momentarily lowered. The duration and depth of the ducking effect can be controlled
 
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