{"id":1052,"date":"2020-04-07T17:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-04-07T15:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mazerius.com\/?p=1052"},"modified":"2021-01-15T11:16:26","modified_gmt":"2021-01-15T10:16:26","slug":"pedalboard-setup","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mazerius.com\/index.php\/2020\/04\/07\/pedalboard-setup\/","title":{"rendered":"Pedalboard setup"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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This story started with my wish to use both my acoustic and electric guitars on my acoustic Marshall AS100D<\/a>.
The pedalboard setup started with the  MESA\/Boogie V-Twin<\/a> that would give me the crunch for the E-guitars but it soon began to appear more complicated when I thought about using my Line 6 PODxt Live in the FX loop and ended up replacing it with the Line 6 HX Stomp<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let’s summarize:
1 amp with 2 guitar channels: Channel #1 for the Line 6 Acoustic Variax + Channel #2 for my electrics (and my Martin electro acoustic to come).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My goal was to set and “build” a pedalboard that would be as efficient and compact as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Starting point:<\/strong>
– Line 6 Variax power unit (9VAC\/2A)
– Mesa\/Boogie V-Twin (12VAC\/1A)<\/strong>
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Adding the HX Stomp:<\/strong>
– Line 6 Variax power unit (9VAC\/2A)
– Mesa\/Boogie V-Twin (12VAC\/1A)
– Line 6 HX stomp (9DC\/3A) in the loop w\/ the 4 cable method<\/strong>
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Adding an AC power unit:
– Line 6 Variax power unit (9VAC\/2A)
– Mesa\/Boogie V-Twin (12VAC\/1A)
– Line 6 HX stomp (9DC\/3A) in the loop w\/ the 4 cable method
– Voodoo Lab Power Pedal AC -> Variax + V-Twin
<\/strong>As far as I know, the Voodoo Lab AC is the only one that can fit the Variax and V-Twin requirements so I just jumped on it. Furthermore, they are discontinued and the stock is going low.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What was I think of next?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

– 1 pedal board: I was thinking about the Rockboard QUAD 4.2<\/a> with the Rockboard MOD 1 V2 TRS & XLR Patchbay<\/a> to minimize the cables management.
– 1 noise suppressor pedal (may probably be the Boss NS-2<\/a> because of its 2 channels, rather than an ISP which are much more expensive)
– 1 looper pedal (could be the Boss RC-30 Dual Track Looper<\/a> that would allow more flexibility than the chipper RC-3)
– 1 DC power unit (Voodoo Lab Pedal Power 2 Plus<\/a>?) for the Boss and future pedals. Because of its 3A requirement, the HX Stomp will still use its own power supply but plugged into the Voodoo AC mains auxiliary.
– 1 expression pedal (Mission Engineering SP1-L6H-BK<\/a>) or 1 wah(?)\/volume pedal (Lehle Mono Volume 90<\/a> or ?)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I first pulled the trigger on the RockBoard QUAD 4.2, some cables and a neat Mission Engineering expression pedal…<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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… and started the build.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

First of all, the RockBoard has no handles (it’s a shame) which makes it difficult to extract from the flight case.
No problem, Ikea has some.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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They come in black finish but also in chrome or even brass. Some have also a leather patch wrapped around them… in case you’re into “boutique” stuff <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Measuring and marking:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Drilling the holes (a simple driller at lowest speed with hammer off is just fine for aluminium):<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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I needed to shorten the screws as they were meant to go through doors and not through a relative thin layer of aluminium.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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I also kept the washers to use them underneath and help stabilize the handles:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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I also installed the RockBoard MOD1 V2:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Getting ready for the real stuff !<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Dual-sided tape for the power unit, dual lock for the pedals, patch cables and here we go:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The position of pedals was not definitive yet as I missed at least one longer patch cable but I already had an idea on how I would insert the looper and other pedal(s) to come.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I also missed one power cable and also the cable management clips to clean a bit of the remaining mess under:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"\/<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Plus, I would arrange something smarter later on for the 2 inputs (1xTRS for the Variax + 1xTS for the other guitars).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anyway, I was happier then as I could set my stuff quickly, pack it as quickly and be mind free with the MOD1 V2 5xTRS trough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let’s rock a bit while waiting for the future updates!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"\/<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Big progress was made when I received more things:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

To begin with, a little improvement a on the expression pedal setup with two simple pieces of wood:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Then, a little step up for the Variax pedal:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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And finally, the big piece of work:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To clear a little bit of “mess” while playing, I decided to install 2x 1\/4″ inputs on the sides of the pedalboard, instead of plugging my guitars directly to the first pedal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To do so, I bought these Adam Hall’s plugs that I just have to solder and screw. I chose the TRS version, because I need one for the Variax. They come by pair and TRS does fine for TS also:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"\/<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

To mount them on the RockBoard, I decided to use the RockBoard LED mounting holes on the left for the Variax and the one one the right for the regular TS.
At first, I thought I would be using aluminium plates and then I realized I still have some pick guard blanks with a nice black color that would better match the RockBoard:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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As for the cables, the simplest thing for m was to use one of the RockBoard TRS flat patch cable and one TS. From which I would only have to disassemble one side:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"\/<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A bit of soldering…<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"\/<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

… and we’re done:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"\/<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Once in place:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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I also rearranged a bit the way I organized my pedals on the board because I realized I was using either my left or right foot for the expression pedal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Still I was waiting for the HX Stomp power cable this pedalboard already looked pretty OK… unless I buy new pedals soon…<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The last part of gear I was waiting for arrived some weeks later.
It is a simple cable that allows direct connection of the Line 6 power unit to the auxiliary power slot on the Voodoo Lab AC. It is a very simple solution to fit the 3A requirement for the HX Stomp power.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"\/<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Now, I only have one power cable to plug for this entire pedalboard!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Just to mention that that Posca pens can be very helpful!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This story started with my wish to use both my acoustic and electric guitars on my acoustic Marshall AS100D.The pedalboard setup started with the  MESA\/Boogie V-Twin that would give me the crunch for the E-guitars but it soon began to appear more complicated when I thought about using my Line 6 PODxt Live in the FX … <\/p>\n

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