Want to share my pedalboard idea with you guys!

[Kiteboarder]

Anyway... I'm doing one of 3 things...
1. Feeding the left board with the 2 high outputs on my PP2. I'll bring a cable or two over and daisy-chain the left side. (I could also use a distribution box like the Maxon PD-01 instead of the daisy-chain). This would be the cheap way. I can do this, as the numbers add up correctly current-wise. Still, I run the risk of some hum thanks to the daisy-chain) and it's more complicated to have to plug power and signal when connecting the 2 boards (Instead of just signal).

2. Using a separate PP2 on the second board. A bit more pricey, but by far the most reliable setup. I won't have to deal with hum, and if one of the PP2's breaks, I've got a spare!

3. Using a VHT Valvulator 1 as a buffer and power. I'm not sure how many of you guys are familiar with this one, but it's a tube buffer that also has 4 isolated 9v outputs with 85Ma each. I could use this on either board 1, or board 2 (depending on where I find it to sound best) and then the PP2 on the opposite board. I would still have to daisy-chain a few pedals from it since I have at least 6 pedals on each board. But... it might be worth it. I'm not keeping the Boss TU-2 as a buffer, so this baby could be a great upgrade.

The VHT Valvulator is $239 vs the PP2 which is $169. But it has the great buffer. If I were to buy the PP2 for $169 and say, an Axess BS-2 buffer for $150, it would be $319. Maybe paying $239 for the VHT is not a bad idea, even though I'll have to daisy-chain a few pedals. -D

1 - if it hums sharing put, just cut the ground.
2 - that is true.
3 - i heardthe buffer wasn't very good in the valvulator.. you have a tu-2.. why not get that first in the line, and use it as your buffer.. its actually decent..

I've owned the Valvulator, and I will never own another again. I had proximity hum to the tube with things like Wah pedals, wirelesses, etc. I switched to the Voodoo Lab Pedal Power 2 and a Axess Electronics BS2, and have had ZERO problems since. I would recommend NOT going with the Valvulator. When I did use them, I had a tube go out on a set, and man it's a BITCH changing those tubes.

Eric

After I wrote my last post I sat down and read the manual for the Valvulator. I wasn't thrilled to find out that out of the 4 power outputs, 1 is 12volts. I already think I need more plugs, and now to find out that one isn't even 9v is not good.

Thanks for the advice. You probably saved me a headache.

 

[Kiteboarder]

Casey, I know the TU-2 is a decent buffer, but I'm doing all this to upgrade while making the setup more modular. If I can avoid using the TU-2 as the buffer, and use something better, I'd rather do that.

 

[Fallout Labs]

Casey, I know the TU-2 is a decent buffer, but I'm doing all this to upgrade while making the setup more modular. If I can avoid using the TU-2 as the buffer, and use something better, I'd rather do that.

buy an axess bs-2 then

 

[Kiteboarder]

A quick update... I just ordered a few switchcraft 228 "pancake" 1/4" plugs. I'm actually soldering those to George L cables to create my custom patch cables. It was either that, or Mogami cable. I've heard numerous good things about the george L cables and combining that with soldered plugs should make an awesome boom-proof setup.

Apart from that... Using the pancake plugs I was able to squeeze my chorus pedal into board 1. Using 8 plugs (4 pairs) I was able to save almost 3 inches of space. Guess what? And that just so happened to be enough extra space for the chorus - that by the way just got upgraded to a Maxon CS-9 Pro Chorus with TB. So I'm selling the Ibanez soon. Sweet!

And... I just sold the VOX, so some other wah will soon take that position.

I'll keep updating as I go.

 

[RockStarNick]

Cool man, pics pics pics!!!

I gotta post pics of my pedalboard sometime soon as well.

I'm eventually gonna "bomb-proof" my patch cables, with Neutrik and Canare cable.

 

[Kiteboarder]

Nick: I'll have pics soon. At the moment, it doesn't look much different than what you see in the first couple of pics at the top of the thread - A bunch of crap all over the carpet, cables, pedals, velcro, etc.

I'm doing this slowly as I'm trying to finish a couple of other projects too. And... apart from the guitar which eventually I'd like you to build me, I have one big idea that I might make happen before the end of the year. I'll announce that when I can.

Also: I'm using 3M Dual Lock Velcro for the pedals instead of regular velcro. I always hated when my pedals would move about on the regular velcro...

-D

 

[Fallout Labs]

Also: I'm using 3M Dual Lock Velcro for the pedals instead of regular velcro. I always hated when my pedals would move about on the regular velcro...

-D

won't be moving now