Updated 17.5.2019

If you want to build your own pedalboard from start to finish this guide is for you. We have compiled everything we know about building pedalboards in texts, charts and videos on these pages.

This guide consists of separate articles, each concentrating on one specific subject, so you can either read the whole guide from start to finish or choose any specific area of interest. You can also come back to the guide in the middle of your project, or even if you would already have a pedalboad that you are using on your gigs.

We go through each phase in detail, so you can assemble a pedalboard which stands up to Custom Boards’ quality standards.

– Building a pedalboard always starts with careful planning. If you’ve made a detailed plan building your board will be easy.

– Before buying any materials you should be sure you understand what you’re aiming for. This guide will help you to get a clear picture of all the different things you will need, and in which quantities.

– By using Custom Boards’ system for building pedalboards, you will be assembling your board in the correct order, once you start.

With this guide we hope to help each and every musician to build themselves a stylish, professional sounding and reliable pedalboard. It would be fantastic if we could reach a point where your DIY-board is virtually indistinguishable from one of ours.

A building process of a pedalboard

• The Custom Boards System

EFFECTS

• Why would I use all these effects?
• How to choose the correct effects for your pedalboard?
• How to connect guitar effects pedals for best results?
• The effects loop splits the amplifier in two (NEW!)
• Learn to take advantage of multiple gain stages (NEW!)
• Get rid of that noise – The different uses for a Noise Suppressor
• True Bypass and Buffered Bypass
• Save money by maintaining your own pedals
• 3M Dual Lock or Velcro – How do I attach pedals to my pedalboard?
• Cleaning the bottom plates of your pedals
• Preparing 3M Dual Lock tape to your pedals

ABY-BOXES, TRUE BYPASS LOOPERS AND MIDI-CONTROLLERS

• Should I connect all my pedals in series or do I need additional equipment? (Release TBA)
• Neutrik D-panel connectors as interfaces on a pedalboard (Release TBA)
• AB- and ABY-boxes (Release TBA)
• What is a ground loop? (Release TBA)
• Bypass looper offers more options (Release TBA)
• How to use MIDI to control your rig (Release TBA)

PEDALBOARD

• Take a look at what a pedalboard can do for your career
• A design and main purpose of your pedalboard
• The Custom Boards guide to pedalboard frames
• Can I reach all my effects or do I need pedal risers?

POWER SUPPLY

• Power supply terminology part 1 – volts, amperes, polarity and watts
• Power supply terminology part 2 – output, section, isolated and regulated
• How do I choose the right power supply for my pedals? (Release TBA)
• Not all power supplies are created equal (Release TBA)
• Why do my pedals hum and buzz – can a power supply be causing this? (Release TBA)
• A guide to power supply cables (Release TBA)
• How do I split power supply output for two or more pedals? (Release TBA)

CUSTOM BOARDS’ POWER SUPPLY GUIDES

• Custom Boards’ Guide to power supplies - Voodoo Lab
• Custom Boards’ Guide to power supplies - Cioks
• How to attach power supply to a Pedaltrain pedalboard (Release TBA)
• How to attach power supply to a Voodoo Lab Dingbat pedalboard (Release TBA)

CABLES

• How do capacitance and impedance affect my guitar sound? (Release TBA)
• Instrument cables in a gig environment (Release TBA)
• Make your own instrument cable (Release TBA)
• Wireless receivers on a pedalboard (Release TBA)
• What kind of patch cables do I need in my pedalboard? (Release TBA)
• Fitting Evidence Audio Monorail cables with SiS-plugs (Release TBA)
• Soldering Van Damme cables and Square Plug-connectors (Release TBA)
• A cable snake makes connecting a pedalboard effortless (Release TBA)
• Assembling a pedalboard cable snake (Release TBA)
• Testing cables with a multimeter and cable tester (Release TBA)

TESTING AND FINALIZING THE PEDALBOARD

• Test your pedalboard before fastening the effect pedals (Release TBA)
• How do I dress the pedalboard with Safety Clips? (Release TBA)
• Marking pots and settings (Release TBA)
• Troubleshooting a pedalboard
• Custom Boards pedalboard – User’s Guide

Our previous DIY-guide contents:

• Planning your pedalboard

1. Pedal maintenance and troubleshooting
2. Preparing adhesive tapes to your pedals
3. Preparing patch cables
4. Measuring and preparing cable loom
5. Soldering cables
6. Assembling AC-connectors
7. Testing cables with a multimeter

8. Marking cable loom cables 

9. Installing a power supply unit

10. Connecting outboard cables to your board
11. Preparing the board for first testing
12. The first soundcheck
13. Attaching the pedals
14. Installing the patch cables
15. Attaching the cable loom
16. Securing the guitar cable
17. Final testing and finishing touches

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If you have purchased all the parts and components but get a feeling that you might not be up to the task after all, we can make your pedalboard for you, using the components you have bought from us. Don’t worry, we won’t let anything go to waste.

START BUILDING YOUR PEDALBOARD TODAY.

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