Key Benefits of Custom Pedalboard Wiring Setup
Is Investing in a Custom Pedalboard Wiring Setup the right move for me?
Investing in a custom pedalboard wiring setup allows for greater flexibility and customization tailored to your playing style. We ensure that every connection is secure and optimized for performance.
Our team specializes in creating a true custom shop experience that meets your unique sonic needs. It also ensures your pedalboard is ready for non stop, reliable action that will hold up to both studio and rigorous tour/live performance settings. This means, more time to play and create!
A properly designed layout can enhance your performance efficiency and workflow, helping achieve sonic excellence with a custom rig tailored to your specific needs, playing style and musical visions.
Understanding The Process & Prep
Our expertise in custom pedalboard wiring work ensures professional grade reliability!
General Info about our Pedalboard Setup Service
- We work on all brands of pedalboard for our pedalboard setup and wiring services.
- We don’t use any solder-less connectors. We do use a variety of quality Square Plug and Switchcraft brand connectors! Mogami is the only cable brand we use for pedalboard wiring as well.
- You should have your existing West Coast Pedalboard order in the works or already done, or…. if you already have another brand board ready to go, we can proceed with the following steps.
- Your signal chain and equipment configurations should be close to dialed in:
- Are you satisfied with your pedal arrangement, signal path(s) and equipment in general? If so, provide a detailed list of your pedals & signal path(s). This includes tap tempo, stereo route configurations, and any special cabling needs. Be as detailed as possible so as to help us complete the job efficiently!
- If you need assistance with pedal layout, signal chain arrangement or any other gear configurations, we offer a consulting service for a nominal fee.
- If we are building the board for you, we will time the process so the pedals are delivered to our shop at the time the board is complete.
- The wiring process only takes 2-5 business days, so you won’t be without your pedals for too long.
Choosing a custom pedalboard wiring setup offers advantages such as reduced noise and improved signal integrity. Marcus uses two West Coast pedalboards, a larger 29X13 angled board for many of his US dates, and a smaller flat board with just the essentials, perfect for quick fly dates. For Eric & Drew, we built a custom flat boards with perfectly placed In/Out ports making FOH setup and teardown super easy. Both super light and durable
Installation Types
There are three types of installs:
(1) dedicated installation: ports, slats and cable access areas are precision CNC routed in exact locations based on the current pedal layout so the wiring can be ran OCD style. This is most useful when you have a dedicated pedal layout for tour, or if when you swap out a pedal, it will be of the same size
(2) universal installation: we use our default routing templates for cable access slats for the size board you choose. We route out openings in the pedalboard deck, so that if you decide to change pedals, the cabling isn’t dedicated to a certain layout. The wiring will still look and perform awesome. The routes are made so that pedals are more easily swappable / interchangeable; restricted only by pedalboard usable space(size). This method is really common when the pedals are situated in a way that places each pedal in the chain, right next to each other
(3) The hybrid setup: is a combo of the two. A portion with dedicated slots (most commonly used when a switcher system like the Boss ES, Mastermind, Gigrig, Loopmaster are to be used), and the other portion is our standard, universal slot layout for easy and quick pedal swaps!
Costs / Quotes
- Mogami Cable | Patch Cable, Stereo Cable, Quadflex Balanced XLR, Midi – $.90 – 4.50 per foot
- 1/4″ Switchcraft and Square Plugs – $3.50 – 5.25 per connector
- XLR, MIDI etc – $7–14 depending on connector
- Velcro, 3M Dual Lock, Clamps & Screws – $10-50 per job
- Labor – $90-150 per hour (depending on complexity), this includes pedal layout, custom top deck routing, making pedal risers/platforms, soldering cables, mounting pedals, power supplies plus final testing.
Pedalboard setups are priced based on time and materials; charges are determined based on quantity of pedals, devices and the complexity of the wiring scheme. We can easily give you an estimate, provided we know exactly what we are doing for you, but please ask for that if you require an estimate. Many clients understand the job is based on Time & Materials, so the installation charges are fixed in that regard. You won’t be overcharged nor undercharged. The steps below, explain what we need from you, to get the most accurate estimate.
If you can’t part with your pedals due to a busy gig/tour schedule, you can measure the specific lengths of each patch cable needed and we will solder and test a full and custom set of cables for you, and you can perform the install.
Robbie Crower – Keys ‘n’ Sax – Sturgill Simpson – Johnny Blue Skies
“maybe the sharpest looking piece of gear on my part of the stage!”
I’m Ready to Pull the Trigger!
- Please be 150% sure every pedal is in perfect working order prior to delivery; troubleshooting faulty equipment will increase installation time.
- Make sure all existing velcro, adhesive, gunk, rubber feet are removed from the pedal back. Any sticky residue that doesn’t peel off with the velcro needs to come off as well. We charge $125/hr to get the pedals prepared, so you can save some of our labor with a little work here.
- Make a detailed list of the contents to be sent and send that via email and also a printed copy inside the package.
- Prior to sending in pedals, or making any purchase, we should have a detailed and written outline of the pedal routing scheme; this includes, TS, TRS, MIDI, XLR and any other connections that are required. If you need assistance with this, let us know and we can assist!
- You should pack the pedals properly, and insure them for the full value if you were to have to replace them in the case the shipping carrier looses the package or damage during transit occurs. If you need help with shipping options, you can take it to your local shipping provider for proper packaging assistance.
- Once the board is complete and tested, we calculate the itemized cost of all the parts, labor and return shipping charge. That payment is due in full before the board leaves our shop.
- A detailed written layout and/or video chat tutorial is also available by request.
- Last step: ENJOY!!!
