Best Guitar Pedal Board to Organize Your Collection
-
Boss BCB-30 Compact Pedal Board -
SKB PS8 Powered Pedal Board with Gig Bag -
Behringer PB600 Universal Effects Pedal Floor Board -
Road Runner Effects Guitar Pedal Board -
PT-M20-SC Pedaltrain Metro 20 with soft case -
Buyer's Guide
Having a collection of guitar effects pedals is cool; having to transport and power them all individually, not so much. Enter the guitar pedal board, a piece of gear that not only houses the array of pedals that the average gigging/recording guitarist may use, but will also often supply power for them without having to worry about individual battery lives or connecting each pedal to a wall outlet. These are the best guitar pedal boards in 2022, with each product here featuring a protective exterior to keep your pedals safe from impact, each can fit at least five effects pedals, and they're all built to allow guitarists to customize their chain and configuration to fit their playing needs.
Best Guitar Pedal Boards of 2022 Reviewed in Detail
Boss BCB-30 Compact Pedal Board - Best Guitar Pedal Board Overall
Although BOSS certainly has a lock on a great number of guitar effects pedals on the market, their BCB-60 pedal board is compatible with pedals of all kinds. Up to seven devices can be powered via the unit’s onboard AC adaptor and the customizable design of the board allows you to set up your rig in any way you choose. Three foam inserts are pre-cut to hold BOSS pedals, but there’s also a spare insert that can be cut to fit almost any pedal, regardless of manufacturer. And this pedal board is surprisingly light, especially when you consider that its exterior is built to really protect. A tough, molded case was made to handle any heavy impact that you may encounter while on the road.
SKB PS8 Powered Pedal Board with Gig Bag - Runner Up
The SKB PS-8 pedal board is an ideal product for both entry-level guitarists who are seeking to accommodate their growing pedal collection, as well as for those whose pedal count is still at a lower number but could increase. This item holds and powers up to eight pedals while using the 36-inch by 2-inch wide hook strip to position the pedals securely on the surface. If you feel like moving them around, they can easily be repositioned without damaging the pedals or the pedal board. Though built firm and steady, this unit is also easy to transport due to its light weight. The PS-8 also comes equipped with a gang of pedals that are compatible with most popular pedals currently available on the market. The rig is also easy to transport thanks to a heavy-duty ballistic nylon carry bag that also features an adjustable shoulder strap. An exterior zipper pocket is ideal for carrying additional cables or gig/recording accessories.
Behringer PB600 Universal Effects Pedal Floor Board - Honorable Mention
If you’re looking for a protective and handy pedal board to store up to 12 effects pedals, the Behringer PB1000 is definitely worth checking out. The integrated power supply keeps the lights on with one simple plug, while the included patch cables allows you to chain your rig together even when you’re just traveling with the case which making setup and play easy and quick. “From Effects” jacks in the upper left corner of the unit allow you to route in stereo effects while two 1/4-inch “Output to Amp” jacks can send your pedal board’s stereo signal out to up to two amplifiers. The PB1000’s removable cover also comes with the option to be locked, which provides your pedal collection an even greater sense of security. And speaking of security, this product comes with Behringer’s three year warranty, so you can rest assured that your pedal board is covered when it comes to any potential damages.
Road Runner Effects Guitar Pedal Board - Consider
The solid aluminum casing of the Road Runner effects pedal board instantly speaks to the level of durability and security that the unit provides for any guitarist’s prized pedal collection. The product is available in two different configurations; a small case holds 4-5 pedals while the large case holds 6-8. A Velcro surface interacts with included self-adhesive Velcro tape, allowing players to position their pedals in the order and position that works best for the set-up; this is also ideal because it allows for changes to be made later down the line without doing damage to the pedal board or pedals themselves. Although this unit is not powered (you’ll have to run power individually to the pedals or use the batteries), this product is primarily built to protect and serve. The nickel-plated steel spring handle, heavy duty hinges, and chrome-plated butterfly locks ensure that you won’t ever worry about any damage when you’re on the road.
PT-M20-SC Pedaltrain Metro 20 with soft case - Best Guitar Pedal Board
Sure, nationally touring guitarists rely on heavy-duty pedal boards to transport their rigs from one city to the next on a nightly basis, but what about the guitarist whose gigging schedule is much more casual? For those players, Pedaltrain’s MINI pedal board offers a compact and easy-to-move option. Made from aircraft grade aluminum, this unit is certainly sturdy, but takes up a fraction of the space (and weight) that its more bulky peers do. The thick padding on the case provides protection for when you’re traveling, while a bonus storage pocket gives you the ability to hold extra gig necessities in one compact case. And like all units produced by Pedaltrain, the MINI also comes with a lifetime warranty, meaning you’ll never have to fear about being out of luck should disaster strike.
Buyer's Guide
Best Guitar Pedal Boards Buying Guide
Choosing a guitar pedalboard can be a tedious task. Since it is subjective, no one can tell you what you’re going to prefer. So when picking one out, you need a guide to know about different guitar pedalboards and what they do for you. So before you head out with absolutely zero idea on the guitar pedalboard you should use, take a look at this guide we have prepared for you and you’ll know exactly what you need.
Why Do You Need A Pedalboard?
Guitar pedalboards are useful because of their extreme convenience regardless of what kind of instrument you play and the place you play them at. So whether you play at home, at shows or in studios, these pedalboards will help you keep all your guitar pedals in one place. This will help you pack them, store them and set them up more efficiently.
Pedalboards can also be useful when you’re looking to organise your pedals in formation. You can group them by type or by effect. However, the only downside to pedalboards is the added hassle of having to change up your pedal placements for anyone who likes experimenting with it. But if you don’t then you’ll benefit greatly from having a pedalboard.
Common Effects In Guitar Pedals
What you actually need from your guitar pedal plays a major role in determining which pedalboard you should get. There are several common effects pedals give, take a look and find out which one you need.
Distortion
Also known as “fuzz” or “overdrive” depending on the level of distortion a guitar pedal has, this effect is what adds the crunchy edge that you’ll hear in hard rock and metal genres. While many amps already have the distortion effect, some guitarists like to own a couple different distortion pedals for some added variety.
Reverb
If you are looking to thicken up a sound that isn’t distorted then you need this effect. It can add echoing reverberations, making you feel like you’re in a giant concert hall. This helps to add a bit of a “surf” vibe to your music.
Delay
People often confuse this with reverb, however, delay works by copying every note that is played and then repeats it by fading it away like a pretty well-defined echo.
Chorus
You can use the chorus effect to replicate your sound to give the impression that there are more than one guitar playing the same note. Although it’s slightly out of tune and fades out with different vibrations, that’s often what most guitarists are looking for.
Wah-wah
If you want to know just what we’re talking about here then give a listen to the start of Jimi Hendrix’s Voodoo Child and you’ll know what the wah-wah effect sounds like. All you have to do is just rock your foot back and forth and the pedal will change the tone from bass to treble.
Looper
While these effects pedals don’t really change your sound, they can still be a great addition to your musical instruments. The looper effect pedals record a small portion of your playing and then plays it back on an endless loop. This effect is particularly great for solo players.
Once you have decided which effects pedals you want, you can go ahead and start looking at pedalboards.
Things To Keep In Mind When Picking The Best Guitar Pedalboards
Besides the effects you can find in guitar pedals, there are a few additional features you should keep in mind in order to make an informed decision about the kind of pedalboard you should go for.
If you are someone that has a small setup and are planning to keep it that way then you can opt for a miniature size board for yourself. These boards are not only lightweight but they do a great job of keeping your guitar pedals organised. Ideal for busking when you don’t want to haul around something too big. However, if you feel like you will be expanding in the future then you can invest in something larger, even if there is excess empty space on your board.
If you are a regular musician then you can opt for a medium-sized board. Since they’re not super heavy and provide ample space, you can pack in plenty of effects on the board with ease. If you use the expression and wah pedals then you might like to buy a medium-sized board just so you can fit the pedals on there comfortably.
But for players who can’t function if everything is not at their feet, you will need a premium board that is large enough for all your pedals. Depending on the amount of effects pedals you want, the pedalboard should be big enough to fit all them and more.
We get it, you might still have questions about guitar pedals. Since not many people talk about this subject, there are many things that are needed to cover here. But hopefully, this guide will help you get started on your search towards the perfect guitar pedal for you.
FAQs
What do guitar effect pedals do?
Putting it simply, guitar effect pedals have the ability to make your tone sound better than you would have if you used only a guitar and amp. You can even use them to create different types of tonal textures. While there are some effects that are more commonly used or are more essential than others like reverb, overdrive, etc, these effects are what make up most of guitar rigs.
Do you really need a guitar pedalboard?
When all of your pedals have been installed on the pedalboard, there’s not much that can move them around. You can then use them with zero worries knowing that you will get the complete effect whenever you need during your performance. If you have more than 5 pedals then it is probably time for you to invest in a pedalboard.
How many guitar pedals is too many?
When you go look at equipment in the market, you’ll be surprised to find that pedals don’t cost half as much as guitars and amplifiers do. So like most things in life, you can get away with having 7 pedals with much ease. With 6 being too less and 8 being too many, 7 is the perfect amount of pedals for most guitarists. But if you are a bass player then you need no more or less than 3 pedals.
Do beginners need guitar pedals?
No, beginner guitar players do not need guitar pedals at all. If you like you can handle them then you can certainly go for minimal effects like a distortion pedal, chorus pedal and even a wah pedal. This will form the basic setup that is good to use by a beginner. But truth be told, for any newly starting out guitarist, the best thing would be to keep your focus on things that are important.
