New Pedalboard aka Nebulon B progress build

[Simon Says]

"Hey, nice to meet you, and this is crazy
But here's my old pedalboard, so it's time to change it, maybe."

It took me a whole month to start planning the changes. Call it as you will, but to me, it's progress. Pedals will be mostly the same, or the type of pedals will be similar. I'm thinking of flipping the Nordland OD for a mini Klon from Decibelics, I'm considering changing one of the Secret Preamps to the EP Booster (which used to be my favourite pedal for years), and I may change the Octaland for Argonaut as long as it's tracking as well as the King Tone. I blend out the fuzz on the Octaland anyway, and the need for more space is a big issue with my current pedalboard.

What's gone, though, is the whole MIDI patch outside the pedalboard. I have decided that the Synergy preamp will no longer be used, and it's currently on Reverb.com. Therefore, the outboard switching may be sorted with an MC-6 Pro relay port and a TRS cable. So, the MIDI Box is gone, and I will have no use for MST relay interfaces.

The expression pedal will not be used either. The initial plan was to use it with a GigRig mixer, but since I couldn't find the space for one, the EXP is just in my way. I have decided to move the RC10R looper/drum machine in its place, as having the looper on an upper deck is a massive pain in the ass. I need it nearer. Otherwise, I am messing up the loops badly. With all fairness, I would rather have it on the other side of the pedalboard, which will have to end up ordering a new lower deck from Schmidt and rewiring the whole board (QMX4 would also have to be moved to accommodate it). Still, it generates the cost again, so I see if I can unscrew the latches, flip the deck and use it as "left-handed".

Q-zone is also gone, soon replaced by a new EHX Pico POG.

The significant new addition will be the Eventide H90. It always was; I knew I would have it sooner or later. The initial plan was to have it outside the pedalboard in a rack along all the switching matrix for Synergy, but I want to keep the gear count down. The Volante will stay and work in H90's insert loop for now.

Lastly, since I will no longer need the MIDI-out from the pedalboard, I will install a D-Standard RCA jack linked to the PSU to power offboard wah-wah.

It will most likely take me a while before I start the rebuild, as I don't feel like playing with it anytime soon, and I want to sit on new pedals for a month or two to make sure I won't have to rip it all out and start over.

 

[Bogner]

"Hey, nice to meet you, and this is crazy
But here's my old pedalboard, so it's time to change it, maybe."

It took me a whole month to start planning the changes. Call it as you will, but to me, it's progress. Pedals will be mostly the same, or the type of pedals will be similar. I'm thinking of flipping the Nordland OD for a mini Klon from Decibelics, I'm considering changing one of the Secret Preamps to the EP Booster (which used to be my favourite pedal for years), and I may change the Octaland for Argonaut as long as it's tracking as well as the King Tone. I blend out the fuzz on the Octaland anyway, and the need for more space is a big issue with my current pedalboard.

What's gone, though, is the whole MIDI patch outside the pedalboard. I have decided that the Synergy preamp will no longer be used, and it's currently on Reverb.com. Therefore, the outboard switching may be sorted with an MC-6 Pro relay port and a TRS cable. So, the MIDI Box is gone, and I will have no use for MST relay interfaces.

The expression pedal will not be used either. The initial plan was to use it with a GigRig mixer, but since I couldn't find the space for one, the EXP is just in my way. I have decided to move the RC10R looper/drum machine in its place, as having the looper on an upper deck is a massive pain in the ass. I need it nearer. Otherwise, I am messing up the loops badly. With all fairness, I would rather have it on the other side of the pedalboard, which will have to end up ordering a new lower deck from Schmidt and rewiring the whole board (QMX4 would also have to be moved to accommodate it). Still, it generates the cost again, so I see if I can unscrew the latches, flip the deck and use it as "left-handed".

Q-zone is also gone, soon replaced by a new EHX Pico POG.

The significant new addition will be the Eventide H90. It always was; I knew I would have it sooner or later. The initial plan was to have it outside the pedalboard in a rack along all the switching matrix for Synergy, but I want to keep the gear count down. The Volante will stay and work in H90's insert loop for now.

Lastly, since I will no longer need the MIDI-out from the pedalboard, I will install a D-Standard RCA jack linked to the PSU to power offboard wah-wah.

It will most likely take me a while before I start the rebuild, as I don't feel like playing with it anytime soon, and I want to sit on new pedals for a month or two to make sure I won't have to rip it all out and start over.

I LIKE IT! Whenever You Get Around To Finishing It There Is No Doubt It Will Be Spectacular! Good On You My Friend!!

 

[László]

"Hey, nice to meet you, and this is crazy
But here's my old pedalboard, so it's time to change it, maybe."

It took me a whole month to start planning the changes. Call it as you will, but to me, it's progress. Pedals will be mostly the same, or the type of pedals will be similar. I'm thinking of flipping the Nordland OD for a mini Klon from Decibelics, I'm considering changing one of the Secret Preamps to the EP Booster (which used to be my favourite pedal for years), and I may change the Octaland for Argonaut as long as it's tracking as well as the King Tone. I blend out the fuzz on the Octaland anyway, and the need for more space is a big issue with my current pedalboard.

What's gone, though, is the whole MIDI patch outside the pedalboard. I have decided that the Synergy preamp will no longer be used, and it's currently on Reverb.com. Therefore, the outboard switching may be sorted with an MC-6 Pro relay port and a TRS cable. So, the MIDI Box is gone, and I will have no use for MST relay interfaces.

The expression pedal will not be used either. The initial plan was to use it with a GigRig mixer, but since I couldn't find the space for one, the EXP is just in my way. I have decided to move the RC10R looper/drum machine in its place, as having the looper on an upper deck is a massive pain in the ass. I need it nearer. Otherwise, I am messing up the loops badly. With all fairness, I would rather have it on the other side of the pedalboard, which will have to end up ordering a new lower deck from Schmidt and rewiring the whole board (QMX4 would also have to be moved to accommodate it). Still, it generates the cost again, so I see if I can unscrew the latches, flip the deck and use it as "left-handed".

Q-zone is also gone, soon replaced by a new EHX Pico POG.

The significant new addition will be the Eventide H90. It always was; I knew I would have it sooner or later. The initial plan was to have it outside the pedalboard in a rack along all the switching matrix for Synergy, but I want to keep the gear count down. The Volante will stay and work in H90's insert loop for now.

Lastly, since I will no longer need the MIDI-out from the pedalboard, I will install a D-Standard RCA jack linked to the PSU to power offboard wah-wah.

It will most likely take me a while before I start the rebuild, as I don't feel like playing with it anytime soon, and I want to sit on new pedals for a month or two to make sure I won't have to rip it all out and start over.

Your flexibility, and the changes planned are to be commended! Having changed my instruments, studio, software, hardware, recording gear, amps, pedals, acoustics and even cables a gazillion times, I can relate. No sense in hanging onto a plan just because it's a plan; it has to meet your needs, however much they change from time to time.

I figure it this way:

Music isn't a static thing. Creative change is a constant! Nothing in music gear/studio-land needs to be permanent. You're no sooner done with an idea than you have to accommodate a different idea.

Keep us posted. This is a fun thread!

This message was approved by the manufacturers of Velcro and other impermanent pedal attachment devices.

 

[Simon Says]

I LIKE IT! Whenever You Get Around To Finishing It There Is No Doubt It Will Be Spectacular! Good On You My Friend!!

With all fairness, the current incarnation of the board was somehow spectacular. With a relatively small 17" package, I have access to 4 amp channels across the amp and external preamp with the potential to grow bigger with all the stuff I could fit into a rack. But I realised something that has been the case with me for the past couple of years, and I tend to forget. I'm a meat and potato type with minimal tonal needs; enhancing the tone, not replacing it, is what I would instead focus on. I play pure rock; power and bounce are my primary two tones. I don't need four channels to get there. Fewer options will get me there sooner. I must tattoo it on my arm somewhere before I haemorrhage money on my rig again.

Your flexibility, and the changes planned are to be commended! Having changed my instruments, studio, software, hardware, recording gear, amps, pedals, acoustics and even cables a gazillion times, I can relate. No sense in hanging onto a plan just because it's a plan; it has to meet your needs, however much they change from time to time.

I figure it this way:

Music isn't a static thing. Creative change is a constant! Nothing in music gear/studio-land needs to be permanent. You're no sooner done with an idea than you have to accommodate a different idea.

Keep us posted. This is a fun thread!

This message was approved by the manufacturers of Velcro and other impermanent pedal attachment devices.

Aw, my music is a static thing for sure But I couldn't agree more; this setup has to serve my needs. They are not widespread but are pretty specific. The new rig plan is still more than I need; I believe I will only use a little more stuff from the H90 than reverbs and Univibe, but who knows? The main trigger for changes has been the RC10R placement. For the past several weeks, I couldn't stop looping; I started having a new level of fun playing guitar. I realised how much I miss playing with other people, and the looper/drum machine gave me a substitute for doing that. Suddenly, the RC10 became one of the most essential pedals on my board, but the physical placement on the pedalboard was just unfortunate.

So I was thinking more about the pedal Tetris and the selection of pedals yesterday, and - as much as everything will most likely change - I will keep the right-sided lower deck as it is. I will have to drive the cable from the Cali76 on an upper deck down and across the pedalboard to reach the RC10R, but I will have no signal loss. Cali76 is always on; even when off, it's still buffered. I'm still using my right foot for most pedalboard operations, and having the looper on the right side makes sense ergonomically. The Octaland will stay; even if I only use a clean octave up, I still need the ability to crank the volume up a bit. Argonaut won't be able to do that; it has no control over the master volume.

Regarding the Nordland vs Decibelics, I will think a lot about it in the coming weeks. Nordland is great as an EQ with a bit of push, the best pedal of this kind I have ever used. It works excellent with humbuckers but does wonders with single coils. The main reason I still have it is my single-coil itch, which I may be unable to shake off. I'm considering buying Fiore, Cutlass or EJ Strat around my birthday in March, and Nordland would be perfect for adding that note character I like in Stratocaster-style guitars. At the same time, I had the KTR here for a few days and enjoyed this thing. It's doing something to midrange, and I had so much fun boosting the drive channel of my Fillmore with it. Unfortunately, it's either or either, as the other two QMX spaces will have to be taken by the booster (the most used utility pedal on my board) and the polyphonic pitch shifter.

 

[Bogner]

I Hear You On The Hemorrhaging Money Part. What I Need To Do What I Do Is Minimal. All The Other Fluffy Stuff Is....Well, FLUFF! Most Of My Fluff Stuff Is For Fun And Trying To Spark Something New Creativity Wise. I Honestly Could Do Without Most Of It.

 

[László]

The only pedalboard change I've been thinking about is the H90. However, I'm stubbornly waiting for their Bluetooth app before getting one.

I use Bluetooth with my H9s, and as far as I'm concerned, it makes having the pedals a much better experience. Besides, I don't like the idea of having to plug a USB or MIDI cable into the pedal - I want the damn app, and they're not getting my money until they have it ready!

F^ck 'em.