Grateful Dead Music Forum

I've seen on a bunch of threads that some of you have your effects pedals mounted on your rack amongst the amp and pre-amp.
I'm looking to do the same but need a little advice on which components to go with.
Can someone please explain how I can achieve this setup, pedals on the rack but still control on the floor?

Thanks.
Derek

Just get a Voodoo Lab GCX switcher unit and a Voodoo Lab Ground Control. They are super easy to set up. They are each around $399.00 new, but they are both always on Ebay for around $200 used.

Thanks. But almost $900 to move my pedals 5'. Got to be a cheaper way.

Well when you put it that way it sounds like a lot of $, but I found mine unit on CL, for 2/3rd the street price. And if you are gigging there are advantages.

Such as......Each pedal is isolated, so if you get a bad patch chord it just puts an effect out of commission not your entire signal chain. Drunks can't fall on your board and implode your pedals mid show, and best of all, if you build a creative rack, your dials will always be right where you left them after your last practice or gig, because they can't get banged around enroute, and setup and tear down is a breeze. I've got 2 power bars in the back, so all my pedals are plugged in. I just plug in one master power bar and my rig is powered up. And as an added bonus with a rig like mine, you have a great place to stick your stickers. My rack is fast filling up since I took these photos last spring.

But best of all, you will never get plumber butt on stage reaching down to fiddle with dials on the floor. A no-no for any dude over 30.






Peace,

James

gr8fl4295 wrote:Thanks. But almost $900 to move my pedals 5'. Got to be a cheaper way.

The only other way to isolate each pedal is to keep the pedal board on the floor and use a switcher such as a Loop Master. I ended up going this route because you are going to have something on the floor either way. I tweak and have my pedals all set before I start playing.

Like this:

That fabulous idea of having pedals where you can easily adjust them cannot be overemphasized. That alone made a GCX worth the $550 I've got into mine. I have the Ground Control, not the Ground Control Pro. By choice. $80 for the earlier model and it's still supported.

I had a whole lot to learn about effects pedals when I bought mine.


Effects are currently in a drawer slider thingy.

I intend to further consolidate my rig into a GCX/Effect unit with the effects in a slant top SKB style rack case. I'll put the SMS & MC into another unit on wheels. Then I can carry each piece without another 6' walking meat pile. And put the Mc2100 in if I need additional whump.

Peace
M

"Plumber butt" and options for "additional whump"

Both serious considerations...

One side effect of so many years on the Bus...
The English language is far too limited to truthfully and artfully convey the Comic Book Colors that stream though my consciousness.

I apologize to those who would like more precision or dutiful replication of the language. That ability I no longer possess.
Peace
M

Yes, the dreaded plumber butt. Butt seriously, they speak of it right on the GCX website. I was going to mention the cool factor but I think whump trumps that one. I've gotten more than a few compliments on my "pedal box", but unfortunately not from the opposite sex, although I did have a hippie chick snap a pic of it recently (rather than me!).

Really, it's only rock and roll. After a hard tail strat and a decent fender amp they are all luxury items.

Peace,

James