The TRUE COST of a Custom Rig Build

We get a lot of questions about pedalboard build pricing. So today, I'm breaking down the cost of getting your pedalboard built by a professional, and sharing a list of all the rig builders I know of, so YOU can have the pedalboard of your dreams!

TABLE OF CONTENTS:
00:00 Introduction
00:52 Fictitious Pedalboard Example
02:52 Material Costs
03:27 Pedalboard Surface Cost
04:50 Zip Tie & Tie Down Mount Cost
05:33 Velcro Cost
06:05 Audio Cable Cost
07:06 Power Cable Cost
08:21 Labor Costs
09:21 Rig Builder Categorization
09:47 Master Builders
10:47 Journeyman Builders
12:37 Apprentice Builders
14:41 Find A Rig Builder Near You!
16:48 Conclusion

RIG BUILDERS AROUND THE WORLD

USA 🇺🇸

CANADA 🇨🇦

CENTRAL AMERICA 🇨🇷

SOUTH AMERICA 🇨🇴🇧🇷

EUROPE 🇬🇧 🇳🇱 🇫🇮 🇩🇪 🇮🇹 🇳🇴 🇩🇰 🇫🇷 🇵🇱

ASIA 🇭🇰 🇯🇵 🇵🇭

AUSTRALIA 🇦🇺

⬇BUY VERTEX PEDALS⬇

⬇ONE-ON-ONE TONE CONSULTING⬇

⬇PODCAST⬇

⬇DIY BUFFER DIAGRAMS & TEMPLATES⬇

⬇RECOMMENDED MATERIALS⬇


#ProPedalboardBuild #PedalboardCost #CustomPedalboard

[VertexEffectsInc]

Do you know of any rig builders that we didn't include on this list? Tell us in the comments below!

TABLE OF CONTENTS:
00:00 Introduction
00:52 Fictitious Pedalboard Example
02:52 Material Costs
03:27 Pedalboard Surface Cost
04:50 Ziptie & Mount Cost
05:33 Velcro Cost
06:05 Audio Cable Cost
07:06 Power Cable Cost
08:21 Labor Costs
09:21 Rig Builder Categorization
09:47 Master Builders
10:47 Journeyman Builders
12:37 Apprentice Builders
14:41 Rig Builders Near YOU!
16:48 Conclusion

[nkozi]

that's why I ended up doing the labor myself.
Once I got the materials/pedals together, it actually wasn't difficult at all to get a rock solid rig done. I didn't end up using custom power or audio cables (used True Tone's supplied power leads and a mix of EBS Flat and Tour Gear Designs), but now I have a true stereo ampless midi controlled rig in 7 Cable Method.
Huge thanks to all the great resources on this channel for helping me along the way!

[bryandavidson]

Knowing that pros factor in an hour per pedal makes me feel a lot better about how long it takes me to build my rigs. 😰

[GioGuitarDude]

For simple-ish to moderately complicated pedalboards, if you can’t rout some custom cables and stick some Velcro on objects then I have a hard time believing that you even have enough brains to play the guitar. $2800 just for labor, cables, Velcro and zip ties??? I’m not intentionally trying to be negative, but sheesh you’ve got to be kidding me. I have $1500 worth of pedals (12 pedals total) in a custom hard case that I spent less than $300 and 4 hours building, and it works absolutely perfectly and looks good too. It’s just a 5 cable setup (some pedals through FX loop and some between the guitar and the amp input + Marshall 6 way channel selector), but it’s absolutely perfect. I’m thrilled that I could potentially make $2000+ building pedalboards and am not knocking the guys who build them professionally, but for the customers out there… come on dudes… it’s not that hard to do it yourselves.

[MK-tjbf]

I have a question
Why do you need TC buffer in front of TC Polytune if that one has the same buffer that buffer pedal ?
Confused.

Thanks for the answer

[therealdealblues]

Have always built my own just because of cost. Buy the wood, cut to size, build platforms and screw together if needed. Usually trim the outside with aluminum. I don't paint mine. I like the oak wood color so I finish with Minwax Polycrylic clear satin finish and just put on strips of velcro or dual lock across so I can swap pedals as I inevitably will do. Buy a good quality power supply, used Strymon on the last couple I've built. Ordered all my jacks, wire from Bestronics last time but have use other brands in the past. I like being able to order everything I need from them and they have good pricing. Been soldering since I was a kid (still feel every guitarist should learn to solder) so do all of that myself. My cable runs aren't the cleanest because I swap stuff around a lot but all the materials usually cost me $100-300 depending on size of board. I also mount jacks into the side of my pedal risers for running cables back to my amps. I get a lot of compliments on my boards. I've made about 6 now, all different sizes. I often think it would be cool to have a "pro built one", but in the end the money savings alone would keep me from ever doing it. Add in knowing that it's my design makes it feel a bit more special as well.

[crumpred]

I have built a few pedalboards over the years and am prepping & gathering to build a Mason Marangella inspired build using your 26" x 14" w/riser. Thanks for these invaluable lessons Mason!

[scottbartenhagen]

If there is already a built in buffer in the polytune mini, is there any particular reason you would need one another one before it? Or was that just for demonstration purposes. Thank you!

[netzarim]

So TTL cost for a P&W pedalboard with the current used pedals:
Timeline - $450
Blue Sky - $480
Blues Breaker type OD - $350
Compresor cali76 - $360
Mobius - $450
Volume - $100
Iridium (amp/cab box) - $400+
Another delay - $300
Tube screamer type OD - $250+
Switcher - $1, 000
2 power supplies - $500
Labor $2, 000
Materials like $1, 500
*** $8, 140 *** give or take
I know this can sound great, but in comparison to a Kemper, is it $6, 000+ better?

[timothypogue]

I had mine built by XTS in Nashville. I'm a hack but the board build is top notch. I would consider them Master Builders and very reasonably priced. Dropped my pedals, power supply and board off in the morning and picked it up that afternoon. Highly recommend them

[datooch]

Hey Mason. I ordered everything I need to make my own cables. I went to school for electronics technician and graduated with a technical degree back in 1998. Truth be told I was a 3.68 GPA so theory was never a problem, but when it came to lab time I absolutely sucked a soldering. I bought all of your recommendations and watched all your patch cable videos today. I think it’ll be different this time.

[randyharrington]

Great video. This channel is consistently putting out the best quality content.

[BarqB]

Hey Jason. So in this serial rig where would you put a quality fuzz? in my case a Twin Bender. Im being told it should go before everything including the buffer.

[mattelder]

I don’t get the hate I’m seeing. He’s being transparent and has gone to great lengths to teach the steps for us to do everything on our own. He’s clearly a pro builder not for most of us…just showing what it takes for a pro build. Thanks for a look into this niche. I’d add that I’ve spent lots of hours building my boards and I don’t do cheap work in my real job or in my hobby. No judgment here.

[rsotherd]

Is it worth getting a switcher if I run my pedals into the front of my tube amp? My amp is a 30 watt 1x12 combo and has no effects loop. My pedalboard would consist of a wah pedal, fuzz, gain/od, clean boost, vibe, tremolo, and delay for the most part. Thanks for any help.

[Souldoubtrocks]

Based on these numbers I can’t thank you enough for sharing your master knowledge

[christopherstorrier]

Hi, thanks for your reply to my question....i play passive bass so only use live a Boss LMB3 Limiter, Polytune 3 tuner, MXR Thump pre-amp (no DI or cab sim) lastly into a Shift Line Cab Zone Bass with DI (XLR) & output to amp (pedals in that order)....am i right in thinking the Cab Zone Bass is buffered as the manual says the output is 100ohm and has a DI XLR output and amp jack plug ?... i bought a standalone Bonafide buffer, got it for a good price, i put the Polytune 3 in buffered mode AFTER the Boss LMB3 Limiter as you suggested...now i have just bought the standalone Bonafide buffer, where is the best place to use it ?
If playing with a bass amp head i plug my tuner into the amp's tuner output & replace the tuner on my board with the Bonafide buffer...is this the best thing to do when the Polytune 3 is plugged into my amp's tuner output ? & when i can use an amp head where on my board would be the best place to put the Bonafide buffer when the Polytune 3 is plugged into my bass amp's tuner output ? & where is the best place if using the Polytune Bonafide 3 on my board when i cannot use my bass amp ? giving me 2 Bonafide buffers, 1 in the Polytune 3 & 1 standalone Bonafide..would it be best to put the standalone Bonafide buffer after the Shift Line Cab Zone Bass DI back to my amp head ?or should i replace the Polytune 3 buffered tuner with the Bonafide buffer ? basically what is the best order to use these pedals WITH & WITHOUT the Polytune 3 Bonafide buffered tuner as i plug it into the amp's tuner output when using an amp head (Warwick WA300)
Your advice would be greatly appreciated....Thank you...

[OrangutanJ]

How would you go about making your own trs to stereo cables? Nobody makes those with the trs at a 90degree angle. I’m trying to connect a zelzah, a deco, and a flint on a mini board in full stereo.

[orryfishburne]

I would love to have a professional built board one day. I more want to get the DIY aspect down to get that level of professionalism on my own build. Your channel has been very helpful, so thank u so much for everything u do. I still need to buy soldering equipment and learn to solder my own cables to get that clean look, and get a real board and ditch my board i made from wood, but im pretty happy with my pedal choice. I still want to get some more gain stages and a better wah pedal. Not sure if i want to look into a switcher in the future or not. Im using (in order) Mesa Highwire> (send) Ernie Ball VPJR> EHX Cockfight>Wampler Ego V2> Fender MTG Tube Distortion> EHX Nano Big Muff Pi> EQD Grand Orbiter V3> Boss EQ-200> Return to Mesa Highwire> Front end of a Roland JC40> JC40 Effects Loop Send> Boss MD-500 (Stereo Out)> Strymon Timeline> GFI Systems Specular Tempus> Stereo Return to the JC40, but spitting off from the second output on the Boss EQ-200 is going to an Egnater Tweaker 40 Combo to try to achieve a somewhat Wet/Dry/Wet rig between the 2 amps, and im using a Peterson Strobostomp HD in the tuner out of the Highwire. Im powering it all with a Truetone 1-Spot Pro CS12. I do want to get a Lehle P-Split III to properly send to my Egnater since i do experience some phase issues and ground noise from the way im currently splitting my signal, but im pretty happy with my board at the moment.

[brightsidesoundmachine]

Hey there, it’s Dustin from Bright Side Sound Machine in Kentucky just a little ways north of Nashville Tn, and I build rigs. Great content Mason!