Build A Bulletproof Pedalboard

#vertexeffects #pedalboard #diypedalboard

The Rig Doctor shows you how to make your rig bulletproof and withstand even the most destructive roadie or airport staff, built to last a lifetime.

SEE ALL EPSIODES:

FOLLOW:

PEDALS:

POWER SUPPLY:

TOOLS:

MATERIALS:

RIG DR'S FAVORITE GUITAR CABLE:
Mogami 2524 w/Silent Plug STRAIGHT
Mogami 2524 x/Silent PLUG RIGHT ANGLE

CREDITS:
Videographer - Mason Mejia
Graphics - Audrey Reed
Rig Dr. - Mason Marangella

OUTRO MUSIC:
by Ken Talve Trio "Hunky Dory"

TRANSITION MUSIC
by Danny Kean & Doug Maxwell "So Smooth"

[VertexEffectsInc]

Howdy folks! This Rig Doctor episode is all about using techniques to build an ultra road worthy, light weight, and compact pedalboard that can withstand even the most brutal airport staff or roadies out there. Please ask me questions in the comments below about this rig or your rig, troubleshooting advise, etc. We'd love to have you back for future episodes, so if you find this video helpful, please like and subscribe! ~Rig Doc

[joeguammusic]

Great episode Mason, thanks. I worked for an airline for 7.5 years, and had really good friends who were TSA agents that would tell us the inside scoop and countless stories over beers at happy hour. I’ve been a pro musician for 20 years, but full-time for only the past 2.

When I travel with my pedalboard rig (which also weighs about 49lbs) I take out all the patch cables, XLR cables and power cables. I wrap the cables up and put it in my luggage instead of with the pedalboard. You see, the non-musician-TSA-agents get freaked out when they see all the wiring/cabling in the x-ray (think “bomb wiring”). As a result, they have to open it all up and inspect it. Because they have no idea how a pedalboard works, they rip it apart trying to find some verification that it’s good to go. Most of the time, they aren’t malicious about it and have no ill-intentions (although there are some bad apples), they just don’t want to let something harmful get by them AND don’t want to inconvenience anyone by denying their luggage from getting loaded on the flight. A lot of TSA agents actually have good hearts and take their job seriously (and of course some a little too seriously).

So yeah, it’s a pain in the ass to take all the cables out of my rig, but it only takes about 15-20 minutes. I’ve got 19 devices on my pedalboard including power supplies, wireless units, wireless IEM transmitter and a small mixer. After a few times, removing and connecting back the cables is definitely worth the smooth transition through TSA. I’ll also disclose that I don’t use tie-downs and zip ties, so that might be a problem if you do.

Hope this helps...

[craigsi]

how exactly is it tsa proof? all you did was make it smaller

[MrMusicM]

Wow. I completely enjoyed watching this. Thank you for sharing! I really got to get myself a pedal board!

[DannyBrooks]

Hi Mason! I am really enjoying your channel. I have the Vertex boost and love it. I support what you do. Keep up the good work.

[selfishgills]

TSA watching video - “challenge accepted”.

[tylerherbs]

I remember seeing a video where Paul Gilbert talked about how the TSA kept ripping the pedals off of his board because they were looking for serial numbers so he decided to write a fake pedalboard name and serial number on the bottom of the board. Maybe you could start serializing your Vertex boards to help with this. I know Wayne Krantz has had issues with the TSA destroying his Vertex board too.

[ahall]

I don’t see how this is going to stop the TSA from messing with it. They generally want to open up the pedals to check there’s nothing untoward or illegal inside.

[RossCampbellGuitarist]

Man, I NEED to get a board built by you some time! Awesome work.

[matthewbashaw]

Anyone else super curious about- A) How many TSA employees took this personally, and/or- B) took it as a challenge?
I wouldn’t be surprised if, right after this video was released, the owner of this board suddenly started being “randomly selected for more thorough screening” on almost every flight.
Solid video, and very clever/helpful ideas. So if I’m correct in my assumptions, thank you for taking one for the team. You sir, are a true American hero.

[RobFlaxMusic]

Tap tempo/faves switch in the same enclosure is BRILLIANT. Would you ever consider making these commercially available?

[unknownauthorship]

Great video! Lately I've been seeing a lot of promise with the floor units because of the quality standards, easy of use, and features. I still say keep a small dirt box and modulation pedal or small effects unit in the guitar case or bag as backup because it's saved me more than few times...but that's just local gigs.

[PhilHeesen]

Great video, Mason! I just watched all of the videos from the Rig Doctor playlist and really enjoyed them.

I'd love to see a future video showing how you wire up boards that use switching systems like The GigRig G2, Boss ES-8, etc. I have a G2 and while it has a lot of benefits, it can make for a big mess of cables when wiring everything up. Would love to see your tips, tricks and also recommended pedal board options (tiered, where to place multiple power supplies, keeping things tidy). My current board has a spacious section for placing power supplies and cables underneath the top of the board - but also includes a bottom panel to cover the very bottom of the board that needs to be unscrewed to access these cables. Kind of a pain. Thanks!

[OutpourEast]

Totally love videos like this! Can’t wait to see more

[ElmerFerrer]

Sorry, and how is it gonna make it harder for TSA?

[amitsapir]

Great episode! can you do an episode about wiring power cables? What do you use, how to make a daisy chain cable (meaning splitting one power out to two or more.) etc...

[JonHoltMusic]

Another tip that I recently heard about in order to save your rig from TSA was to include a laminated thank you note to tsa for keeping everyone safe and doing their job well! I’ve heard someone say that since they started including a note, tsa hasn’t ripped their board apart, but instead inspected it neatly.

[riffs]

Beautiful board, but still scary af when it comes to TSA disassembly and damage potential. Love how clean it’s wired, but the looming nightmare of pre-gig reassembly remains. Unless I’ve missed something. My philosophy is build it so it CAN be easily pulled apart by TSA without damaging the pedals and wiring and then quickly reassembled. Having every audio and power cable measured to the molecular degree and zip tied like that is BEAUTIFUL, but once that’s ripped apart, you are fuct on the gig, IMO.

[worshipguitarjapan]

Cool video as usually. It made me think about putting the power supply below some pedal so I can have more space. But since my pedalboard is a diago I don't know if I can use a lifter...

[brickmanstudios]

Is there any chance that the TSA will go through this pelican and start unplugging and taking out pedals to inspect them?