Best Pedalboards: Pedal Platforms for Guitarists

Pedaltrain has set the industry standard when it comes to modular pedalboard systems. Professional touring musicians rely on Pedaltrain boards the world over, and for good reason. They have lightweight metal frames, yet are built to withstand the rigors of touring and take a beating.

The reason they're as popular as they are is because of how many options they offer - no less than a dozen different models across five series. Between the five series and the names of the pedalboards within each one, things can get a little confusing. Luckily, their website helps by splitting them out into 3 categories that make more sense:

1. Ultraportable (up to 5 pedals)
2. Standard (6-12 pedals)
3. Big Rigs (12 pedals and up)

Nearly every Pedaltrain model offers the option of a soft zippered case, or tour-worthy hard case. Here's a handy chart which will help you select the perfect Pedaltrain model for your pedal collection:

Hook-and-loop (aka Velcro) is included with every Pedaltrain board; you attach one side to the underside of your pedals, and the other to the pedalboard's rails. You can use the rails to route all your cables and maintain and very clean and tidy looking board. They even include zip ties to tame any remaining unruly cables. You can mount a power supply underneath, though you'll have to make sure that your power supply fits under your chosen Pedaltrain board if you opt for the smaller flat ones (if you have any doubts they're pretty good about answering power supply questions).

In this short video by Pedaltrain, they give you an idea of how easy it is to set up your pedalboard:

Bottom Line: Pedaltrain pedalboards are hard to beat, provided you don't mind fastening your pedals down with Velcro. Whether you're looking for an entry-level pedalboard or you're a veteran with a monster rig, they've got plenty of options. They are also priced very reasonably, and the inclusion of a case is very nice.

Canada-made Temple Audio pedalboards give you more possibilities to organize your pedals than any other board on this list. The most notable thing about Templeboards is the amazingly designed plate, which comes drilled with screw holes. The entire pedalboard is full of these screw holes, so you can place any size and shape of pedal virtually anywhere on the surface of the board. There's no need for adhesives like Velcro or tape, as you position each pedal individually with thumb-screw mounting plates. This system keeps the pedalboard really tidy and gives you plenty of flexibility.

This video runs through a basic setup of a Templeboard:

Another amazing thing about this pedalboard and the screw holes is that you can mount pedals and other devices on both sides of the plate. All Temple pedalboards are slanted, so the bottom side has a ground clearance between 1.25 and 2.25 inches; plenty of clearance to mount your power supply underneath.

They offer 7 sizes in the lineup, with the most popular one being the DUO 24 since it's pretty compact (roughly 1 ft. tall x 2 ft. wide) yet can house 10-12 pedals.

Besides functionality and practicality, Temple Audio pedalboards feature an impressive build quality. They're sturdy and lightweight due to being constructed of rigid high-grade aluminium, and feature quality handles and side rails. The side rails come in your choice of Temple Red, Vintage White, or Gunmetal Grey. You can also get custom colored rails for an additional $50.

Bottom Line: The Templeboard mounting system is pretty ingenious. However, unlike Pedaltrain which includes a travel case and velcro, the Temple Audio mounting plates and thumb screws are sold separately, as are their soft travel cases and hard flight cases. This makes them a slightly worse value than Pedaltrain, so it really comes down to which mounting system you prefer.

Available Sizes: Boss BCB-30X, Boss BCB-90X, Boss BCB-1000

Taking lessons from its predecessor the BCB-60, the Boss BCB-90X reintroduces itself with a promise of practicality and durability - and it's mostly successful.

Upon unboxing, we were immediately impressed by the build quality. For starters, note that this is a pedalboard integrated into a hardshell case. The BCB-90X exudes sturdiness, aligning well with Boss's reputation for reliability. The protective case feels robust, ready to take on the rigors of travel and performance. However, the foam insert system - designed to securely hold pedals without Velcro - proved to be a bit of a mixed bag. While it does keep pedals snug, cutting the foam to fit different pedal shapes can be cumbersome, and any significant reconfiguration requires new foam pieces, which adds to long-term costs.

Feature-wise, the BCB-90X shines. The integrated power supply and increased pedal space are major upgrades from the BCB-60. We found it easy to switch out pedals, a boon for those of us who like to experiment with our setups. However, the absence of included patch cables, a staple in older models, was a letdown and added to the initial setup cost.

In terms of value, the BCB-90X is a mixed proposition. While it's more expensive than previous models, its durability and convenience may justify the price for serious musicians. Yet, those upgrading from the BCB-60 might feel the sting of the missing accessories and higher price point.

Bottom Line: The Boss BCB-90X is ideal for gigging musicians needing a reliable and adaptable pedalboard. However, if you're on a tight budget or frequently swap out pedals, be prepared for some extra costs and minor frustrations.

The Behringer PB600 pedalboard is a great value in the world of permanent-hard-cases. The PB600 comes with a built in power supply, mono and stereo outputs, and space for up to 6 regular sized stomp boxes (and possibly more if you get creative). All the components sit in a permanent hard-shell case with noticeably more room than some of its other peers. Its long "hotdog" design offers a lot of surface area for some oversized pedals as well. For a visual of what this board is capable of, here's an example configuration:

The hardcase is durable; the plastic is surprisingly thick and provides excellent protection from bumps along the way. Inside the case, pedals are held in place by foam padding which can be cut to accomodate awkwardly-shaped pedals.

The built in power supply provides a generous 1.7 A of power along with a daisy chain power cable for 6 pedals. Stereo outputs are a nice bonus, as is the inclusion of 1/4" patch cables.

Bottom Line: The Behringer PB600 is an attractive looking board and quite functional. It's a direct competitor to the Boss BCB-60, and improves on the Boss by providing 700mA more power for your pedals. It's a nice solution for beginners, and will survive a wild night almost anywhere. If you have a small to moderate stage rig, this board is a great option.

The SKB PS-8 is a straightforward pedalboard at a very good price point. The unique thing about its design is that all components exist internally to keep the top of the board sleek and uncluttered. The power supply lies buried deep in the heart of the board to give you added space on top.

Another unique feature of the PS-8 is that the entire surface of the board itself is covered with Velcro. This gives you a lot of area to work with, and you can arrange up to 8 standard sized pedals in any shape or pattern your heart desires.

The built-in power supply (9V DC providing 500mA) makes things easier, but we've heard from some folks that it can produce a buzz or hum in venues with poor wiring. Luckily it can be replaced with another power supply quite easily.

The included ballistic nylon gig bag is nice overall, but we wouldn't mind if it was a little more reinforced.

Bottom Line: All in all, the PS-8 is hard to beat for the price. If you have any power-hungry digital pedals, they might eat up the power supply's available 500mA rather quickly, so that's something to watch out for. Otherwise if you just want a clean and basic solution that's essentially a large Velcro pad with built-in power, this pedalboard fits the bill.

Here's one for the road warriors. The Gator Cases G-TOUR is a very simple pedalboard sitting in a very heavy-duty case. The case is really the main selling point here, which should come at no surprise since the folks at Gator know how to make very tour-worthy cases.

The Gator Cases G-TOUR lineup has 3 models: small, large, and extra-large, sized as follows:

There are three pieces to this pedalboard/case combo: the top and bottom halves of the case, and the pedalboard itself which is just a flat surface with a very subtle downward angle. You can keep the pedalboard tucked inside one half of the case, or take it out and lay it on the floor by itself.

The pedalboard surface itself is as no-frills as they come. There is no included power supply, and no rails or slots for cable management. It truly is just a flat surface. Pedals can be secured to the board using Velcro. They include a small roll of 3M Dual Lock, which is great stuff.

While intuitive pedal mounting and cable routing is not its forte, you can make it your own by drilling your own holes if needed.

The price tag of the Gator Cases G-TOUR is rather steep, and what you are paying for here is the great design and ruggedness of the case. This thing looks and feels bulletproof, and it'll protect your precious pedal collection from anything you can throw at it. It's quite hefty, and fortunately the large and extra-large versions have wheels.

Inside, the case has a soft eggshell cushion on top which presses against your pedals when closed, protecting delicate components and keeping things from moving around.

Bottom Line: While we absolutely love this case + pedalboard combo, we must caution you that it's not for everyone. The price tag is a bit high, and you are definitely paying for the heavy-duty nature of the case. This is not the pedalboard to get if you're just looking for a home setup. Also keep in mind that you'll have to get a bit creative when it comes to routing and managing your cables, and there's no clever place to mount a power supply. If you can live with all that and demand the toughest case around to protect your pedals, the Gator Cases G-TOUR pedalboard is it.