Placing pedals where they can be reached - not on the floor

[PaulBennett]

I have 3 Boss pedal effects, NS-2 noise, CE-5 Chorus, and DD-3 Delay. I also use a Sampson UHF receiver which feeds the signal to them, then to the amplifier. But they are quite awkward placed atop the amplifier (Peavy Blues) which has no flat area to accommodate them. As I have no balance and must sit to play, how do you other 'sitters' handle pedal placement when you cannot reach the floor? Build a wooden shelf?

FYI, I have the amplifier plugged into an X-10 appliance module (as are all the lights in my room) so I can turn the amplifier on remotely from my chair. A Sampson UHF transmitter plugged into the NC output jack so no cords are lying about to cause tripping (cords have an affinity for my legs-and gravity is a bear).

Thanks for any suggestions.

[Mike Nye]

Call these guys, they'll fixya up . . .

http://www.pedalboards.com

[David Elliott]

But they are quite awkward placed atop the amplifier (Peavy Blues) which has no flat area to accommodate them. As I have no balance and must sit to play, how do you other 'sitters' handle pedal placement when you cannot reach the floor?

Hi Paul,
Maybe I'm missing something here. Do all of your pedals not have a foot switch? I also play guitar sitting down, but don't have to bend over to turn on (or off) effects pedals, because I just have them on the floor right in front of me (in a series) to begin with, and then I just push the foot switch (with my foot to turn them on or off.
David

[Ray Bohlken]

Paul, I use one of these with the pedals mounted to a piece of wood - a board - that sits on top of a stand like this one. That way, I can adjust the setting while I'm playing or recording and then, when I'm finished playing, I can fold up the stand and put away the board with the effects still mounted. I have the effects plugged into a power strip with several sockets which is also mounted on the board. I hope this helps.
Ray

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/XStdLt/

[PaulBennett]

Excellent idea, Ray, that should work well. I see that keyboard stand is height adjustable too and cheap. Thanks much.

[Phil Waldron]

Hey Paul I am curious why you are using a NS-2 noise reduction unit with just a chorus and delay pedal ... I have both those on a professional pedal board (12 pedals) and they are very quiet ... I use the NS-2 when I have engaged a VooDoo Lab Sparkle Drive or Boss Blues Driver for a little edge on the sound ... If you are not careful the NS-2 will suck the sustain from your sound. Just a morning curiousity question.

[PaulBennett]

Hey Paul I am curious why you are using a NS-2 noise reduction unit

Phil, I have bought all too many things which were recommended on the old ChetBoard, and most have proven quite worth using. However, I don't recall the wisdom of each right now but it must have made sense at the time (anyone need a Multiac?).

For me, the NS-2 has the unique ability to plug the wall wart power to it's dual power jack, and daisy chain power to the other units from it's second power jack. Way back, I do recall many threads on the old forum discussing the various merits of placing the NS-2 first or last amongst the effects. I have placed it first, after the receiver, but I've never heard a difference as I can't hear anything above 5.5kcps, so generally leave it off.

Actually I do know why I bought the Multiac, it was because Bobby Gibson sounded so wonderful on his.

[Mike Nye]

Hey Paul I am curious why you are using a NS-2 noise reduction unit

Way back, I do recall many threads on the old forum discussing the various merits of placing the NS-2 first or last amongst the effects.

That's the BEAUTY of using effects pedals within arm's reach; you can experiment around with how a certain effect affects the effect of the other effects (say that fast three times) when placed at different points in the signal path . . .

I ALWAYS keep a pad & pen handy to make notes of different configurations I try, and their results for future reference.

The ONLY HARD FAST RULE that I almost ALWAYS follow is NOT placing echo or delay in FIRST order . . .

[David Elliott]

Paul,

I didn't mean to post a dumb (or smart alecky) response to your inquiry about the placement of effects pedals, but I honestly have never had any problem with just placing the pedals right in front of me on the floor. I too, have a balance problem, but unless you are perhaps sitting on a high stool or something, you really don't have to bend over much at all to operate the controls on the pedals, right from your chair. Maybe you do a lot more tweaking or adjusting of the pedals than I do?

David

[craigdobbins]

I've enjoyed this thread. I only use a couple of effects when I play live, maybe a delay and a preamp. I put them in a chair or on a stool near me, which makes it much easier to adjust the controls (changing delay parameters, adjusting eq, etc.) whether I'm standing or sitting. (When you're 6' 6", it's a long way to the floor.)

I also usually put delay last in my signal chain, just before my Demeter Tube Direct Box. The Tube Direct has both lo and hi outputs, so I can go to the PA and to an amp if I want to.

Our friend Tommy Emmanuel usually keeps his Alesis reverbs on a small table just behind or beside him so he can adjust them easily. Some of you may remember that Paul Yandell sometimes used a volume pedal when he played with Chet, to make quick adjustments while playing.

Thanks,

Craig