We’ve all been in that scenario where you think you’ve got your set sorted out. Your stompboxes are in place, your settings are all solid, and most importantly, you have the guts to go out for your first performance. That’s until you realize you aren’t “that” ready after all.
You quickly learn that having disorganized pedals under your feet, with clumsily arranged power cables everywhere, wasn’t the best setup for a practice, much less for a live show! And it doesn’t help that you only had minutes for a changeover. So, long story short, a total disaster.
Does this sound familiar? Then you badly need a pedalboard to bring order to your life. A pedalboard is a fantastic addition to organizing your stompboxes and significantly cutting down setup time. Here’s our best pick for the best guitar pedalboards you should consider.
Included in this guide:
| Image | Product | Features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
Best Overall  | Pedaltrain Classic Jr SC 18 X12.5 Inches Pedalboard
| 4.8 | Check Price |
Runner-up  | Temple Audio DUO 24 Temple Board
| 4.4 | Check Price |
Top Pick  |
| 4.7 | Check Price |
Top Pick  |
| 4.2 | Check Price |
Lowest Price  |
| 4.7 | Check Price |
Related Article: Best Guitar Distortion Pedals: Top 5 Picks For Rock Guitarists
The Top 5 Best Guitar Pedalboards
Pedaltrain’s Classic Jr Soft Case Pedalboard is yet another excellent example of the brand's dominance in the pedalboard market. It’s decent-sized for a convenient grab-and-go setup yet spacious enough to fit ten pedals. The board boasts an ergonomic 18x12.5 inches design, featuring Pedaltrain’s original four-rail setup to minimize the mess from daisy-chained stompboxes.
Of course, it’s durable, too! Made from aircraft-grade aluminum, it weighs an astonishing three pounds, so not enough to break the back of a touring musician. Lastly, the open-front design makes your life more convenient with effort power supply mounting. Setup will never be as easy as with the Classic Jr!
- Ergonomic incline design for a wide variety of power supply
- It comes with zip ties and velcros
- It’s on the affordable side
- It might not fit large power supplies
The Temple Audio brand has been known for its durable, good-looking, and lightweight pedalboards. And sure enough, the DUO 24 doesn’t skimp on any of those areas. If you love a unique aesthetic for your setup, this pedalboard might just be what you’re looking for.
The pedalboard comes in a combination of gorgeous modern colors. But what separates the DUO 24 from other models is its pedal mounting mechanics. You’ll get adapters of different sizes that hook to the bottom of the pedals via high-attack sticky pads. These pads then securely attach with thumb screws anywhere you like on the board.
Beyond its innovative design, the DUO 24 material quality is off the charts. The aluminum board with rugged side rails doesn’t flex under heavy stress, and the coating is exceptionally durable. Most importantly, like most Temple Audio boards, you can expand the DUO 24 by various output and input modules. Talk about customization freedom.
- 4-Way Jack Module and IEC Mains
- Slanted ergonomic design
- The perforated board can fit eight to ten stompboxes
- The pedal plate mounting makes pedal switching complicated
The XPND is a new addition to D’Addario’s superb guitar gear collection. It boasts an innovative design that expands to adapt to your pedal space needs (hence the name). Flaunting D’Addario’s patented telescopic technology, the XPND lets you instantly change your board size and add or remove pedals.
Are you worried about durability? Don’t be! The board is made from "aircraft-quality" aluminum rails, a lightweight and durable material with an excellent weight-to-strength ratio. Fitted with loop velcro, the XPND is as secure as you can get from a pedalboard. Overall, it’s a real game-changer you don’t want to miss out on!
- It comes with adjustable feet and pedal risers
- Available in single and double-row configurations
- Secure premium Backline Pedalboard Transporter bag
- Limited space underneath for a power supply
SKB corporation has always been at the forefront of musical trends. The SKB 8-port Powered Pedalboard might look stereotypical on the outside. However, it does boast some of the best features you can have from a pedal board.
Unlike most brands with metallic construction, SKB’s 8-port pedalboard is constructed with eco-friendly rubber-modified styrene. It’s a highly sturdy material but also flexible to absorb the strongest impact on the stage without breaking. The board is wide enough to fit your stompbox collection with a 36-inch strip of 2-inch wide hook strip to secure your pedals.
Last but not least, SKB’s masterpiece comes with a fully integrated power source to cater for up to eight stompboxes. Plus, all the necessary cables come with the package! Who wouldn’t want a deal like this?
- Affordable price tag
- Five years warranty from SKB Corporation
- A ballistic nylon carry bag to protect your board and accessories
- The board lacks a built-in power switch
If you want a reasonably-priced pedalboard with features that can compete with more expensive brands, look no further. Ghost Fire’s guitar pedalboard is all that and more. It’s sturdy and featherweight, does its job well and costs a fraction of other popular brands—practically everything we need for any product!
At only 3.3 Pounds, the pedalboard is effortless to carry around for your tour gigs. With generous dimensions of 19.8''x11.5'', it can snuggly fit up to 10 stompbox pedals without a hitch. Despite its price tag, the board flaunts a sandblasted aluminum alloy construction, built to withstand the most stressful venues.
Best of all? The package includes all the accessories you’ll need to mount your pedals and power supplies. From velcro strips to cable ties and stick-on mounts, all in there for free!
- An inexpensive alternative to costly boards
- Patented ergonomic stand design
- A freebie padded carrying bag
- The freebie bag is made of thin nylon material
Related Article: The Top 5 Best Guitar Chorus Pedals For Your Rig (2024)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
A guitar pedalboard is a flat board or panel that serves as a base to organize, secure, and transport your guitar effects pedals. It often includes a power supply to power multiple pedals and may come with a case for easy transportation.
A pedalboard helps in managing your effects pedals efficiently, making setup and teardown quicker and easier. It ensures a clean, organized setup, minimizing cable clutter and reducing the risk of loose connections or pedal movement during performance.
Pedals are typically organized in a signal chain from the guitar to the amplifier. Generally, the order is tuners, filters (like wah), compressors, overdrive/distortion, modulation (like chorus and flanger), delay, and then reverb. However, the order can be adjusted based on personal preference and the specific sound you’re aiming to achieve.
Pedals can be powered using individual power adapters, a daisy chain, or a dedicated power supply unit. A dedicated power supply is often recommended for reducing noise and providing consistent power to multiple pedals.
Yes, many guitarists choose to build their own pedalboards to tailor them to their specific needs. This can be a cost-effective option and allows for complete customization in terms of size, layout, and features.
Product Recap
There you have it! Those are the best guitar pedalboards on the market. The Pedaltrain Classic Jr makes the top of our list for its rock-solid build, secure setup, and overall ergonomics. Coming close is Temple Audio’s DUO 24 gorgeous design, innovative mounting, and exceptional mod options. Of course, there’s the Ghost Fire with its reasonable price yet competitive freebies, too!
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