Comments on: Pedalboard Power Supplies

By: mike

mike — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 16:01:12 +0000

I use the pedal power II as well and love it. It’s the only power supply I’ved used (other than AC adapters for each pedal) so I don’t have any grounds to compare. Having the 12V for my DL4 is great and I use the SAG (lowers the voltage) on my tube screamer and it definately does change the tone in a good way. You’ve probably heard this before but it’s absolutley key that no power cables run parallel to audio cables, otherwise you get noise.

While I’m on pedal boards, the biggest improvement I’ve made was making custom audio cables. I used to have a mix of monster, George L, and cheap cables running between my pedals. I got some nice cable, nice connectors, custom cut and soldered it all together and it was a HUGE increase in tone and quietness. I had no idea it would make much of a difference but it did.

By: Mark Thomas

Mark Thomas — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 17:01:41 +0000

I use a Pedal Pad and the Pedal Power II and it works great. Powers eight effects and has an AC plug on the side for the larger effects.

By: kenrick

kenrick — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 22:50:54 +0000

yeah use the boss pedal board (the $149 or so one) plus some cheap power supply thing from musicians friend (it was like $30) and have not had any problems. but its true, if you are somewhat underpowered your sound changes dramatically. i have had a problem in the past with faulty outlets that ruined a delay pedal of mine i had plugged into some 9v adapter. killed it dead. hopefully your pedals will be ok.

batteries are just too expensive for a gigging guitarist i think, i couldnt even make it through one performance with my digitech pedals…

By: Brian

Brian — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 22:06:44 +0000

+1 PP2
Stay away from the Gator power supply

By: portorikan

portorikan — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 13:26:44 +0000

That's interesting. I'll have to look into that. My current set up is an skb PS-45 and I use it to power all my pedals. It has 8 protected 9V DC outlets and 3 wall wart outlets, and I power all my pedals through it. I wonder if I tried out all batteries, if it would make a difference. That might be a little too expensive for me though, but it would be an interesting test.

By: ig

ig — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 04:04:28 +0000

Yup, sometimes a power supply goes bad and the current that it supplies to your pedal goes down, which changes your tone a lot because the low current is not able to drive your effects the way they need. Also, if a capacitor goes bad, well, that’s the popping sound.

I’m so old skool, I use batteries as much as I can, for effects that are not high current suckers, mostly overdrives and distortions. But, anything beyond that (chorus, delays, what have you) are current suckers and go through batteries like crazy. So, I use AC supply for those sometimes and get the AC wires as far away and extra shielded from everything.

By: Victor Estrada

Victor Estrada — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 22:58:34 +0000

I roll a PP2 and it’s the best thing i’ve ever gotten myself. You’re right though it’s not cheap but it is an investment in tone. Have fun with that.