Cable management with pre and post effects (real pedals)

[BahamaDada]

For the first time ever I will be using a real effects loop on an amp. For the last 20ish years I either played without loop (all mod and delay before the preamp) or did not have pedals like delay or mod at all.

Now with a DD8 arriving today this might change as I want to use that for lead stuff and solos.

My pedalboard now basically looks like a spaceship (not in size) with all the cables going to it and coming from it.

Are there better solutions for that? How do you manage this? I would be glad to hear your ideas/solutions.

Or maybe just a hearty "live with it, sucker".

 

[laxu]

Popular options are things like a cable snake (multiple cables bundled together), and/or using a patchbay on the board so you have one central point for plugging in cables instead of "plug this cable on the right side and this on the left side".

You can just buy a patchbay meant for a different pedalboard or build one yourself if you can solder. For example I have one of the Temple Audio 4x MOD modules mounted on my Nux Bumblebee M with some 3M Dual Lock.

The configuration on mine looks like this:

1. Pre-fx to amp.
2. Nothing atm. Will likely become another pre send for running stereo into two BluGuitar Amp 1s.
3. Amp fx loop send goes here.
4. Post-fx to amp fx return.

 

[sleewell]

i use this. its good. 4 cables in one. i put colored electrical tape at the end of each one

Pedal Python™ | Pedalboard Cable Management Snake Organizer System

Pedal Python™ is the world's best cable management organization system for musicians. Create a safe, streamlined guitar, bass, keyboard, in-ear monitor, live sound, FX loop or home theater setup! Stop using cable loom wrap, zip ties, pedal snakes, tape or tubing. Make your own effects pedal...

pedalpython.com

 

[Count_Drugula]

I made my own looms out of Techflex and heat shrink. Easy to do or just buy the one posted above. Just be sure you have a way to label the cables. I use different color cables for send / return / amp input. I probably have 5 looms made at this point for different sizes.

 

[Sascha Franck]

i use this. its good. 4 cables in one. i put colored electrical tape at the end of each one

Pedal Python™ | Pedalboard Cable Management Snake Organizer System

Pedal Python™ is the world's best cable management organization system for musicians. Create a safe, streamlined guitar, bass, keyboard, in-ear monitor, live sound, FX loop or home theater setup! Stop using cable loom wrap, zip ties, pedal snakes, tape or tubing. Make your own effects pedal...

pedalpython.com

That looks very decent and isn't too expensive, either (will possibly pay off after 2 times of using it already). Pretty much the same thing I once used, but back then I had to get the tube from some medical stuff supply. Wasn't *that* much cheaper IIRC.

Most important thing here: Lengthen your cables properly. I'd think about having the cables tied to the board. Worked pretty well for me, it's one round of cabling less and you don't stress the sockets.

 

[Dave Lewis]

i use this. its good. 4 cables in one. i put colored electrical tape at the end of each one

Pedal Python™ | Pedalboard Cable Management Snake Organizer System

Pedal Python™ is the world's best cable management organization system for musicians. Create a safe, streamlined guitar, bass, keyboard, in-ear monitor, live sound, FX loop or home theater setup! Stop using cable loom wrap, zip ties, pedal snakes, tape or tubing. Make your own effects pedal...

pedalpython.com

Thanks for that
It’s a handy site

 

[Dave Lewis]

I’ve been a straight in guy for ever except for a few exceptions now and again.
I like having options but since I got the GigRig Quartermaster gs 10 switcher for my new board build a few weeks ago to simplify things .

i
The option of using both straight in and effects loop to use two amps confused the hell out of me at first .

 

[mbenigni]

Organizing cable runs is good, eliminating cable runs is better.

I keep as much gear as possible off the pedalboard and back with the amp head/ cab/ whatever the case may be. Typically this would mean pre-amp stuff at your feet, post-amp (FX loop) stuff e.g. DD8 on the amp with nice short patch cables.

MIDI control is your friend - wireless MIDI is better (though I get that some people have a hard time trusting it.) Depending on what you're using for pre- effects, you might even be able to push some of that back to the amp, and keep a controller of some kind in front of you. (If I'm all digital in 4cm, it's 4 short cables, with one wireless expression pedal in front of me, whose function varies depending on the song. Very little to think about apart from the guitar... which is about all I can handle and sometimes more LOL.)

Lastly: high capacity batteries are cheaper, smaller, and better than ever. Hunt around Amazon or wherever you prefer - so many easy ways to eliminate AC cords and DC power supplies.

 

[dbagchee]

i use this. its good. 4 cables in one. i put colored electrical tape at the end of each one

Pedal Python™ | Pedalboard Cable Management Snake Organizer System

Pedal Python™ is the world's best cable management organization system for musicians. Create a safe, streamlined guitar, bass, keyboard, in-ear monitor, live sound, FX loop or home theater setup! Stop using cable loom wrap, zip ties, pedal snakes, tape or tubing. Make your own effects pedal...

pedalpython.com

I have one of these too. Also ran my power extension cord through this so I could plug my pedalboard power into it so only one cable run to the back of the stage.

Found old pic I had:

 

[Dave Lewis]

I noticed a lot of people at Glastonbury this year using very simple wireless systems plugged into there guitar Jack sockets on the big stages

 

[Sascha Franck]

I noticed a lot of people at Glastonbury this year using very simple wireless systems plugged into there guitar Jack sockets on the big stages

Still doesn't help with the cable runs from whatever board to whatever amp.

 

[Dave Lewis]

Still doesn't help with the cable runs from whatever board to whatever amp.

Yeah but it’s also good to see the lack of cables and things not being complicated by artists on big stages.

 

[DrewJD82]

Important note-

If you use some kind of patchbay/junction box, you’ll want an isolated one anytime you’re utilizing the amp’s effects loops or you’ll get some ground noise. I just looked this up last night because I’m going to make one for my FM9 board.

American Loopers makes a basic one for $65- https://www.americanloopers.com/col...n-box-pedalboard-patchbay-with-isolated-jacks

On that same page there’s a link to a box that allows to route the effects to the front of the amp without pulling any cables on the pedalboard in the event you ever wanted to go back to playing with the delay in front.

 

[Sascha Franck]

Yeah but it’s also good to see the lack of cables and things not being complicated by artists on big stages.

Well, if you are a "big artist", you just tell your technical entourage to make things happen, regardless of cost.

 

[Dave Lewis]

Well, if you are a "big artist", you just tell your technical entourage to make things happen, regardless of cost.

These were definitely not expensive wireless systems .
That’s why I noticed them

 

[dronerstone]

These were definitely not expensive wireless systems .
That’s why I noticed them

which means there's nothing impedance-sensitive on their boards (hopefully)