So, you’ve got your tuner, a distortion and a delay. Now it's time to organise your stompboxes with a guitar pedalboard. In this article, we share the 10 best in the UK, with tips on how to build a pedal board for beginners.
Whether you're after a pedalboard case to keep your gear safe and secure, or one with a built-in power supply, read on for our recommendations - including trusted brands like Pedaltrain, Stagg and Rockboard and where to find them on Amazon and Gear4music!
Quick List - Top Pedalboards
Donner
Slanted Pedalboard With Patch Cables, Velcro and Ties Included
Alex is a passionate and experienced engineer in the music industry with six years of experience working in the field of Studio and Live production and engineering. Specialising in Live Engineering, he always aims to ensure the highest quality of audio is provided for his clients' performances and advises all newcomers to the field on what equipment and production methods are best required in order for the optimum end result.
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Table of Contents
Alex is a passionate and experienced engineer in the music industry with six years of experience working in the field of Studio and Live production and engineering.
Specialising in Live Engineering, he always aims to ensure the highest quality of audio is provided for his clients' performances and advises all newcomers to the field on what equipment and production methods are best required in order for the optimum end result.
For more information on the services that Alex offers, take a look at his LinkedIn profile here.
The first thing you have to consider is the size, as this will determine how many pedals it can fit. Of course, this depends on the size of the pedals you own, but your average-sized stompbox is around 7 x 13 x 6 cm. However, pedalboards come in all shapes and sizes, from smaller boards that can fit 4 or 5 to larger ones that can take 15 or 16.
Our only piece of advice would be to think about how you would like the finished board to look in the future and choose a model in line with that rather than one that caters for what you've got now. The likelihood is that later down the line, you’re going to make many other pedal purchases and you’re going to need more space.
Got a bit of extra space? Check out our 10 favourite delay pedals!
Usually, these come in the form of pre-drilled holes on the underside of the board. From there, you’ll need to pick up some extra brackets and a few screws, but it means you’ll be faster assembling your rig when it comes time to play. In turn, this means more time doing what you love and less time mucking around.
Finding out whether a pedalboard has space for power supply mounting can be difficult, especially if the pictures don’t show you the underside. To help you out, we’ve answered that question in the specification tables below each product.
Don't forget! You're going to need patch cables to chain everything together
A pedalboard can come in two different construction forms, either slanted or flat. Deciding between the two often comes down to personal preference, as some people find one style more comfortable than others.
However, slanted styles do have a slight advantage – they allow you to fit the power supply for your pedals underneath the board, which in turn allows you more space on top of it. These designs can even come with mounting options for the power supply, meaning you can neaten the whole board up as well as cutting down on time when setting up.
In defence of flat boards, they do often come as part of a hard case. Having a hard case is a smart option if you’re a frequent touring musician, as they’ll offer better protection for your gear. That said, these types of cases can be bought for the slanted boards too.
Not all pedalboards come with a built-in power supply. Click here for the 10 best!
If you’re frequently gigging, touring or even taking your board to record or practice with other musicians, then you’re going to want to consider the weight. Of course, this will vary depending on the size of the board you choose and what type of case you opt for.
Board weight can range from less than a kilo to over 5 kg, and when you consider you’re likely going to be carrying your guitar as well, this can soon add up to a heavy load.
We would recommend that you consider going for a soft case if you’re walking with your equipment often as it won’t be as heavy. If you’re driving or using public transport to get from A to B, then you may be OK with a more cumbersome hard case.
While the pedalboard is the main bit of kit we’re looking for, it's always good to try and find products that have a few extras thrown in too.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Pedaltrain Classic Jr | ![]() | The Perfect Size Pedalboard for Beginners | |
2 | Rockboard by Warwick TRES 3.1 Pedalboard | ![]() | Boutique-Style Customisation at an Affordable Price | |
3 | Friedman Tour Pro 1520 | ![]() | An Ingenious Two Tier Design for up to 12 Pedals | |
4 | Donner Guitar Effects Pedalboard|DB-3 | ![]() | Slanted Pedalboard With Patch Cables, Velcro and Ties Included | |
5 | Gator Pedalboard With PSU and Tote Bag | ![]() | Bargain Pedalboard With Case and Power Supply | |
6 | Pedaltrain Nano+ | ![]() | Industry Standard Single-Row Pedalboard for Guitar and Bass | |
7 | Stagg UPC-424 | ![]() | Compact Case and Board Set for 3 - 4 Pedals | |
8 | Gorilla Stands Guitar Pedal Board Case|GC-PB1 | ![]() | Budget Pedalboard Case to Organise and Protect Your Kit | |
9 | Boss BCB-90X | ![]() | A Great First Pedalboard With Power Supply | |
10 | Diago Showman PB03 | ![]() | Extra Large Pedalboard With Built-in Hard Case |
While we haven't technically crunched the numbers, we'd say that this is likely the best ever selling pedalboard. It's the perfect size for those who are just getting started as it has plenty of room for expansion and can fit up to 10 pedals at a time – maybe even a few more if you opt for the mini versions.
The board utilises a slanted design, so you can store the power underneath, although do note that there is not a mounting option. However, it does come with a soft gig bag and Velcro, so it really is great value. Furthermore, for its size, it is lightweight, which makes transporting your gear that little easier.
The Tres 3.1 pedalboard offers boutique-style customisation without the usual wallet-shattering prices. The board has plenty of holes for routing your signal chain however you would like, plus it has a unique support beam down the middle to provide extra solidity.
It comes with a gig bag and power supply mounting options and makes the most of its smaller surface area, with the company stating that you can fit up to 10 pedals on there. Plus, you have height adjustability too.
Most of the time, our pedalboards look fine right up until we attempt to fit a volume, wah or effects pedal on there. Then it all gets a little cramped. However, the folks a Friedman have solved this by creating an ingenious two-tier system that allows you to place it above the rest of the pedals.
Furthermore, the wiring options are hugely configurable, and it comes with all the bells and whistles one could ever need. Sure, it's not the cheapest option available, but if you fancy treating yourself, we guarantee you'll be impressed by the quality.
Donner has produced an excellent package here. All that's left to add is a power source and your pedals, and you'll be away. The pedalboard is made from aluminium, so it's sturdy yet lightweight, but it's the effort everywhere else that makes this stand out.
Included in the kit is no less than a 3 m roll of Velcro, the power supply mounting option underneath, hooks and loops for keeping everything tidy, some connectors and even a little pick holder on the side. It's just all very thoughtful and well put together, plus there are various sizes available.
It has to be said, there is a lot of good value with this Gator pedalboard. Firstly, you have plenty of space on the board to fit all your essentials and then some. Secondly, you get a reliable soft bag with two huge pockets that's ideal for carrying cables and any other accessories you might want to take with you.
However, the addition of the Gator GBSU8 power supply makes this an absolute bargain. This power source will supply up to 11 pedals and even has 3 connectors that power the hungry 18V models too.
Pedaltrain is often considered the standard by which all other pedalboards are measured. So you know that if you chose to opt for their products, you're getting an exceptionally made piece of equipment that will likely last as long as you'll be playing.
Here, we've opted for their Nano+ option. This board can fit one line of pedals, so it's better for those who have a smaller number of pedals or perhaps a bass player who's looking to add a few more options. You'll also receive an excellent quality soft bag with your purchase.
This is a fantastic pedalboard made with the legendary Stagg quality. It's on the smaller side, so it's better suited to someone who doesn't want too many effects in their chain. It comes with a hard case, as well as a Velcro strap to secure your pedals in place.
The compact size could be a positive or a negative, depending on your rig. Plus, considering the smaller size, it is on the heavier side. However, many players indeed found transporting to be no problem, generally because of the comfortable handle design.
If you're working on a tight budget, then this offer from Gorilla Stands could be right up your street. For a little over £30, you get a decent-sized board that can fit up to 10 standard-sized pedals.
Additionally, the hard shell case looks neat and will protect your pedals. If you're a gigging musician, then then quality may be somewhat lacking, but you could always upgrade to something more robust should you require another one in the future.
Boss are possibly the biggest name in the pedal game, so it's only natural that they've had a go at making pedalboards too. Here, the compact BCB-90X is a hard case design with one impressive feature – it comes with a daisy chain and a pedal power source that accommodates up to 10 pedals.
Additionally, the pedalboard is completely customisable, so you can manipulate it to fit your personal setup. Our only gripe is that the power supply isn't isolated, so you could end up with some noise. Still, for the price, this is ideal for players looking to buy their first board.
First up in our ranking, we have the Diago Showman. This pedalboard is the integrated hard case style, so it's flat and will keep your gear safe when you're travelling to and from gigs. Furthermore, it's larger, so it's ideal if you have like to have plenty of pedal options on you at all times.
There are a couple concerns, though. Firstly, it's pretty heavy. In fact, it's heavier than some guitars, and this is without any pedals in there. Not an ideal choice for lugging on foot, then. Secondly, it's pretty pricey, so you'll want to be committed to it before purchasing.
No. 1: Pedaltrain|Classic Jr
No. 2: Rockboard by Warwick|TRES 3.1 Pedalboard
No. 3: Friedman|Tour Pro 1520
No. 4: Donner|Guitar Effects Pedalboard|DB-3
No. 5: Gator|Pedalboard With PSU and Tote Bag
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
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