Birth of the Guitar Pedalboard

Almost every guitar player uses a pedalboard, but have you ever wondered how pedalboards got their start? When did guitarists starting wiring up effect pedals together and putting them on pedalboards? Who was the first player to put guitar pedals on a pedalboard? What pedals were on the first pedalboards? Who made the first guitar pedalboard? Where were the early pedalboard made? The answers are a lot more interesting than you'd think.

In today's episode we delve into a quick history of guitar effect pedals. We talk about the first players using pedalboards, how one of London's premiere instrument retailers offered pedalboard building services in-house, and how one engineer from the UK Ministry of Aviation became the father of the modern pedalboard. This is the unofficial story of how the guitar pedalboard got its start.

Gear & Settings:

Instruments:
• 2019 Gibson Les Paul R9
• Fender American Professional Precision Bass

Amp:
• Two Rock Classic Reverb Signature
• Universal Audio OX Box

Pedals:
• Acid Fuzz Zoink Machine (Zonk Machine clone)

Microphones:
• Earthworks SR-25
(Apologies for subpar audio quality on the voice. I goofed the audio record settings only to realize it during editing. If you don't like it, I'll gladly issue you a refund.)

Audio interfaces:
• Universal Apollo x8p
• Universal Apollo 8

Recording Software:
• Universal Audio Luna (audio)
• Ecamm Live (video)

Outboard Gear:
• BAE DMP 1073 preamp (bass)
• Pete's Place BAC 500 compressor (bass)

Audio Plugins:
• Superior Drummer 3 (drums)
• Softtube Chandler Limited Germanium compressor (drums)
• Universal Audio Pultec eq (bass)
• Universal Audio LA3A compressor (guitar)
• FabFilter Pro Q eq (everything)
• Universal Audio Precision limiter (master bus)

Video Gear:
• Sony A7 IV mirrorless digital camera with Tamron 28-75mm lens, f/2.8
• Aputure 120d for key lighting
• GVM-672S-B for backlight
• LIFX 80” LED strip + 40” LED strip for background lighting.
• Adobe Premiere

Chapters
0:00 - Intro
0:45 - 90s Pedalboard
2:45 - How FX Started
7:06 - 1st DIY Pedalboard
8:43 - Enter Sound City
12:12 - David Gilmour
14:22 - Cornish Improves
16:18 - Dave meets Pete
18:30 - Final Thoughts