SKB or Furman pedal board?

[Laroosco!]

I've narrowed my pedalboard search down the the Furman SPB8C or the SKB PS45.
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I am pretty sure that I want the SKB but I want to be sure before I decide.
Both have roughly the same features but I can get the SKB a lot cheaper.

I'm sure that I will be happy either way but some last minute input would be appreciated.

thanks guys

[DaveG]

I am pretty sure that I want the SKB but I want to be sure before I decide.
Both have roughly the same features but I can get the SKB a lot cheaper.


Buy the SKB. :)

(I've had one of the smaller SKB's for years; I got it used, and it's never let me down. When I get the new board wired up, I'm passing it on to my son.)

[Hamer95USA]

Hey Laroosco!,

I got the SKB PS-45 pedalboard. The patch bays, power conditioned DC power supply & 3 AC outlets and pedalboard space are very nice. I have about 10 pedals on mine and I also added the VHT Valvulator tube buffer/power supply. I use it as a buffer and as a power supply for my MXR flanger which needs 18 volts, but I didn't want the AC adaptor on my pedalboard. If you can get the SKB PS-45 pedalboard for a good price, go for it!!

Guitar George

[Laroosco!]

I work at a music store that stocks both boards. I can get the SKB new for $129. The Furman would cost me $190.

I figure I'll go with the SKB and pick up a Holy Grail reverb as well :)

[Dennis Rayburn]

I've been thinking about one of these myself. Does anyone know if you can leave wall warts plugged in and still close the top?

[jb1911]

Pedaltrain

[MightyGuru]

Is the base of the SKB plastic? If so, I'd probably go for the Furman.

[Last Nerve]

I have the Furman and it is very nice. The isolated power outlets are a welcome addition after 4-5 years of the old Furman board.
The carpet doesn't "stick" to the velcro as well as the old board, and I had to get an older power cable to use on my new RMC6 wah for some reason (the "head" on the newer power cables are too big for the adapter to plug all the way into the wah).
I wish there was room for storage: cables, picks, strings, etc....so I'm trying to figure out how I could add that in myself, but it is very nice and a step up from the old one. Not alot bigger, but the plastic case makes me at ease with the kids around and the wheels make it nice for any type of transport.

[LSchefman]

In general, from an electrical perspective, Furman makes some darn good products.

I had an SKB, and it's nice for the money.

All things being equal, I'd get the Furman.

Or, you could do what I did a few years back, and go for something REALLY tricked out:

http://www.pedalgear.net/page2/page11/page11.html

The one I got is about halfway down the page, with the wooden end cheeks.

[nashvillesteve]

I have the old furman (that's just like the skb but without hardshell case). It's cool.

The new furman is probably the best, but it's expensive. it's got four wall warts and has a lid that latches on like the SKB, but then you can roll it around with its own wheels and retractable handle like a piece of luggage.

[EcoEbs]

Hey All,

I've had the Furman SPB-8C for about 2 years of constant use 3-4 times a week and it is AWESOME! Totally dependable and the pull-up luggage handle with the wheels rock! I've crammed 14 pedals into this thing and it is by far the coolest pedalboard I've seen, especially with my custom mods.

I did several mods:

--First off, I agree that the carpet velcro pretty much sucks -- so I use some "spray glue" that you can get at any hobby store on to the velcro before putting my pedals' velcro to the board. It holds well, and I can still pry the pedal off if necessary using a straight screw driver with no damage to anything:wave

--Secondly, a storage pouch would be nice, and there seems to be plenty of room. I opted to put velcro strips around the inside of the lid so I can wind my snake up and carry it within the pedalboard. I gaffer taped some thick foam in the middle section to provide a buffer between the pedals and the lid.

--Thirdly, I created a back shelf simply by using some lightweight 1"x2" wood peices so that my pedals in the back are easily reachable. I probably have 4 different levels in all now, including the Pog 2 that extends over the silver strip a bit...

There you have it, my pedalboard rocks and it is super easy to transport. I think I surpassed the 50 lbs weight for flying, but so far all travel has been on the ground.

I've never owned a pedalboard made by SKB, as I always make my own; however, I just wish they made a bigger model for my other guitar rig. The other one I have has 18 pedals and it super bulky, hard to carry -- put them in a Warwick Rock Case -- wouldn't recommend them at all, flimsy and frankly it can't handle the weight.

It's a few more bucks, but who cares after 5 years of having it? Furman all the way!:beer

JE

PS: yes, you can keep the wall warts plugged in when closing the lid, plenty of clearance.

[dmczern]

I've been thinking about one of these myself. Does anyone know if you can leave wall warts plugged in and still close the top?

not with the SKB

[Last Nerve]

JE- We need some pics.
Great ideas.
I was shoving a pillow inside mine when traveling. Kinda sucks you gotta flip the damn thing over to roll it.

[Trandy]

I work at a music store that stocks both boards. I can get the SKB new for $129. The Furman would cost me $190.

I figure I'll go with the SKB and pick up a Holy Grail reverb as well :)

$190.00 for the Furman? Amazing price....that's $25.00 below the lowest dealer cost.

[semi-hollowbody]

I have an skb ps-45 and its a great pedalboard...
never had any issues and its very sturdy...
my ONLY complaint is that the soft-stuff velcro on the board (soft stuff on board, hard stuff on pedals) wears out very quickly...but you can re-velcro it with GOOD velcro once that happens...

[LouRossi]

Not sure if you use one but I heard you can close the SKB 45 case w/ a digitech whammy...

[Amnesiac70]

Is there any way I can have my SKB so it doesn't looks like a rats nest of wires and cables???

[Whiskeyrebel]

Had the SKB and after it got left on the ground during a loadout from an outdoor biker club gig (3AM in a black zipper case with no moonlight, go figure) and rained on it finally gave up the ghost. I replaced it with the Furman. The Furman is built more rugged.
Know what did survive that? The ART MIDI controller I had on the board. F'in bombproof.

[LouRossi]

Does the power jacks on the furman board handle the older Boss ACA (12v) pedals or do you need to use the wall wart ACA?

[Last Nerve]

All the power cables are 9v, 100mA.
You'd have to use the wall wart.

[LouRossi]

All the power cables are 9v, 100mA.
You'd have to use the wall wart.

thanks... bummer & it's 100mA too so the EHX POG2 won't have enough power either