Pedaltrain's Classic Series and Nano MAX offer a pedalboard for every setup, from compact two-rail boards for the minimalist to full five-rail rigs built for serious touring players.
Sometimes a purchase isn’t a particularly fun one, but a necessary one. Collecting pedals is all well and good, so long as you have a way to protect them – which is where Pedaltrain comes in.
If your first foray into the world of pedals was littered with random pieces of wood, tape that doesn’t hold, or, heaven forbid, loose pedals in a tote bag, you’ll know the importance of a durable and sturdy pedalboard. Nashville-based Pedaltrain has been creating boards since 1999, and their range of hand-cut, hand-welded aluminium boards has become the default recommendation for good reason.
Every Pedaltrain board is hand-finished from aircraft-grade aluminium, which keeps them lightweight without compromising on strength. Not to mention, each board comes with a lifetime warranty, so you’re covered for the long haul.
The open-rail design isn’t just an aesthetic choice, but makes cable routing and power supply mounting a whole lot easier than a solid-surface board. It’s a practical design choice that gives you the flexibility to reconfigure your setup without starting from scratch each time. Every board ships with professional-grade hook-and-loop and zip ties included, so you can get straight to building your board.
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With a range that now spans everything from ultraportable two-rail setups to full touring rigs, there’s a Pedaltrain for every player.
Classic 3
The Classic 3 is a reissue of the cult-favourite PT-3, now updated for modern rigs. At 24″ x 16″ across five rails, there’s enough real estate for a fairly established board – drive, modulation, delay, reverb and everything in between – with plenty of space underneath to keep cables and power supplies out of sight.
A solid choice for players who’ve outgrown smaller boards but don’t need to go full touring rig just yet, the Classic 3 is just the right size for the essentials and a couple of extras. The elevated mounting surface keeps pedals accessible, and the whole thing looks neat and tidy on stage. It’s a classic for a reason.
Available with a soft case, tour case or as a board-only option with accessories.
JR MAX
Don’t let the “JR” fool you. The JR MAX stretches out to 28″ x 12.5″ across four rails, which is longer than you’d expect from something compact. That extra length makes a difference when you’re trying to squeeze in one more pedal, and it opens up more layout options than a shorter board allows.
The clearance underneath keeps power supplies and cables neatly hidden away, and its compatibility with Pedaltrain’s VDL-MK and True Fit Universal Brackets gives you more room to set up your board how you like. For players who want something that’s easy to travel with but doesn’t force you to leave too many pedals at home, the JR MAX hits the middle ground. Available with a soft case, tour case or as a board only.
Classic PRO
The Classic PRO is the big one of the bunch, and if you’re building a serious rig, it’s definitely worth considering. At 32″ x 16″ across five rails, there’s room for a comprehensive setup without having to play pedal Tetris every time you add something new. The open front design makes mounting power supplies and switching systems easy, and at just a little over 2kg, the board itself is light enough that it doesn’t add another heavy piece of gear you need to haul around.
For players doing bigger shows or longer runs, a wheeled tour case option is available. Pedaltrain has engineered it to be up to 35% lighter than their previous tour case design, a significant difference when you’re moving a lot of gear. The Classic PRO ships with 160″ of professional-grade hook-and-loop and zip ties so everything is safe and sound from day one. Available with a soft case, wheeled tour case or as a board only.
Nano MAX
For players who want to travel light without sacrificing too many of their beloved pedals, the Nano MAX takes the popular two-rail Nano form factor and extends it to 28″ x 5.5″. This is enough room for the essentials – think a drive or two, a modulation, delay and tuner – or even a grab-and-go setup for smaller gigs and rehearsals.
With a low-profile design and open frame, the Nano MAX will sit neatly on any stage and make cable routing easy, even if it’s a compact board. This will suit players who’ve figured out exactly what they need and prefer to travel light. Like the rest of the range, the Nano MAX ships with hook-and-loop and zip ties so it’s ready to go right away. Available with a soft case or as a board only.
The cases
Whichever board you land on, Pedaltrain has made some significant upgrades. Soft cases have been updated across the entire range, so whichever board you choose that is bundled with a soft case, you’ll be getting the new Deluxe MAX case. These feature platinum SBS zippers with proper pull tabs, water-resistant shells and wipe-clean liners.
The soft case shoulder straps have had the biggest overhaul, with washer-less clasps stress-tested to just under 20kg each, connected via double-reinforced hooks and cordura nylon. For players who need more protection, hard tour cases are available across the range, and the wheeled option for the Classic PRO is notably lighter than its predecessor.
Head to Pedaltrain to see the full range. For local enquiries, visit EGM.
