The Dingbat Small is the perfect blend of form and function. Measuring just 45.7cm wide and 19.7cm tall, this board is an excellent choice for the travelling musician. Everything you need to get going is included with this bundle, including barrel-type power cables, two reels of Velcro, and cable ties. The power supply is securely mounted on the board’s underside with tough steel brackets, affixed to the unit itself with a handful of screws and nuts.
The build quality here is honestly second to none. Each Dingbat is meticulously crafted from American 6061-T6 aircraft-grade aluminum and is built in Sonoma County, California. The exemplary construction stems to all aspects of the board, including the perfectly aligned cut-outs for the power supply’s AC input jack and its courtesy AC outlet. While the larger Dingbat models allow for some flexibility in power supply positioning, the small Dingbat board doesn’t allow for the power supply to be relocated and can only be used in its central location. In the same vein, heavy-duty rubber feet can be found at each bottom corner of the board, preventing any movement when the Dingbat is laid down.
Gone is the traditional rail system from conventional boards, with Voodoo Lab instead opting for a perforated surface design for neat cable management. A centralized oblong dissection on the board’s surface allow for easy access to the Pedal Power 2+’s array of dipswitches. These switches correspond to each of the eight outputs on the power supply and grant different types of voltage switching options. When set to normal, each output operates at a standard 9 volts. However, when set away from normal outputs one to four operate at a higher voltage specifically for vintage BOSS pedals that require an ACA adapter. Output jacks five to six are able to power Line 6 modeling pedals, TC Electronic Nova pedals, and Eventide pedals with the appropriate link cables. Outputs seven and eight are interesting – when toggled away from normal, the voltage is halved down to around 4V. This simulates a worn, dying battery – perfect for transistor-based fuzz and distortion circuits.
To top it all off, the Dingbat comes in a classy red-and-black travel bag, complete with a shoulder strap. This was definitely another highlight; contrary to most other soft pedalboard bags available, the Dingbat’s case features a formidably thick wall of padding around all sides, and even includes a pair of Velcro straps inside to lock down your board. Amazing stuff.
It’s not hard to see why the Pedal Power 2+ is a mainstay on so many players’ boards. Its isolated power eliminates ground loops and unwanted noise with ease, ensuring the best tone from your pedals is preserved. And when combined with the superlative construction of the Dingbat, this could easily be the last pedalboard you ever need.