GEAR REVIEW
EARTHBOARD MAGNETICALLY POWERED PEDALBOARD SYSTEM | Doug Doppler
KEY FEATURES
• Lightweight , Powerful , + Easy-To-Use
Of the numerous ‘ pedalboard systems ’ I ’ ve seen over the years , the EARTHBOARD is easily the most innovative and player friendly offering I ’ ve come across . EARTHBOARD takes the drama out of simultaneously fueling power-gobbling pedals from Strymon and Eventide and also makes it shockingly easy to swap out or reorder your pedals .
HOW IT WORKS Each EARTHBOARD features one or more pairs of horizontal rails that both power and provide support for your pedals . Gravity Boots attach to the bottom of your pedals via Velcro or cable ties and utilize four magnetic feet that keep the Boots firmly in place on the board and pass power to the power receptacles on the bottom side of the Boots . In turn , Cable Tethers run the power from the receptacles to the power terminals on your pedals . All of this is powered by a power bank ( AC option available ), which means you no longer have to hunt for a power outlet or run an extension cord to your board . Since the power-supplying Gravity Boots are connected to the bottom of your pedals , moving pedals around is as easy pulling the respective pedals off the board , swapping them around , and then reconnecting the low-profile patch cables .
If you ’ ve spent any amount of time with pedalboards and meeting the unique power requirements from manufacturers like Strymon and Eventide , you understand the drama and heartache the goes into building out a pedalboard . I have never been able to put together a board with this much ease and been able to swap stuff out at will like I can with this one . Nothing short of totally amazing !
At the core of the EARTHBOARD is a solid , powder-coated frame , which is crafted by hand from aircraft grade aluminum . For those of us who ’ ve lugged pedalboard through airports , the weight and durability are key benefits for fly dates and tours . The pairs of Zinc-coated rails sit on top of the frame and are securely bolted to the bottom side thereof . These magnetically attracted rails are key to both powering and keeping your pedals firmly in place .
Gravity Boots sit under your pedals and incorporate four earth magnet feet that provide a sturdy connection to the board . While most pedals can be powered from the standard 9v Boot , there are several other options available to for higher draw pedals or those with unique termination like the Eventide H9 . Dummy Boots are key for supporting wider pedals and work like a charm . All of the boots are topped with the loop side of a hook and loop fastener , and the manufacturer presumes your pedals will already have the loop side affixed to your pedals . If you opt to use cable ties for your vintage pedals , Gravity Boots have precut holes which are visible from the bottom side of the Boot through which you ’ ll need to gently cut a hole in the loop material affixed the top of the Boot . ISO Boots are available in a range of voltages and polarity options and are what I used to easily power up the Eventide H9 and Strymon Big Sky on EARTHBOARD II double row pedal board used for this review .
Gravity Boot Tethers are the small power cables that run from the receptacles on the bottom of each Boot to your pedals . I cannot stress how
much of a game changer this is . No more power cables to run , you simply attach the right Boot and Tether to your pedal / s and adding , moving , or removing a pedal to your EARTHBOARD is as easy as pulling a traditional pedal off your existing board . MIND BLOWN !
The Battery Boot and Tether enable to you easily position and move the power bank . Unlike traditional boards where you are tethered to the location of where you place your power supply , this gives you total freedom to place the battery at any convenient location on the board
The Backup Boot and Power Station 3 amp / 9v AC power supply is ideal for situations where you weren ’ t able to charge your power bank and / or want a hot swappable backup just in case a battery fails . Regardless , I ’ d suggest always having two batteries good to go . EARTHBOARD offers Standard and XL battery options that have been tested for road worthy reliability .
Of all the products that I ’ ve ever reviewed , this is one of the most innovative and useful ones I ’ ve come across . The stand-alone EBII is a complete pedalboard system and is available from the manufacture for $ 385 . For more information about that system and the additional options available please visit the EARTHBOARD web site .
$ 385 EarthboardMusic . com