MKS PedalPad JP-10

This massive pedalboard has a significant initial setup time. It's not simply laying out your pedals and running cables to them. Michael K. Stratton's boards are all about organization - and it takes a bit of time to do that.

My pedal setup includes a loop chain and a direct chain into my amp (as most players' with more than two or three pedals are bound to have) and for my layout to make sense to my feet I had to: unscrew the aluminum plates on each level, reroute a few power cables, screw the plates back in. All this before even thinking about patch cables and amp/loop ins and outs.

However, once the initial routing is done and the Velcro is down the JP-10 is a thing of beauty and simplicity. There's ample space for even bulky Line6 pedals on the top tier. There are several amplifier configurations - want to run a mono chain of pedals into two amps? No problem with the four outputs supplied on the MKS-made PureVolt power supply. Stereo effects into one amp? No problem. Wacky loop setups like mine that also have a few pedals running right into the amp? Sure thing.

Since this is a pedalboard it doesn't really have an inherent sound per se. *BUT* due to the interference filtering and consistent voltages supplied by the PureVolt power supply, modulation effects sound lusher and delays are crisper.

I found I had to readjust some of my levels and intensities because the connections, power, and reduction in intereference made a huge difference in the overall sound. This is not a bad thing, in fact, my effects loop sounds more balanced and certain effects don't jump out any more because of crappy wiring and power supplied (SKB's boards are functional, but they can't even compare to MKS).

I give this a perfect score for sound because it makes your pedals transparent to your tone - except when you want them to totally screw around with it. :)

The pedal surface is angled up slightly (a NICE feature) and recessed into the overall box. No danger of losing settings from an errant lead singer's foot or mic stand ... The soldering for the internal jumper connections are solid, the cables used are low Z mic cables (20 gauge? They're pretty stout) and the PureVolt is Velcroed into the unit mightily. Once you put your pedals down they ain't goin' nowheres. Just attached the removeable top (the whole thing is covered in rough black road case type carpet), lock it down and you're good to go to practice or the next gig.

Michael K. Stratton is very approachable via email or a phone call. I had some inane questions prior to buying the unit and he got me the answers I needed. He's a player's player and built his pedalboards for guitar players.

This pedalboard is one of three MKS manufactures. The RM-10 has space for three 1U rackmount processors (or use the space with a cover for another tier of pedals), the straight up JP is for people that already use a power supply (no PureVolt included on this model). Pick the one that's for you, and go for it. If you're a pedal player and are sick and tired of having them slide around on you, of hearing electrical pops and cracks in the line while playing, of being a tap dancer and worrying about messing up another pedal while using your toe to turn another on - check these out. It's worth it and, comparatively, you get SO much more real estate for the JP-10 when compared to Furman's SPB, SKB, or Pedaltrain.

If you're serious about your pedals you owe it to yourself to check out MKS.