Why I Stopped Chasing the “Perfect” Pedalboard

Joey's New Board | Golden Age of Gear Ep. 52

In this week’s episode of Golden Age of Gear, Joey walks Derek through a brand-new pedalboard build — not just what’s on it, but why it’s there, what’s likely to change, and how his approach to gear has evolved.

This isn’t a “perfect Instagram board.” It’s a working, modular rig built around inspiration, portability, and real-world use — something that can do fun, creative sounds without getting in the way of actually playing guitar.

We talk about:

Why this pedalboard is intentionally less precious and more flexible
Choosing pedals that inspire you instead of chasing hype
The balance between “want” vs “need” on a board
MIDI control, stereo rigs, and avoiding tap-dancing
Transformer-based boosts and subtle tone shaping
Travel-friendly pedalboard design and airline realities
Why some pedals stay forever — and others are always up for replacement

Joey also breaks down his new Pivotal Pedal Boards setup, loop routing, power choices, cable decisions, and how this board is designed to change over time instead of being locked in forever.

This episode is less about rules and more about permission — permission to experiment, pivot, simplify, and build a rig that actually serves the music instead of slowing you down.

👇 Let us know in the comments:

Are you constantly rebuilding your pedalboard or do you lock it in?

What’s the one pedal you can’t seem to take off your board?

If you enjoy honest gear conversations, real-world rigs, and slightly unhinged pedalboard philosophy, hit subscribe, ring the bell, and come hang with us every week.