From Mixdown, June 2010 (PDF)

DIAGO SHOWMAN PEDAL BOARD AND POWERSTATION POWER SUPPLY

Stompboxes have enjoyed a popular resurgence in recent times and along with this came tone hunters swapping in and out pedals at will trying to find that elusive holy grail of tone.  This situation recreated a few issues...What to put all these pedals on and how  to power them.  These dilemmas in turn opened the door for many savvy (and not so savvy) companies to start offering their take on the pedal board and power supply solution.  Like many things in life however the problem is that there isn’t any one uniform size and spec that suits everyone.  So, gradually a range of varying sizes, lengths, widths and then power capabilities came out hoping to cover this hotch potch of user wants. Some have succeeded whilst others have slipped away to further refine their wares.

Hailing from the UK, Diago are a company willing to have a crack at the PBAPS (pedal board and power syndrome) and have taken it on at full speed offering solutions for those wanting some flexibility with their setup at a decent price that isn’t full custom shop (including full custom shop prices!).

Are you board yet?
Diago offer 3 sizes of boards - the Gigman, Showman and Tourman ranging from your 4-5 type pedal lineup to fully fledged 12, 13, 14+ monster palette pedal boards for those with more than a couple of sounds. I gave the middle child (Showman) a run with good results.

Time for the Show Man....
Coming in a tough black exterior these are hard cases (not just carry bags) with steel corner strengtheners and a solid bolted handle.  Whilst looking slick it also seems a pretty tough unit and would withstand quite a bit of punishment.  Opening the Showman up and you’ll notice that it splits in two easily with the base being the skinnier of the two with just a small lip that won’t interfere with your stomping but will keep your pedals on board and not on the floor.  With dimensions of 750x350x100mm you’ll fit a good bunch of pedals onboard, velcro is supplied and all the dimensions and specs are supplied on the website if you have any queries.

Supplies, supplies!
Looking more like a laptop power adaptor than a typical power supply brick the PowerStation is a small unit indeed.  The actual base unit is only about 9x6x3cm so won’t take up too much valuable pedal board real estate and could be tucked away under other styled boards too.  Supplying up to 3000mA the PowerStation has quite a more than a little juice available.  In fact, as Diago puts it that works out to “10 x most plug top / wall wart type power supplies and 4-6 x the output of most other guitar brand power supplies”.  Most effects are  catered  for  too  with  adaptors  for  9v  centre  or positive tip, battery adaptor, 18v centre negative, Line6 style pedals, and the list goes on.  In fact Diago are more than happy to list those that are compatible and those that aren’t (a refreshing change to see a company not claiming to be the ultimate) and like the pedal board the Diago website has tons of specific info relating to these products.

AC/DC
Using switching technology the PS automatically senses input voltage so can be used anywhere in the world, it also has built in short circuit and overload protection to help avoid damage to your precious pedals if plugged in incorrectly or a malfunction occurs.

Me like!
The PowerStation power lead is detachable so you can leave the base unit and plugs in place, they guarantee it will power 10-30 pedals or your money back, it’s small, it seems to power most pedals, the board is tough, stylish and straightforward and all this gear won’t send you broke.  The Diago website is super informative and their refreshing outlook is great. “We focus on making high quality, indispensable, great looking products, that do one job really well.”  If you’re after quality, easy to use products that help you, or leave you with more time to do what you really enjoy - making music - you’re in the right place. Sweet!

By Nick Brown

Distributor: Music Link Australia
RRP:
DGGIGMAN  $219.99
DGSHOWMAN  $269.99  
DGTOURMAN  $319.99
DGPOWERSTATION $139.99
Phone : (03) 9765 6565
Website: www.musiclink.com.au

From Gear, June 2009 (PDF)

Tired of tripping up onstage? Then you need DIAGO PEDAL BOARDS

If you're like us, you love guitar effects pedals.  New ones, old ones, cool ones, wacky ones, big and small... you might need to put them somewhere practical though, and Tony Simmons has just the answer...they're new and they're ace! Ladies and Gentlemen, guitarists everywhere, we introduce - Diago Pedal Boards!

Gosh, there aren't half a lot of effects pedals available these days.  Not that I'm complaining, though my credit card might want to register a note of protest about the situation sometimes...Of course, the age-old problem with the most excellent stomp box is that once you've accumulated a few and then a few more, and then etc...well, things can start to get a bit kind of messy.  And not just because your missus is demanding to know if that's another new pedal that you've bought... (Apologies if you are a female guitarist or bass player, please just swap scenarios...) So whether it's at home, rehearsal or a gig, a load of pedals scattered around the floor does not look good, especially if you've opted to use wall warts, i.e. PSUs (power supply units), because you'll then also need a couple of 4-gang plug boards beside you too.  Now, knowing the average size of a pub gig performing area, if you're surrounded by that lot on the floor around you, it's starting to look VERY untidy. Not really too safe, either. Time for a solution.

Generally speaking, I reckon Jimi Hendrix was the first guitarist who could be seen to use pedals onstage, especially on television shows, so I'd guess he was the first official 'pedalhead'.  Bands like The Shadows had lead guitarist Hank Marvin using an echo pedal but you never saw it being used in performance, as such - Hank's sound may even have been regarded as a sort of 'trade secret' at the time.. And groups like the Beatles, in their earlier days, always just fed the signal leads from the guitars straight into their amps, or so it looked on screen; a neat enough arrangement when they didn't worry about changing their guitar sound for different numbers. With Hendrix though, there was always the wah pedal, the Fuzz Face distortion and sometimes later the Octavia octave doubler strewn around the area on stage in front of him. So three pedals didn't - and doesn't - look too messy, but more than that and it's a right pain.

So, Jimi didn't really need to bother, but how many guitarists who use pedals have thought, perhaps every time they line their pedals up on the floor to perform, that they really MUST sort out a pedal board soon... But then when they think about the trip to B&Q to get the wood and fittings, and then about putting it all together, especially if they're not too DIY-savvy, the motivation inevitably fades into the ether...

I've used a pedal board for a good few years now - it's got my most-used essential six pedals on it, with room for another pedal if I want to try one in my line-up - and there's the multi-feed power supply too, to each pedal, both 9v and 18v jobs.  I can't begin to describe the sheer convenience of this arrangement.  In fact, I made up another pedal board with another set of pedals on it as my 'alternative' for when I want to change my sound at a practice or gig - just for the hell of it.  But just being able to grab the pedal board when I'm loading up the car for a gig, then hoik it into the gig, take off the cover and lay the board on the floor, plug in my In/Out signal leads and that's that bit done... brilliant.  Also, at 1.30 in the morning after a tiring gig, pack it up, into the car - minimum fuss, innit?  And it's all so easily stored at home too, so everyone's happy.

(ITS A) NO BRAINER
So, if you fancy going the pedal board route, why not take the pain out of the assembly stage and go the ready-made route with a fully pro quality pedal board from makers Diago?  Well, I'll tell you, my 'old faithful' main pedal board is getting pretty beat up and past it after years of service, so I reckon I'll be looking to purchase my own Diago pedal board and slot my equally beaten-up pedals 'n' PSU in there - at least they'll have a nice case to travel around to gigs and rehearsals in!  A pedal board looks smart and organised, is much safer to use onstage, especially where stand-space is limited, and saves no end of hassle as you don't have to re-connect and disconnect loads or-power leads and patch leads every time you play.

DIAGO PEDAL BOARDS - GUARANTEED TO GO THE DISTANCE
Diago Pedal Boards offer many high-specification features.  Heavy duty catches make sure the base and lid are securely shut, whilst all corner sections have armour protection.  A sturdy amp-style, through-bolted handle lets you transport the loaded case with confidence.  One half of the case is the low-profile edge pedal board base itself - the other case half is a removable quick-release protective lid.  Pedals, power supplies, etc. are fixed to a pre-set Velcro 'loop' using industrial grade sticky-backed Velcro 'hook' strips, so they can be positioned - and re-positioned - easily anywhere on the board, in any orientation.  The Velcro is super-sticky, too -with the board open at a gig, no one would be able to opportunistically 'steal' a pedal without you noticing - you can turn the pedal board upside down and shake it as proof; the pedals don't budge an inch.  A decent roll of 25mm wide industrial-grade sticky-backed Velcro hook strip is included by Diago with every pedal board.  Diago Pedal Board lids are lined with foam to gently hold the top of any taller pedals, and attaches/detaches using quick-release hinges at the back of the board. As the lid is closed, the hinges hook progressively around each other, locking lid and board together.  Diago Pedal Boards are constructed from 1/2" eastern plywood which is rigid, light and durable - and sturdy as anything, thanks to that road-resistant heavy-duty fabric covering.

DIAGO PEDAL BOARDS - WHAT'S AVAILABLE

TOURMAN
Approximately the same size as an electric guitar case, the Diago Tourman is designed to accept a wide variety of effects pedals in a number of different formats and sizes.  This is the one for you if you use quite a number of pedals, from full size wah wahs and volume pedals to larger 18v-type units such as the MXR Stereo Chorus. Even multi effects pedal boards can be accommodated in the Tourman, the largest of the pedal board options available. Ideal for session players or players in more than one band, the Tourman's internal dimensions of 1020 x 450 x 100mm can hold a wide selection of regular and irregular-sized pedals, with plenty of space left to accommodate a power supply, such as the Diago Powerstation. The Tourman pedal board is supplied with 4m of 25mm width sticky-backed Velcro hook to keep pedals securely in situ. £149.99 rrp.

SHOWMAN
This mid-sized Diago pedal board case offers an ideal compromise between physical size and internal capacity, with room for your most-used pedals and a power supply unit, with supplied Velcro hook tape lengths. £124.99 rrp.

GIGMAN
For reference in terms of size, the Gigman pedal board is roughly the same size as a big-ish briefcase. This compact pedal board is easily portable, capable of carrying and protecting your 'most vital' pedals, with a power supply.  Ideal to have as a 'back-up' for your larger main pedal ward. Also supplied Velcro hook tape lengths. £99.99 rrp.

DIAGO ACCESSORIES
Precision-manufactured accessories available for Diago pedal boards!

DIAGO POWERSTATION
This is the ultimate pedal board power supply unit, one which will power from 1 to an incredible 30 pedals (with enough daisy chains) - without noise or hum.  Powering multiple effects pedals has long been a problem especially with cheaper pedal power supplies, which are often under-rated, unregulated, poorly filtered designs which pollute the guitar signal with noise and hum.  

The studio-quality Diago Powerstation uses state-of-the-art digital switch mode technology making it quiet, light and totally efficient in operation, and it has the ability to power over 95% of stomp box pedal types, an impressive count.  It has also achieved fully-approved, type approval use certification in many countries, which underlines just how well made the Powerstation unit actually is. Safety standards are particularly high in the unit, with full internal short circuit and voltage protection.  

It's also surprisingly compact, and can be used worldwide in any country thanks to its internal voltage adaptor system (no additional step-up, step-down transformers needed), and comes supplied with one additional 'daisy chain' power link lead.  Amazing value too, as this high-performance PSU costs only £69.99 rrp.

DIAGO DELUXE DAISY CHAIN LINKS
Diago offers a Deluxe Daisy Chain power supply link taking the regulated power supply to six pedals in your line-up, a Deluxe Daisy Chain set featuring 6 x right-angled 2.1mm barrel plugs, with 300mm length available between each plug. £9.99 rrp.

DIAGO POWER CONNECTION ADAPTORS
A selection of power connection adaptors is also available from Diago to suit most pedal types:

Green Adaptor - centre positive, 2.5mm barrel plug, £5.99 rrp.
Blue Adaptor - positive tip, 3.5mm mini jack plug, £5.99 rrp.
Red Adaptor - centre positive, 2.1mm barrel plug, £5.99 rrp.
White Adaptor - 9V battery snap connector, £5.99 rrp.
Black Adaptor - 30cm extension lead for daisy chain, £5.99 rrp.

From Performing Musician, May 2009 (PDF)

Diago Showman Pedal Case

A pedalboard is a practical proposition for any player employing more than a single stomp box.  It offers safe and convenient transportation, plus faster setup and the reliability that comes with permanent cable connections — no more dry joints caused by constant plugging in and out.

A board qualifies for pedal case status when it's equipped with a detachable hard lid.  This provides all-encompassing protection and prevents inadvertent alteration of control settings when carried around.  The higher price usually involved buys better insurance against damage plus corresponding peace of mind.  A decent proprietary pedal case was once quite hard to find and DIY often offered the only answer, but in recent years the choice of ready-made examples has increased dramatically.  This much-improved situation matches the market for this useful accessory, which shows no signs of diminishing, no doubt due to the need to house the vast number of pedals produced over the past 40 years, not to mention the huge quantity currently available.

Diago range
Diago market a number of musical equipment products, including some bearing the company's brand name, such as a British-built guitar combo and effects pedal cases that combine UK design with Chinese manufacture.  The latter have been around for a while and the line currently comprises three models that differ only in pedal-carrying capacity.  Smallest is the Gigman, which can accommodate up to 10 compact-style stomp boxes, while the biggest is the Tourman and this monster will hold about three times that number, being the size of a small stage!  The middleman in the Diago line is the Showman, reviewed this month and intended to host around 15 standard-proportion pedals.

Simple, but sturdy
The Showman's styling is shared by its fellow'men', likewise the simple rectangular design, with a shallow board section topped by a deeper detachable lid.  Construction is another common factor, being sturdy but lighter than a fully-fledged flightcase.  This is a practical approach, because the latter are often too bulky and heavy for users who simply don't need this extreme level of protection for their precious pedals.

Plywood is employed throughout and radiused edges create a smooth, well-finished image. This is enhanced by nicely applied black-vinyl cloth covering, which is contrasted by chromed metal corner protectors.  Other hardware is equally up to par, with a comfortable strap handle on the front of the lid, partnered by two equally beefy catches that latch both sections.  Round the back a brace of lift-off-type hinges also helps keep things together, while making separation as painless as possible. Rubber feet provide further protection, but somewhat surprisingly none have been fitted to the bottom of the board (this is incorrect, all our boards have the same rubber feet on the bottom of the board too?! - Diago), making it more likely to move around in use.

The lid is lined inside with reassuringly thick foam, which should help keep taller pedals in their place, while the floor of the board is covered with black Velcro. This provides suitable anchorage for the partner half of this material, supplied in quite wide, self-adhesive roll form for fitting to the underside of all effects.  This should be sufficient to secure most stomp boxes, but bigger-built examples might require firmer fitting.

The case base is sensibly shallow, which should ensure there are no problems with the height of the sides interfering with operation. The lid is obviously deeper and should certainly offer more than enough clearance for the average pedal, as well as many more-muscular examples.

However, it's flat-topped rather than sloping in shape, which does mean there's insufficient internal headroom to allow the rearmost pedals to be raised, which is something that's often necessary on a board of this size to ensure easier reach and safer operation.

Unlike some, Diago pedal cases don't come with a built-in power supply, but the company offer an appropriate add-on in the form of the logically titled Powerstation (£69), plus assorted connecting cables and adaptors.

Conclusion
There are less expensive examples out there, but the Showman makes an appealing case, being well made and certainly tough enough for all but the most demanding pro work. It does the job simply but effectively, and the only real question mark concerns lack of internal headroom, which might pose problems for elevating effects.

This may not be the biggest 'man' in the Diago range, but measurements should be more than enough to meet most pedal-packing demands. Players with smaller needs can go for the Gigman, while those requiring greater space will find the Tourman offers the necessary extra acreage.

The Showman offers a straightforward and sturdy solution to stomp-box storage and protection.  It costs a little more than some competitors, but the money buys a fair-sized case that should be big enough to suit the needs of all but the most avid effects freak.

PM

Diago Gigman Pedal Board

A smart British-made pedal board that opens the gateway to keeping your effects in good order.

What is it?
A range of compact pedal board/cases.

Why should I want one?
If you gig regularly or not, if you don't keep you FX pedals in a tidy case then you're asking for trouble. Diago cases keep your pedals free from dust, damp and other tone-compromising troubles., arid on stage they help to give your rig a smart, professional looking edge.

Diago is a relatively new British company that make several interesting products aimed at guitarists. Their Toneking DT-20 tube combo is their flagship product but for now we're focusing on their range of pedal board/cases as the main subject of this review.

It wasn't so long ago that a custom built pedal board designed to accommodate the guitarist's usual array of FX pedals was either the stuff of dreams or the sole domain of muses who could afford such luxuries but Diago have delivered a product that is both affordable and seemingly very roadworthy.

The Gigman is a combination hard case and pedal board with a detachable lid that locks into place with two heavy-duty catches. The whole package is compact but well thought-out: you have a tough vinyl covering, four non-slip rubber feet; steel protectors at every corner and a sturdy strap for carting the case about. Two quick release hinges let you simply pop the lid off or on while you are setting up or packing away after a gig and the board is covered with a fuzzy material that lets you stick your stomp boxes onto the flat surface with the supplied Velcro hooked strip. The foam padded lid helps to clamp the pedals down onto the board during transit — not all carrying cases do this quite so successfully as the Gigman, it should be noted — and with everything Velcro'd down firmly, there was no sign of any pedals becoming dislodged whilst carting them around inside the locked case.

From Guitar Buyer, December 2006 (PDF)

Here we have the Showman board, which is 750 x 350mm (internal) - large enough for all the pedals you can see in the picture.  Diago does one bigger and two smaller boards, all of which are made from half-inch plywood and covered with tough black 'polyweave' cloth.  Add sturdy plastic corner protectors and decent catches and handles, and this is one protective box that you can abuse without worry.

Inside, the base is covered with Velcro, and there's a three-metre roll of Velcro tape to attach to the underside of your pedals.  It's a simple, straightforward solution to the nightmare of organising your stompers, bereft of any flashy angled or variable-height sections of other manufacturers.  Our one criticism would be that repeated reorganisation may cause the Velcro base to wear in time and perhaps lose some of its grip.  Other than that it's a dependable board.

Diago Showman	Test Results
GB Verdict

From Guitarist Magazine, December 2005

Most players will at some time think about procuring a pedalboard to save set-up time and making gigging life easier.  If you've ever had a bash at making your own, you'll already know that what starts out as a simple plank of wood soon turns into a major CDT project.  By the time your design develops to include catches, rubber feet, corner protectors, handles etc, your thrifty idea begins to cost more money and time than you'd imagined.  Thankfully the chaps at Diago have done all the hard work for you to offer a range of sturdy pedalboard/cases that don't cost the earth and are simple and practical enough to be a welcome addition to any player's arsenal.

Diago Gigman	Test Results
Build quality
Features
Compatibility
Value for money
Guitarist rating