Custom Boards Finland

13/05/2025

Two pedalboards on the bench at the same time.

Two musicians with completely different needs — but sharing the same core idea: playing guitar straight into the PA system. For me, this was a perfect opportunity to compare what I believe are the best solutions in their category.

Pedalboard #1: Neural Quad Cortex setup

This board is for , who’s about to tour in Brazil with Marty Friedman. He wanted a lightweight, travel-friendly rig. Alongside the Neural DSP Quad Cortex, we included a Shure wireless system and the TC Electronic Sub’N’Up Octaver. After a bit of back and forth, we went with the Mission Engineering expression pedal instead of a traditional Dunlop wah. Everything is securely mounted with 3M Dual Lock and wired using Evidence Audio Monorail with RA plugs for optimal performance. Power is supplied by DC7 with 8800-series cables.

Pedalboard #2

BluGuitar Amp1 setup.
This one’s for philosopher, author and guitarist Tuomas Nevanlinna, who plays classic rock with his bandmates. He used to use the Strymon Iridium, but it never quite clicked for him — so we swapped it for the Bluguitar Amp1, and it instantly felt right. His MXR Phaser was distorting slightly, so I did the “script mod”—something I recommend to anyone using this pedal. Tuomas uses a wide array of effects (another board, not pictured), and controls his overall volume with a volume pedal.

Both boards serve a purpose:

The Quad Cortex is intuitive, feature-rich, and sounds fantastic.

The Bluguitar Amp1 delivers a killer amp tone with minimal fuss—perfect for players who just want that sound without diving into presets or menus.


🎛️ gear via 

🎚️ expression pedal via

01/04/2025

I am pleased to announce the upcoming release of my new book, Viimeinen kiertue (The Last Tour), coming out in October this year. The book is in Finnish and published by Like Kustannus. Below, you can read their preview.

An Insider’s Story of HIM’s Touring Life

How did HIM, led by Ville Valo, rise to fame? What kind of pressures and personal conflicts shaped their major tours? And what ultimately led to the band’s breakup?

Guitar technician and author Kimmo Aroluoma takes readers behind the scenes of HIM’s farewell tour, offering a rare glimpse into the band’s untold history. The international rock business is a workplace that is as fascinating and tempting as it is ruthless—many end up burning themselves out.

Viimeinen kiertue (The Last Tour) is Aroluoma’s raw and deeply personal survival story, an intense memoir that not only reveals the reality of HIM’s touring life but also provides insights into the road experiences of Hanoi Rocks, The Rasmus, and Amorphis.

25/03/2025

The writing of my next book continues, so here we go with one more old shot from the road.

This shot takes us back to June 3, 2010, at Zeppelinfeld in Nürnberg, Germany. I was on tour with HIM, gearing up for the festival season, which kicked off the next day at Rock im Park. The gear had just arrived from the USA, and we spent the day prepping everything for the shows ahead.

Back then, we used four Laney tube amplifiers—two in use, two as spares. You don’t see rigs like this much anymore. Here, it’s set up in its stage position, with the amplifiers behind the cabinets.

Looking at these old photos, I can’t help but notice how low the quality is. This was the era when the first iPhones hit the market, and I had already ditched my Canon Ixus because taking quick snaps on my phone was just too easy. In hindsight, I wish I had stuck with proper photography, but hey—that’s how things go.

More photos coming soon—stay tuned!

24/03/2025

I had the great privilege of designing a pedalboard for the legendary Jan ”Nasse” Stenfors—best known as an original member of Hanoi Rocks. In recent years, he’s been actively making music with Stenfors and Demolition 23, the latter hitting select festivals next summer.

Jan already had a collection of pedals and had purchased a One Control true bypass looper, so my task was to integrate everything into a cohesive, road-ready rig. I chose Evidence Audio RA plugs and Monorail cable—the same combination David Gilmour uses in his home studio. Soldering solid-core cable was a thrill, and the connections turned out military-grade—rock-solid and built to last.

Since this board is going to be played live, I put a lot of thought into cable routing, balancing looks, usability, durability, and easy troubleshooting in one clean package. I kept safety clips, anchors, and zip ties to a minimum while ensuring a rock-solid setup. The true bypass looper was intuitive to use and program, and everything locked together seamlessly. The result? A powerful, great-sounding, and road-ready rig.

A second, smaller board was dedicated to the BluGuitar Amp 1 pedal amplifier—a device I’ve tested multiple times and always find inspiring. Once again, I caught myself playing more than necessary! 🎸 I dialed in Jan’s settings, connected it to a 4x12” cab and Genelec speakers simulating a PA, and the sound was huge yet responsive. If you’re looking for a lightweight gigging solution but aren’t sold on digital modelers, this amp is seriously worth considering.

Jan’s verdict after receiving the board?

”I got a chance to try it out a bit, and it’s definitely easy and quick to get started with the rig you put together. It’s a really damn cool and inspiring setup. Thanks!”

If you’re looking for help or inspiration with your gear, setup, or sound, check out our services—link in bio!

🎸
🔧
⚡ .gmbh

21/03/2025

14/03/2025

Started the morning with some good exercise at Kulttuuritalo, loading in gear for Sturgill Simpson! Quite the contrast from last week’s Emma Gaala, where everything was playback with massive LED screens.

Today, it’s all about the real deal—Hammond organ, Leslie cabinet, combo amps, instruments, and a pedal steel guitar. There are many ways to bring music to the stage, and they all have their place. But tonight, I’m ready for a raw dose of outlaw country! 🎶🔥

10/03/2025

I’m writing my next book about touring and have been diving into a treasure trove of old photographs—so I’ll be sharing some along the way! No particular order, theme, or timeline—just moments from the road.

This shot was taken on November 16, 2006, in Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay. The Rasmus was on tour in South America, and with a day off before our show in Buenos Aires, we hopped on a ferry to Uruguay. The ride took just over an hour, and Colonia del Sacramento turned out to be an absolute gem—it instantly reminded me of Trinidad, Cuba, which I had visited just six months earlier.

Here’s band’s drummer Aki Hakala and me, wandering the city, unwinding, and enjoying a rare, worry-free moment—without a single thought about the backline or stage setup waiting for us at Buenos Aires Personal Fest the next day.

More photos to come—stay tuned!

05/03/2025

🚨 Pedalboard Noises? Cracks? Pops? Here’s Why! 🚨

Did you know that 99% of pedalboard noise issues come from moisture and condensation in the connectors? 🎛️⚡ This board was built five years ago and stored in a cold place—looked flawless but had tons of noise problems. A full cleaning of all plugs, jacks, and power connectors brought it back to life. Now? Dead silent. 🔥

🎸 Esa Pulliainen Vibes

This setup is inspired by the legendary Esa Pulliainen—the Finnish guitar icon. He had a signature tone by placing a compressor after a tape echo, so it shaped the repeats too. 🎶 I tested this with a DOD Compressor + Boss RE-20—the exact combo Esa used. Did it nail the tone? Oh yes. ✅

⚡ Need help with your pedalboard?

If your board is acting up, I offer a troubleshooting service with a guaranteed fix. Let’s get your rig sounding perfect. Link in bio! 🔗

25/02/2025

I’m writing my next book about touring and have been digging through loads of old photographs, which I’ll be sharing every now and then. They’re not in any particular order, theme, or timeline—but here we go.

This photo was taken on August 5th, 2011, in Pori, Finland. My colleague Karri Virtanen and I were finishing up the festival setup for Michael Monroe during the tour for their incredible Sensory Overdrive album. Karri worked as a drum tech and also took care of Michael’s saxophone, harp, cables, and more. Back then, the band relied entirely on rental gear, provided by Backline Rental Finland.

This show also marked my last one with the band before stepping away from touring and buying a music store in the heart of Helsinki.

More photos to come—stay tuned!

17/02/2025

Mikko von Hertzen aka was among the first musicians to trust me with his setup. This twin pedalboard was originally built back in 2011, using backplates from an unused dummy Vox cabinet—rescued from the balcony.

Over the years, Mikko’s boards have been through a lot, evolving with modifications along the way. This time, it was time for a new cable snake. 🎛️

Since his amp recently moved from stage right to stage left, and an additional acoustic guitar cable was needed (fed from the wireless unit near the amp), a full cable snake redo was in order. We also installed an acoustic guitar tuner and DI box, making sure stress relief was carefully handled in three key spots.

Mikko also wanted a wider board set up, so we left some extra slack between them for flexibility. With the Von Hertzen Brothers gearing up for their European shows this spring—featuring their new drummer—there’s definitely some extra excitement in the air! ⚡ Don’t miss their show, these guys always bring high energy to the stage! 🎸

If you need help with your own stage setup, see our services. Link in bio!

11/02/2025

released two incredible albums last year, Vol. 6 & Vol. 7, both of which I’ve listened to countless times. So when .v.mikkola reached out to have his entire rig overhauled, I was more than happy to take on the task.

His Mad Professor Old School 21 RT had a broken switch, so I replaced it. But something I had never done before was attaching this hippie-style cloth to the amp’s frame 😅.

Matti plays two guitars— a Tokai Telecaster and a Gibson SG—both of which needed some adjustments. His pedalboard, originally wired at Custom Boards in 2019, had seen plenty of gigs and a few pedal swaps, so a deep clean and rewiring were in order. The finishing touch? A red curly cable from .

By the end of the day, fatigue started kicking in, and I found myself wondering about the Walrus ”Missary” pedal—only to realize it was actually named ”Emissary” 😂. That was my cue to pack up and return everything to the artist.

Doing a full rig overhaul was a blast—it reminded me of my old days as a touring guitar tech. I’ve done quite a few of these projects before, so if your setup needs some TLC, Custom Boards might just be your one-stop shop!