Pendletone Effects Proving Ground Small Pedal Prototyping Workstation

Build the circuit. Proving Ground handles the rest.

The Pendletone Effects Proving Ground Small is a purpose-built breadboarding and prototyping platform for guitar-pedal builders, with one breadboarding area in the smallest Proving Ground footprint.

It started with a simple problem: I was using a commercially available pedal breadboarding platform and liked the idea, but not everything about the execution—or the price. So I designed the Proving Ground around the way I actually prototype pedals at my own bench.

Instead of rebuilding the same supporting hardware every time you want to experiment with a new circuit, Proving Ground keeps the pedal infrastructure ready to go. You get permanent 1/4" input and output connections, true-bypass switching, power distribution and filtering, accessible test points, and dedicated signal connections.

That leaves you free to concentrate on the interesting part: the circuit.

Built for Pedal Development

Build your effect on the breadboard, connect it to the Proving Ground’s SEND and RETURN points, and test it through an actual guitar-and-amplifier signal chain.

Accessible VCC and ground connections, along with multiple test points, make it easier to measure voltages, troubleshoot a circuit, swap components, and compare values without rebuilding your basic test setup every time.

The circuit itself remains yours. Proving Ground doesn’t impose a fixed gain stage, clipping arrangement, bias network, pull-down resistor, or other effect-specific topology on your design.

Whether you’re experimenting with a simple boost, a clipping stage, or another circuit that fits the available breadboarding space, you decide what goes in the circuit.

Why Choose Small?

The Small is a compact option for learning, testing individual circuit stages, and developing effects that fit on a single breadboard. It keeps the supporting pedal hardware ready without taking up more bench space than you need.

For builds that need additional breadboarding room, consider the Medium or Large.

Features

• One breadboarding area
• 1/4" guitar input and output
• Dedicated SEND and RETURN connections
• True-bypass footswitch
• LED status indication
• Onboard power filtering
• Accessible VCC and ground connections
• Multiple test points for circuit development and troubleshooting
• Fully assembled and ready for circuit development
• Includes 20 jumper wires
• Pendletone Effects Proving Ground graphics and branding on the front and back
• Designed and assembled by Pendletone Effects

Dimensions

182 mm × 90 mm × 40 mm
Approximately 7.17" × 3.54" × 1.57"

Power

Requires a standard regulated 9V DC, center-negative pedal power supply.

Power supply is not included.

What’s Included

• 1 × fully assembled Pendletone Effects Proving Ground Small
• 20 × jumper wires

Components used to build experimental circuits are not included.

Who It’s For

Proving Ground was designed specifically for guitar-pedal builders—from builders learning how classic circuits work to experienced designers who want a compact platform for smaller builds and focused experiments.

The breadboarding system can also be used for other compatible breadboard-based electronic projects, but the permanent I/O, switching, power, and signal-routing infrastructure is purpose-built around pedal development.