Lets talk guitar synths

[vinterland]

Well for some reason I've just been dying to put a GK-3 pickup on one of my guitars and buy a roland synth. I believe the GR-20 is the newest synth module from Roland, are there any other older models that I should be looking at that are good as well? I'm trying to match affordability with playability here as I don't need every synth sound in the world. Something in the 500 dollar or less range. Also is it easy to switch off the GK-3 and return to the normal amp sound from the actual pups?

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: Lets talk guitar synths

You can't really beat the GR-20 for the price.

I use a Roland Ready Strat/GR-30/VG-88/FC-200 setup, and it's great!!

 

[vinterland]

Re: Lets talk guitar synths

The VG-88 isn't truly a guitar synth is it? Doesn't it use the GK-3 just to add some basic natural guitar tones (like nylon, and hollowbody) that can't be had without midi?

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: Lets talk guitar synths

Nooo, not at all.

The VG-88 is a complete modelling system that can't even really be described in less than 1,000 words. It can mimic EVERYTHING, from pickup types, body woods, mic placement, amp type, tunings, you name it. VG stands for VIRTUAL GUITAR. I use it as a straight amp modeler when I'm cutting demos, but I've also used it for nylon string, 12 string, acoustic, and bass guitar!

Just like the GR synths, each string has it's own pickup. How the VG-88 knows when you're doing things like natural, tapped, or pinch harmonics, I don't know, but it does them perfectly.

What the VG-88 is NOT is a synthesizer; no strings, piano, brass, sitars, etc etc. That's what I have the GR-30 for.

 

[vinterland]

Re: Lets talk guitar synths

Gotcha, is the GK-3 hard to install at all?

 

[Mincer]

Re: Lets talk guitar synths

no, it is easy. The GI-20 is the place to look if you already have a synth and you just need really fast conversion- it has no sounds of its own. You can USB it to trigger softwynths as well.
I use an older GI-10, which is midi'd to a Roland XV-5050 synth..I use my Brian Moore's RMC pickups to trigger it, but it works great with a GK pickup too. Keep in mind if you go with the modular approach, you have to budget for a midi pedalboard- I use the Behringer FCB1010, which is the best under $700 pedalboard you can get.

 

[RevJToad]

Re: Lets talk guitar synths

While we're on the topic, there's a Roland G-707 and matching pedalboard in a local shop I've been eyeing for years. The owner is asking way too much, but I'm thinking if I wave a few large bills in his face he'll take them since it's been there for so long.

Question is, without telling you his asking price, what do you suppose one of those, in good condition, is worth?

 

[PUCKBOY99]

Re: Lets talk guitar synths

Nooo, not at all.

The VG-88 is a complete modelling system that can't even really be described in less than 1,000 words. It can mimic EVERYTHING, from pickup types, body woods, mic placement, amp type, tunings, you name it. VG stands for VIRTUAL GUITAR. I use it as a straight amp modeler when I'm cutting demos, but I've also used it for nylon string, 12 string, acoustic, and bass guitar!

Just like the GR synths, each string has it's own pickup. How the VG-88 knows when you're doing things like natural, tapped, or pinch harmonics, I don't know, but it does them perfectly.

What the VG-88 is NOT is a synthesizer; no strings, piano, brass, sitars, etc etc. That's what I have the GR-30 for.

And to add to this, I have a VG-88 with the version 2 software...which INCLUDES strings (violin & cello), piano & organ, sitar, banjo, etc....don't recall brass, but I haven't played around with it much.

I'm selling it if you're interested in a very cool unit

 

[tone4days]

Re: Lets talk guitar synths

hey terry - does your VG-88 v2.0 have all the 'regular' guitar modeling stuff PLUS the strings/organ/etc? ... or does it ONLY have the strings/organ/etc stuff?

 

[PUCKBOY99]

Re: Lets talk guitar synths

All the VG-88 stuff PLUS the added features.

The Pipe Organ actually sounds awesome. I had the most fun just messing around with that.

 

[tone4days]

Re: Lets talk guitar synths

cool! ... yeah the pipe organ is fun - i was playing the head to 'tocatta and fugue in D min' at a music store once and scared a toddler ... dropping the low E to D was massive

 

[PUCKBOY99]

Re: Lets talk guitar synths

Oh & the other cool thing is the alternate tunings available at the touch of a footpedal.....go from standard to drop D to open E on the fly in ya' wanna.

 

[TheArchitect]

Re: Lets talk guitar synths

I use a GI-20 to trigger soft synths in Cubase. The GI-20 basically just converts the proprietary Roland signalling to standard midi. From there you can use whatever you want as far as synths go. I install the pickup on a Peavey Limited EXP. It stays in tune and plays well. More importantly I didn't mind drilling the holes in it to mount the pickup blade because it was cheap.

 

[tone4days]

Re: Lets talk guitar synths

Oh & the other cool thing is the alternate tunings available at the touch of a footpedal.....go from standard to drop D to open E on the fly in ya' wanna.

yup - i digital capo all the time on my synth .. you can change the offset on a 'per string' basis .. pretty cool... i just wish that the gr-33 and vg-88 were rackmount .. i get so nervous playin' outdoors or in bars with them on the floor where someone could drop a drink or otherwise foul em up ... i dont use the foot pedals on them, so i wouldnt miss them up in a rack

t4d

 

[vinterland]

Re: Lets talk guitar synths

Btw that stuff Steve Vai did on the Roland site with the GR-30 and VG-88 is extremely amazing.

 

[PUCKBOY99]

Re: Lets talk guitar synths

There is SO MUCH you can do with these things that it's absolutely mindboggling!

I'm an old dog, so new tricks are few & far between.........but the technology is AMAZING!!!!

 

[JOLLY]

Re: Lets talk guitar synths

I enjoy my GR-33 alot. It's fun playing saxaphone on guitar.)

 

[vinterland]

Re: Lets talk guitar synths

So can I ask exactly how the GK pickup "sticks" to the guitar with no bolts or anything?

 

[JOLLY]

Re: Lets talk guitar synths

So can I ask exactly how the GK pickup "sticks" to the guitar with no bolts or anything?

I believe it's a type of two sided tape. I'm not 100% positive because my Brian Moore i.88 guitar has everything built into it.

 

[vinterland]

Re: Lets talk guitar synths

So it doesn't hurt the finish or anything though correct?