Synth Pickups

[DeadSkinSlayer3]

After seeing some guitarists I like use them, but never hearing them in action, I'm quite interested. Does anyone have any soundclip or videos of them in use? What exactly can they do? I know they can indivdually pickup each string, and sound like other instruments, but Marty Freidman says he can change tunings with his, as well. Anyone?

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: Synth Pickups

If you go to my web site, www.twilight-odyssey.com, the song "Gettysburg" has some guitar synth on it.

Do a search on this forum for "Roland GK2A" and you will find more stuff about it. This subject was discussed at length last week between myself and a few others ...

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: Synth Pickups

Marty Freidman says he can change tunings with his, as well. Anyone?

You don't change the tuning of the guitar. Friedman uses the Roland VG88, which is the same processor I use. It is the best modeller on the planet. When used in association with a synth pickup, you can virtually change the tuning on your virtual guitar. This is totally transparent, buy the way.

On the VG88, since it's entirely virtual you can dictate:

The size and wood type of guitar you are modelling
The number of strings (6 or 12) and their tuning
The type and location of the pickup or pickups you are using
The number and order of effects you are using
The model and tonal shaping of what amp you are using
The type and distance of your virtual microphone, or whether you are going "DI"

 

[Mincer]

Re: Synth Pickups

As far as synth pickups go, there are the add-on type (Roland GK2a, GK3, Yamaha 01d) and the Piezo kind, built into the bridge saddles (RMCs, GraphTech GHOST).

THe synth pickup itself is just a hex pickup, it doesn't change the sound. YOu either need a VG88, which is a sophisticated amp modeler, or a guitar synth setup (either floor-based guitar synth (GR09,GR1,GR30,GR33,GR20), or midi pedal/midi converter/rack synth combo. Most of the soundclips at my site (http://www.hazardfactor.com/hazard/shop.html) are done with guitar mixed with guitar synth.

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: Synth Pickups

Agreed .... I'm going to check out those clips today!!

 

[DeadSkinSlayer3]

Re: Synth Pickups

Ahh thanks a ton guys! What I'd be doing with one is mixing guitar with hte big orchestral or keyboard sound, like on Gettysburg. Mincer, it was a bit hard for me to tell what was synth and what was another instrument, but it all sounded pretty damn cool! To do the orchestra/keyboard mix thing, would I need a very expensive modeler? I know roland has one that comes with a pickup, and is about 600 new. Would that be good?

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: Synth Pickups

Yes, I think it's the GR-20, if I'm not mistaken ... It's a stripped down version of the GR-30 and GR-33. It will work fine. If you every want to expand the sounds available, you can always get a stand-alone sound module and just MIDI out from the guitar synth ...

 

[Mincer]

Re: Synth Pickups

thanks for the kind words...any sounds you couldn't identify was me with guitar synth. The GR-20 seems like a great choice for getting into synth playing.