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578 Views 12 Replies Latest reply: Mar 17, 2013 10:09 AM by CSeye RSS
CSeye Just Startin'
CSeye
13 posts since
Jul 4, 2012
Currently Being Moderated

Sep 5, 2012 3:02 PM

External GK-3 on a JTV-59: Will it fit?

Has anyone installed the external Roland GK-3 pickup on a JTV-59?

 

I'm absolutely thrilled with the vari-ous electric and acoustic sounds on my vari-ax but want to add MIDI out to record software instruments.

 

Workable?

Issues?

 

Thanks.

 

Side note: I actually sold my GR-55 in order to purchase the JTV-59. Absolutely no regrets!!!  Yes, the GR-55  is an amazing bundle of sound sources for the live performer. But I mostly record external MIDI sources. For that, the GR-55 was a huge disappointment. I can play MIDI bass lines on my open E and A strings using the now obsolete GI-20. Same with piano chords with open string pedal tones. Glorious! However latency on the GR-55 was a step backwards.  Shame.

Tags: midi, external, roland, james_tyler_variax, jtv-59, gk-3
  • rootmusic Just Startin'
    rootmusic
    45 posts since
    Sep 5, 2007
    Currently Being Moderated
    Sep 6, 2012 1:23 PM (in response to CSeye)
    Re: External GK-3 on a JTV-59: Will it fit?

    Yes

     

    Works greatDSCN5590.JPG

    • CSeye Just Startin'
      CSeye
      13 posts since
      Jul 4, 2012
      Currently Being Moderated
      Sep 6, 2012 1:44 PM (in response to rootmusic)
      Re: External GK-3 on a JTV-59: Will it fit?

      Thank you for confirming fit with an image.

      Beautiful finish on your JTV-59.

       

      I'll post images and a report once I finish the GK-3 set up.

       

      Cheers

      • rootmusic Just Startin'
        rootmusic
        45 posts since
        Sep 5, 2007
        Currently Being Moderated
        Sep 6, 2012 1:58 PM (in response to CSeye)
        Re: External GK-3 on a JTV-59: Will it fit?

        I always run the cable around the bottom of the bridge and flip the pick up in the Roland settings, because I don't like the cable under my arm when I'm playing.

         

         

        Good luck with it

        • CSeye Just Startin'
          CSeye
          13 posts since
          Jul 4, 2012
          Currently Being Moderated
          Sep 6, 2012 5:13 PM (in response to rootmusic)
          Re: External GK-3 on a JTV-59: Will it fit?

          Thank for that useful tip.

           

          Estimated date of arrival is 9/12-14/12.

           

          Having Variax sounds and MIDI on the same guitar  is gonna be the ultimate  set up for me.

          • skeletonpete Just Startin'
            skeletonpete
            73 posts since
            Feb 17, 2007
            Currently Being Moderated
            Sep 6, 2012 5:49 PM (in response to CSeye)
            Re: External GK-3 on a JTV-59: Will it fit?

            @CSeye - you're in for quite a treat. I've been running a similar system going on 6 years now. Give a listen to the promos on the "media page" and "gigs" page at the website for my band Dance Half Done  to hear the possibilities. Everything there was recorded with Variax 600 (with GK3), POD XTLive and a Roland GR33 guitar synth.

             

            What synth and amp or emulator rig are you intending to run through?

             

            Best,

            Pete

            • CSeye Just Startin'
              CSeye
              13 posts since
              Jul 4, 2012
              Currently Being Moderated
              Sep 7, 2012 2:06 PM (in response to skeletonpete)
              Re: External GK-3 on a JTV-59: Will it fit?

              Skeletonpete,

              Your music clips sound great!!! Humerous as well.

               

              While I do believe in the physical and mental health benefits of live music, I don't personally play live.  Amp sims  I use are NI Guitar Rig 5, and amps in Logic 9.  Software sounds include: Komplete 8 (Kontakt, FM8 etc), MachFive 3 and instruments in Logic.

               

              I do have a couple of good mics and an acoustic guitar, but I'm more geared for direct input recording, and more MIDI than audio.

               

              Having the GK-3 on the variax really wil be a treat: More time focused on the music vs changing guitars, connections and such.

               

              Thanks for checking in.

               

              Best,

              Wally

              • skeletonpete Just Startin'
                skeletonpete
                73 posts since
                Feb 17, 2007
                Currently Being Moderated
                Sep 7, 2012 7:52 PM (in response to CSeye)
                Re: External GK-3 on a JTV-59: Will it fit?

                Thanks @CSeye. We have a lot of fun putting those silly things together and have the rock n roll hubris to think they beat the standard 30 seconds of this tune, 30 seconds of the next presentation.

                 

                Whether playing live or recording the Variax plus GK3 coupling will be a world of fun and musical opportunity. You clearly have a nice set of software choices to take advantage of the rig.

                 

                I'm currently having a blast with SampleTron, pretty much King Crimson in a sofware program.

                 

                Best,

                Pete

                http://www.skeletonpete.com

                • CSeye Just Startin'
                  CSeye
                  13 posts since
                  Jul 4, 2012
                  Currently Being Moderated
                  Sep 8, 2012 10:05 AM (in response to skeletonpete)
                  Re: External GK-3 on a JTV-59: Will it fit?

                  Hi Pete,

                  In all seriousness, the combination of excellent singing, musicianship, and music production combined with humorous interludes is very business smart.

                   

                  A guitar player friend of mine uses SampleTron and loves it.

                  Back in the day I went through two pieces of vinyl playing In the Court of the Crimson King.  The CD ought to be more durable.

                   

                  I'm hoping to have the GK-3 installed by next weekend.

                   

                  Best,

                  Wally

          • CSeye Just Startin'
            CSeye
            13 posts since
            Jul 4, 2012
            Currently Being Moderated
            Sep 15, 2012 11:38 AM (in response to CSeye)
            Re: External GK-3 on a JTV-59: Will it fit?

            The combination of the the JTV-59 with the GK-3 is  "Absolutely glorious!!!"

             

            The JTV-59 has a neck radius of 12".

            The GK-3, fresh out of the packaging also has a 12" radius. No need to make any further adjustments.

            IMG_2111.jpg

            String height and bridge height measurements were taken in case I really got off track.  It looks like the distance from the bottom of the bridge to the body surface is 4mm. The height of the two thicker pickup spacers adhered together place the GK-3 at the recommended 1mm from the strings. Perfect! No need to fiddle around making micro adjustments.

            IMG_2114.jpg

            It took me a while to realize that I couldn't attach the pickup bracket to the JTV-59 bridge. (The bracket worked great  with my SG when I still had the GR-55).  I used screws with a GK-2A in the past and wouldn't hesitate to use them in this case. While getting ready to do a test setup with the double-sided tape, I started thinking crazy things like maybe using a rubber band or floral wire wrapped around the the humbucker mounting ring to laterally secure the GK-3 to avoid having to use screws or the tape. As shown below, I sandwiched a thin C spacer between two thicker B spacers to fill the gap between the Bridge p.u. and GK-3, then used several of the remaining C spacers to fill the gap on the bridge side.

             

            This is definitely not a recommended way to mount the GK-3, but it's wedged in the space very snuggly! However, a firm push can move it. I played it as is for several hours today without it ever shifting the least bit out of place.

             

            IMG_2116.jpg 

            Here's the final set up for the time being...

            IMG_2118.jpg

             

            On the Roland GI-20, I tweaked the G2 play mode sensitivity preset, and selected the  Soft Picking Play Feel preset which gives me near perfect triggering response: loud to soft dynamics, low latency, and accurate tracking with minimal false triggers.

             

            Having access to all of the excellent Variax guitar models (the J-200 is my favorite acoustic) while being able to trigger MIDI (not necessarily at the same time) from the same guitar as good as it gets!!!  I'm incredibly happy with the results.  

            • variaxlover Just Startin'
              variaxlover
              323 posts since
              May 19, 2007
              Currently Being Moderated
              Sep 15, 2012 11:49 AM (in response to CSeye)
              Re: External GK-3 on a JTV-59: Will it fit?

              The only problem I would have with this installation is that the ugly GK-3 module is covering up some of the beautiful maple top.  I have 8 GK-3s that I use with various very special guitars (2 Les Pauls, a PRS Santana, an Explorer E2 with a maple top, a Firebird, 2 Zemaitises and a Teye) and I always mount them on the BACK of the guitars.  The GK-3 has to be installed backwards but the GR-55 lets you accomodate this with a simple setting adjustment.  The module is so low profile that I barely notice it back there.  The cord is long enough to go between my guitars' controls and around the side, and still have room to coil the excess cord inside the module (Roland thoughfully left a little room inside for this purpose).  Try it, I bet you'll be pleased with the results!

              • CSeye Just Startin'
                CSeye
                13 posts since
                Jul 4, 2012
                Currently Being Moderated
                Sep 17, 2012 7:35 AM (in response to variaxlover)
                Re: External GK-3 on a JTV-59: Will it fit?

                The finish on the JTV-59 is indeed beautiful, but I need frequent access to the S1/S2 to switch octaves and volume knob that I don't mind the GK-3 module on the front. I'm still amazed that the installation was easier than anticipated coupled with the tracking accuracy with low latency.

                 

                I'm pretty certain that the GI-20  doesn't have a a parameter to reverse the pickup order.

                 

                In terms of triggering external MIDI sources, in my case software instruments, the now obsolete GI-20 + GK-3 smokes the GR-55.  I understand that the design of the GR-55 is all about a closed-system that produces amazing results.  On the other hand it's very hard to unstand why Roland would deliberately release  a new product that performs unbelievably worse than one of it's very own previous designs in terms of triggering external MIDI.  I was actually hoping for a release of an updated version of the GI-20 module.

                 

                At this point, this product might be a game changer if/when it actually gets released:

                http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=_nKhlmJ4EeI

                 

                Hence my dilemma  in  actually screwing in place the GK-3.

                 

                Cheers

                • CSeye Just Startin'
                  CSeye
                  13 posts since
                  Jul 4, 2012
                  Currently Being Moderated
                  Mar 17, 2013 10:09 AM (in response to CSeye)
                  Re: External GK-3 on a JTV-59: Will it fit?

                  Just an update,

                   

                  The "wedge" method of GK-3 p.u. installation is still holding steady. 

                   

                  The Fishman Triple Play will be in Sweetwater's warehouse the week of 3/31/13.

                   

                  But in the meantime, I discovered this simply amazing piece of software that works great!!!

                  http://www.jamorigin.com/midi-guitar/

                   

                  No extra cables, etc, just the guitar of your choice, ( JTV-59 in my case), cable from guitar to audio interface, then set up in your software program.  The web site provides set up instructions for a wide range of DAW.

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