Author Topic: Roland pickups/interfaces - MIDI'd Alembic? (Read 198 times)

pasherm · « **on:** August 07, 2006, 09:50:17 AM »

Hi all,

I am interested in triggering some keyboards with my Essence 6 string in a live setting. Has anyone tried the Roland GK pickups and GI MIDI interfaces on their Alembic? Does this stuff actually work?

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks!

~Pete

mgirouard3 · « **Reply #1 on:** August 07, 2006, 12:11:08 PM »

I tried to use the GK pickup on my Essence 5 string but it wouldn't fit in betweent the bridge and the bridge pickup.

bumhucker · « **Reply #2 on:** August 07, 2006, 10:43:07 PM »

it's funny you ask--i was just researching this myself. i had a gk2 guitar pickup with the gr20 and it worked great--tracked really nicely. roland has really detailed specs on their site--the gk-3b is what you want i think. i think it is a newer pickup and a bit smaller than the previous. i am looking to maybe get one for the excel i am getting. once i get the bass i'm going to measure it to see if i can fit that pickup in there.
i did like the sounds on the gr 20-the expression pedal is great to have and like i say i thought it tracked ver very well....

mgirouard3 · « **Reply #3 on:** August 08, 2006, 05:29:01 AM »

I used the GK-3B and it wont fit on the essence. I am not sure about the excel but I know for fact it will not fit on the essence. Maybe if you grind down part of the bridge or pickup it might fit but I didn't want to do that.

bumhucker · « **Reply #4 on:** August 08, 2006, 05:48:42 AM »

adriaan · « **Reply #5 on:** August 08, 2006, 05:52:13 AM »

There's an older Featured Custom (an Orion guitar, IIRC) that has the guitar version installed.

Here it is - Bright Eyes http://www.alembic.com/info/FC_mw.html.

(Message edited by adriaan on August 08, 2006)

pasherm · « **Reply #6 on:** August 08, 2006, 06:33:36 AM »

Thanks all,

Well thats a shame, I have no desire to grind down any aspect of my bass. I may have to invest in a cheapo bass to mount it on to get this to happen.

lbpesq · « **Reply #7 on:** August 08, 2006, 07:54:21 AM »

Roland has a new, smaller, midi pickup especially designd for bass:

http://www.rolandus.com/products/productdetails.aspx?ObjectId=648

The Roland pick ups are designed to be mounted without any damage to the instrument. No drilling, routing, etc. They simply stick on. If you are thinking about getting a separate bass just for synth, I suggest contacting RMC in Berkeley, CA, and see if they make piezo saddles for bass. If they do, you might want to get a bass on which the RMC bridge saddles fit. The RMC system tracks better than the Roland and looks much better. You'll need to install some controls - usually a synth on/off switch, a 3-way momentary mode switch, and a volume. You can also add bank up and down buttons, but this is not necessary as you can do the same thing with your foot. The Roland unit is fine for an add-on or if you don't want a permanent installation, but if you want it permanent and clean, try the RMC. Here's my guitar with the RMC system installed. (I use a Roland GR-33 synth).

Bill, tgo

pasherm · « **Reply #8 on:** August 08, 2006, 10:15:00 AM »

For what its worth, I measured between the pickup and the bridge on my Essence 6. It looks to have a bit over 7/16ths clearance. Checking the Roland site, the widths for the GK2B and GK3B are 9/16ths. Thus, as mgirouard3 stated, it ain't gonna fit.

Digging a bit more, I found a Yamaha B1D pickup that appears to be compatible with the Roland system and only measures 7/16ths wide. Keeping my limited budget in mind, I think it's worth the risk to give this a shot first.

Thanks again for the guidance and suggestions!

paulman · « **Reply #9 on:** August 10, 2006, 11:36:03 AM »

It seems to depend on the model. My Skylark would need the bridge pickup modded to fit a Roland pickup.

However the Further has plenty of room. I don't like the wart-like look of the external pickup but the access to keyboard sounds and stuff makes up for it. In a way, the wart does accent the look of the guitar. If I remember I'll take a pic tonight and post it.

I agree with the Bridge saddle pickups! I would much rather have the RMC dealies. I had a Godin LGX-SA a couple of years ago, and though the guitar was kinda ehhhh, the Midi response was amazing!

On my custom I will have the same setup as ibpesq posted.

I prefer the pickup to be always on so I will not need a 3 way switch to control that, and as for patch up/down buttons I will want one 2 way momentary switch as opposed to two buttons. It'll make for a cleaner control arrangement. So control wise, I will only have a knob for Midi volume, and a switch for patch increment/decrement.

paulman · « **Reply #10 on:** August 10, 2006, 11:44:22 AM »

Oh and one more $.02.

My goal is also to do away with the flimsy Roland cable jack and go with a screw-ring mounted Amphenol connector. That is what Jerry had after several failures with the standard Roland cable jack. If you look at the later Rosebud cable plates you'll see a square brass plate screwed in below the TRS and output jacks. That is originally where the Roland jack was before it was mounted with Amphenol connector on the edge.

This should last for a very long time. I spoke to Mica about this a year ago or so and she indicated it is possible, but will cost extra.

Like anything Alembic, you get what you pay for

lbpesq · « **Reply #11 on:** August 10, 2006, 04:04:54 PM »

Roger:

Is Alembic doing a through body string loading setup for you, or is there an RMC system that works with the top anchored strings? I just added a 3-way guitar only - guitar+synth - synth only switch to mine. Since I want to bring the synth (usually organ patches) in and out during songs, I found it nearly impossible to do it smoothly with the synth volume only. Now I can present the synth volume and just turn it on and off with the new 3-way. I haven't had any trouble with the Roland cord yet (I do always carry a backup), but the Amphenol sounds interesting, I'll have to check it out. By the way, I also have a Godin LGX-SA as my backup. I like it alot.

Bill, tgo

paulman · « **Reply #12 on:** August 15, 2006, 06:31:42 PM »

If I led to believe that I have a project in the works I'm sorry. I'm just outlining my goals, and relating what info I got from Mica a year or so ago.

As far as I know Alembic does deal with modded Roland Gk pickups, but may not deal with the piezo pickups and I never inquired about them. It would seem the Alembic bridge would not support these, and a non-alembic bridge would be neccesary. Heracy!

Here is a pic of the further with a GK on there. It goes along with the black pickups, but still is a wart!

lbpesq · « **Reply #13 on:** August 15, 2006, 06:48:13 PM »

Here's a pic of some guy playing a Further-like guitar with a Roland pick-up.

Bill, tgo