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Topic: Mounting a GK-2a Midi Pickup |
Larry Beck
From:
Pierre, SD
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Posted 22 Jul 2005 5:16 pm |
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Does anyone have pictures of how they have mounted a roland midi pickup on their steel? I have a spare one and I'd like to try it. If I slant the pickup to allow for string spacing difference, the pickup only fits in *front* of the regular pickup and right under a place where I frequently pick.
If you have some pictures, please post, or email me and I'll post them for you. |
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Michael Johnstone
From:
Sylmar,Ca. USA
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Posted 23 Jul 2005 1:02 am
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| I assume you're playing at least a 10 string steel and the problem with that is the whole deal is gonna be incomplete - even if the pickup fit between the steel pickup and the changer where it needs to be. It's a losing proposition unless you just go ahead and try to find an IVL rig which is made for steel, will cover all your strings and fit where it needs to fit. If you just want to dick around and experiment - then whatever you do is ok but if you really want to play midi steel,you need a 10 or 12 string midi pickup - and the midi converter that goes with it - plus a nice multi-timbral synth module. And good luck finding such a rig...... |
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Jack Stoner
From:
Kansas City, MO
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Posted 23 Jul 2005 2:40 am
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Johnny Bondz has the Roland mounted on an SD-10 Sho-Bud. Works great. Problem is Johnny isn't on the forum.
He has a music store (Bondz Music in Wildwood, Fl) and obviously had access to equipment for experimentation. |
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Bob Martin
From:
Madison Tn
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Posted 25 Jul 2005 12:32 am
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As you guys know I don't play steel but I do play guitar and I've played midi for over 20 years. I started out on the originad GM 70 anyway keep one thing in mind.
The farther you mount the GK-2 away from the bridge the longer it will take to recognize the note to interpet as a midi command.
The GK-2 actually gets vibrations from the strings as well as the bridge.
I have mounted my GK-2 in just about every possible placement available on my guitar and one thing is for certain. If you do slant your pickup slant it with the bottom of it closest to the big strings. In other words it takes noticably longer to detect a lower pitch than it does a higher one so always at least keep the lower end closer to the big strings.
The heaviest strings I have ever used a GK-2 pickup with was a 46 and it takes approximatly 3 to 8 ms's longer for the bass string to be recognized and maybe even longer.
What is the largest string that you will be using on the steel? If it is to big a bass midi pickup might be appropiate for your steel especially if you decide to use 2 pickups as talked about earlier.
Just a few thoughts guys let us know how it all works out.
I have been recording in my digital studio around here for years and the reason that I have been so successful is because with my midi pickup and my killer sampler with real sounds I can play all of my midi sounds direct to the digital recorder giving everything a live feel rather that an sequenced quantized mess.
Not that I have made a million hee hee but in all of the years that I have produced and recorded songs for my buddies no one has ever complained about a fake sound with my recordings and I recorded everything except steel and fiddle parts from my midi guitar including the drums.
The drums are the only thing I ever quantize and I quantize them very sparingly.
Well I hope this might help you guys understand about the midi pickups a little. If anyone has any questions feel free to ask away.
Bob |
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Larry Beck
From:
Pierre, SD
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Posted 25 Jul 2005 3:53 am
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| I've had time to take the midi pickup apart and the 6 pickups are all mounted on a pc board so there is no practical way to change string spacing.This is with a GK-2a. I am not sure if earlier models with single coil pickups did this. For recording I do use a midi guitar like Bob. My main use for midi steel will probably be live. I want to be able to use string and organ pads and horn riffs for those songs that steel is not usually heard in. |
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Howard Tate
From:
Leesville, Louisiana, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 25 Jul 2005 5:36 am
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I have one of those cheapie six string laps from Musicians Friend, it looks like the GK-2a would line up with the strings pretty well. Has anyone tried that?
------------------
Howard, 'Les Paul Recording, Zum S12U, Vegas 400, Boss ME-5, Boss DM-3, DD-3, Sierra Session D-10
http://www.Charmedmusic.com
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ed packard
From:
Show Low AZ
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Posted 25 Jul 2005 6:13 am
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I have described several times in the past how I use the Roland MIDI rig on my 14 string PSG. At Home Depot, or similar, you can get strips of "magnetic rubber" with adhesive on the back. Place a strip of this on the neck across all strings in front of your pickup, and at the appropriate angle. Now place a strip on the bottom of the pickup.
The six string pickup can now be slid/positioned to pickup any six adjacent strings. I find the most useage is 3,4,5,6,7,8 for woodwind, brass and Hammond organ sounds.
[This message was edited by ed packard on 25 July 2005 at 08:58 AM.] |
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Joey Ace
From:
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
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Posted 25 Jul 2005 6:18 am
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A few years ago I investigated MIDI pickups for my Steel. What was available was so limited and expensive that I gave up and bought a keyboard MIDI controller (new under $200).
I had to learn to play keys, for what I wanted top do (fills, single note licks) it was easy.
If someone here has sucess with MIDI Steel I'd be tempted to try it again. |
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