Roland GK-2A MIDI Pickup.

Robert Parent · Post by **Robert Parent** » 21 Apr 2003 9:23 am

Has anyone tried the Roland GK-2A MIDI pickup and GI-20 MIDI interface on their steel? If so can you share your success or failures?

Thanks!

ray qualls · Post by **ray qualls** » 21 Apr 2003 10:59 am

Hi Robert. At one time I had a GK-2A mounted on my steel. It worked OK but you have to mount it kinda sidways as guitar strings are farther apart than the steel strings. Also, you have to put it in front of your steel pick-up and close to the strings and to me it was where I did most of my playing. My picks would hit the pick-up sometimes. It was a novelty for awhile but wasn't worth the trouble after awhile. I also used a Roland GR-1 as effects. Also I used it under strings 3 thru 8 and I liked the strings sound the best with piano next. I have a friend, " Frankie Hardcastle" who used the IVL Rider which by far was the best. Hope that this was some input for you. Just my personal opinion.

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Ray Qualls

Robert Parent · Post by **Robert Parent** » 22 Apr 2003 3:34 am

Hi Ray,
Thanks for your comments.

I had a Korg Z-3 several years ago and had to mount it much as you have described. The radius pole height and the string spacing were the downsides of the Korg as well. The unit did a nice job of tracking if one used the internal sounds rather than an external MIDI module. I toyed with building a different pickup and even had a couple protos but career obligations limited the time I could spend so shelved the whole thing several years ago. Lately I have become interested in exploring new technology in this area.

Do you still have your Roland setup?

ray qualls · Post by **ray qualls** » 22 Apr 2003 3:48 am

Hi Robert, about the pick-ups, I had two of them! One on my steel and one on a strat. Sold both and the GR-1. Kinda wanted to get out of playing guitar and concentrate on steel. I do like effects tho and maybe somewhere down the line I might get another one. I think a lot of guys would like to have one if they ever made it convienient for steel. It would just broaden the advantage of having a steel in the band. Give you more sounds for modern stuff, etc. Hope that I've been of some help.

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Ray Qualls

Robert Parent · Post by **Robert Parent** » 22 Apr 2003 8:51 am

Hi Ray,
I agree with your thoughts. I also like the additional sounds and ability to layer steel with other instruments. Maybe I'll have to pickup a Roland in the near future and see what I can come up with for adapting it to a steel. Thanks again for you thoughts..

Geoff Scott · Post by **Geoff Scott** » 28 Apr 2003 7:09 pm

I think it's so far behind that a decent pick-up for this technology has not really been developed and marketed at this late date. I've heard and read talk about it for years and heard about the "Rider" that's no longer available. Would it really be that difficult to develop one for the steel? Anyone wanna make a quick mil? I'd buy one if it worked on my GR-30 like the Roland pick-up works on my Strat. I don't think I'd use it live much but think of the creative studio possibilities.

Roger Snively · Post by **Roger Snively** » 8 May 2003 4:44 pm

Hey Robert I have the GK2/Gr-1 set up and I really like the effects (400 different voices). It adds a lot to good ole country (piano, fiddles, etc.), especially with a 5 piece group without key-board or fiddles. You can even add organ or sax to some of the rock stuff (which I'm not crazy about) you have to play for some of the younger crowd. I have a Midi-Buddy hook up for quick change over. And Geoff, There's a guy in Ky, not far from Cincy. who adapted his for full 10 string utilization. He has his own machine shop. Name is Ralph Royce. If you are interested, let me know and I'll contact him for you. Roger, Washington C.H.Ohio

Chris Erbacher · Post by **Chris Erbacher** » 9 May 2003 1:16 pm

i'd be interested in this man's number, i think midi would be great on a steel.

Dr. Hugh Jeffreys · Post by **Dr. Hugh Jeffreys** » 9 May 2003 2:18 pm

About the same story: I have that Roland pickup and GR-30. It's bad news on my steel; when I play arpeggios, it tracks less than half of what I play. On my guitar, it's fair, but produces many pitch bends when recording that takes time to abolish. I input into my MIDI systems with a full MIDI keyboard, and it has 32-note polyphony. No problems. The Roland pickup is frequency sensitive which means you have to mount it in accordance with string density---lowest to highest; another type unit is on the board which operates on the principle of r.a.d.a.r. which should prove to solve many problems encountered with steel. Hugh

Al Marcus · Post by **Al Marcus** » 9 May 2003 3:40 pm

Thanks Hugh for sharing your experience on the midi.I too wish that someone would market a Midi setup for steel again. I know it will be profitable.

Just think , as the Pedal Steel Guitar is such a versatile and great instrument. What if you could get all those orchestra voices to add to it. Wow! I wish I had one of those when I was playing Hotels and Restaurants Dinner and Dance Music, in the late 40's and 50's.....al

Chris Erbacher · Post by **Chris Erbacher** » 10 May 2003 4:10 pm

this thread reminded me of a thread about two months ago in the buy and sell. it was by al petty who was trying to sell his midi system, steel guitar orchestra setup. it was really pricey, but worth looking into. does anyone out there know what kind of guitar he plays? i know the manufacturer calls it the al petty model. it was developed by him to basically take the place of the synth in a band. you can do virtually any voice with this thing, a search on google might get you somewhere.

Jim Smith · Post by **Jim Smith** » 10 May 2003 4:21 pm

Al plays/played a GFI with heel and toe pedals that you can see here: http://www.gfimusicalproducts.com/petty.html

I don't think he has "made" any GuitOrchestra's for a while. The units I've seen him use the last few years said GuitOrchestra on the front and IVL SteelRider on the back. The MIDI unit is only the converter interface, the sound module makes all the sounds.

Robert Parent · Post by **Robert Parent** » 12 May 2003 3:37 am

Roger,

Do you have any more info on your friend that did the Roland pickup conversion? (A photo by chance?) I think several people here would be interest besides myself. Thanks!
[This message was edited by Robert Parent on 12 May 2003 at 04:39 AM.]

Roger Snively · Post by **Roger Snively** » 12 May 2003 6:06 am

Robert, I'll contact Ralph just to make sure he's interested in making these pick-ups. Apparently, it's a little hairy (close tolerance, etc.) If he is, I'll put ypu in touch with him. OK?

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Robert Parent · Post by **Robert Parent** » 12 May 2003 9:33 am

Thanks Roger!

Mylos Sonka · Post by **Mylos Sonka** » 15 May 2003 8:05 am

Hi--

There have been a number of detailed posts on this subject, so I would recommend that anyone new to the subject of GK-2A adaptations go back and check out the old posts.

I improved the tracking of my GK-2A a great deal by carefully removing the innards from the metal case, flattening the case in a vise, and replacing the innards. That way the pickups are all the same distance from the strings. Another problem is that, since there isn't space enough between the bridge and the steel pickup to fit the Roland pickup in and still position it correctly on a slant, it has to be out beyond the steel pickup generally, which is not the ideal location. Maurice Anderson solved this problem by installing the pickup upside-down and OVER the strings near the bridge. I followed suit, and got a much better result as well. My setup was ugly as hell, and a pain to take apart when the guitar was to go in the case, but it did the trick. Considering all the hours of futzing around with it I did, you would be better advised to spring for a Steelrider Unit if you can find one. But it can be done with a GK-2A.

Mylos[This message was edited by Mylos Sonka on 15 May 2003 at 09:06 AM.][This message was edited by Mylos Sonka on 15 May 2003 at 09:07 AM.][This message was edited by Mylos Sonka on 21 May 2003 at 09:55 AM.]