I had one. It fell out of my truck, tailgate opened, while exiting from the highway going to my gig. A bunch of other equipment fell out too. I didn't know til I got to the gig like 15 minutes later. I never got it back, someone nicked it as well as my entire show inside my briefcase, my contact info in there too. But the "finders" were keepers and not moral ppl. My acoustic was lying in the middle of an intersection and ppl were just driving around it. Sad day, that really set me back. Loved the MG-500 and never found another like it.
FINALLY someone went over setting up this thing. I got a great deal on one and weird guitars make me happy, but getting it going has been a pain. Thanks man
Hi i have one MG 500 and i re wired, can you tell me where must be connected the little switch between volume and tone? I have service manual but nothing about wires and pickups. Thanks on advance
I have an MG 510 and can’t seem to have the guitar switch work? Only the MIDI switch works? Am I missing something or maybe the guitar cap is messed up?
If the MIDI is working but the regular pickups aren't it's probably a fair guess that it's just the switch or a loose solder joint. In that case, a regular luthier would be able to check and repair the electronics.
They are very rare. I got both of mine through auction sites in Japan. The MG-510 is a little more common, although still not so easy to find. I've seen them for sale internationally on eBay too, but they tend to be overpriced.
Hey - thanks for the kind words and the good question. Honestly, MIDI aside, the MG-500 is an excellent guitar. The body shape feels a little narrow on downstrokes when playing seated, but it's well-balanced and ergonomic. As it was made by Fujigen Gakkai, it's basically of the same quality as something like a Japanese-made Ibanez from the same period (i.e. the 1980s). Good neck, although not too thin, flatter fingerboard radius than a strat, solid construction and a decent sound. Whilst it can be played as is, if it was my only guitar I'd really consider changing the bridge (the one on there is pretty ordinary) and possibly the pickups, which are a bit bland. Those are easy mods, however. The rest of the guitar is just as I would wish.
@@TomboLP Thanks for the information, one last thing: If I wanted to use this guitar just for playing hard rock, which pickups would you recommend to upgrade the guitar with and fit that style?
@@MsRonirock Interesting question. Obviously, pickups are very much a personal choice and we may well have conflicting ideas of how to get the sound you're after. However, I think anything from BareKnuckle is probably worth a look, and you could also consider the Seymour Duncan Invader series if you want a really heavy tone. They even do single coils, so you could retain the SSH configuation (or two Invader singles and a Destroyer humbucker in the Bridge). Another choice is to be like Yngwie and get somethign with a lower output, letting the amp drive the sound. Personally, I wind my own pickups and have for years, which makes it easier to get what I want. The only aftermarket set I've bought for myself in the last few years was a pair of Q-Tuner humbuckers, which I got because I wanted to try something "hi-fi."
Hello. I wonder if you would / could check the working order of a CASIO MIDI GUITAR MG-510 in Yamanashi Prefecture for me. I will of course pay you for this.
Hi there! I can do it for you if needed, but later in the year. The firs reason I say that is because I will be re-capping several PG and MG guitars in the coming months, so will have more experience with the electronics. After all, you probably don't want me to use your guitar as the first guineapig! The second reason for delay is that my workshop is closed at the moment. As for paying me, we can talk about it, but, at the moment, I generally ask those people for whom I do work to donate to charity. In other words, you decide what the repair work is worth to you, then donate that amount.
@@TomboLP Thanks. After closer examination of the pictures the midi area has no controls and the back shows a Roland GK-2A stuffed inside. What are your thoughts on this? Worth pursuing at 11,000yen or not? I have been researching a midi guitar and was leaning towards a DG-20 then came across this and thought a real guitar plus midi is more perfect.
@@robertstables6451 Ah...I have seen that one on Yahoo Auctions. It's a mess. I'd not touch it with a bargepole. There are two PG-300 guitars on there now for around 50,000 yen. Those look a lot better, although I can't be sure about the electronics. If you wait, you can probably find an MG-500 or MG-510 in original condition for 10,000-20,000. Of course, buying from auction sites, there are never any guarantees.
@@TomboLP Yes I see now and a junk one @ 1,000yen. It seems odd that there's no sound. I didn't know there was a current lockdown there. I'm in Thailand. Virtually no virus after initial lockdown but country is closed.
@@robertstables6451 Yes indeed. I wouldn't recommend that junk one, as there's no way to know what it's like. It might be completely toasted. I might take a punt on it simply because, if it can be fixed, then it will be fine, but, if it can't, I will probably be able to salvage a bunch of parts for repairing similar instruments. I envy you being in Thailand right now - I was supposed to be in the UK this year, but it all got cancelled at the last minute. Also, on MIDI instruments, I don't recommend the DG-20. It's virtually unplayable even when in "as new" condition. Really, the MG series guitars are the best ones ever made for such a purpose. There's a simple, three-switch and MIDI volume knob interface (the program change switch is particularly awesome), you can convert the guitar sound directly, and there's less to go wrong than on the PGs, with their cheesy internal tones and card readers. Were I in your shoes, I'd wait for a Casio MG guitar in original condition for around 10-20,000 yen, and budget that much again for your MIDI box (I like the S-Engine) if playing live. If the guitar is in perfect condition, you're set. If not, I would be willing to bring it up to spec for you.
I had one. It fell out of my truck, tailgate opened, while exiting from the highway going to my gig. A bunch of other equipment fell out too. I didn't know til I got to the gig like 15 minutes later. I never got it back, someone nicked it as well as my entire show inside my briefcase, my contact info in there too. But the "finders" were keepers and not moral ppl. My acoustic was lying in the middle of an intersection and ppl were just driving around it. Sad day, that really set me back. Loved the MG-500 and never found another like it.
So sorry you lost such a great instrument! I was playing this guitar just yesterday and still find it wonderful.
FINALLY someone went over setting up this thing. I got a great deal on one and weird guitars make me happy, but getting it going has been a pain. Thanks man
You are more than welcome!
Hi i have one MG 500 and i re wired, can you tell me where must be connected the little switch between volume and tone? I have service manual but nothing about wires and pickups. Thanks on advance
I am very sorry, but don't have access to these guitars at present. Perhaps someone else in the comments can help?
I have an MG 510 and can’t seem to have the guitar switch work? Only the MIDI switch works? Am I missing something or maybe the guitar cap is messed up?
If the MIDI is working but the regular pickups aren't it's probably a fair guess that it's just the switch or a loose solder joint. In that case, a regular luthier would be able to check and repair the electronics.
10:57 Donde comprar una guitarra eléctrica casio MG 500
They are very rare. I got both of mine through auction sites in Japan. The MG-510 is a little more common, although still not so easy to find. I've seen them for sale internationally on eBay too, but they tend to be overpriced.
excellent
Cheers!
Hi, congratulations man, great overview. Just one question: What is your opinion on the mg 500 as a regular guitar?
Hey - thanks for the kind words and the good question. Honestly, MIDI aside, the MG-500 is an excellent guitar. The body shape feels a little narrow on downstrokes when playing seated, but it's well-balanced and ergonomic. As it was made by Fujigen Gakkai, it's basically of the same quality as something like a Japanese-made Ibanez from the same period (i.e. the 1980s). Good neck, although not too thin, flatter fingerboard radius than a strat, solid construction and a decent sound. Whilst it can be played as is, if it was my only guitar I'd really consider changing the bridge (the one on there is pretty ordinary) and possibly the pickups, which are a bit bland. Those are easy mods, however. The rest of the guitar is just as I would wish.
@@TomboLP Thanks for the information, one last thing: If I wanted to use this guitar just for playing hard rock, which pickups would you recommend to upgrade the guitar with and fit that style?
@@MsRonirock Interesting question. Obviously, pickups are very much a personal choice and we may well have conflicting ideas of how to get the sound you're after. However, I think anything from BareKnuckle is probably worth a look, and you could also consider the Seymour Duncan Invader series if you want a really heavy tone. They even do single coils, so you could retain the SSH configuation (or two Invader singles and a Destroyer humbucker in the Bridge). Another choice is to be like Yngwie and get somethign with a lower output, letting the amp drive the sound. Personally, I wind my own pickups and have for years, which makes it easier to get what I want. The only aftermarket set I've bought for myself in the last few years was a pair of Q-Tuner humbuckers, which I got because I wanted to try something "hi-fi."
@@TomboLP Thank you very much, I really appreciate the info.
Hello. I wonder if you would / could check the working order of a CASIO MIDI GUITAR MG-510 in Yamanashi Prefecture for me. I will of course pay you for this.
Hi there! I can do it for you if needed, but later in the year. The firs reason I say that is because I will be re-capping several PG and MG guitars in the coming months, so will have more experience with the electronics. After all, you probably don't want me to use your guitar as the first guineapig! The second reason for delay is that my workshop is closed at the moment.
As for paying me, we can talk about it, but, at the moment, I generally ask those people for whom I do work to donate to charity. In other words, you decide what the repair work is worth to you, then donate that amount.
@@TomboLP Thanks. After closer examination of the pictures the midi area has no controls and the back shows a Roland GK-2A stuffed inside. What are your thoughts on this? Worth pursuing at 11,000yen or not? I have been researching a midi guitar and was leaning towards a DG-20 then came across this and thought a real guitar plus midi is more perfect.
@@robertstables6451 Ah...I have seen that one on Yahoo Auctions. It's a mess. I'd not touch it with a bargepole. There are two PG-300 guitars on there now for around 50,000 yen. Those look a lot better, although I can't be sure about the electronics.
If you wait, you can probably find an MG-500 or MG-510 in original condition for 10,000-20,000. Of course, buying from auction sites, there are never any guarantees.
@@TomboLP Yes I see now and a junk one @ 1,000yen. It seems odd that there's no sound. I didn't know there was a current lockdown there. I'm in Thailand. Virtually no virus after initial lockdown but country is closed.
@@robertstables6451 Yes indeed. I wouldn't recommend that junk one, as there's no way to know what it's like. It might be completely toasted. I might take a punt on it simply because, if it can be fixed, then it will be fine, but, if it can't, I will probably be able to salvage a bunch of parts for repairing similar instruments.
I envy you being in Thailand right now - I was supposed to be in the UK this year, but it all got cancelled at the last minute.
Also, on MIDI instruments, I don't recommend the DG-20. It's virtually unplayable even when in "as new" condition. Really, the MG series guitars are the best ones ever made for such a purpose. There's a simple, three-switch and MIDI volume knob interface (the program change switch is particularly awesome), you can convert the guitar sound directly, and there's less to go wrong than on the PGs, with their cheesy internal tones and card readers.
Were I in your shoes, I'd wait for a Casio MG guitar in original condition for around 10-20,000 yen, and budget that much again for your MIDI box (I like the S-Engine) if playing live. If the guitar is in perfect condition, you're set. If not, I would be willing to bring it up to spec for you.