This video is a blessing. Thanks for recording it! I have a concern. In reading the install manual ( media.rolandus.com/manuals/GK-3_OM.pdf ), it says on page 9, "Attach the pickup about 15mm (9/16”) from the bridge if your guitar is strung with copper, brass, or bronze wound strings, such as with an acoustic guitar," hence the need for your 15mm strip. My concern is that Roland may have forgotten an acoustic guitar has a bridge and saddle, which means they appear to state one thing and diagram another. While it clearly states 15mm from the bridge (which you've done), the diagram they have on that page shows a 20mm space between an acoustic guitar's SADDLE and pickup. With this in mind, I'm inclined to think it's a minimum distance of 15mm from the saddle to the pickup rather than the wooden bridge to the pickup. This caused me to think about the issue you had with the high E string. While that string's distance from the bridge to the pickup is 15mm, the distance from the saddle to the pickup may be more than 20mm. Let's hope it's a non-factor for you. Again, thanks for posting this video!
Trying to intall the GK3 on a Fender Roadhouse Deluxe MIM, I realize the GK simply don't fit in a comfortably: I have to lift the strings in order not to let them touch the GK, causing undesired noise. Someone of you have faced the same problem? If so, how to solve it? Thanks!
Thanks for the quick reply. Now that it's been a few months since installation how has the tape held up. Also, did you add a shim to the pickup or did the string sensitivity settings on the synth work ok.
The tape holding the control box failed on me after about 6 months. I bought some foam backed sticky tape from a local hardware store and used it.. It has held much stronger than the stuff Boss sent. If I'll ever be able to get it off of there if I wanted - thats another story, lol . But the tape that holds the pickup on has been fine. Again its a pretty lightweight piece that just sits under the strings and the cable coming out of it is never touched and just goes into the control box, so I dont think it would ever been un-sticky. The big control box though has some weight to it and easier to bump on something and you have to plug and unplug the cords on it all the time. Yes I think the video shows me adding one shim to it...I don't remember because its been too long now, but it probably all depends on your guitar setup. I did remember having to use the adjustments to fine tune it as well.
I'm thinking of removing the GK-3 pickup from my acoustic guitar because I bought a Godin XTSA. Do you have any advice for removing it without marring the guitar or damaging the pickup?
Hey Jeff...just watching all these GP-10 vids..looks cool ...except one dumb question?. - I NEED the GK-3?..I can't go direct into the GP via my Ovation for example?.
Great question! There is an important distinction you need to understand though. Yes you can take just a 1/4" output from your guitar and put it into the Guitar In jack. But, all the GP10 will do for you then is some of the standard processing effects that any effects processor would do with an analog signal. The real power and really the whole point of having something like the GP10 is the fact that you use the GK3 as a pickup into the unit. The pickup senses the vibration of each individual string (thus why placement and height is so important). It is because of this that you can do those really special things like emulating other instruments, or what I use it for and that is to take the low E and A strings and drop them down 1 octave. I dont let it do any of the other strings, but it is able to just watch the vibrations on those 2 individually and process them. I also have used the Banjo sound patch to emulate a banjo on a song we play. I haven't tried it but i think you can do MIDI then to on a computer as it senses each individual string. You can just setup alternate tunings like DADGAD - BUT - with an acoustic guitar, this won't really work! Because you will audibly hear one set of pitches, then the GP10 will be modifying them to the adjusted tuning out your amp and the sound will freak you out. Your ears won't be able to handle it during a gig or whatever. If you have an electric guitar, it is quiet enough that you can do that sort of thing. One more thing about the GK3. There is a switch and volume control on it. The switch is 3 position and I think it is all 3 variations: guitar sound only, mix of guitar and processed from the pickup, and pickup only. I actually need to make sure I'm using the right one when I think I should be. Like if I'm trying to sound like a banjo, you would want the pickup mode only and have it mute the amplifications of the natural guitar. Even with my acoustic guitar, the patches and effects on it make it sound like a killer electric guitar... its just the genre of music I play doesn't call for that, but it is pretty cool. If you needed to switch between the 2, you could just change patches to an electric one with or without distortion effects, etc... and play what you needed to do for that particular song. So is there some value without the GK3, yes, but there are probably other effects units that just process audio that would be better suited I think... I am absolutely amazed at what the unit can do for the price of it. I'm not a Boss employee or even work in the music business. I just use it for a band I play in and I'm still learning how to leverage its power and capabilities. Good luck!
Thx Jeffrey...yes did some more digging on it through the actual website etc..Great unit, I'm primarily playing acoustic only so the altered tunings I'd do myself..BUT the midi approach/control is great...going to look more into it...thx again.
One last question. Do you have any issues with the added pickup buzzing on the melody strings when palm muting the base strings when playing acoustically? Thanks for all the info.
It is an amazing piece of equipment. I absolutely love it. I have been too busy to experiment too much or try to build my own patches. I've mainly used some of the built in acoustic guitar ones (some of the stuff doesnt work with an acoustic guitar or are just kind of crazy for the style of music I play with it). I have made one patch that I am using and is the reason I purchased it - and that is to take the low A and D strings (E string, but I tune to a drop D for my style) and I take those two down 1 octave. I'm about ready to hook it up with my headphones and do some playing with it! What do you think of yours?
This is a great video but I'm wondering if affixing the GK3 to the soundboard dampens the vibration enough to negatively effect the natural acoustic tone.
Hi Jeff - No, I would have to say that I have not noticed any dampening of the soundboard. It is a very lightweight piece that gets stuck to the outside of the soundboard. I play my guitar both acoustic and electric depending on the performance and have no hesitation about doing it acoustic only with it attached. Thanks!
Hi Jeff - no I never felt I had a need to experiment with different strings. I was happy with the results with what I am using. I am mainly using it in a mode that blends the acoustic sounds and the synth'd sounds though. But when I have put it in synth only mode (like emulating a banjo), it picks up the strings fine - never had an issue with sound quality or response or anything.
Hi Jeff - great video, thanks for taking the time to put it together. I know this post is a year old, and you may have come across this by now, but I wanted to mention 1 thing about mounting this pickup. At --11:00-- minute mark you mention about the cable needs to be oriented at the low E string. Actually you can reverse it and have the cable oriented to the high E string. Some find it more a aesthetically pleasing look with the cable coming out the bottom. Once installed you just have to go into the system settings and set the 'pickup direction' to reverse. Here's a link from Roland that walks you through step by step. Thanks again- take care www.roland.com/support/knowledge_base/201955829
Rick Meric I THINK the answer is yes-and-no. The GK3 pickup is able to detect the movement and vibration of metal strings, assumed through the magnetic properties of metal and the GK3 also has a feed of the audio out of an amplified guitar. There are various settings which apply to the "sound" it gets off the magnetic pickup and other settings which can effect the audio. For example, if you are going to do a pitch change, like dropping an octave on a low string, it can only do that through the magnetic pickup portion. But if you are going to add a guitar amplifier effect sound, then it can do that through the audio feed. So this probably isn't the best device for a nylon strings guitar since you are only using half of its capabilities. It would be better to just get an audio processing effects pedal of some sort. Hope that helps.
Jeffrey Smith Thank you for your advice it was very helpful. Yesterday while I was looking for steel strings, I found Pyramid Oud 11 String Set, Steel Loop End. If I use steel strings instead of nylon can I still use GK-3 like an acoustic guitar? Because of the double stringed requirements of the oud the GK-3 might be difficult to install but a single string can also be used. Thanks again for the advice.
Thanks bunches, man! Taylor T5z w GK3 here I come?!
This video is a blessing. Thanks for recording it!
I have a concern. In reading the install manual ( media.rolandus.com/manuals/GK-3_OM.pdf ), it says on page 9, "Attach the pickup about 15mm (9/16”) from the bridge if your guitar is strung with copper, brass, or bronze wound strings, such as with an acoustic guitar," hence the need for your 15mm strip. My concern is that Roland may have forgotten an acoustic guitar has a bridge and saddle, which means they appear to state one thing and diagram another. While it clearly states 15mm from the bridge (which you've done), the diagram they have on that page shows a 20mm space between an acoustic guitar's SADDLE and pickup. With this in mind, I'm inclined to think it's a minimum distance of 15mm from the saddle to the pickup rather than the wooden bridge to the pickup.
This caused me to think about the issue you had with the high E string. While that string's distance from the bridge to the pickup is 15mm, the distance from the saddle to the pickup may be more than 20mm. Let's hope it's a non-factor for you.
Again, thanks for posting this video!
Trying to intall the GK3 on a Fender Roadhouse Deluxe MIM, I realize the GK simply don't fit in a comfortably: I have to lift the strings in order not to let them touch the GK, causing undesired noise. Someone of you have faced the same problem? If so, how to solve it? Thanks!
Wonder if there is a setting to pass the unprocessed GK-3 output though the guitar output and what that would sound like.
Thanks for the quick reply. Now that it's been a few months since installation how has the tape held up. Also, did you add a shim to the pickup or did the string sensitivity settings on the synth work ok.
The tape holding the control box failed on me after about 6 months. I bought some foam backed sticky tape from a local hardware store and used it.. It has held much stronger than the stuff Boss sent. If I'll ever be able to get it off of there if I wanted - thats another story, lol . But the tape that holds the pickup on has been fine. Again its a pretty lightweight piece that just sits under the strings and the cable coming out of it is never touched and just goes into the control box, so I dont think it would ever been un-sticky. The big control box though has some weight to it and easier to bump on something and you have to plug and unplug the cords on it all the time.
Yes I think the video shows me adding one shim to it...I don't remember because its been too long now, but it probably all depends on your guitar setup. I did remember having to use the adjustments to fine tune it as well.
I'm thinking of removing the GK-3 pickup from my acoustic guitar because I bought a Godin XTSA. Do you have any advice for removing it without marring the guitar or damaging the pickup?
Hey Jeff...just watching all these GP-10 vids..looks cool ...except one dumb question?. - I NEED the GK-3?..I can't go direct into the GP via my Ovation for example?.
Great question! There is an important distinction you need to understand though. Yes you can take just a 1/4" output from your guitar and put it into the Guitar In jack. But, all the GP10 will do for you then is some of the standard processing effects that any effects processor would do with an analog signal. The real power and really the whole point of having something like the GP10 is the fact that you use the GK3 as a pickup into the unit. The pickup senses the vibration of each individual string (thus why placement and height is so important). It is because of this that you can do those really special things like emulating other instruments, or what I use it for and that is to take the low E and A strings and drop them down 1 octave. I dont let it do any of the other strings, but it is able to just watch the vibrations on those 2 individually and process them.
I also have used the Banjo sound patch to emulate a banjo on a song we play. I haven't tried it but i think you can do MIDI then to on a computer as it senses each individual string. You can just setup alternate tunings like DADGAD - BUT - with an acoustic guitar, this won't really work! Because you will audibly hear one set of pitches, then the GP10 will be modifying them to the adjusted tuning out your amp and the sound will freak you out. Your ears won't be able to handle it during a gig or whatever. If you have an electric guitar, it is quiet enough that you can do that sort of thing.
One more thing about the GK3. There is a switch and volume control on it. The switch is 3 position and I think it is all 3 variations: guitar sound only, mix of guitar and processed from the pickup, and pickup only. I actually need to make sure I'm using the right one when I think I should be. Like if I'm trying to sound like a banjo, you would want the pickup mode only and have it mute the amplifications of the natural guitar.
Even with my acoustic guitar, the patches and effects on it make it sound like a killer electric guitar... its just the genre of music I play doesn't call for that, but it is pretty cool. If you needed to switch between the 2, you could just change patches to an electric one with or without distortion effects, etc... and play what you needed to do for that particular song.
So is there some value without the GK3, yes, but there are probably other effects units that just process audio that would be better suited I think...
I am absolutely amazed at what the unit can do for the price of it. I'm not a Boss employee or even work in the music business. I just use it for a band I play in and I'm still learning how to leverage its power and capabilities.
Good luck!
Thx Jeffrey...yes did some more digging on it through the actual website etc..Great unit, I'm primarily playing acoustic only so the altered tunings I'd do myself..BUT the midi approach/control is great...going to look more into it...thx again.
One last question. Do you have any issues with the added pickup buzzing on the melody strings when palm muting the base strings when playing acoustically? Thanks for all the info.
No.. I've never had any issue of the pickup buzzing.. It sits below the strings enough that it has never been a problem for me. Good luck!
Also. how are you liking the GP-10 so far? Mine arrives later today and will probably take the place of my GR-55.
It is an amazing piece of equipment. I absolutely love it. I have been too busy to experiment too much or try to build my own patches. I've mainly used some of the built in acoustic guitar ones (some of the stuff doesnt work with an acoustic guitar or are just kind of crazy for the style of music I play with it). I have made one patch that I am using and is the reason I purchased it - and that is to take the low A and D strings (E string, but I tune to a drop D for my style) and I take those two down 1 octave. I'm about ready to hook it up with my headphones and do some playing with it! What do you think of yours?
I love it, I sold my GR-55, but kept my two GK-3 pickups. I got more for the GR-55 than the GP-10 cost me, so I'm quite happy.
This is a great video but I'm wondering if affixing the GK3 to the soundboard dampens the vibration enough to negatively effect the natural acoustic tone.
Hi Jeff - No, I would have to say that I have not noticed any dampening of the soundboard. It is a very lightweight piece that gets stuck to the outside of the soundboard. I play my guitar both acoustic and electric depending on the performance and have no hesitation about doing it acoustic only with it attached. Thanks!
Which model Breedlove is this guitar? What I can see of it looks beautiful.
Thanks! It is the D25 Sre - Absolutely love the guitar....
Can you tell me if you experimented with different strings to achieve the best signal to the synth?
Hi Jeff - no I never felt I had a need to experiment with different strings. I was happy with the results with what I am using. I am mainly using it in a mode that blends the acoustic sounds and the synth'd sounds though. But when I have put it in synth only mode (like emulating a banjo), it picks up the strings fine - never had an issue with sound quality or response or anything.
At around 14:30 in, I'm losing the audio, and it goes into fast forward!
Hi Jeff - great video, thanks for taking the time to put it together. I know this post is a year old, and you may have come across this by now, but I wanted to mention 1 thing about mounting this pickup. At --11:00-- minute mark you mention about the cable needs to be oriented at the low E string. Actually you can reverse it and have the cable oriented to the high E string. Some find it more a aesthetically pleasing look with the cable coming out the bottom. Once installed you just have to go into the system settings and set the 'pickup direction' to reverse. Here's a link from Roland that walks you through step by step. Thanks again- take care
www.roland.com/support/knowledge_base/201955829
Can use this for my nylon string oud ?
Rick Meric I THINK the answer is yes-and-no. The GK3 pickup is able to detect the movement and vibration of metal strings, assumed through the magnetic properties of metal and the GK3 also has a feed of the audio out of an amplified guitar. There are various settings which apply to the "sound" it gets off the magnetic pickup and other settings which can effect the audio. For example, if you are going to do a pitch change, like dropping an octave on a low string, it can only do that through the magnetic pickup portion. But if you are going to add a guitar amplifier effect sound, then it can do that through the audio feed.
So this probably isn't the best device for a nylon strings guitar since you are only using half of its capabilities. It would be better to just get an audio processing effects pedal of some sort.
Hope that helps.
Jeffrey Smith Thank you for your advice it was very helpful. Yesterday while I was looking for steel strings, I found Pyramid Oud 11 String Set, Steel Loop End.
If I use steel strings instead of nylon can I still use GK-3 like an acoustic guitar?
Because of the double stringed requirements of the oud the GK-3 might be difficult to install but a single string can also be used.
Thanks again for the advice.
+Rick Meric if you want to use your oud whith nylon string you can use the shadow nanoflex lâg