Members program_insect Posted November 11, 2006 Members Share Posted November 11, 2006 Search no workie. A friend is interested in controlling a synth with a "guitar-like" interface. Either converting a real guitar into midi, or having a guitar-like midi input device. Any pointers? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Cydonia Posted November 11, 2006 Members Share Posted November 11, 2006 I remember Roland used to make a MIDI pickup thingie, but it was circa 1988. Of course, not the Roland guitar synth like Robert Fripp had. I suppose it could be found on eBay from time to time. Maybe someone else here remember the model number. I also remember people saying it was a little slow detecting the notes, but I guess it's a normal behaviour for those kinds of things. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Cydonia Posted November 11, 2006 Members Share Posted November 11, 2006 OK, found it, it's the Roland GK-2 / GK-2A. Click here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members tim gueguen Posted November 11, 2006 Members Share Posted November 11, 2006 Roland has long been in the guitar synth business. They currently offer the GK3 hex pickup, which can be mounted on most guitars. They currently offer the GR20 guitar synth, which has its own onboard sounds as well as being able to control other equipment via MIDI, and the GI20 MIDI interface. The GK3 will also work with many previous Roland guitar synth products. Other manufacturers such as Godin and Brian Moore offer guitars with built in pickups compatible with Roland's design. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members syncretism Posted November 11, 2006 Members Share Posted November 11, 2006 http://www.google.com/search?hs=Q5h&hl=en&lr=&safe=off&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial&q=%22midi+guitar%22+site%3Aacapella.harmony-central.com&btnG=Search When it doubt, use Google. [search term] site:acapella.harmony-central.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Cydonia Posted November 11, 2006 Members Share Posted November 11, 2006 Although it's nothing compared to a SynthAxe. Too bad they don't make them anymore. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members StompBoxLover Posted November 11, 2006 Members Share Posted November 11, 2006 if reliability/tracking/speed etc. is a concern: Ghost Piezo Saddles + MIDI PCB + Axon MkII Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members program_insect Posted November 11, 2006 Author Members Share Posted November 11, 2006 Thanks dudes...maybe I can talk him in to tracking down the SynthAxe..! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Paolo Di Nicolantonio Posted November 11, 2006 Members Share Posted November 11, 2006 Casio also used to make MIDI guitars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members runbeerrun Posted November 11, 2006 Members Share Posted November 11, 2006 Casio DG-20, plastic strings, rubber fretboard ebay cost=$200-250 Yamaha EZ-AG, buttons for fretboard and strings for picking, ebay cost=$100-130 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Allerian Posted November 12, 2006 Members Share Posted November 12, 2006 And there's this: http://www.godinguitars.com/godingman.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Karma1 Posted November 14, 2006 Members Share Posted November 14, 2006 Originally posted by program_insect Thanks dudes...maybe I can talk him in to tracking down the SynthAxe..! Not to be discouraging, but the likelihood of finding a Synth Axe is extremely slim, as they are quite rare and probably would cost a fortune if you could even find one. As Paolo mentioned, Casio used to make midi guitars. I still have one - a PG380. It's a Strat-style guitar (made by Ibanez) with built-in Casio VZ synth module as well as a midi out jack to control an external keyboard or synth module. It's actually quite an excellent high quality instrument. Very different from those cheezy plastic jobs. But they are fairly rare and not that easy to find either. In my opinion, the Roland guitar synths are affordable, easy to find, user-friendly, and great sounding. I've owned a few of them and currently use the GR33 with two different guitar controllers - a Strat w/ built-in Roland pickup and a PRS with a GK2A pickup mounted on it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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