Looking at getting a Parker Fly Mojo MIDI

Started by ArKay99, May 11, 2011, 09:06:46 AM

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Elantric

#25
QuoteIs there a setup option on the GK-55 and the VG-99 to 'reverse' the pickup configuration? i.e. string 6 to string 1, string 5 to string 2.


Correct - yes there is.


Post a pic of your internal GK pickup 8 pin connection?

Typically there is a header that is capable of  being removed from the GK-3 PC board by pulling vertically.


We have a few posts on how to reverse the pickup connections on the internal header - without soldering - so you do not have to use the "GK-3 Reverse" setting on the VG-99 / GR-55

https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?topic=3365.msg22370#msg22370

and the bottom of the page here:
https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?topic=568.msg17975#msg17975

If you need to extend the distance between the GK hex PU and the GK-3 PC board

search at Mouser.com or Digikey.com for "1.5mm pitch"

and you will locate many results for single row 8 pin male headers and female receptacles that can be employed in your "GK PU extension cable".

http://search.digikey.com/scripts/dksearch/dksus.dll?Detail&name=455-1698-2-ND
M29W160ET70N6FCT-ND



I should mention that if you use Piezo Guitars and have installed the RMC SubHarmoinic filter in your VG-99 / GR-55, then YOU MUST  reverse the GK-3 PU pins on the internal 8 pin header.

If you leave the internal GK-3 wiring  stock, and mount the GK-3 PU reversed, and configure the VG-99 / GR-55 System settings for the GK-3 to "Reverse"  - this will conflict with the RMC Sub filter which is fine tuned for each individual String.

https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?topic=3063.msg19239#msg19239

MCK

Great thread and project! Sorry for coming a little late to the party but seems like you've made all the decisions I would have made. I don't know if you answered the question on the LED yet but if not my 2 cents worth is to simply leave in the cavity as it does not do anything other than glaring in the eyes of your audience. I did see a reference to someone having it mounted on the side near the 13pin plug but I'm not sure if this is worth the hassle...

There was an earlier suggestion to get a refined Fly as opposed to pre-refined. What did you end up getting? I actually think pre-refined works better for this purpose simply because the battery box & cover on the side lends itself very nicely to being turned into the routed hole for the 13pin plug and its faceplate. Either way I know its too late but for what its worth.

Can't wait to see how it turns out. Keep well.

ArKay99

#27
Quote from: Elantric on June 01, 2011, 09:44:57 AM

Post a pic of your internal GK pickup 8 pin connection?

Typically there is a header that is capable of  being removed from the GK-3 PC board by pulling vertically.


Here is a pic of my connector.



Quote from: Elantric on June 01, 2011, 09:44:57 AM
We have a few posts on how to reverse the pickup connections on the internal header - without soldering - so you do not have to use the "GK-3 Reverse" setting on the VG-99 / GR-55

https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?topic=3365.msg22370#msg22370

and the bottom of the page here:
https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?topic=568.msg17975#msg17975
These look like I would need to purchase some intermediary board to do the signal reversal. Am I being dumb here? Sorry, some of this is a bit abstract to me as I don't have the Synth yet.
Quote from: Elantric on June 01, 2011, 09:44:57 AM
If you need to extend the distance between the GK hex PU and the GK-3 PC board

search at Mouser.com or Digikey.com for "1.5mm pitch"

and you will locate many results for single row 8 pin male headers and female receptacles that can be employed in your "GK PU extension cable".

http://search.digikey.com/scripts/dksearch/dksus.dll?Detail&name=455-1698-2-ND
M29W160ET70N6FCT-ND
I must have an old digikey catalog as the one I have doesn't have those plugs, but that is what I had searched and found. I just didn't know of a source. Thanks! The only problem I see now is the crimper is $466! It would be cool if I could find someone who has one that would consider renting it to me. However, another solution would be to cut the connector off the pup cable, leaving enough lead on each end to attach it to the little board I'm making and hard wire the pup end to the board. I'd have to cut the cable, but it wouldn't have 8 splices in it.

I think I'm partial to your suggestion that I reverse the signals when inverting the pup so that the synth setup can stay 'oem'. I may want to install some type of RMC setup in the future, in place of the Fishman pups.

Quote from: Elantric on June 01, 2011, 09:44:57 AM
I should mention that if you use Piezo Guitars and have installed the RMC SubHarmoinic filter in your VG-99 / GR-55, then YOU MUST  reverse the GK-3 PU pins on the internal 8 pin header.

If you leave the internal GK-3 wiring  stock, and mount the GK-3 PU reversed, and configure the VG-99 / GR-55 System settings for the GK-3 to "Reverse"  - this will conflict with the RMC Sub filter which is fine tuned for each individual String.

https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?topic=3063.msg19239#msg19239

ArKay99

Quote from: MCK on June 02, 2011, 09:27:25 AM
Great thread and project! Sorry for coming a little late to the party but seems like you've made all the decisions I would have made. I don't know if you answered the question on the LED yet but if not my 2 cents worth is to simply leave in the cavity as it does not do anything other than glaring in the eyes of your audience. I did see a reference to someone having it mounted on the side near the 13pin plug but I'm not sure if this is worth the hassle...

There was an earlier suggestion to get a refined Fly as opposed to pre-refined. What did you end up getting? I actually think pre-refined works better for this purpose simply because the battery box & cover on the side lends itself very nicely to being turned into the routed hole for the 13pin plug and its faceplate. Either way I know its too late but for what its worth.

Can't wait to see how it turns out. Keep well.

Thanks for the feedback. Yes, I'm going to eitrher leave the LED in the cavity or just not even plug it in, if the board will work with it removed (most likely will), as I'm sure I'll know when the 13 pin cable is plugged in. :-) I did pick up an absolutley mint 2008 Fly Classic in NAtural Mahogany that is just beautiful. Yes I will be doing a lot ofpadding to the guitar while I'm working on it. I am using Elantric's suggestion of using a mom-off-mom switch and substitute that for the 2 pushbutton switches. I'm also having some Allen Bradley mod pots made dual concentric for the guitar's vol and the synth vol so I wil save a hole drilled there. I placed a call to Fishman and they confirmed that the new Rev 5 PowerChip bds (the amp for the piezo's in the Fly) will work fine at +7V since there is a voltage doubler on the board. I scored some great looking switches for synth/guit selection, and the up/down function. So, all I will need to do is drill 2 holes for the new switches on the guitar top, and then that dreaded square hole in the guitar's heel for the 13pin. I've a pretty good Dremel setup, so I think I'll see if I can burn that out making the hole for me. I'm in the process of designing the pc board that will combine the guitar's out signals actively, along with switching the power from the battery to the 13 pin supply when the 13 pin is inserted. I'm toying with building a voltage booster on the board to give me the 9 volts the battery would give me for the full headroom from the Fishman pups. Stay tuned, this is either gonna be really cool or a colossal fail. The one thing that's got me thinking is the current capability of the Roland +7V line. I'll need it to provide ~30ma additional.

Elantric

#29
Sounds like a good plan!

With projects like these, I will use a cheap "R&D Stunt Guitar"  - that i do not care if I destroy while sorting out the various circuits, routing holes, control strategy - and verify everything is perfect - before i waste a $3k Parker with swiss cheese holes. ;)

Just check Amazon.com for a $79 First Act or Jay Turser
http://www.amazon.com/First-Act-Reckless-Electric-ME4210/dp/B001CZLQ7I/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1307141531&sr=8-6

or

http://www.amazon.com/Viper-Black-Electric-Guitar-Harmonica/dp/B004SBOH9C/ref=pd_sim_sbs_MI_4


QuoteHere is a pic of my connector.



I agree, your GK-3 PU connector above looks like it is stock.

For mounting the GK-3 PU with the cable emerging towards your volume controls, you must  "Reverse the string Order" on that connector as follows:

To swap the pin assignment -
1) Take pics!
2)  Use a very sharp pointy X-Acto hobby knife, and . .
3)  one at a time, gently "lift up" the individual plastic locking tab for each  cable crimp pin on the white plastic housing ,
4) with the locking tab lifted the cable with crimp pin can be gently pulled away from the white plastic housing.
5) One by one, remove all 6 cables with crimp pins (do not touch the two Black cables.)
6) Re-insert each cable with crimp pin into the appropriate "slot" in the white plastic housing,(provided you were gentle with your tools, each cable  should "click" back into the white 8 position housing securely.   

Follow the pin re-assignment chart below:

So to convert your GK Hex PU connector's string sequence on that White connector to allow  mounting the GK-3 PU "reversed" ( with the cable emerging towards your volume controls), use this new wire order:
1 = blue     / low E string
2 = green   / A string
3 = Yellow  / D string
4 = Orange / G string
5 = Red      / B string
6 = Brown   / high E string
7 = Black (GND)
8= Cable Shield (earth)


When you done, your connector will look like this:



then simply choose GK PU Direction  = "NORMAL" on your VG/GR processors. This allows you be compatible with any future RMC subfilter boards, and fully backwards compatible with any 13 pin Processing device (VG-8, Axon, G50, etc.)

Search on Molex Pico -Spox connectors for more info on 1.5mm pitch connectors:
http://www.mouser.com/catalog/629/1183.pdf

Although I believe Roland uses connectors from Hirose, or JST

more sources:

http://www.jst.com/home21.html

http://www.tycoelectronics.com/catalog/bin/TE.Connect?C=12054&M=FEAT&P=&U=&BML=&LG=1&PG=4


Crimping tools :

http://adafruit.com/products/350
http://aventools.thomasnet-navigator.com/Asset/Crimping%20Tools%20Specifications.pdf

or
http://www.king-cart.com/cgi-bin/cart.cgi?store=phoenixent&product_name=HWS16166
     

( I just ordered the Engineer(Futaba)  Crimping Plier PA-09 for $54 here:
Compatibility chart:
http://store.iheartengineering.com/info/Crimper_Compatibility_Chart



ArKay99

Now we're talkin'!  I just got my connector unpinned. I used and old boxcutter blade. I did that before I saw your post about using an Xacto knife. That would have been much easier. I was surprised though at how easy it was to un-pin it. I was just very careful about how far I bent the tabs up. I think I'll pick up that crimper and a few connectors and crimps to be safe.

MCK

I am such a crude compared to your finesse... A cable cutter, some soldering and heatshrink tubing later all is good. Once tucked away neatly into the cavity none the wiser... But then again its just me and my impatience. Great update on the project and good idea to use the Roland power to bring up the Fishman piezo. If this works for you I would follow suit on my Parker Fly Midi. I am also very interested in your board idea. Perhaps I can buy one from you down the road. Thanks

ArKay99

#32
Quote from: MCK on June 04, 2011, 12:56:20 AM
I am such a crude compared to your finesse... A cable cutter, some soldering and heatshrink tubing later all is good. Once tucked away neatly into the cavity none the wiser... But then again its just me and my impatience. Great update on the project and good idea to use the Roland power to bring up the Fishman piezo. If this works for you I would follow suit on my Parker Fly Midi. I am also very interested in your board idea. Perhaps I can buy one from you down the road. Thanks
Nah, it's just me being me. If it does work and you're interested in a board, I'd be willing to help out, but we have a few more miles to go before we sleep...the electronic stuff for me is the easy stuff...the woodwork is my weak spot. Which is why I'm going to such an extent on doing what I have to to reduce the number of holes I have to put in the guitar.

MrSparkle

#33
Quote from: Elantric on June 01, 2011, 09:44:57 AM

Correct - yes there is.


Post a pic of your internal GK pickup 8 pin connection?

Typically there is a header that is capable of  being removed from the GK-3 PC board by pulling vertically.


We have a few posts on how to reverse the pickup connections on the internal header - without soldering - so you do not have to use the "GK-3 Reverse" setting on the VG-99 / GR-55

https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?topic=3365.msg22370#msg22370

and the bottom of the page here:
https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?topic=568.msg17975#msg17975

If you need to extend the distance between the GK hex PU and the GK-3 PC board

search at Mouser.com or Digikey.com for "1.5mm pitch"

and you will locate many results for single row 8 pin male headers and female receptacles that can be employed in your "GK PU extension cable".

http://search.digikey.com/scripts/dksearch/dksus.dll?Detail&name=455-1698-2-ND
M29W160ET70N6FCT-ND



I should mention that if you use Piezo Guitars and have installed the RMC SubHarmoinic filter in your VG-99 / GR-55, then YOU MUST  reverse the GK-3 PU pins on the internal 8 pin header.

If you leave the internal GK-3 wiring  stock, and mount the GK-3 PU reversed, and configure the VG-99 / GR-55 System settings for the GK-3 to "Reverse"  - this will conflict with the RMC Sub filter which is fine tuned for each individual String.

https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?topic=3063.msg19239#msg19239

Hi Elantric, thanks for the info - do you perhaps have the missing image or any other pictures of the first step of the process? I want to be careful accessing the Internal GK2a kit in my Fly, but would like to reverse the wires.

admin

#34
GK-3 - Electrical Mod for reverse mounting the pickup
https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?topic=3365.0