GK-3B Mounting - Another way?

Started by aaron_doyle, June 22, 2012, 03:23:56 AM

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aaron_doyle

I play a boutique style bass and don't like having the pickup fixture mounted. Also i wouldn't dare start cutting and drilling into the instrument (it's nobody's right but the manufacturers). Is there a way to extend the pick up cable so it can be run along side my basses analog cable to the VB 99, where i would set the GK unit. Does anyone know what kind of wires are used from the pu to the gk unit? Would it lose signal at 15 foot length? Could it stand up to usual patch cord abuse?

rolandvg99

Isn't it possible to use some double sided tape and the supplied attachment holder? Totally reversible process. I guess extending the pickup cable will only induce noise and hum.
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aaron_doyle

I have no problem with the taping process but i find the gk unit itself flimsy and causes my instrument not to fit in it's case or on it's stand. Also is a bit too much to assemble and unassemble once or twice a day. If there is anyone who knows enough about the pick up and attached cables that could give me some advice that would be awesome!

fokof

You might have enough to "tape" the GK box to your strap ?

rolandvg99

Tried 3M Dual Lock? One small strip at each side of the pickup and a couple underneat the GK3B housing could do the jobb. Don't use too much as the bond created by this solution is pretty solid.
http://www.itapestore.com/ImageGallery.mvc?productId=731
To V or not to V: That is the question.

My little Soundcloud corner

tekrytor

Re: Dual Lock

Great stuff, and you are so right....use sparingly. I mounted a small mixer to my 88 keyboard using a 2x3 inch rectangle. It takes a LOT of force to remove the mixer. TOO much force. I definately should have used less. I now offset it to compensate. I would not use it on a guitar with a delicate finish because the adhesive is incredibly strong and would probably scar or remove it in chunks. If it's a beater, go for it.
SY-300/BeatBuddy/VoiceLive 3/GR-55(v1.50)/33/1/50/700/VGA-7/V-Bass, Yam-G10, GPK-4, DIY X-Bee HighlyLiquidCPU "Cozy-Lil-Footie", FCB-1010, other MIDI stuff, Godin Freeway SA and various other GK equipped controllers, Sonar X1, Audacity, KXstudio, Misc devices

gumtown

The GK-3B kit comes with a clamp for the GK controls to mount without drilling or tape,
only the hex pickup needs be fitted with two short strips of tape.

Her is one of my GK basses.

Free "GR-55 FloorBoard" editor software from https://sourceforge.net/projects/grfloorboard/

aaron_doyle

Sorry but you guys are really missing the point. Although good suggestions, thank you for your input. My issue is that the GK unit is too delicate for me to use while gigging and it makes my bass not fit in it's case. I already have a FC 300 hooked up to my vb 99 so i have no need for the controls on the gk unit as well. It would suite my need perfectly to have the gk pick up cable extended so as to not need to attach anything but the gk pick up to my bass. Ideally if i could make a connector that could split from the end of a normal patch cord and plug into a mounted gk pick up. I am very near cutting the gk pick up cable open to see if this is possible.


tekrytor

#8
If you open the GK, you should be able to unplug it. It's a 7-pin connector on most GK's. It could be soldered on the GK-3. I have not opened one up yet. You could certainly extend it, though too long might cause problems with the signal quality.

Update:
I thought about this further....If I remember right, Electric took one apart and posted photos of the internals. Search the forum for GK-3, you should find it.
SY-300/BeatBuddy/VoiceLive 3/GR-55(v1.50)/33/1/50/700/VGA-7/V-Bass, Yam-G10, GPK-4, DIY X-Bee HighlyLiquidCPU "Cozy-Lil-Footie", FCB-1010, other MIDI stuff, Godin Freeway SA and various other GK equipped controllers, Sonar X1, Audacity, KXstudio, Misc devices

aaron_doyle

Alright here is what it looks like, only now i can't seem to find any electronic specialists who have ever seen anything like it! If anyone knows the name of this type of connector or where one may order it that could be very useful. It appears to be 8 pin including a ground cable(black).

Elantric

Measure the pin to pin distance

and find it here:

I recall these are 2.5mm pitch- and similar to these

Molex Connector Corporation
SPOX Series
http://www.digikey.com/product-search/en?FV=ffec0dd5
Manufacturer Part Number   
22-43-2080
Description   CONN PLUG IDT 8POS 2.5MM PCB

http://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/22-43-2080/22-43-2080-ND/403389


http://www.digikey.com/scripts/dksearch/dksus.dll?vendor=0&keywords=molex+spox


JCRob

Quote from: gumtown on June 24, 2012, 05:01:06 PM
The GK-3B kit comes with a clamp for the GK controls to mount without drilling or tape,
only the hex pickup needs be fitted with two short strips of tape.

Her is one of my GK basses.


I need that bass!!!  :o

gumtown

Quote from: JCRob on July 19, 2012, 09:15:10 AM
I need that bass!!!  :o
It's feels nice to play too, 2008 USA Fender jazz V Deluxe, active and has carbon fibre rods in the neck, it never goes out of tune, and a really nice tone which makes it hard to use the GR-55's modeled tones.
It's just a little bit heavy though, and I don't dare have thoughts on routing out it's guts to fit an internal GK kit (which I have ready to install into something).
Free "GR-55 FloorBoard" editor software from https://sourceforge.net/projects/grfloorboard/

aaron_doyle

alrighty! so i finally took some more steps into this project.

First i disassembled the Gk PU and the GK pu module. Interestingly enough i found the GK PU to be two strips of three small pick ups.
Next i cut the pick up cable. Then using heat shrink (not a permanent connection!) i fitted a 15ft stretch of slightly bigger shielded 20awg cable to the pick up cable. I kept the original connection at the gk module.
Then i carefully put the gk pickup and module back together and plugged it in.
When i played the first thing i noticed was that i had no sound from the 3rd string. That was my poor work. But the rest of the strings had what appeared to be the exact same response as when the cable was short! Success!..... almost.
Still i have to properly solder and shield the connections, and insert an eight pin connector at the bass (pick up) end of the cable. Also i am trying to find a flexible yet hard plastic tubing i can use for the cable where it traverses the surface of the bass.

gumtown

Hopefully some pictures of your project will be posted here....  :)
Free "GR-55 FloorBoard" editor software from https://sourceforge.net/projects/grfloorboard/

Elantric

Reading your "mod" sounds like you have spliced in a 15ft 7conductor cable between the GK pickup and the GK-3 preamp?

Good luck , but be advised that a setup like that may be much more prone to picking up noise, particularly if you ever play a stage with Lighting Controllers.

aaron_doyle

Thanks for the heads up.
Also i will post some pictures of the project through a few stages when i am able to complete it.
If there are any tests for signal quality or noise disturbance that could be recommended it would be greatly appreciated! I can also post any results therein.

Elantric

#17
QuoteIf there are any tests for signal quality or noise disturbance that could be recommended it would be greatly appreciated! I can also post any results therein.

If you have a Cell phone or a laptop with Wifi - hold it near the cable and check your email. - That is a good basic test of RF noise immunity