DR_JONESS - GK Expander

Started by drjoness2001, June 20, 2012, 10:53:22 AM

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drjoness2001

Hello All!

Check out this video:



I built a "Swiss Army Knife" combination standard guitar input, GK controller source, plus break out box for individual string signals.

I also listed it on ebay.

Thanks! Wayne

kenact

#1
I just received my Wayne Joness newsletter, and he has created a new box designed specifically for the GR-55 called the GK-Expander.

Wayne used to run his own site, but now it seems he only provides links to his ebay sales, so I won't link to the unit, but it sounds pretty interesting.  It basically takes Elantric's US-20 mod and adds a bunch of functionality to it. Here's part of his write up on the unit.

"Check out the user groups: the GR-55 has been receiving rave reviews for its amplifier modeling and effects."

"But the GR-55 has no standard guitar input, like the VG-99 has. The GK-Expander meets this need, and allows ANY guitar to access the amplifier and speaker cabinet modeling in the GR-55, with or without a GK-2/Gk-3 13-pin pickup.  Plus, it does more, providing options for completely hands-free playing of any GK equipped guitar, and interfacing 13-pin guitars with computers interfaces!"
Godin Session & Montreal FTP, LGXT, LGX SA, Redline, ACS, A12, A11, A10, A4
Danoblaster Baritone w/GK-3
Gretsch Nashville, Viking
Fender Strats
Fret King Supermatic
Larrivee DV03RE
Parker Midi Fly
Seagull, S&P 12
VOX Phantom XII
GR-55, 33, 30, 20, GI-20, RC-50, US-20, VG-99, VP-7
Sentient 6
Cyr 7

Elantric

#2
Looks to be another excellent product from Dr Wayne, with many useful features for the GR-55 owner.

More details here:



QuoteWayne used to run his own site, but now it seems he only provides links to his ebay sales,

Actually his site just had an overhaul
http://www.joness.com/gr300/index.htm

Although I REALLY miss the old format -





Elantric

#3
Wayne has several good videos on his Youtube Channel

http://www.youtube.com/user/WayneJoness/videos



Cleaning old Roland 24 pin connectors




mapperboy

Hey boyz n girlz!!

Anyone know if the Wayne Joness' Breakout box is still available -anywhere?
I take it that it is 'discontinued' as a product and I cannot get ANY hits even on ebuy so wheerrre the heck can I get one?

Many Synthy Regardz in advance,
-m
"No such thing as spare time.
No such thing as free time.
No such thing as down time.
All you got is life time. Go!"
- Henry Rollins

paults

#5
Contact Wayne through his website - he is a boutique shop, not someone with a warehouse full of mass produced boxes.

http://www.joness.com/gr300/index.htm

mapperboy

Just thought I'd update everyone who is thinking about 13 pin breakout boxes

I emailed Wayne Joness about his GK-Expander and this is the reply I received:

"No, I'm afraid I don't have anything right now, thanks"

So...not to dis Wayne or anything but that leaves me wondering if he's just temporarily out of boxes, planning to build more, cease building them or ???

Anyone else had experience with getting the product from Wayne recently?

-M
"No such thing as spare time.
No such thing as free time.
No such thing as down time.
All you got is life time. Go!"
- Henry Rollins

Elantric

QuoteJust thought I'd update everyone who is thinking about 13 pin breakout boxes

There are a few other sources

DIY - Ricky Graham Septar Board
http://rickygraham.com/septar-board-kit-limited-beta-edition-now-ava

RMC Fanout Box
http://www.rmcpickup.com/fanoutbox.html

BillBax

http://billbax.110mb.com/

mapperboy

OH OH me bad,
I just realized that Wayne's web page which shows the Expander now says 'Discontinued'
-M
"No such thing as spare time.
No such thing as free time.
No such thing as down time.
All you got is life time. Go!"
- Henry Rollins

mboger503

Wayne is doing another run of the GK Expander. Just pre-ordered mine. Should be shipping by the 21st.   :)

drjoness2001

I have managed to find the time to build a few more GK Expanders, and even managed to post a video clip or two:

This first clip is an actual piece of music "Waltz" by Ferdinando Carulli.

I did the performance in one pass, it is a painfully simple classical guitar composition, but had a lot of fun with manipulating the sounds in Reaktor:



And did a minor update about using the effects loop in the GK Expander:


tekrytor

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

drjoness2001

Gk Expander for sale now on ebay, if you have been looking for one:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/140911249610

Wayne

celestmark

Wayne, please PM me when you start making some boxes again!

Quote from: drjoness2001 on January 30, 2013, 06:05:33 AM
Gk Expander for sale now on ebay, if you have been looking for one:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/140911249610

Wayne

drjoness2001

The replacement for the GK-Expander is almost ready.

You can learn more here:

http://www.joness.com/gr300/UX-20.htm

Basically, the unit takes the most popular features from the GK-Expander, removes the 7-pin/Break Out feature, and adds in improved Roland US-20 functionality, so you can play two GR synths at the same time.

In an effort to make a more useful US-20 clone, you can have independent control over volume, and GK S1/S2 commands, for the second synth.

I finished with the original prototype board. I'm working on a case now.

Since the V-Guitar Forum has such a large DIY element, I'm offering the unit as a pre-assembled board only, with expandable options so the buyer can add the features they want.

This will also probably cut the most in half. Building the case, cutting the holes, wiring all the components too a while.

I hope to have more details in the next two weeks.

Thanks! Wayne

Elantric

Very good job Wayne!

This is a much needed accessory for many 13 pin guitarists!

http://www.joness.com/gr300/UX-20.htm


whippinpost91850

Thanks Wayne, This sounds awesome.

billbax

#17
Good looking product and board there Wayne.  Hope you move a few.

Nice one,

Bill

musicman65

Dr Joness,

I would love to have a "magic box" like yours with an attenuated 13 pin signal as the second output which is compatible with the Fishman Triple Play.

This would allow 13pin guitars to use the FTP.

bd

mojo thorne

Wow!  I'm really interested in seeing this new box.  Any approximate idea on what the cost will be with & without the case?

It's a shame that Roland left so many obvious shortcomings in place when they released (and continued to market) the GR-55, but it's great that there are so many skilled folks who are finding ways to exploit its potential. 

I'd love to have the ability to run some of my stomps in front of the MOD section amp models without having to run three cables to/from my guitar on stage.

drjoness2001

I'm working on the case version now, hope to have details in less than a week! Thanks! Wayne

mojo thorne

Excellent. ;D

I have what may be a stupid question with regards to this box. 

When the 1/4" jack is used as an effects loop, does this only pass the signal from the guitar's normal magnet pickups, or does it pass some sort of summed signal from the mags + the hexaphonic pickup?  I'm assuming that it's just the normal guitar pickups (which is what I'm most interested in), and that the insert point occurs right at the front of the signal path (i.e. - before the normal guitar tone level in a GR-55).

Again, sorry for the dumb question!






drjoness2001

I finished with the enclosure, and tested everything out. Almost there.

More info:

http://www.joness.com/gr300/UX-20.htm

And a pdf with description:

http://www.joness.com/gr300/pdf/UX-20-INSTRUCTIONS.pdf

drjoness2001

Quote from: mojo thorne on July 08, 2013, 09:09:05 AM
Excellent. ;D

I have what may be a stupid question with regards to this box. 

When the 1/4" jack is used as an effects loop, does this only pass the signal from the guitar's normal magnet pickups, or does it pass some sort of summed signal from the mags + the hexaphonic pickup?  I'm assuming that it's just the normal guitar pickups (which is what I'm most interested in), and that the insert point occurs right at the front of the signal path (i.e. - before the normal guitar tone level in a GR-55).

Again, sorry for the dumb question!

The effects loop processes the signal sent from the guitar on the pin 7, normal guitar output. If the guitar sends only the magnetic (standard pickup) then the UX-20 works on that signal. If you have a piezo equipped guitar that sends both magnetic, and piezo signals, then both are processed. The EFX loop does not operate on the divided hex pickup.

mojo thorne

Thanks for answering.  The enclosure looks really great too.  Will keep an eye out for when you are ready to let them fly!

In reading the PDF you attached, I understand it to say that if I want to use the guitar FX loop and also the switches for S1/S2, then I would have to plug the synth that the FX Loop would be output into Synth B.  I would have to have another synth plugged into the Synth A slot in order to power the unit.  Meaning that I wanted to use both the FX loop and the S1/S2 switches in conjunction with just, say a GR-55, I'd still need to have another GR/VG device hooked up to Synth A. 

Is that correct?