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Author Topic: GK pickup on a long scale (28.625") guitar?  (Read 907 times)

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Poparad

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GK pickup on a long scale (28.625") guitar?
« on: September 15, 2011, 05:50:02 PM »

I'm looking to get into using a GR-55 and I was wondering if the GK pickup would work on a long scale guitar.  The GR-55 manual explains how it can be adjusted for scale, but it doesn't go quite as long as what I have.  One of my guitars is a Carvin Holdsworth Fatboy, which is the standard 25.5" scale, so that won't be a problem, but I'd also like to use the unit with my Agile 9-string (which I realize only 6 of the strings would be active for the GK pickup).  I would put the pickup under the 6 strings that are tuned to the standard 6 of a guitar, so the only variable is the slightly longer scale.  Would the be problematic, or not a problem at all?
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Elantric

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Re: GK pickup on a long scale (28.625") guitar?
« Reply #1 on: September 15, 2011, 06:26:03 PM »

I smell a problem.

I have a Dan Electro Baritone - perhaps I can temporarily mount a spare GK-3 and report my findings
once I get free time ;)

But the typical potential problems (when running the GR-55 in Guitar Mode ) will be tracking problems  / drop outs that will occur below the 4th fret on all strings on a Baritone Guitar.

You could run the GR-55 in Bass mode. You have a reduced available palette of tones when the GR-55 is in Bass Mode, and the opposite tends to occur - notes in the upper frets on your Baritone may drop out.

But i know Chapman Stick / Warr Guitar  players often install two GK-3's, then employ a VB-99 for the lower strings and a VG-99 for the upper strings.
   

Here is a custom Warr guitar with a custom pickup derived from  two GK-2A's, and see the two 13pin  output jacks:
Lot and Lots of slider controls and DC power jacks, but all "stealth" and mounted on the back side.


http://www.proix.com/product/v_touch/index.html




« Last Edit: September 15, 2011, 07:02:50 PM by Elantric »
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Poparad

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Re: GK pickup on a long scale (28.625") guitar?
« Reply #2 on: September 17, 2011, 04:16:55 PM »

I did a little more searching on the site and found a thread discussing a similar topic.  It appears that there won't really be any issue with a guitar that has a slightly longer scale length.  Apparently the only real difference will be the tone of the modeled guitar patches.

http://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?topic=3193.msg20700#msg20700

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Elantric

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Re: GK pickup on a long scale (28.625") guitar?
« Reply #3 on: September 17, 2011, 07:28:47 PM »

Please report your results.

paults

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Re: GK pickup on a long scale (28.625") guitar?
« Reply #4 on: September 17, 2011, 07:53:00 PM »

If you find those bottom few notes sound less than stellar, you could always try using it in Bass Mode, instead.  No issues with long scale and low notes there  :)

Poparad

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Re: GK pickup on a long scale (28.625") guitar?
« Reply #5 on: September 18, 2011, 04:35:54 PM »

If you find those bottom few notes sound less than stellar, you could always try using it in Bass Mode, instead.  No issues with long scale and low notes there  :)

The guitar I would be using it on is still tuned to standard pitch, just with a longer scale.  It has some extra low strings (which unfortunately won't be picked up by the GK) which is the cause for the extended scale.
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vanceg

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Re: GK pickup on a long scale (28.625") guitar?
« Reply #6 on: November 18, 2011, 08:50:01 AM »

You should be fine.  I use a GK-3 and GK-2 on several baritone length guitars which are tuned to D (so they are NOT tuned as low as standard baritones).  I've been doing this for many years, using the VG-8, VG-88 and now VG-99.  Not a problem at all.

Now, you WILL get slightly different tone out of the guitar models than you would if you set the scale length to exactly the same length as your guitar actually is.  The difference in tone/timber is very much like it is when you set the distance from the bridge to the GK pickup incorrectly - you just get a slightly "off" sound.  But what IS "off" and what is "perfect"?  To me the question is entirely moot:  Does it function and Does it sound good are the two questions I ask. 

Now, you WILL get into trouble if you try to tune your instrument below about 3 half steps below standard guitar tuning. At that point you will start to get pitch detection glitches.  I would LOVE to tune my baritone guitars down to B, but I don't because my VG-99 doesn't deal well with that.  The GR-55, of course, has a Bass mode which you could utilize.

Don't worry too much if the strings that you are putting the GK-3 under are tuned like a standard guitar.

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turenko

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advice to buy midi guitar
« Reply #7 on: November 24, 2011, 06:23:44 PM »

Hello i want to buy a midi guitar and want to know if someone can give some advice on which model / brand should i buy. i really like the Parker Mojo Midi but it is kind of expensive... the Godin ones i liked also.. anyone knows if the Carvin are good?

i will be in Miami FL , so if anyone has some tip to a good store please tell me!

many thanks!
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