Custom GK Pickup

Started by JefffM, December 04, 2017, 12:04:28 PM

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JefffM

I would like to fit a GK pickup to my 6 string pedal steel.  The 2 problems I have are that the string spacing is narrower than on a regular guitar (mine is 3/8" between strings) and that the bridge is completely flat - not raduised like a regular guitar.

Testing with an old GK2 pickup was promising but tracking wasn't great because the string  spacing wasn't quite right.

I'm sure that ages ago I found a web site where someone customised GK pickups and I have heard of people taking one apart and mounting the individual pole pieces into another enclosure.

This would be completely beyond my capabilities (you should see me soldering a guitar cable) so does anyone know where I could go to get a GK pickup modified to the above specs.

I really think a pedal steel guitar with its ability to slide and morph chords is just made for the GK system if only I could get it to fit.


gumtown

#1
One option to consider is to use the GK-2 pickup on an angle to close in the string spacing (if you have room).
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admin

#2
Refer to THIS thread

GK-3 - Mods - Distance to string, radius mods, potting
https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?topic=410.0


JefffM

Quote from: gumtown on December 04, 2017, 12:52:48 PM
One option to consider is to use the GK-2 pickup on an angle to close in the string spacing (if you have room).

Unfortunately, there's no room to slant and anyway that doesn't solve the problem of the pickup being curved and the strings being flat.

The thread that admsustainiac posted was very interesting but completely beyond my skills.

This bit looked like exactly what I need but cannot navigate the site as it is all in Japanese and wouldn't feel confident ordering a customised item when I don't understand a word.

I really need someone who does this but somewhere in Europe or the USA...

A few folks go to extremes and dissect the GK-3 and highly modify the individual pickups inside the GK-3, to establish a custom pitch and radius to suit the specific instrument.


The Japanese Company "Proix" performs this work in Japan.
http://www.proix.com/
http://www.proix.com/gui_syn.html

admin

 
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I would like to fit a GK pickup to my 6 string pedal steel.  The 2 problems I have are that the string spacing is narrower than on a regular guitar



Pedal Steel GK Guitars

http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=318956