Ritchie Blackmore with a Roland GK-1 HEX Pickup

Started by Piing, February 07, 2013, 11:55:04 PM

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Piing

I've just seen it on this video at 1:58


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock_Aid_Armenia


I've googled, and found more. It seems that he started using it since the '84 Perfect Strangers reunion. I've seen that tour in Barcelona, but I don't recall the GK-1.








Piing

#1
A white GK-2??



On that video he uses it mainly as an octave harmonizer.

Piing

#2
Wow! I didn't even know that there is a Fender Ritchie Blackmore Signature Roland Ready Strat  :o

http://www.kellyindustries.com/guitars/roland_midi_guitar.html

From another forum I've found that in the past (Rainbow era) he was using a GR-700
http://bdeeppurplefanforum.runboard.com/t14898

Elantric

#3
We have a thread that lists all GK Ready Guitars -
https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?topic=19.0


The 1997 Ritchie Blackmoore Strat is on the first page

mbenigni

Quote from: Elantric on February 08, 2013, 07:09:55 AM
We have a thread that lists all GK Ready Guitars - The Ritchie Blackmoore Strat is on the first page

https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?topic=19.0

I have always wanted one of those GK Blackmore strats.  Very expensive and I assume out of production for years now.  Probably rare as hens' teeth.  Has anyone ever seen one in person.  I believe they had set necks with a hand-carved heel.  Very cool.

Pin

Quote from: Piing on February 07, 2013, 11:57:12 PM
A white GK-2??



On that video he uses it mainly as an octave harmonizer.

That fretboard looks very heavily scalloped.

Elantric

#6
The Ritche Blackmore Strats  - all years, all come with scalloped Fretboards
http://www.fender.com/series/artist/ritchie-blackmore-stratocaster/
http://www.blackmoresnight.com/Articles/Blackmore_guitar_6_09.pdf





QuoteA white GK-2A??


Ritchie can afford to have any color GK-2A he wants!

Piing

I would love to try a scalloped guitar, but I could not live without the Mid Pickup. My favourite pickup position for leads on a Strat is the combination Bridge+Mid pickup.

musicman65

I've owned a few tall jumbo fretted neck and couldn't get used to playing "above the wood". Too much fretting pressure and your sharp. A heavily scalloped neck would be a major adjustment!

I second the love for quack tones. I gotta have my mid pup for positions 2 and 4.

bd

Piing

#9
Blackmore is using again a Roland HEX pickup at his Rainbow 2016 concert.

Anyone knows what gear he is using?

! No longer available




RogerVG8EX

#10
Hello Piing, today I was watching a video of the 2016 Rainbow lineup performing Highway Star when suddenly I saw a rack behind Ritchie. I figured out that he had two GR-50s (one as a spare). I'll probably buy one of these on EBay with the Expansion Board that includes the Blackmore's Night intro sound called "Quad Brass". But my question is: Why doesn't Ritchie buy a GR-55?


vanceg

Quote from: Piing on February 08, 2013, 07:22:19 PM
I would love to try a scalloped guitar, but I could not live without the Mid Pickup. My favourite pickup position for leads on a Strat is the combination Bridge+Mid pickup.

So, use the VG-99 or GP-10 Strat model.

aliensporebomb

#12


The short lived very expensive Fender Ritchie Blackmore Stratocaster had a neck pickup, a bridge pickup, an internal GK-2 pickup built in, built in controls ala Roland Ready Strat and was actually pretty nice.  I've never seen one in person, just in pictures but they made them in limited quantities (basically so Ritchie could have a few plus some fans).  Ritchie is a GK guy!  Because of Ritchie and his popularity finding one of these used will be difficult and expensive.
My music projects online at http://www.aliensporebomb.com/

GK Devices:  Roland VG-99, Boss GP-10, Boss SY-1000.

admin

#13


Go to 3:50 for Ritchie Blackmore with a Roland GK-1 HEX Pickup

Tony Raven

 ???

My notes say the GK-2 pickup was available 1989-1994, superseded by the GK-2A (1994-2000).

Why the heck would Fender put a GK-1 on a 1997 guitar? Was Blackmore really THAT devoted to 24-pin? :o

admin

#15





I understand the guitar in video above ( at 3:50 minutes) is from 1985 and he drove a 1985 GR700 with it in the 1980's using the GK-1 ( which IMHO remains a powetful MAG hex PU controller with 2 Control Assignment knobs for user effects and working Volume and normal / Synth  Pan pot.



Once there was a factory 1997 Fender Ritchie Blackmoore Strat with 13 pin


Quote

The short lived very expensive Fender Ritchie Blackmore Stratocaster had a neck pickup, a bridge pickup, an internal GK-2 pickup built in, built in controls ala Roland Ready Strat and was actually pretty nice.  I've never seen one in person, just in pictures but they made them in limited quantities (basically so Ritchie could have a few plus some fans).  Ritchie is a GK guy!  Because of Ritchie and his popularity finding one of these used will be difficult and expensive.

This 1997 model was essentially a Fender Roland Ready Strat with 22 fret Fender USA scalloped fretboard Neck and no middle PU. And 2 Fender Noisless pickups and 2 point Fender USA bridge.


Needless to say Ritchie has several Strats
Here is one with a white painted GK-2A to drive a US-20 A/B selector with a pair of GR-50 rack GK synth modules


Rodrigo Schwarz

Quote from: admsustainiac on February 19, 2018, 09:06:07 AM
Needless to say Ritchie has several Strats
Here is one with a white painted GK-2A to drive a US-20 A/B selector with a pair of GR-50 rack GK synth modules



This guitar is in the last issue of Guitar World.
GR-55 – VG-8EX - Esp Eclipse Standard 2 Amber Cherry Sunburst with GK-2A – Godin Multiac ACS SA - Gianinni Stratosonic (brazilian strat copy) whith EMG pickups – Roland JC 40

Rodrigo Schwarz

GR-55 – VG-8EX - Esp Eclipse Standard 2 Amber Cherry Sunburst with GK-2A – Godin Multiac ACS SA - Gianinni Stratosonic (brazilian strat copy) whith EMG pickups – Roland JC 40

CodeSmart

I saw Ritchie / Rainbow at Sweden Rock Festival tonight. Whole gig playing his strat with the white GK.
But I got more gear than I need...and I like it!

lespauled

I saw some YT videos of the concert on the 6th.  It seems that he's been wood-shedding since the last Rainbow tour.  He was atrocious at that time.  Seems to be playing better these days.

CodeSmart

Quote from: lespauled on June 09, 2019, 11:40:10 AM
I saw some YT videos of the concert on the 6th.  It seems that he's been wood-shedding since the last Rainbow tour.  He was atrocious at that time.  Seems to be playing better these days.
There were a few small glitches but ok in my opinion. He's 74 this year and playing without massive distortion and effects is unforgiving.
I was raised listening to this guy in the 70's and 80's and I'm happy to have seen him.

One thing you could notice was a less then perfect interaction between the band and the audience (abt. 10.000?) especially during the first half of the show.

Another old band I really enjoyed during this day was Styx. Very professional and fun. Great hearing their songs again.
But I got more gear than I need...and I like it!

lespauled

As you can see by my avatar, I am a huge Ritchie fan, and was lucky to see him several times over the years, including Blackmore's Night.  I don't expect him to be the same as he was in yesterYear, but I was all-in wanting to see him.....until I saw the videos of the first few concerts.  It was brutal.  I didn't want to see him like that. 

The videos of the recent concerts brought me back on-board, and I want to see him again.


lespauled


admin

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