VG-99 - Normal PU sound using GK-3 & VG-99

Started by Virtual Tone, February 26, 2008, 07:24:58 PM

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Virtual Tone

#25
Quote from: sustainiac on March 03, 2008, 08:14:52 AM

The VG-99 gets 90% of the tone of most things it emulates, and its easier than lugging 12 guitars and 12 amps to the gig/session.

But we are fooling ourselves if we think this sounds better "than the real deal".
 

I was playing around with patch 034 "DUELIN B" the other day.  Sounds pretty sweet!

Even though it's not the "real deal' as we say... who says it has to be! 

In today's music there's all kinds of contemporary sounds hitting the charts. For me... it's what you do with the sound and how it fits the song that matters, not whether everything is just like it was back in 1964.

I think a blend of technologies is a good way to go.  Take the Fab Four VST from East West.  They sampled the same guitars and keyboards (some rare and hard to find) at the Abby Road studio through the actual mic pres and mics that the Beatles use to capture their sound.

Even though they are samples with limits to their depth and articulations, still... they have a one-of-a-kind sound that is almost identicle to the recordings of old.

To me... every sound whether digital or analog is a tool.  It's what you do with them that counts.  :)



Elantric

I was playing in the Kristen Black Band in 2005


For the past 2 years I have been playing in a traditional surf band - its a Ventures tribute band called =The Dentures
http://www.myspace.com/slodentures

we are on youtube (i'm the long hair guy with the black guitar)

http://www.findinternettv.com/Video,item,1137594314.aspx

I joined to be the rhythm guitarist - just to have fun.
For that gig I try to be authentic to genre. If I play a solo I have guitars with floating jazzmaster tremolos

Di Pinto Galaxie IV,
http://www.dipintoguitars.com/guitars_galaxie4.html

or

Rondo Music SJM62
http://www.rondomusic.com/sjm623ts.html


to a 1963 Fender Tube reverb
http://www.fender.com/products/search.php?partno=0217500000

then either a maxon opto Compressor or Barber Tonepress, or a  Janglebox

and a Boss LS-2 used as a 6 db boost for solos.

This feeds a 1965 Fender Dual Showman, or a Twin, or a Vibrolux Reverb

It sounds like 1962  - The visuals are are big part of getting gigs. We have no vocals and play 4 hr gigs. And get paid and have a local following. surfs up!

We do it acoustically too
http://www.findinternettv.com/Video,item,2210311088.aspx

Playing acoustic guitars is mandatory for many gigs, if we play a winery they want to see us holding acoustic guitars - the electric guitars really scare them !!!! If we show up with electrics - They cringe fearing we might play something really disturbing.

I still do occasional soundtracks, and I rent my amps out locally. And I occasionally do TV commercials.

I intend to put the VG-99 to use, to introduce it into my system  - for  alternate tunings, and FX. to break up the monotony of typical guitar tones. I tried to do this several times before. With the VG-8, the VG-88, and now the VG-99.

The VG-99 is great in a home studio, when the song ideas are flowing so fast you just know you must record them before you loose them  - I can track all the parts  in one sitting, and not loose momentum.

I recently got a Roland Cube 60, a scratch and dent recent model with COSM amp sims  - it was a special from music123 for $250, and I suggest anyone trying to make the transition from tube rigs to VG-99, to do it baby steps. Its like we must acclimate our ears to the dynamics of these Roland COSM systems before we can embrace them. I had a really wonderful experience in a live jam with the Cube-60 and my pedal board.  Its very easy to get a great sound with that amp. I think my next step wil be to use the VG-99 with a pair of crate power blocks and a pair of celestion 12" cabs. I should be able to Match the sound of the Cube 60.  But I find the FC-300 is really limited in its controls. they need a stombox mode really bad. I'll probably use my FCB-1010 with UNO firmware - so I can program the top row of footswitches to be on/off for Compressor, Clean Boost, Tube Screamer, tremolo, delay. - and make the bottom row my patch channel change buttons.

I might give the FC-300 another try  - use the 3/4, 5/6 CTL jacks to add 4 CTL pedals - and use 7/8 jack for another expression pedal  - for volume. re- assign the on board expression pedals for my useful functions like pitch bend, and wet/ dry delay level.




Billy Kaffadrin

#27
Quote from: sustainiac on March 04, 2008, 03:26:42 AM
>and I sure can't afford Sonny Landreth's onboard computer system for changing tunings on the fly... It's like almost $4k.

That was the Transperformance tuning system
http://transperformance.com/

Sonny gave that up a few years ago - too heavy - lately he uses a custom Strat with a flat fret board and a Hipshot Triilogy tailpiece
$239

     Well yeah, I do tend to be behind the curve.  But now Sonny has gone bigtime touring with a dedicated tech, and I guess with north of 12 guitars and good support you don't need either system really.  'Course when it's just you on your lonesome supporting someone else that Transperfomance deal is pretty handy, you can cut it down to just a couple guitars. The guy does use I think like 8 different tunings, maybe more depending.

     Sonny gave me a "South Of I-10" CD and signed it for me awhile back when he was a musical guest on a TV Show I used to do bands for.  He had just a Strat and I think a Champ with him, and he played like a Stanley Jordan or Eddie Van Halen of the Slide guitar. Amazing musician and a really kind, genuine guy.

Billy

Virtual Tone

#28
I just got my Tradition G-12 guitar back from my tech guy but something isn't right with the wiring or something
(well... MAYBE something isn't right... read below for more info).

At first I couldn't blend my pups and the COSM but then s0c9 helped me on that one (read below).

The tech guy has done them before so... he should know what he's doing.

I was wondering if anyone else here has the internal GK Kit installed in their guitar. 

If so... what is the normal operation?

I am assuming that the toggle should be as follows.

1.  DOWN position.  This should be the VG-99 only.

2.  MID position.  this should be the VG-99 AND the guitar pups where you can blend the amount of guitar pups with the VG-99 via the guitar's volume knob.

3.  UP position.  This should be guitar pups only (no VG-99).

Is this how it should be wired?  If so... is there's some instructions online or something that clearly shows this so I can show my tech guy?

V.T.  8)

s0c9

#29
Most [if not all] of the VG99's factory patches have normal PU level's set to zero.

This may be why you get no sound from guitar PU's when selected. To change:
Hit the "Modeling Type" button, page over [it differs from model to model] until you find the PU vol control [it's always under the F2 control] and change it.  I've been setting my level to 50-53.   Make sure you "WRITE" the patch or the changes is lost when you go to next one.

You have the choice of doing this for one or both models [assuming 2 are used]  :)
Tweak to taste LOL

Let us know how it goes...




Virtual Tone

#30
Ahhh Yes! I forgot about that part (DOH)  ::)

Ok... the VG and the guitar pups do blend together in the MID postion of the toggler. 

However I STILL do not get "guitar only" unless I set the GK pickup on that patch to off.

Does anyone have it where all 3 position work as stated above (VG only, Blend, guitar only) ???

BTW- This one is wired so the down position I get nothing, mid both, up VG-99 only  :P

V.T.  8)


s0c9


Virtual Tone

Quote from:  s0c9 on March 05, 2008, 07:23:47 PM
ME !!!!!!!  But I've got a GK-2A   :o

Cool for you s0c9  :D ... but from what I understand the GK-3 and the GK-2A are basically the same.

Is there some sort of setting?  I wonder if anyone who has a Roland Ready Strat has all 3 working.

Also... is yours internal s0c9?

V.T.

s0c9

Nah.. external...GK

I understand from reading other posts that the GK-3 has a "sensing" buffer that when GK settings are set to AUTO goes to GK by default..
I think there's a post on how to solve it the GK section VT...

Elantric

#34

Read this thread starting here:

https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?topic=419.msg1540#msg1540


The VG-99 is a bit "user hostile" in regards to getting the normal PUs to work. You have to tweaK EVERY PATCH !

chipstar

But of course, VT. I've told you that a few times. Mine works great but I've got a GK-3. Are you still talking about the GK-2A?

later,
Chipstar

Virtual Tone

#36
Quote from:  chipstar on March 06, 2008, 12:52:13 AM
But of course, VT. I've told you that a few times. Mine works great but I've got a GK-3. Are you still talking about the GK-2A?

later,
Chipstar

This is the new GK-3 that went into my Tradtion G12 guitar (remember we spoke about this as well).   

The way it's set up (the GK-3) it's acting the same was as my Wild I which has the GK-2A in it.

So... not sure if it's how it's wired or if there's some other settings in the VG-99 that needs to be tweaked.

I'll be messing with it today.  I might try to contact Roland as well and see what they say.

V.T.  8)


Virtual Tone

#37
Quote from: Billy Kaffadrin on February 28, 2008, 08:48:59 AM

Hi guys. Billy here, audio guy, musical initiate and all around seeker of knowledge.  I use a GK2 with my ESP Strat's output patched directly into it. 

Right now my GK2a's  3 way switch does the following:

  "Guitar" position is the VG99  B Chain;  "Synth" Position is the VG99 A Chain, Middle is both A & B. 

Billy

Is your GK2 internal or external?

Also... if it IS internal are you saying that the 3 way toggle selects  VG, Pups & VG, and then Synth?

So what if you don't have a synth and want the 3rd position on the toggle to be your guitar?

Perhaps setting up the patch as a stomp mode or something might work.

Can this be done?  Can you have you FC-300 set up so that it mutes either the guitar or the VG in a particular patch?

That would be one work-a-round.  Still... being able to select guitar only with the toggle would be nice.

V.T.


dead_lizard

Forgive me if this is obvious.

You've got GK3 selected in Page One Of System/GK setting

Virtual Tone

Quote from:  dead_lizard on March 06, 2008, 06:50:02 AM
Forgive me if this is obvious.

You've got GK3 selected in Page One Of System/GK setting

BOC (But of course)  ;D

It works whether it's on Auto or On.  The middle of the toggle is both and the upper is VG only.

The bottom is nothing.  Is this normal all should the toggle that has no signal be guitar pups only?

If I unplug the 13 bin then the guitar plays thru the 1/4 inch and in all 3 toggle positions with some variance of how hot the signal is.

My Wild I is wired the same, and it came new with the GK-2A built in. 

The only difference is the Wild's up is silence where the bottom is VG only (reversed from my Tradition G-12.)

V.T.  8)

Elantric

#40
When Billy mentions "Synth" - He is simply referring to the Switch Labels on the external GK-2A

The GK-3 changed this position Label to "GK"

A few folks with GK-3 kit internal do not even install this 3 position switch and do all the switching via the FC-300.

And yes - you can program patches that feature Guitar PU only, or COSM guitar only. Or a Mix of both.

Might suggest you spend some time to read the Manuals for the GK-2A, or GK-3 - both internal and external.
https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?topic=78.0

And go back to page one of this thread and read the detailed instructions Billy provided on how to enable the ability of the GK-2A or GK-3's 3-position switch to swtich between:

Straight Guitar (normal PUs)

Mix

COSM Guitar ( labeled as Synth on the external GK-2A and  GK-3)

https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?topic=419.msg1540#msg1540

Not to be cranky  - but some of your questions come across as "When I sit in the driver seat of my car, What does that big round thing do? You know, the one sticking out of the instrument panel? 

Elantric

#41
Your Traditions "GUITAR/MIX/GK" switch needs to be rotated 180 degrees.

Factory GK Internal Installs will have

UP = Guitar (Normal PUs)

Middle = Mix

Down = GK (COSM Guitars on VG-99 ) or Synth if used with a GR-20, GR-33, etc.

Which is how your Switch Music "Wild" MIDI Guitar wired.

chipstar

So your buddy was able to crank out the install that quickly? Wow, that's impressive.

later,
Chipstar

Virtual Tone

Quote from:  sustainiac on March 06, 2008, 07:58:42 AM
Your Traditions "GUITAR/MIX/GK" switch needs to be rotated 180 degrees.

Factory GK Internal Installs will have

UP = Guitar (Normal PUs)

Middle = Mix

Down = GK (COSM Guitars on VG-99 ) or Synth if used with a GR-20, GR-33, etc.

Which is how your Switch Music "Wild" MIDI Guitar wired.

Thanks Sustaniac for your reply.  :)

However, my Wild I doesn't work either!  It's factory instal and down is VG, mid is both, and up is nothing.

Is there anything missing here?  ???

Maybe I should just ship the Wild I to you to look at!   ;D

V.T.


Virtual Tone

Quote from:  sustainiac on March 06, 2008, 09:22:00 AM
https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?topic=419.msg1540#msg1540

Thanks Sustainiac!  Re-reading it again.  ;)

One thing I just discovered was this.  The toggle when set to "Guitar Only" the guitar IS WORKING... 'IF" I turn the PATCH LEVEL up!  ;D 

Normally the PATCH LEVEL is at 0.  When I turn it up to 200 I can hear just the guitar only!!! (YEAH).

However... when I go to save this by selecting WRITE... it doesn't save it.  ???

Now what?  More messing around eh?

V.T.

chipstar

Exactly, now you've got it. Since the sound is coming out of the 13 pin connection, the volume has to be up. Enjoy.

later,
Chipstar

Virtual Tone

#47
Quote from:  chipstar on March 06, 2008, 10:58:41 AM
Exactly, now you've got it. Since the sound is coming out of the 13 pin connection, the volume has to be up. Enjoy.

later,
Chipstar

Thanks Chip ;)  However... I still haven't figured out how to save it?  :P

So... HOW do I save the patch?

Everytime I turn up the PATCH LEVEL knob... once I switch the toggle up then back down, it resets it to 0 (zero).  :o

Sustainiac?  You have a clue here?  ???

Thanks,
V.T. 8)


Elantric


Virtual Tone

#49
Quote from:  sustainiac on March 06, 2008, 11:25:46 AM
>Read up!

A very good idea:
http://lib.roland.co.jp/manual/en/dl_07-19743/VG-99_e3.pdf

I've read the manual several times on pages 33 -34 etc., and have search through it.

All the settings are correct so far but I'll keep reading. 

Chipstar also has said he has some patches that are doing the same thing.

Perhaps the Mystery continues eh?

V.T.  8)