GR-55 No signal on G String

Taylorman · August 02, 2015, 10:09:53 PM

I'm getting no sound or signal from my G string. When I go into the Sen settings I have no signal on the third string. It's the same when I go to the tuner!! Could the sensor on the third string of the pick-up have gone out? Any ideas?? Thanks in advance!!

gumtown · August 02, 2015, 10:13:14 PM

Look at the cable, give the pins a clean with 'deOxit", try a different cable (every GK user 'must' carry a spare GK cable if you use it live)

lekike · August 03, 2015, 12:11:57 PM

hit the string with a pick really hard a few times. i had the same problem with a godin xtsa no long ago, after this i t was fine

JolietJake · August 03, 2015, 01:59:29 PM

As Gumtown said most likely it's the connectors/sockets that needs cleaned.
Possibly it could be a faulty cable. (Hence try a different cable request).
Less likely if could be a faulty GK Pickup or Piezo (depending on what type of guitar/pickup you have).

stratrat · August 03, 2015, 04:46:22 PM

Cables, connectors and sockets. First make sure your cable is plugged in properly on both sides. Then try the deOxit and different cable the others have suggested. Also occasionally with Roland 13-pin stuff you will find a dry joint on the socket connection in the unit itself.

In over 25 years of playing MIDIguitars (and installing/repairing as a guitar tech) I have only run across faulty pickups twice (once a piezo, once a GK).

Taylorman · August 03, 2015, 06:02:13 PM

Thanks to all for your replies!! I didn't have deOxit, but I did have Radio Shack Contac/Control Cleaner & Lubricant. I used it to clean all cables, connectors and sockets. After that it worked for a minute or two, and then wouldn't work again. Everything else still works so I don't think the cleaner I used hurt it. At least I hope not!! Do you still think it's the cable? I don't have another cable to try, I will have to buy one. Thanks again!!

kenact · August 03, 2015, 06:16:47 PM

What kind of pickup is it? GK mag or piezo?

Do you have a spare cable to try?

If it's a piezo bridge, can you hear the string playing direct through an amp?

Have you tried turning the cable around? Sometimes that will make a difference.

Taylorman · August 03, 2015, 06:29:37 PM

GK pickup. Don't have a spare cable. I did turn the cable around and it didn't make a difference! Thanks for your input!!

kenact · August 03, 2015, 06:39:24 PM

If it worked briefly after spraying, it is likely the cable.

Something else to try is gently wiggling the connector while playing the G string. If there's no change, try gently wiggling the cable while playing the G.

Obviously try both ends of the cable again. If it cuts in and out while wiggling the connector, try cleaning it again. If it only cuts in and out while wiggling the cable, it's likely a bad cable.

If the cable is bad, search the boards for a replacement.

Jim Williams · August 04, 2015, 07:09:53 AM

13 Pin cables Suuuuuuuuuuck, Hopefully the next stage of that tech will be better. They are what they are... you should always have spares after all you more than likely have lots of 1/4 inch cables why not stock up on good 13 pin cables? Most would answer "they are expensive" but I say shell out the cash and get the good stuff and some extra cables incase of the unthinkable.... bad cable in a live show or you are paying for studio time.

Elantric · August 04, 2015, 07:19:09 AM

read
Roland GK 13 pin Cable Maintenance Tips.
https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?topic=3132.0

Not all 13 pin cables are created equal
https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?topic=14448.0

Taylorman · August 04, 2015, 03:56:41 PM

Worked perfectly today for twenty minutes, then went out. Unplugged cable on guitar and plugged it back in, worked again for another twenty minutes, then went out. Tried again, no luck this time! Ordered a new cable today. Hopefully, this will take care of the problem!! Thanks, to all for your help!!!

CodeSmart · August 05, 2015, 12:01:22 AM

It can also be a cable issue a few inches from the connector (inside, up the cable). Happened to me. Probably caused by bending, to much and to many times at the same spot.

Taylorman · August 07, 2015, 09:43:57 PM

Well, it's back to the drawing board. Got my new cable today, and obviously that's not the problem! Everything is fine for about twenty minutes, and then the third string goes out. Very frustrating!! Any other ideas or is it time to call Roland? Any input would be very much appreciated. Thanks, again!!

gumtown · August 07, 2015, 09:52:01 PM

Back up and factory reset?
Save the patches to file and take note of your GK setup settings, because if there is corrupted data that causes a GK to cut out, it will be in the system settings and saving the system data (like a USB stick backup) also saves and restores the bad data.

Copy/save the patches and do a factory reset (from system menu).

So 20 minutes use is the common factor?

You don't know anyone with a GR-55 or a GK guitar?
That would help eliminate one or the other (GR-55 or GK pickup).

Taylorman · August 07, 2015, 10:16:11 PM

Twenty minutes does seem to be the magic number. I don't know anyone that has a GK, but that's a great idea. I wil do the factory reset tomorrow as it is getting late where i'm at. Thanks, for your quick reply!! I will keep you posted.

stratrat · August 08, 2015, 02:04:08 AM

Quote from: stratrat on August 03, 2015, 04:46:22 PM
Also occasionally with Roland 13-pin stuff you will find a dry joint on the socket connection in the unit itself.

This is what I would suspect next. IME, Roland don't support their sockets properly and always attach them directly to a board, which means that they are prone to broken connections if the plugs are wiggled or stood on - especially if the chassis mounting works loose. The Roland techs at the importer I worked for used to not only repair the joints but epoxy the socket base to the board to prevent re-occurrence.

So take the bottom off the GR and inspect the board that the 13-pin is mounted on. Touch up any iffy looking joints. Make sure that the ribbon connector between the board and the main board is properly installed at both ends and clean with DeOxit. It's a simple fix if you are comfortable with a soldering iron. If not, take to a tech.

kenact · August 08, 2015, 06:27:00 AM

Quote from: stratrat on August 08, 2015, 02:04:08 AM
So take the bottom off the GR and inspect the board that the 13-pin is mounted on. Touch up any iffy looking joints. Make sure that the ribbon connector between the board and the main board is properly installed at both ends and clean with DeOxit. It's a simple fix if you are comfortable with a soldering iron. If not, take to a tech.

If it's still under warrantee, take it to an authorized service center.

Elantric · August 08, 2015, 08:42:55 AM

Or it could be a flaky GK Pickup internal 8 pin crimp connector connection. I've seen that on new GK-3.

If a new GK-3 is your pickup type on the guitar, with the guitar connected via 13 pin cable to GR-55 and powered ON, try gently wiggling the short cable between Hex PU and GK controller while plucking the G string. Listen for rice crispy noise or audio dropout.

If you are in the USA and you are still within the first 90 days since new, a local Roland Service Center will fix it free. ( we do not have the three or five year warranty like UK/EU. )

If it's a used system , Roland Service Center should get you working and out the door for $75

Regardless, Deltonics in Chicago is a Roland Service Center
http://www.deltronics.com

JolietJake · August 08, 2015, 04:50:10 PM

If it always seems to run for 20 minutes before failing it could be a faulty component such as an op-amp or transistor which failing after operating for a short period of time. I have seen this in the past, do can sometimes diagnose a faulty component by heating with a soldering iron or cooling with freezer spray.
Sorry this doesn't help you very much. Perhaps you could find a "friendly" music shop with a GR-55 or GK Enabled guitar so that you could confirm if its the GR-55 or the GK3.

Taylorman · August 08, 2015, 05:26:02 PM

I'm almost to embarrassed to post this. but I believe I found the problem. The tiny, tiny screw on the GK pickup (right by the G string) was loose. Once I tightened it all the way down it started working. Sorry, for my stupidity! Thanks to all of you who took the time to reply to my post. This is an awesome forum!!

Elantric · August 08, 2015, 05:32:52 PM

QuoteI'm almost to embarrassed to post this. but I believe I found the problem. The tiny, tiny screw on the GK pickup (right by the G string) was loose. Once I tightened it all the way down it started working. Sorry, for my stupidity! Thanks to all of you who took the time to reply to my post. This is an awesome forum!!

If a new GK-3 is your pickup type on the guitar, with the guitar connected via 13 pin cable to GR-55 and powered ON, try gently wiggling the short cable between Hex PU and GK controller while plucking the G string. Listen for rice crispy noise or audio dropout.

If GK-3 PU G string continues to be intermittent this indicates a possible cold solder joint inside the GK PU ( recent problem on the rise with new GK-3 PU's

https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?topic=7471.0

kenact · August 08, 2015, 08:33:15 PM

Quote from: Taylorman on August 08, 2015, 05:26:02 PM
I'm almost to embarrassed to post this. but I believe I found the problem. The tiny, tiny screw on the GK pickup (right by the G string) was loose. Once I tightened it all the way down it started working. Sorry, for my stupidity! Thanks to all of you who took the time to reply to my post. This is an awesome forum!!

It's still good to have a spare cable.

Taylorman · August 09, 2015, 01:31:07 PM

This story is not done yet!! G string went out again. Took the pickup off and it definitely has a short on the third string. Sending it back to Sweetwater tomorrow for repair or replacement. It's still under their two year warranty. Thanks, again!!

gumtown · August 09, 2015, 02:10:39 PM

We shall await the outcome

News:

GR-55 No signal on G String