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Post by Tony Ravenscroft on Mar 24, 2022 23:47:31 GMT -6
prefatory note -- The Roland GK-3 was the final standard for aftermarket 13-pin hex pickups, with the GK-2A and GK-2 coming before. (There was a GK-1 long ago that has a big blocky 24-pin connector.) The 2A was also part of the GK-KIT package intended to be installed permanently, generally by a manufacturer or luthier. But there were a couple of short-lived rivals. Yamaha had their G1D and apparently a B1D for bass as well.  And Axon had the rather identical-looking AIX-101.  Though none of these were inexpensive, they offered the opportunity to use pretty much any steel-string guitar. Downsides include that there's a rather delicate wire exposed, and the "wart" does not fit nicely into some cases. So let's have a look at what the hardcore, let's-leap-into-the-deep-end-first crowd might find.
It's been ages since I've seen one of these: a 2001 USA Fender Stratocaster with the Roland kit.  I'm tempted just for the finish alone. Note that there's no back rout (unlike earlier attempts), which must have led to assembly hassles. 
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Post by Tony Ravenscroft on Mar 24, 2022 23:53:32 GMT -6
Even less common: a '96.  Note the rear compartment for the Roland kit.  |
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Post by Tony Ravenscroft on Mar 24, 2022 23:57:05 GMT -6
This is the back of a 2000 Mexico Strat, showing what is in the rear access.  |
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Post by Tony Ravenscroft on Mar 25, 2022 0:04:13 GMT -6
Seller says this is a 2012. Could be a "last hurrah" effort, but it also has an original Fender gig bag and all the hangtags... which sets off my "is this a counterfeit" reflexes. Still, it looks nice, and for an MIM it's not the far-too-common black.  The decal set on the later Fender attempts.  |
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Post by Tony Ravenscroft on May 22, 2022 11:12:47 GMT -6
Not at all cheap -- base price $3,245 -- the Virtuo model from Emerald Guitars is meant very literally to be an all-categories winner: acoustic, acoustic-electric, electric, and synth.  They figured that, since they were already putting in a Ghost piezo for the a/e part, why not also run a 13-pin out? Well... indeed!! And since they clearly know how to do that work, if I were ever to consider spending maybe $4K on a stage-worthy tour-ready instrument, I'd have to talk to Emerald about a Virtuo or one of their other guitars -- they also make parlours, basses, 12s, even harp guitars. |
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Post by Tony Ravenscroft on Jun 11, 2022 21:00:06 GMT -6
I found some very nice photos of a Washburn JB-100 MIDI in CSB. (The Music Zoo had it in their collection but for some unstated reason saw fit to sell it off.  ) This is a model that used to surface on a regular basis, and I figure it's been snapped up and hoarded primarily by "collectors" who don't have a single piece of 13-pin gear. So, a few crumbs of backgrounding before the snapshots. The Jennifer Batten JB Series Washburns were additions to the Maverick Series. Washburn has never said as much, but aside from the very similar body shape, there's the history. As I mention elsewhere, Batten did a 1997 print ad specifically for the BT Series, when it was still outgrowing its "Billy T" roots and had not yet been dubbed Maverick. She is shown holding a BT-10. Actually, she appears t have begun endorsing Washies with an s-s-s from the Mercury (MG) Series, but I have neither date nor specific model. That same year, the top-tier Chicago-built WM prefix models were launched. Batten did another ad in 1999, onstage with her JB-100 MIDI Officially, the BT models were sold only 1997-2002, the WM 1997-2000. The JB-100 -- with and without Roland hex pickup -- appeared in 2000 catalogue and price list, with the MIK JB-80 coming up 2002. Jennifer Batten simply never caught on -- maybe not unlike Alan Holdsworth: a genius, lauded by her peers, largely unrecognized by the mob. Someone at Washburn nevertheless wanted to give her signature guitars the quality she deserved, which meant great components and attention to detail... which is reflected in price.  Final MSRPs, in 2003 dollars -- JB-80 $1,200 JB-100 $1,900 JB-100 MIDI $2,500 (I snagged a very clean JB-80 a few years back for less than $500.  ) Well, in any case, the 100's had a Duckbucker in the middle and JB Junior at either end. Besides CSB I've seen them in white and natural. Oh, and they're 24.75" scale, as is almost every Maverick.    Here's one in white (though with a swapped-out pickup).  |
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Post by Tony Ravenscroft on Jul 7, 2022 20:56:36 GMT -6
I am tempted by this one -- even at $900 + $100. A purpose-built Strat, stripped down to the essentials. Also, a very busy Warmoth neck. A particular touch of genius: the material-matched jackplate cover for the indicator LED.   |
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Post by Tony Ravenscroft on Jul 11, 2022 4:56:16 GMT -6
I ought to brag about this, acquired the end of May -- an Ibanez RG420-GK, the first of two Roland-kit models from Ibanez. Even used it wasn't cheap (or "cheap"), but comparable to the Fender MIM models. And yes I've been lazy, so here's the seller's photos -- the axe cleaned up very nice.   Mine is presently outfitted with Rotosound monel tapewounds, which IN THEORY would improve tracking AND greatly reduce string talk AND reduce initial pick contact AND create a better sustain curve. However, the Rotos are BEASTS -- the ONLY Top Tape set (RS200) is jazz, 12-16-24-32-42-52... with a wound G yet -- and I put in FIVE special-order heavy-duty springs. Weirdly, the trem is still plenty responsive. Nothing has exploded yet but I wouldn't be surprised. Incidentally, now I remember why I got tired of no-ball Floyd Rose assemblies. It was barely holding on to the .007 set it arrived with. The suffix refers to the Roland GK-2 hexaphonic pickup (Roland also sold their hardware separately as the GK-KIT.) A good guitar, but nothing particularly interesting: boltie, maple, rosewood, basswood, gloss black, dots. An h-h, with V7 neck and V8 bridge. The "Wizard II" neck, 2mm thicker than the original Wizard. Topped off with the "Lo TRS" bridge assembly. The 420 was made only late 2002, marketed 2003, so while I hate to say "rare" it's not exactly common.   The model was replaced (sort of) for 2003 with the slightly-higher-end RG1520GK (three-piece maple/bubinga Super Wizard neck, Ibanez Vintage pickups, locking nut, Double Edge Pro bridge), which became the RG1520G (walnut body/maple neck) for 2005. I've read claims they have an "internally mounted" GK-3, but official catalog copy says it's piezo saddles to GK-KIT circuitry  |
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Post by Tony Ravenscroft on Jul 11, 2022 5:05:37 GMT -6
Then there's this poor little beast, intended as nothing but a shop-floor demo device for Roland 13-pin gear, built by the Ltd. branch of ESP. I overpaid a little at $200, considering it's got a slightly split head/upper neck, and the bottom strap button has been sorta pounded into the body... but, heck, I just needed to try one out while I had the chance - I was in a mood and wished to CRUSH the other bidder...  - but since a used GK-3 sans bracket goes for $100+ on Reverb, it's not a dead loss (and a well-placed bit of hardware should stabilize the break).   This is about as bare-bones simplified as an electric guitar can get: no rout-out, string-thru, bolt-on. And the 12th-fret inlay clearly says GK which is a nice touch. |
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Post by Tony Ravenscroft on Jul 11, 2022 15:09:20 GMT -6
ESP is also credited with building the GT-1 "GTM" (guitar-to-MIDI, at a guess) for Roland.  |
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Post by Tony Ravenscroft on Feb 19, 2023 10:03:19 GMT -6
Detail of the bridge pickup rout in a Fender Standard (USA) RR Strat. I thought it's maybe a factory repaint as that looks like white over black. Thean realized there's a screw right there, so it's shielding paint. But the hex pickup slot was trimmed back after the conductive layer - a prototype, perhaps?  |
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Post by Tony Ravenscroft on Mar 23, 2024 21:46:47 GMT -6
Lately I spotted what appears to be a more recent (2011) Ltd.-branded demo guitar, coded as the EC model. One humbucker, two knobs, plus a bolt-on Roland GK-3 pickup rig. What I found most interesting were the multiple hand-access cuts to the body, a truly dramatic rear comfort relief, and some enviable work on the heel block.    |
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) 
Final MSRPs, in 2003 dollars --
)
- but since a used GK-3 sans bracket goes for $100+ on Reverb, it's not a dead loss (and a well-placed bit of hardware should stabilize the break).