The place to discuss, post photos, video, and audio of the G&L products (US instruments, stomp boxes, etc.) produced after 1991, including the amps & gear we use with them.
I am now the owner of a Roland GR-20 Guitar Synth. I researched the new GR-55 but didn't like the reviews and settled for the 20. I want to install it on my Vintage White Legacy for a couple of reasons. The distance from the strings to the body is greater than a Strat. I also prefer adapting it to the G&L. The pickup is the same as on a Strat VG and is mounted below the bridge pickup. Here is the issue and I am posting a couple of pictures to clarify the issue.
This is the G&L I would like to put it on. I believe that there is not enough room above the DF Bolt Tab to mount it.
Here is a pic of a Fender to show the difference
There is room between the bridge and bridge pickup to install the synth pickup.
Has anyone made this mod to the G&L and if so, how did you do it. I have thought about mounting it between the bridge and middle pickup. I may have to experiment with it to decide but I am hoping that one of you may have done this at some point. Any ideas folks? I would really like it on the Legacy. I can't post pictures of the synth pickup until I receive it. -- Darwin
Looking at the Fender VG the pickup skews to the left, so it may fit. But are you talking about drilling new holes in your pickguard and mounting the VG pickup and the roland pots under the surface or are you talking about using the surface mounted GK-30 pickup and tone module that is sold with the GR-20 and works in the same way as the VG pickup? If you're talking about the former, I'm not sure. However, if you are talking about the latter (which is a bit of a kludge visually), here's a link to the system mounted on a Legacy.
The surface pickup may actually have the same dimensions as the VG pickup so look it up.
With respect to positioning, I've only seen Roland hexaphonic pickups mounted at the bridge and I remember reading that this is the most stable position with respect to string vibration. Although I haven't researched it, I have a funny feeling that mounting the pickup elsewhere would result in far less stable tracking, as these units are rather finicky.
CGT, this is the pickup assy I will receive. This was extremely helpful and I will use this as a reference when I do mine. I had doubts about mounting the pickup between the bridge and middle pickup. I know that these are sensitive to the string vibration and I am going to experiment with the pickup height to achieve the stability. When properly installed, these things work very well. Thanks again for this information. It is exactly what I needed.--Darwin
Glad to have been of help, Darwin. I'm looking forward to hearing about your experiences with that setup as I'd love to get my hands on such a setup at some point.
My Roland GR-20 arrived today. The controller was used but it is as new. The pickup had never been installed as he had a Roland ready Strat. The pickup will fit on my Legacy and I think that it will be my test mule. The Roland instructions seem to be very good, especially the pickup installation part. This will be a project next week so maybe by the end of I week I can be a sick sax player. CGT, thanks for the tips that you provided as it really got me thinking and it made this project more viable. But, as they say, proof is in the pudding. Will I be able to do a perfect Spike Jones??? -- Darwin
Looking forward to hearing a sample of your "sax" work, Darwin. If you'd asked me last year, I'd have been clamoring for a guitar synth, but my priorities changed when I picked bought the Legacy. I'm finding the tonal possibilities of the three single coils and the TPB controls so varied that it'll take months (if not years) for me to finish exploring what I can do with them and just a touch of reverb. If I do go for a synth setup though, I'd be more tempted to try it on a lesser guitar like a Squier or a Yamaha Pacifica.
CGT,Your right, the synth has its own pickup so the guitar has very little effect other than sustain and personal preference. The nice thing about using the Legacy is that the GK 3 module has a convenient selector switch so you can blend the synth with the guitar or quickly switch to regular guitar so it overall is a versatile setup. I have done some more experimenting and it is awesome on sax. It does harmony sax work so slick. There is a setting called moody sax that is the one I will use most. It is soft and a bit raspy. I was a sax player in high school and college. The thing about the Roland is that you fingering of the guitar is critical. Any fingering that is sloppy will not work, it has to be accurate. This thing really suites me and I wish I had tried one sooner.-- Darwin
Darwin