Author Topic: Guitar advice, PLEASE! (Read 12112 times)

TwilightOdyssey · « **on:** September 29, 2005, 03:58:40 PM »

Gentlemen, I am at a crossroads.

I need to do something decisive re: my guitar synth situation, which right now S U C K S.

Lemme 'splain:
I own a Roland Ready Strat. It tracks really well, but ....

1. The neck is an abomination; ie, even tho the GK2 picks up the actual sounds very well, the neck is so hard to play that it doesn't really matter if I'm not playing anything faster than quarter notes.

2. The pickups ... words cannot describe 'em. In short, they blow.

Let's go over the particulars:

According to Fender, the body is alder, and the neck radius is 9.5".

Neck is maple, fingerboard is rosewood. Frets are very small.

So, do I:

1. Replace the neck, put a BKP into a new scratchplate, and wire a piezo pickup with a 13-pin output to the guitar?

2. Put a GK2 onto another guitar?

3. Just get another guitar and add a piezo pickup with a 13-pin output?

The ultimate objective is end up with a guitar that I would actually be able to use live as a synth as well as an actual electric guitar.

What do y'all think?

donovan.x · « **Reply #1 on:** September 29, 2005, 04:11:15 PM »

Hi T.O
Option 3.
I had a Variax 700 series and it sounded cool but the feel was b***ocks! I have never played such an expensive guitar that blows so much.
It's like hi-fi equipment,better to have high quality seperates than one of those bodge together jobs, with guitars ..better to have a really nice stand alone guitar and mod to your hearts content.
Thats my story and I'm sticking to it. :D
Hope that is some help.

HJM · « **Reply #2 on:** September 29, 2005, 04:17:53 PM »

I'm thinking option 3......RRS have a decent resale value (well they do here!)

I have the GK2a and it works OK, but pig ugly.....ergonomics, well...........

The new neck and BKPs maybe a good idea, but costly? How does the guitar sound unpluged? If it's good then this would be an option at least! :P

aisuru · « **Reply #3 on:** September 29, 2005, 04:31:23 PM »

i say put the GK2 into another guitar. along with some BKs. and paint the thing in some kind of kErraYzEe 1980s fashion. that's what you should do. yes.

Bob Johnson · « **Reply #4 on:** September 29, 2005, 04:34:39 PM »

Is getting the neck re-shaped an option? Might save a few quid.

TwilightOdyssey · « **Reply #5 on:** September 29, 2005, 04:53:35 PM »

Quote from: Bob Johnson

Is getting the neck re-shaped an option? Might save a few quid.

Didn't think of that, Bob. Can I get larger frets put in it?

TwilightOdyssey · « **Reply #6 on:** September 29, 2005, 04:54:24 PM »

Quote from: aisuru

i say put the GK2 into another guitar. along with some BKs. and paint the thing in some kind of kErraYzEe 1980s fashion. that's what you should do. yes.

C'mon, man, you know how sedate my taste in guitars is!!

HJM · « **Reply #7 on:** September 29, 2005, 05:06:40 PM »

Reshape refret and scallop it....Blackmoor strat!

TwilightOdyssey · « **Reply #8 on:** September 29, 2005, 05:12:00 PM »

Quote from: HJM

Reshape refret and scallop it....Blackmoor strat!

LOL; I actually looked into the Blackmore Strat ... it's freakin' expensive!

Bob Johnson · « **Reply #9 on:** September 29, 2005, 06:00:48 PM »

Quote from: TwilightOdyssey

Quote from: Bob Johnson
Is getting the neck re-shaped an option? Might save a few quid.

Didn't think of that, Bob. Can I get larger frets put in it?

Yeah it can be reshaped and refretted. S'all current technology. Question is, will it be cheaper than a replacement?

jt · « **Reply #10 on:** September 29, 2005, 06:11:05 PM »

:D Hi Ben i`ve got a Roland Promo DVD on it it has a demo of the GK3 pickup which can be attached to any guitar including carved tops without the P/U having to be drilled into your guitar. This means you can attach it to any of your guitars. might this help ?

:D 8)

PhilKing · « **Reply #11 on:** September 29, 2005, 07:07:10 PM »

Hi Ben - I know you started this because you want my Warmoth PRS clone with the Miracle Man set, Wilkinson piezo bridge and GK2A kit installed. Well it's not going to work :twisted:

Seriously, how much do you use the synth? If it is not much, then perhaps fitting the GK3 to one of your existing guitars is the answer.

I actually think that your option 3 is the best though. Get something you like to play and add the synth contoller to it. You could even get the new HolyDiver pickup so I can hear it without having to buy a set :lol:

38thBeatle · « **Reply #12 on:** September 29, 2005, 07:55:26 PM »

I'd go for the "neck job".

FELINEGUITARS · « **Reply #13 on:** September 29, 2005, 09:24:57 PM »

I'd say a refret with the neck radius smoothed out a little and to make sure it was all level before putting 6100 or 6000 gauge in.

I have the necks in seconds out that we discussed, and may well work fine but you'll want a fret job on them too as the frets are a bit low.

I do also have a spare maple fingerboard Kramer/ESP hockeystick stylee neck that takes a locking nut

Bob Johnson · « **Reply #14 on:** September 29, 2005, 09:40:14 PM »

Yeah, that's about right; but I'd take the FB radius up to 12" or 16", jumbo wire and if you're not an inveterate Strat "C" shape neck lover, get the neck slimmed down a little. There's enough timber in a standard Strat neck to make almost any proflie you want out of it.