Re: OT: Guitar Synth

["Tony K" <bigtonyk@gmail.com>]

>start most times.  That said, I wanted to ask any of the guitar synth players >their advice on the best options at the moment.


Hi Kevin,

A lot depends on how much you have to spend.

I went with relatively cheap to get into it.  I got a Roland GR50 (old tech) and GK2a pickup, mounted it on a reasonably decent Ibanez guitar.  Total cost around $550.  The GR50 isn't superb, but it works, tracks ok, but I do get glitches.  With the totally bizarre stuff I record, glitches aren't a big deal.  hehe.

I rarely use any of the builtin sounds on the GR50, I use it to control one of the other synths (usually a Morpheus and M3R)  I later bought a Brian Moore iGuitar and I like that better than the Ibanez with the GK.  

If I had the cash and wanted to move up a notch, I'd go for a GI20 interface, but your talking $350 or so just for that.  Add an iGuitar (for around $600) you are set.  All you need is a MIDI synth, or PC with softsynths.  You're looking at around $1000 with no synth.

If you want to be able to do pick scratches and noises, you might look into a VG8/88/99.  They are synthy like, but not really synths.  You still need the GK pickup for that.   They won't convert to MIDI.  But the 99 looks awfully cool.  Way pricey at $1200 (or so)  You can get a VG8 for $250 or so on ebay.

If you want to move way up in price, take a look at the Axons.  

So, cheap and works - GR50 w/ GK2a on one of your existing guitars.
Not-so-cheap and nice - GI20, Brian Moore iGuitar and a MIDI synth.

Hope that helps.

Tony

On Mon, May 19, 2008 at 2:16 PM, Kevin Cheli-Colando <billowhead@gmail.com> wrote:

I sometimes feel like I ask far and away the most off topic questions here and yet, I find this community to be one of the best resources of information about a wide variety of things so I can't think of a better place to start most times.  That said, I wanted to ask any of the guitar synth players their advice on the best options at the moment.

I'm completely new to this so I'll have to start from scratch with the pickups and then the synth itself and so on.

What I'd like ideally is a way to use the guitar as a trigger for a wide variety of odd sounds and percussive elements.  I really love the feel of the guitar and like to play it in non-traditional ways (more like a stick with long strings instead of as a melodic instrument) so I would need something that can track odd strikes and picking strength and the like, something that can register a wide dynamic range.  Tracking doesn't have to be perfect or lightning fast but it would need to be 'musical'.  And how far back can I go in the technology and still have something that doesn't seem horribly dated or overly limited?  Oh yes, and price is always a concern.  The cheapest route is always best for me I'm afraid, but I don't want to waste the time and money on something that is too limited either due to its being inexpensive now

And then there is the pick-up/interface, what is the best way to get into the synth (GK pick-ups or pre-wired guitar) and so on.

So if anyone feels like having a go of this question and offering their opinions, that would be greatly appreciated.  I know I could look at guitar synth sites and forums, but I feel like the people on this list are coming from a pretty sympathetic space musically and all share an expansive view of the possibilities of music that I'm not sure really is as common out in the larger on-line world which is why I'm asking here first.

And if not, so it goes, I hope another OT question doesn't offend.

Thanks

Kevin


--

Till now you seriously considered yourself to be the body and to have a
form. That is the primal ignorance which is the root cause of all trouble.

- Ramana Maharshi (1879-1950)

Sound and Vision: http://www.minds-eye.org