[Kenmac]

For some reason, up until now, I've never uploaded pictures of this guitar to the forum. I guess I just never got around to it but I figured I'd do it now. This is a Brian Moore iGuitar that has a GK-13 pin output for the Roland VG and GR series of guitar processors. Along with the humbucker pickups it also has piezo pickups for an acoustic type sound. Overall it's a pretty versatile guitar.

When I first got it a few years ago I found the pickups were a little on the sterile side and lacked character but it sounds better now. I bought this just about 2 or 3 months before Song Bird Music permanently closed their doors. When I first tried it back then I found it was, and still is, a very easy guitar to play. Coincidentally I was playing it earlier this evening.

This is also the first time I'm linking these photos from a different website. I downloaded all of my photos from Photobucket and what I'm doing now is uploading my guitar oriented photos to the Snapagogo website and my non-guitar photos have been uploaded to Flickr. For those of you who were using Photobucket I'd recommend Snapagogo as a very good alternative. Uploads are very fast and it's easy to create your own themed folders for whatever you upload, plus it's free and there are no annoying ads. Enjoy the photos.

 

[Moot]

Now that's a versatile axe!
Gorgeous, to boot!

Thanks for the heads up about Snapagogo. I'll go check them out.

 

[rwe333]

I used to have a Brian Moore MC/1 - their flagship instrument, pre-iGuitar. Was an incredible build and the company was very good to me, but it really sounded like it's own thing. Needing some classic tones? Not the best choice. But, so stable and well built.

 

[Steadfastly]

Gorgeous looking guitar. The 13 pin outlet is a good choice too.

 

[Kenmac]

Now that's a versatile axe!
Gorgeous, to boot!

Thanks for the heads up about Snapagogo. I'll go check them out.

Thanks Moot. I got a good deal on that guitar from Song Bird Music. I can't recall the exact price but it was under $900.00 including the gig bag. I didn't think that would be the last thing I bought from them but that's the way it goes. I think you'll like Snapagogo.

I used to have a Brian Moore MC/1 - their flagship instrument, pre-iGuitar. Was an incredible build and the company was very good to me, but it really sounded like it's own thing. Needing some classic tones? Not the best choice. But, so stable and well built.

I agree. It's a very solid guitar and with the GK out jack I can hook it up to the Roland VG-99 or the GR-55 and get the tones that I want.

Gorgeous looking guitar. The 13 pin outlet is a good choice too.

Thanks. That's the only guitar I have with a built-in 13 pin output jack.

 

[gtrguy]

I used to have a Brian Moore MC/1 - their flagship instrument, pre-iGuitar. Was an incredible build and the company was very good to me, but it really sounded like it's own thing. Needing some classic tones? Not the best choice. But, so stable and well built.

Have wanted an MC/1 for years, ever since playing a couple of them in London in the mid 90's. Amazing feeling instruments! C-series and i-series guitars are also quite nice but the MC/1 was on another level.

 

[Guest]

I have been using Roland GR-20 and GR-55. I remember problems reported with non GK-3(2) pickups built in. I can't remember what they were now though...

 

[Kenmac]

I have been using Roland GR-20 and GR-55. I remember problems reported with non GK-3(2) pickups built in. I can't remember what they were now though...

There have been issues with some people using Godin guitars with built in GK pickups. Apparently after 5 years or so the pickups either go dead or start losing volume. But on the other hand there have been players who've been using their Godins for years without any issues.

 

[Guest]

There have been issues with some people using Godin guitars with built in GK pickups. Apparently after 5 years or so the pickups either go dead or start losing volume. But on the other hand there have been players who've been using their Godins for years without any issues.

Maybe so but there were other issues with them from the get-go...

 

[Guest]

The issue was with subsonic frequencies causing ghost notes that had nothing to do with the player or the technique or settings but a bug if using anything other than the GK 3 pickup...

I did a search and here is a sample:
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"As I've discovered on the net, there was a bit of an issue with the VG-99 in regards to using it with RMC or Ghost pickups, due to subsonic frequencies not found in magnetic (GK) pickups."

"Yes, the same problem exists with the GR-55 as with the VG-99 (with regard to piezos)

RMC is developing a similar fix for the GR-55, as he did for the VG-99.

Read Here:
RMC OPT-01 - GR-55 Internal Subsonic Filter board
http://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?topic=3236.0"
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Since I have read this (a few years ago) it seems there has been a 3rd party fix:

 

[Guest]

Another explanation of the problem from a forum:

"I had some correspondence with Richard McClish (Mr. RMC) and he shed some light on both the VG units themselves as well as the UST bridge systems. This guy has a brilliant understanding of this stuff and has done gobs of research. The bottom line is that the GR-55 was developed with an input signal algorithm that is hyper-sensitive to piezo level output and in particular to low-frequency handling noise and crosstalk. Apparently Roland has known about this for 6 years now and couldn't care less about their VG base that uses UST bridges for their 13-pin output and has done nothing to address the issue. They just take the approach that they have the GK3, that's that, use and adapt to it or die. Although all UST systems are affected by it, his research shows that the GHOST is the most susceptible to these issues.

The good news is that he put in the effort to develop a module which is a direct plug-in between the GR-55 input and main board of the unit (you have to open it up to install it). It is a high-pass filter to remove the low frequency transmission from UST bridges which cause tracking issues. A new feature in the module is a low-pass filter as well for very high frequencies above what a guitar naturally generates, which can also cause tracking issues. The bad news is that it is $170 on top of an already expensive unit and will void your warranty on the GR-55 if its still in effect. It would be easy to say RMS is just trying to make a buck but I don't believe that for a second; this guy has been dedicated to supporting VR guitar and the community for over 20 years. Plus the reviews indicate that this module really works and makes a huge difference in tracking accuracy (and this is a very critical community)."

 

[Kenmac]

Yeah I knew about the sub-sonic frequencies. I thought there was something else that may have caused problems. I'm also a member of the V-Guitar forums and have been there almost as long as I've been here. BTW here's the thread where a forum member mentions the Godin: Sold my Godin
There are other issues as well that you'll read about in that thread.