Jamstik just announced their new midi guitar.
My question would be if this (or their other Jamstik guitars) can be used as a way to get hexaphonic/per string midi data into the computer and then be able to use Midi guitar 3 hex? Or are the jamstiks confined to their own environment?
Because if this could be used with MG3 Hex, this would be a much cheaper way to get the data into the computer as opposed to a Roland/Boss GK-5 + GM-800 setup.
EDIT: If there are some non-obvious reasons for why a Roland setup is still preferred to a Jamstik setup, please let me know!
MG3 Hex needs the six audio inputs from a hex PU to function. The Jamstik guitars do a onboard audio to MIDI conversion and do not transmit the audio streams via the USB cable.
No, it will not work.
Okay, so the Roland system is still the state of the art…
You mention a couple of features like string retuning etc. would you mind elaborating a bit? In other words, I don’t think I fully grasp what the jamstik is missing as opposed to a GK-5 and GM-800 + MG3HEX.
Poly bends is a specific feature that comes to mind. Does the jamstik support that?
i wouldn’t characterize the roland system as ‘state of the art’. far from it. their recent design choices make little or no sense in today’s environment.
on string retuning, the jamstik can give you drop-d or open g or whatever you like at the press of a button (i’d handle this in ableton but there are many other ways to achieve this).
using a midi note filter, you could set the first 5 frets on all strings to be one instrument, the next 5 another, and so on.
i’m fairly certain it does polybends based on this article:
if you’re the type of person who doesn’t want to bring a computer to the gig, then the jamstik (and a hardware synth/sound module) or the gm800 are your main choices. if you’re more of a studio person then you want mg3 or the jamstik.
Thanks for the response. I guess I’m looking for something that tracks chords better than my regular guitar+MG3 setup, and immediately delved into the HEX world. A bit of a shame that I have to buy a new guitar (a jamstik), and not merely be able to plug the gk5 directly into my computer (by usb). What is the consensus on the Fishman Triple Play?
i find the tripleplay to be less fluid/musical than mg2/3. i have an old one hanging out somewhere i’d sell cheap. if i can find it.
on your regular guitar it is worth checking your intonation and pickup height to address the chord tracking.
i don’t think it has been reviewed here for functionality but the subsix pickup is less than $300. pair it with a $200 audio interface and you’ll be hex ready.
plus you’ll be ready for any future mg3 mods which benefit from the superior fidelity as compared to a gk5.
While not cheap, I currently use a GK5 pickup to the Boss GKC-DA converter to 13pin, then 13pin to 6 audio outs via a Separate Strings breakout cable. This goes to 6 audio inputs on my interface. I prefer the newer GK5 and converter to a GK3 or other straight 13pin pickup. This work extremely well for MG3Hex.
for note detection the gk5 is probably just as good as any other option.
but the issue for me is that mg3hex now does analog processing is and about to do more.
features like string retuning and deep expressor work on the analog signal, and thus benefit from better fidelity.
the gk5 is mounted in a non-optimal location for analog sound. and, although i haven’t confirmed this, i assume it, like its predecessors, filters the raw input in order to improve note detection.
imho the future of hex belongs to options like the uber, nu multi, maybe the subsix.
To each his or her own. The GK5 works great for me with MG3Hex. I prefer the streamlined trs cable from the guitar and get a very pure output from the pickup into my interface.
it looks like there are two cables, one on each side? once you get it working i’d love to hear your thoughts on the differences between the subsix and the gk5.
