How useful would a VG or Roland Strat be with MIDI Guitar stuff these days? I expect one could be found for the price of the underlying “normal” guitar these days.
Just a guitar with hexaphonic pickups will not enable new possibilities or options in MG3. To make use of the MIDI Guitar Hex add on program you need an audio interface with at least 6 channels and a breakout cable from the hex PU 13-pin plug to 6 x TRS, or a Roland/Boss guitar synthesizer (GP-10, SY-1000, GM-800, VG-800).
Thank you for the information. I suppose I was just looking for an excuse to finally, 60 years into it, to buy a real Stratocaster? It seems my Native Instruments Komplete Audio 6 comes up very short for this. I also am understanding that a 6 channel mixer going in to the Komplete Audio 6 would not do the trick? FWIW I have various guitars, the Audio 6 interface, Komplete Standard 13 (which includes Guitar Rig), and Reaper. (Also a Behringer FCB1010 that I am still very unfamiliar with.) I have hardly begun to dig in and use the MG2 let alone MG3. So I will try to make more time to enjoy making use of what I have! Thank you for so quickly getting me what I needed to know. I did spend quite a bit of time reading and watching stuff about this but you really helped filter and focus.
Correct, the 6 channels must go directly into the computer (USB) not as a summed up signal.
The benefit of MG3 Hex would allow you to use the following modules:
- Single String Retuning
- Chord Shifter
- String Filter
- Mute Open Strings
Just to give you an idea!
Meaning that if I wanted to do quick moves (without using tuning pegs of physical guitar) to drop d or open C6 etc without going hex?
It all does sound like interesting, rewarding, fun though.
Yes, to retune single strings (software wise) it is essential that the individual strings are detected. This is only possible using a hex pickup.
There’s also a GK guitar with built-in retuning/guitar modelling, which outputs the full retuned signal at your 1/4” output. You may have some success with feeding this into MG3. But note, the specific GK guitar I mentioned cannot be used for MG3 Hex.
I’ve also tried feeding the processed retuned signal from an SY-1000 into MG3 and it works pretty well.
I just came across HEX.FX.ORG. It seems to claim to change the plug in on the guitar body with electronics to allow access to the HEX of the pickup. Anyone familiar with this? Thanks.
it looks like the hex fx doesn’t add any capabilities to a standard roland gk3, it is designed to provide a solution which is internally mounted rather than attached to the surface.
the address has a dash instead of a dot:
is your primary goal to get a realistic strat sound? i believe guitar rig can get you 80% of the way there. for playability you may prefer a modeled rather than a sampled option (i think komplete is probably sampled). there’s at least one modeled vst but i can’t recall what it is called.
the fcb1010 will be a great partner for mg3, but it can be a bear to program.
I am having a bit of remorse. On having seen that a local used store had a VG Strat (and not having seen/touched one since 2007) whilst spending considerable time looking into MG3, and then driving down from the mountains to take daughter to airport I went in to look at it. Close to closing time for store and fear of missing out, and… I bought it. Very good condition, life goal to get a real Fender strat. But do I need it? If it can do hex on MG3 I will feel better about keeping it. It kind of looked like this Hex.Fx plug with its electronics under the jack might do that. Thanks for looking into it.
And regarding the FCB1010 I have started to read this https://learn.sparkfun.com/tutorials/midi-tutorial/all#introduction I also found some youtubes, and (crazy thing to do) downloaded the actual Behringer manual!
the vg strat is very interesting. having alt tunings and acoustic emulation built in makes it a great touring instrument for the right player.
it may need some serious rewiring to add hex output though. if you care to, take some photos of the open cavity and look for the cable coming from the hex pickup.
setting up the fcb1010 is manageable if one has a great deal of patience. at least the programming is a one time deal, once you get it working it’ll just keep on trucking.
This is a flat mounting 13-pin cable connector designed to replace existing side-mounted GK connectors. It doesn’t add external hex capabilities; it simply addresses a pain point of strat + GK users.
If I understand correctly, the guitar you purchased is a VG Strat, which is the same one I described in my previous post. It does not have a 13-pin output.
it does have a hex pickup though. i doubt this could be used simultaneously with the onboard existing electronics, but if mg3hex is the goal it seems possible.
most likely the pickup is an off the shelf gk.
I think we have to clearly differentiate the VG Strat from a Roland Ready Strat.
Both have a hex pickup but only the latter allows you to connect to a GK-compatible hex device for MG3 Hex — like the GP-10 or SY-1000 — via a 13-pin cable. Of course, this all predates GK-5 technology.
The VG Strat requires modification to use the existing hex pickup (the strip installed at the bridge) with an external device. That’s probably beyond many people’s electronic capabilities though certainly possible. The VGuitar forum is where interested parties can learn more about all this stuff.
1 Like