midi? anyone?

The GR-30, not the PU does the conversion.
The GK-2A is just a block with 1 pickup per string (which makes me think it won't do a very good job with a bass).
You can use any individual pickup as long as it uses a 13 pin output.
As a general rule, you can expect a bass to track twice as slow as a guitar.

 

The tracking is done in the synth, the divided pickup just sends regular audio to the synth. The pup doesn't track per se, but something like the RMC pickup may be tracked better by the pitch to MIDI converter in the synth. On the Roland synths, the internal tracking is a little faster than the external MIDI output, due to some tricks they use to enhance the internal synth. The GI 20 supposedly tracks a little better than the older models like the GR-30, but I haven't used the GI 20 myself.

I can tell you that accurately tracking guitar requires very precise technique, and slapping would confuse the heck out of my GR-09. Bass will presumably be worse, but I could be wrong about that. There is a sensitivity setting for tapping, but then you lose a lot of the touch sensitivity you'd normally want. That might be better for MIDI note entry into the computer though. You can turn off the tracking of bends, and make everything chromatic, but that tends to feel weird on a lot of patches.

If I were you I'd just get a guitar and use what you have, I think you'll get more satisfactory results. Personally, I'd just get a keyboard and be done with it, but YMMV.

 

as mentioned, the cleanness of your technique will affect your tracking.

I've tried a number of midi convertors with bass, and the best I found was the Axon 100SB. Even with that, there was still noticeable delay on the thicker strings. The Roland GR-20 was just ok.

Here's a general workaround I used, which isn't workable for all scenarios but helped me. Set the midi to transpose down an octave, and play all your lines an octave up. That way, you get the benefit of the faster tracking.

 

I use the Axon also. Lighter guage strings also help.... a little.

 

well, if you don't like it, feel free to send it to me

 

I picked up a Roland GI-20 and the GK-3B bass pickup. Setup is the key to good tracking. Sensitivity setting in the GI20, good new bright strings, play in a higher octave range and use the midi software to octave down if needed a lower note. No slides, clean playing only. Mix the audio sig and the midi so you can get your bass note w/midi synth or sampler accompanying. The GI20 sends midi code just like any midi keyboard so it can be used to trigger any soft-synth, module, or sampler. The ultimate in freaky synth noise from strings......dg