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Roland GR-33 and a Godin A4

Landy67

Landy67

Guest
Jul 30, 2012
456
99
The Peoples Republic of MA
#1
Does anyone know if they work together?

My brother has one, and he uses it with a Carvin Nylon string guitar that has a built in 13 pin synth connection. He wants to upgrade to a Roland GR-55, and give me the "hand-me-down" GR-33 to use with my Godin A4 Ultra. (not bad since he's the little brother that got my hand-me-down ugly sweaters, jackets, and ice-skates)

I tried it out today, but it doesn't work the same way with my A4 as it does with the guitar. With the guitar, you can hear the guitar and the synth, with the bass, it only works with a few notes, and you can't hear the bass, just the effects of the synth.

Has anyone tried to use a GR-33 with a bass, and does it work?
 
#2
The current GK3b pickup is advertised as being compatible with the GR55, Gi20, V-Bass and GR20 ver.2. An October 2004 update to the GR20 was made available for download so if you can find that you'll be good to go.
 
#4
Sorry Landy, I confused the GR33 with the GR20 in the post. It was late and I'd just got off a long flight. I think you're out of luck. The GR33 is 4-5 years older than the GR20 and Roland makes no mention of any compatibility with the bass version pickup. They specifically mention the ver.2 GR20 which, in Roland-speak means nothing prior will work. The good news, if any, is that GR20's are 10 years old now and should go for around $150 used. You already have the hex pickup built in ($200) so you're halfway there at least. Look around and you should find a few for sale as a lot of people that bought the GR stuff didn't like the tracking or programming or didn't want to drill their guitar for the pickup. Good luck, don't expect flawless tracking or the ability to sound like a 4 string 100 piece orchestra but if you take the time to program usable patches the sounds can be stellar. I use my GR33b - analog 1981 edition - for sub harmonics, swells and filter sweeps. Very much an effect pedal rather than an instrument on its own.
 
#6
Due to a situation beyond my brother's control, I have the GR-55 for the week. So far, I'm not real happy with the A4 and the GR-55. The GR seems to be far too sensitive for a fretless. It seems like any movement of my fretting fingers causes the notes to jump. I put my tuner on and watched. All I have to be off by is a fraction of a note and it changes what I'm playing.

The guitar isn't nearly as sensitive.
 

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