Latest research project in the JazzMando Laboratories, the wide world of MIDI with a Roland GK-3 MIDI pickup recently installed on our Jonathan Mann EM-5 electric 5-string mandolin. Fertile ground for some terrific new sonorities, we're uncovering the ins and outs (13 pins worth) of MIDI cables, proper magnetic tracking distance, and ergonomic positioning. All seems to be working effectively; the real challenge is adapting proper playing style, however.

Sure, a synth module can make sounds like a sax or organ, but is there a proper picking technique that can emulate their attacks, or convincingly affect the nuance and phrasing of these instruments? Hardly, and our goal is to come up with something more appropriate, less novelty. So far, the best direction is capturing the approach of some well known guitarists, Pat Metheney, Lee Ritenour, Al Demiola, for example, but we're hoping to uncover patches that fit the electric mando best. Layering a synth pad an octave up sounds great, and the vibes and "whistle" sounds are incredibly intuitive; we've yet to scratch the surface.

We're using Roland GK-09 Guitar Synth Module, and hope to try it out on a GK-20 soon, too. We'll be weighing in as we progress. For now let's just say the GK-3 was very effective putting this project on (single) course. String spacing was perfect, although we only needed 5 of the 6 string poles.

More to come as we document our fun!

Geek Specs: Roland GK-3 MIDI pickup

Special thanks to Joey Arata and Paul Alfery from Roland US in setting up this project over a couple brews and some Mastadon bones at Winter NAMM this year.

Posted by Ted at March 1, 2008 6:35 AM