BX-13 V3 Expanded Bus Converter Version 3
New Version 3 Expands Control with Support for Resonance and the IMG2010 Virtual Whammy Bar!
Combines Features of Roland BC-13 with Expanded Foot Switch Controls and More!
Works with Roland G-202, 303, 505, 707, 808, Ibanez IMG2010 and Roland GI-10, GI-20, GR-1, GR-9, GR-30, GR-33, VG-88, VG-99 and More!



The BX-13 V3 sells for $499. Email for availability.

Features of the BX-13 V3:
  • New! Version 3 Use CV2 (Resonance) to control Roland Synthesizers with EV-5 Input!
  • New! Version 3 Use CV3 (Virtual Whammy Bar Ibanez IMG2010 ) to control Roland Synthesizers with EV-5 Input!
  • Precision Top Panel Control for Synth Volume Calibration
  • Precision Top Panel Guitar Volume Control
  • EV-5 Volume Pedal Input (for Guitar or Hex Fuzz Output)
  • Hex Fuzz Input (for G-202, G-303, G-505, G-808)
  • Adapts Vintage Roland Guitar Synthesizers to Control Modern Guitar Synthesizers
  • Expands on Roland BC-13 Features by Adding Individual Foot switch Controls for Guitar and Synthesizer Output
  • Powered by 13-Pin Guitar Cable! No External Power Supply or Batteries Required
  • Rugged Stomp-Box Enclosure Design
  • Backed by One-Year Parts and Labor Warranty
  • Elegant Design
Version 3 Adds New Levels of Expression With Expanded Control Possibilities:

    A little history: I built a project guitar that included a Roland EV-5 control inside the guitar. This was basically a EV-5 using a knob, rather than a foot pedal. This turned out to be very useful, allowing the player to control chorus depth, envelope attack, or whatever control desired from the guitar. However, this setup also required an additional TRS cable from the guitar, to the EV-5 input on the guitar synthesizer. And this was only possible because I had an empty hole to fill in the guitar!

    I realized the same feature would be possible using the BX-13 and the resonance control (CV2). Currently, with the BX-13 V1 and V2, the resonance contol does nothing. So I added a circuit that would transform the resonance control into an EV-5. This worked great! This new feature gives the player more expressive control over the guitar synthesizer, without any modifications to the guitar, or guitar synthesizer. This setup works with any Roland guitar synthesizer with an EV-5 input: VG-88, VG-99, GI-10, GI-20 and more. The GR-20 or GR-33 do not have an EV-5 input.

    I used the original BX-13 V3 prototype with my Ibanez IMG2010 guitar, and thought it would be great to use the virtual whammy bar (CV3) as a controller as well. So a switch was added to select from CV2 (resonance) and CV3 (virtual whammy bar). Now I could do all the crazy pitch dives using only my IMG2010 and VG-99. Since the IMG2010 actually generates two different voltages, depending on whether the bar is pressed down, or pulled up, the BX-13 V3 only supports the bar being pushed down.

    This setup requires a TRS cable from the BX-13 V3 to the guitar synthesizer’s EV-5 input. For this reason, the BX-13 V3 package also includes a high quality 12’ TRS cable.


In this example, a 12’ TRS cable connects the Control Out on the BX-13 V3 to the Sub Expression Pedal input on the Roland VG-99.


The New Link Between Vintage and Modern Roland Guitar Synth Technology:

    For about ten years, Roland Corporation and other manufacturers produced a range of unique, very high quality 24-pin guitar synthesizer controllers. With the advent of the contemporary Roland 13-pin standard, vintage guitar synth owners could only access the latest in guitar synthesizer technologies with the incredibly rare, hard-to-find Roland BC-13 Bus Converter.

    The BX-13 V3 is the answer for vintage guitar synthesizer players who want to access modern guitar synthesizer technology while playing their treasured vintage guitar synth controller. The BX-13 V3 is more affordable than the typical "collector" prices on the Roland BC-13, and it has more features.


The original BC-13 and accessories on the left, and the new BX-13 V3 and accessories on the right. The BX-13 V3 includes an owner’s manual and a 12’ TRS cable to connect from the BX-13 V3 to a Roland guitar synthesizer with an EV-5 input.


Expanded Dedicated Foot Switch Control over Synthesizer and Guitar Outputs:



GK1-MIX.JPG
This diagram shows how the Roland BC-13 uses the Resonance knob to switch guitar and synth on and off.
The BC-13 uses the Resonance Knob (CV#2) in a way that is very similar to the Mode switch on the vintage GR-series guitar. But rather than having a three-position switch, the knob has three "zones." The first zone is guitar only, the middle zone is guitar and synth, and last zone is synth only. Confusing? Yes.

As you can imagine, it is almost impossible to quickly and accurately turn guitar and synth signals on and off.
The BX-13 V3 improves on the BC-13 by adding two dedicated foot switches with LEDs instead of using the Resonance knob. One foot switch is for Synthesizer Output, and one is for Guitar Output. Nothing could be simpler for controlling the outputs of your Synth and Guitar signal. In addition, the BX-13 V3 in enclosed in a rugged, stomp-box type enclosure. The BC-13 is an inline design, basically a giant lump in the middle of your guitar cable, much like the AC transformers popular with some manufacturers.


Top Panel Precision Volume Controls for Synthesizer and Guitar:

    A look at the schematics of various Roland guitar controllers reveals that no two are wired exactly the same. Likewise, the internal circuitry of a Roland GI-10, GI-20 and GR-20 differs with each unit. As a result, maximum volume levels can change with different guitars or different synthesizers. The original BX-13 used a "one-size-fits-all" calibration like the BC-13. Now, the BX-13 V3 adds a top panel control to easily fine-tune to synth volume output for maximum sensitivity and maximum output.

    The BX-13 V3 also adds a top panel control for the direct (humbucker) output of the guitar as well. With the original Roland BC-13 and BX-13 this volume was fixed. Also, if you are using a Roland G-202, G-303, G-505, or G-808 you can also select the hex fuzz guitar output instead of the direct (humbucker) output. And, by plugging a Roland EV-5 volume pedal into the BX-13 V3 you can control the volume of the direct (humbucker) or hex fuzz output.


    		Top Panel Controls
    The BX-13 V3 adds top panel controls for synthesizer and direct (humbucker) guitar output, plus a switch to select from guitar or hex fuzz sound for Roland G-202, G-303, G-505, or G-808 players. All three outputs can be accessed by selecting the hex fuzz sound with the BX-13 V3 and using the 1/4” Guitar output jack on the guitar.


Buffered Electronic Connections:

    The early Roland Guitar synth controllers, such as the G-202, G-303, G-505 and G-808, do not buffer the output of their volume controls. Later guitars, like the Roland G-707 and the Ibanez IMG2010, added a buffer stage to their volume controls. As a result, early guitars tend to "load" the input to the Roland BC-13, resulting in only 80 to 90 percent of the full volume output.

    The BX-13 V3 solves this problem by adding an electronic buffer stage for the volume signal. The electronic buffer stage isolates the volume control signal so that any vintage guitar works smoothly with any modern guitar synthesizer.


    		Inputs and Outputs
    Like a Roland BC-13, the BX-13 V3 has a 24-pin Guitar Synth a 13-pin Guitar Synth output connector. With only the 24-pin cable plugged in, the level of the direct (humbucker) guitar sound is controlled by the top panel guitar volume knob, and by the optional EV-5 volume pedal. If you want to vary the level of the direct (humbucker) sound using the volume knob on the guitar, then a second cable is connected from the 1/4” Guitar output jack on the Guitar Controller to your mixer or amplifier.


Compatible with Vintage Bass Guitar Synthesizers:

    The BX-13 V3 has also been thoroughly tested with the vintage Roland bass guitar synthesizer controllers like the G-88. To test for compatibility, the G-88 was plugged into the BX-13 V3, then the BX-13 V3 was connected to a GI-20. The Roland GI-20 supports bass guitar synths with a switch on the back panel for bass operation.

    Other Roland guitar synths, such as the GR-50 may not work properly, since they were not designed to handle to lower frequencies of a bass guitar.


    The BX-13 V3 is also designed to work with bass controllers as well. However, it is important that the connected synthesizer supports bass synthesizer operation.


QuickTime Video Demos:

GK-1, BX-13 V3 and VG-99, Clip One
This is the first of two clips demonstrating a GK-1 with the amazing BX-13-V3 and the VG-99. In both demos, I used a Xotica acoustic guitar, with the GK-1 pickup temporarily attached to the bridge.
GK-1, BX-13 V3 and VG-99, Clip Two
This is clip number two. The beauty of the GK-1 is that you can use it with a vintage synth, like the GR-300/GR-700, or with a Roland VG-99, using a BX-13 V3.
BX-13 V3 Roland GI-20 IMG2010 GR-300 Various Synths
This demo shows the BX-13 V3 used with the GI-20. First, the BX-13 V3 is MIDIed to a Roland XV-5080 playing a GR-300 patch. The virtual whammy bar is programmed for pitch bend. Next I use the USB connection from the GI-20 to drive Native Instruments Kontakt. First I play some GR-700 patches I created, then I drive the Garritan Violin. In this last patch, CV-2 is used to control modulation (violin vibrato).
BX-13 V3 VG-99 IMG2010 GR-300 Virtual Vintage Synth Emulation
The VG-99 does an outstanding simulation of the classic Roland GR-300. CV#1 controls volume, and CV#2 controls filter cutoff. The mode switch works just like the GR-300 mode switch! Up for synth, down for hex guitar, and middle for hex plus synth guitar.
BX-13 V3 VG-99 IMG2010 Whammy Bar Pitch Dives
A BX-13 V3 converts the IMG2010 to 13-pin format, then a VG-99 is used with the V-guitar distortion. You can bend and dive all you want, and the guitar stays in tune!
VG-99 BX-13 V3 IMG2010 Dual Guitar Paths!
No COSM guitars here! The guitar sound is pure IMG2010! CV#1 is used to control the Marshall Amp output, and CV#2 controls the clean output. You can hear the different tones from the IMG2010 pickups. The clean path includes heavy compression. You can control both sounds from the guitar using CV#1 and CV#2: distortion plus clarity.
BX-13 V3 VG-88 IMG2010 Resonance and Whammy Bar Pitch Dives
A BX-13 V3 converts the IMG2010 to 13-pin format, then a VG-88 is used with the V-guitar distortion. At first resonance is used to control pitch, then the virtual whammy bar is used to control pitch.
BX-13 V3 VG-88 IMG2010 Resonance and Whammy Bar Controls Chorus Depth
A BX-13 V3 converts the IMG2010 to 13-pin format, then a VG-88 is played using the Space Strat patch. At first resonance is used to control chorus depth, then the virtual whammy bar is used to control depth.
XJ-S with BX-13 V2 US-20 VG-88 GI-10 and VL-70M
A BX-13 V2 converts the XJ-S to 13-pin format, then a US-20 selects from VG-88 and a GI-10 hooked to a Yamaha VL-70M. Direct output with the VG-88 features BX-13 V2 volume swells and hex fuzz. A BC-2 breath controller is used with the VL-70M
Using a Vintage Controller with the Latest Roland Technology
A BX-13 V1 with the Ibanez IMG2010 guitar is used to access the cool sounds of the cutting edge Roland VG-88 Virtual Guitar System. In this short demo, the IMG2010 is used to simulate a guitar with "Nashville" tuning, strings E through G tuned one octave up. By using the foot switch control found only on the BX-13 V1, the direct guitar sound can be switched on and off.
Pitch-to-MIDI Tracking
In this demo, the aBX-13 V1 is used with the Ibanez IMG2010 to play drive a Yamaha CS6R with a Roland GI-10 Pitch-to-MIDI converter. Notice how quickly the CS6R responds and how well it tracks both pitch bends and dynamic range.
Calibration of the BX-13 V2 with a VG-88
Calibration of the BX-13 V2 is simple: turn the synth volume off on the BX-13 V2. Next, turn the filter knob on the guitar synth controller to maximum. Next, slowly increase the synth volume on the BX-13 V2 until your guitar synthesizer is at maximum volume. In this video, I am using a Roland VG-88. The mixer page under guitar edit shows when the volume reaches 100, maximum on the VG-88.
Bass Synthesizer Control
The BX-13 V2 is used here with a Roland GI-20 driving a Roland XV-5080. I also demonstrate using the optional EV-5 pedal to create volume swells with the natural bass pickup output. The Roland GI-20 has a rear panel switch for bass operation.


Programming the Three-Way Mode Switch with the VG-99 GR-300 Emulation:

The industry-standard Fender Roland-Ready Strat uses two momentary push buttons for GK S1 and S2 switch, here labeled Up and Down.
Similar to the Fender Roland-Ready guitar, Godin has two momentary pushbuttons for S1 and S2.
S1 and S2 are combined on one spring loaded toggle switch on the Brian Moore Roland-Ready guitars.
    A little more Roland history: Roland premiered the GK-2 pickup with two momentary switches, S1 and S2. By default, these switches were used to step through programs on the original GR-50 rack-mount guitar synthesizer. Some players may also be familiar with the S1 and S2 switches on the Fender Roland-Ready guitar synthesizers. On the Brian Moore series of Roland-Ready iGuitars, and some of the Godin Guitars, S1 and S2 worked off a spring loaded toggle switch.

    The BC-13 and BX-13 translate the three position Mode switch on the Roland vintage guitars into S1 and S2 as well. The converted vintage mode switch is down for S1, and up for S2. Obviously, there is a third possibility, with the switch in the middle. The VG-99 now makes it possible for someone using a BX-13 to recreate the Mode switch as used on the original GR-300. This is done by ignoring the standard S1 and S2 settings and using the additional control assignments on the VG-99. There are more possibilities with the BX-13, but I will use the GR-300 emulation on the VG-99 as an example of how to program this cool feature.

      Step One - Disable Standard S1 and S2: I know this sounds a little crazy, but we are going to be using S1 and S2 a bit differently than the default mode. On the VG-99, press the Control Assign button, then from Page 1, press the S1, S2 button. Turn both S1 and S2 off.

      Step Two - Using General Control Assign: Now use the Page keys to move to Page 7, which shows control assignment options 1-6. Press F1 (Assign 1), and set the following parameters:

      • Source = GK S1
      • SW = ON
      • Target Parameter = F4 (A) COSM GUITAR
      • Target Parameter = F5 SYNTH GR-300
      • Target Parameter = F6 MODE


      Next press the Page key to move to the next page (2), and set the following parameters:

      • Source = GK S1
      • MIN = V+D
      • MAX= DIST
      • SW MODE = MOMENT
      • RANGE LOW = 0
      • RANGE HIGH = 127


      Press the Exit key and Press F2 (Assign 2), and set the following parameters:

      • Source = GK S2
      • SW = ON
      • Target Parameter = F4 (A) COSM GUITAR
      • Target Parameter = F5 SYNTH GR-300
      • Target Parameter = F6 MODE


      Next press the Page key to move to the next page (2), and set the following parameters:

      • Source = GK S1
      • MIN = V+D
      • MAX= VCO
      • SW MODE = MOMENT
      • RANGE LOW = 0
      • RANGE HIGH = 127


      Why does this work? Roland products are designed to support S1 and S2 switches that are only momentary switches. This design works great for stepping through programs, as each successive press either moves one program up, or one program down. But with a BX-13 we can do more, and take advantage of the middle position. It only takes a minute to program these changes, and you can build a GR-300 emulation patch that works just like the real thing.

      Of course, you there are more possibilities. Using the same principles, you can design the Mode switch to work just like the pickup switch on a Les Paul, with neck, neck and bridge, and bridge only pickup selections. The standard S1 and S2 functions allow you to step through pickup selections, but you never know exactly which combination you are playing until you hear it. With the BX-13, you can select the pickup combination just like with a real guitar.


Fine Adjustment of CV2 and CV3 Control Outputs:

    As of January, 2009, I am adjusting the BX-13 V3 controls for use with the Roland VG-99 and the Ibanez IMG2010. The BX-13 V3 works with any synthesizer, and any guitar, but because of differences in design, some fine tuning may be in order to get the best response from the system.


    CV2 - Resonance Knob is a small blue trimmer with a orange/white and purple/white wire attached. To increase the output of the resonance knob, turn the trimmer in a counterclockwise direction. CV3 - Whammy Bar is a small blue trimmer with a blue/white wire attached. To increase the output of the Ibanez IMG2010 whammy bar, turn the trimmer in a clockwise direction.


Frequently Asked Questions:

  • Does the BX-13 V3 add any latency or delay?


    • NO! None of my processors add any delay at all. Like the GR-300 and GR-100, they are purely analog processors that do not suffer from the inevitable latency introduced by digital systems. Many players notice that their guitar synths actually play better, since the gain stages have been especially designed to deliver the best possible signal to the guitar synthesizer.

  • Can I control the synthesizer volume with the optional EV-5 pedal?


    • NO! Only the direct (humbucker) guitar or hex fuzz volume.

  • Can I get the hex fuzz sound with my G-707?


    • NO! Only the Roland G-202, G-303, G-505, or G-808 have the hex fuzz sound. The G-707, and GK-1 and the IMG2010 do not have hex fuzz. Some third party guitars, like the Custom Shop Les Paul or the Pedulla MVP guitars do have the hex fuzz circuit.

  • Will the BX-13 V3 work with ANY Vintage Roland Guitar Controller or Guitar Synth?


    • YES! I have tested this with the Roland G-303, G-505, G-707, G-808 and the Ibanez IMG2010. The BX-13 V3 is also designed to work well with the Roland GK-1, and other third party controllers built by Gibson, Steinberger and others. The BX-13 V3 has also been tested with the Roland GI-10 and VG-88.

  • How do I calibrate the synth volume?


    • First, turn the BX-13 V3 synth volume knob fully counter-clockwise (zero). Then turn the Filter/CV1 knob on the Guitar to maximum (fully clockwise). While playing your guitar, slowly turn the BX-13 V3 synth volume knob clockwise until you reach maximum volume. If you are using a VG-88 you can monitor the mix level output. When the mix level reaches 100, you are at maximum volume. The typical position for the BX-13 V3 synth volume knob is 3 o’clock.

  • Does this unit require any power?


    • NO. The BX-13 V3 gets its power from the connection to the guitar synthesizer. This is the same approach Roland used for the BC-13, US-20 and GKP-4.

  • How was the BX-13 V3 developed? Is there anything else like the BX-13 V3?


    • YES! The BX-13 V3 contains circuitry derived from the SBC+.

  • Is there anything like a "reverse" BC-13 or BX-13 V3? I want to use a modern, 13-pin guitar synth controller to control a vintage, 24-pin synth.


    • YES! The RC-1324 translates modern, 13-pin signals into 24-pin signals, and provides all the necessary control voltages plus hex fuzz.

  • Where do you get the connectors? I thought they were discontinued by Roland a long time ago.


    • YES! Roland discontinued the connectors from active production about fifteen years ago. So the 24 pin connectors are virtually impossible to find. I bought as many of these connectors as I could from Roland a while back. Depending on availability, I also use connectors refurbished vintage guitars and synths. Either way, there is no new supply of these connectors, so all the processors I build have a very, very limited production run.



Download the BX-13 V3 Owner’s Manual

Programming the Virtual Whammy with the VG-99

View the BX-13 Version 1

View the BX-13 Version 2

View the DC-13 Dual Output Converter


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