Roland GK-1 Kit

The Roland GK-1 is the predecessor to the much more familiar Roland GK-2/GK-2A and GK-3 pickup systems. The GK-1 mounted on the surface of any guitar to add vintage 24-pin controller capability. The GK-1 is more compact and less intrusive than the LPK-1, STK-1 or BAK-1 kit, but some features were removed to decrease the size. The GK-1 lacks the modulation control and mode change control found on all other controllers.


Roland GK-1 Guitar Synth Pickup Kit.	Roland GK-1 Guitar Synth Pickup Kit.	Pat Metheny with a GK-1 unit holder mounted just below the bridge of his Gibson ES-175 guitar.	Heavy Metal Virtuoso Ritchie Blackmore with a GK-1 attached to his Fender Stratocaster.

GK-1 Kit includes:

1- Roland GK-1 divided pickup
1- C24G Cable
1 - Guitar input cable (1/4” to Mini)
1 - Unit holder
1 - Pickup cushion
10 - Pickup spacers
1 - Holder spacer
1 - 25 mm Taping Screw (for fixing end pin)
2 - 20 mm Taping Screws (for fixing Divided Pickup)
8 - 15 mm Taping Screws (for fixing Unit Holder)
2 - Springs (for adjusting the height of Divided Pickup)
1 - Double-sided adhesive tape (for fixing unit holder)

Synthesizer Driver Details:


Super RARE Roland GK-1 Hexaphonic Synthesizer Pickup	Roland GK-1 Synthesizer Control Unit	Roland GK-1 Synthesizer Driver with C-24G 15’ cable and 24-pin Connector

More Details:


Roland GK-1 Synthesizer Control Unit Bracket	Miniature to 1/4 Guitar Input Jack	Hardware for fixing Divided Pickup

Control Module:


Top View: Control Module Electronics	Bottom View: Control Module Electronics	Control Module Electronics in Casing

Video Samples of the GK-1 and GR-300 and GM-70 with XV-5080:

	GK-1 and GR-300, Clip One
	This is a quick demo of the GK-1 with the GR-300. After briefly strumming all six strings, I tweak the controls, then play the GR-300 with all the various options: pitch control A and B, envelope modulation, etc.
	GK-1 and GR-300, Clip Two
	This is a quick demo of the GM-70 with the GR-300. After briefly strumming all six strings, I tweak the controls, then play a GR-300 in duet mode with layered 5ths.
	GK-1 and GR-300, Clip Three
	This video is a quick introduction to the sounds and features of the GK-1 and GR-300. Each GK-1 control is demonstrated: CV1 filter, CV2 resonance, balance, etc, and you can hear the effect on a Roland GR-300. These videos represent an extreme of what a GK-1 can do. The system was really designed with solid body guitars in mind, but you can see it works just fine on an old acoustic ovation.
	GK-1, BX-13 V3 and VG-99, Clip One
	This clip uses a BX-13 V3 to interface the vintage GK-1 system with the Roland VG-99. 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.
	GK-1, BX-13 V3 and VG-99, Clip Two
	This clip uses a BX-13 V3 to interface the vintage GK-1 system with the Roland VG-99. 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.
	GK-1 and GM-70 with XV-5080, Clip One
	FIrst you hear the clean output of the Xotica Guitar, then the balance control fades in the XV-5080. I adjust the XV-5080 master volume, then tweak Control 1 and Control 2. This clip shows all four controls working properly, plus the direct guitar input.
	GK-1 and GM-70 with XV-5080, Clip Two
	In this video a GK-1 is hooked up to a Roland GM-70 for pitch-to-MIDI conversion. The GM-70 then drives a Roland XV-5080 sound module. First you hear extreme synth sounds, then next patch is an expressive Soprano Sax, then finally velocity switch acoustic guitar. When playing the Ovation softly you hear harmonics, medium is standard guitar, and hard playing results in a finger slide!

Download GK-1 Manual

Download GK-1 Manual Addendum on Trimmer Adjustment