Ibanez X-ING IMG2010 MIDI Guitar

Ibanez X-ING IMG2010 Guitar Synthesizer Controller

The Most Advanced Vintage 24-Pin Roland Guitar Synth Controller Ever Built!

Introduction to the Ibanez IMG2010:

The Ibanez IMG2010, like all the Roland guitar synthesizers from the 1980s, was actually built at the same Greco factory that made many of the best Japanese guitars of that era. The designers of the IMG2010, the last of the mass-produced Roland compatible controllers, benefitted from studying the weaknesses and strengths of the Roland models. The IMG2010 a incorporates graphite reinforced neck for stability, playability, and pitch accuracy. The fragile Roland ribbon connector was replaced by a wired harness. The tricky vibrato touch pads were replaced by a knob. The IMG2010 adds a virtual whammy bar mentioned in the Roland service manuals but never implemented by Roland, and Ibanez engineers redesigned the gain structure of the internal trim pots. Proper setup of the trim pots is required for accurate velocity tracking.

Simply put, the revolutionary X-ING IMG2010 is the absolute finest guitar synthesizer controller ever built. The X-ING IMG2010 has more performance features, dead-on pitch stability, quality, sound, and playability that has made Ibanez one of the top guitar manufacturers in the world. If you use this guitar with a vintage guitar synth, or with a modern guitar synth (by using a BC-13, BX-13 or similar device) nothing seems to plays as easily or as accurately as the Ibanez IMG2010. IMG2010 player Mike T. reported a second hand conversation with an Ibanez representative, who remarked that only 500 of these guitars were ever built.

Features of the Ibanez X-ING IMG2010 Guitar Synth Controller:

100% Fully compatible with vintage Roland 24-pin Systems

Graphite reinforced neck eliminates the need for G-707 style stabilizer bar

The only guitar synth controller ever built that supports ALL FOUR Roland Control Voltages

Unique "virtual" whammy bar for perfect bends while maintaining tuning integrity

Buffered control voltage electronics for circuit stability

Custom Ibanez bridge with integrated guitar synth pickups

Steinberger style headstock and design

Precision microtuners in bridge for fast, easy, accurate tuning

Two distinct Ibanez designed humbuckers for premium guitar tones

Continuous control over modulation depth (no awkward touch pads with intermittent operation)

The Ibanez IMG2010 Advantages Over Roland Guitar Synth Controllers:

	Built-In Graphite Stabilizer Bar
	Converting pitch-to-MIDI is a tricky business that requires a guitar with a uniform sound, and no "dead spots" on the neck. Roland’s answer with the G-707 was to add a stabilizer bar to the guitar to eliminate dead spots. Ibanez came up with a much better solution: use graphite to reinforce the neck itself. Thus the X-ING IMG2010 offers the same playing quality as the G-707, without the awkward stabilizer bar. Pat Metheny fans will note that Pat has also replaced one of the necks on his signature G-303 with a graphite neck. The neck of the X-ING IMG2010 is as fast and as playable as one would expect from a top-of-the-line Ibanez guitar. These guitars are still cutting edge instruments for innovative players ready to use technology as a part of their sound.
	Virtual Whammy Bar
	Again, Pitch-to-MIDI conversion requires accurate pitch. The better a guitar can hold its pitch, the better a pitch-to-MIDI converter can works its magic. While the G-505 and G-707 have reasonable tremolos, they fall far short of the standard required for computer pitch tracking. After the whammy bar returns to its home position, the slightest deviation in pitch means more computations and subsequent MIDI pitch messages, and thus more MIDI delay. Ibanez solved this problem by creating a super-stable guitar with a virtual whammy bar. Used with an Ibanez MC1 or Roland GM-70, you can bend MIDI notes as far as you want, and the guitar never goes out of tune, and chords maintain their sound. Add a Roland VG-88 and a SBC+ and you have the best pitch bend system ever devised with virtual modeled guitar tones.
	Continuous Control of all 4 Controllers
	The Ibanez IMG2010 is the only guitar synth controller that uses all 4 controllers. The Roland guitars only offer controllers 1,2 and 4. Furthermore, the IMG2010 does away with the tricky Roland touch pads required to activate the LFO (or Modulation). Simply turn the modulation knob on the IMG2010, and you have modulation. The Roland touch pads actually require the guitarist to complete an electrical circuit with his hands in order to work. Forget about taking your hands off the neck after playing harmonics. And since the Roland touch pads are constantly exposed to oils and moisture from contact with the fingers, they are very prone to corrosion and wear. It is no wonder that one of the original "Craig Anderton" modifications was to eliminate use of the Roland touch pads!
	Guitar Synth Pickup Integrated into the Bridge
	The Roland guitar synth pickup is a separate pickup that sits just in front of the bridge of the guitar. This means the pickup is more sensitive to the mechanical operations of the guitar, bending the whammy bar, etc. Also, the fragile multi-connector is also exposed, and more likely to be damaged. Again, Ibanez set a new standard in design my incorporating the pickup inside the bridge of the guitar! As a result, the Ibanez IMG2010 pickup is closer to the strings, and receives more of the fundamental string tone. The unique Ibanez pickup is less sensitive to unwanted body mechanics, while more sensitive to the string vibrations. Comparing the Ibanez IMG2010 side-by-side with the Roland guitars, it is unmistakable that the Ibanez simply has more output.
	Custom Precision Tuning Mechanism
	In addition to many other innovations in the design of the Ibanez IMG2010, there are precision microtuners in the bridge of the IMG2010. These tuners, combined with the unique headstock of the IMG2010, put this guitar firmly in the territory of classic, vintage Steinberger guitars. In addition to being an excellent system for pitch stability, bridge tuners offer simple conveniences: combined with the locking headstock, you do not need multiple windings to achieve pitch, and when you do need to adjust the pitch of the guitar, the tuning pegs are within easy reach at all times. The entire bridge design makes a clear statement as to how far Ibanez was willing to go to create the ultimate guitar synth controller. In fact, if you look closely, you will find the words "Technology for the Future of Music" on the bridge!
	Improved Electronics Design and Construction
	The IMG-2010 improves on the standard Roland package in three ways: first, only the IMG-2010 has control voltage buffering circuits for control voltage stability. Secondly, the trimmers in the IMG-2010 adjust the output string level from 60% to 100%, rather than the 0% to 100% on the Roland guitars. By limiting the control range, there is more precise control over the string output level. And finally, the IMG-2010 does not use the fragile ribbon connector found in every Roland guitar. Instead, individually insulated solid core wires connect the electronics board with the 24-pin connector. The Roland ribbon connectors become brittle and easily crack with age. The IMG-2010 does use a ribbon connector to connect the hex pickup, but only the IMG-2010 cable has reinforcing backing.

Demo Video Samples of the IMG2010 Guitar with Roland and Ibanez Guitar Synthesizers:

	IMG2010 with CV-13 and VG-99
	I play the guitar dry at first, for that in-you-face jazz tone, then add reverb, since it helps to cover my mistakes! The balance controls then blends the output to pure GR-300. With a vintage Roland controller and the CV-13 you can pretty much recreate the GR-300 experience!
	IMG2010 with CV-13 and VG-99 Virtual GR-300 Performance Demo
	Accomplished jazz guitarist Brad Rabuchin does his turn with the IMG-2010, CV-13 and VG-99. The virtual GR-300 becomes a reality!
	IMG2010 with CV-13 and VG-99 Vintage Hex Fuzz Tones!
	This demo first shows the polyphonic distortion of hex fuzz, then I switch to a blend of the hex fuzz and the VCO synthesizer output, then back to the virtual hollowbody jazz guitar.
	IMG2010 with CV-13 and VG-99 Tone Zila - Pure Tone, Pure and Simple
	This mega-cool patch actually features TWO guitars, a COSM Les Paul and Classic Strat, through a Soldano and Marshall stack (respectively), and panned wide.
	IMG2010 with CV-13 and VG-99 Tone Zila Blues Demo
	The Tone Zila patch just begs to be played, so I put together a simple demo with some familiar blues chord progressions so that you can hear Tone Zila in a more musical situation.
	IMG2010 with CV-13 and VG-99 Mighty Morphing Guitar Tones
	CV#1 is routed to the COSM A/B balance control. Pressing the virtual whammy bar down bends the pitch of the distorted guitar down. Mode switch up turns the virtual wah on, whammy bar up controls the wah-wah.
	IMG2010 with CV-13 and VG-99 Morphing Performance Demo
	Brad Rabuchin takes his turn with the mighty morphing guitar! We had to keep notes handy to remember what-does-what on the IMG2010.
	IMG-2010 with MC1 and REAKTOR 5.0
	In this video the IMG-2010 is hooked up to an Ibanez MC1 pitch-to-midi converter, then the MIDI output from the MC1 drives REAKTOR 5.0 on a Mac G5. The patch on REAKTOR is STEAMPIPE 2.
	IMG-2010 with SBC+ and VG-88
	In this video the IMG-2010 is hooked up to a GM-70, VG-88 and SBC+ 24-to-13 pin bus converter. This allows the IMG-2010 to play the Roland VG-88 and use the virtual whammy bar.
	IMG-2010 with GR-100
	This video is a quick introduction to the sounds and features of the IMG-2010 and GR-100. Each IMG-2010 control is demonstrated: CV1 filter, CV2 resonance, balance, etc, and you can hear the effect on a Roland GR-100.
	IMG-2010 with GR-300
	This video is a quick introduction to the sounds and features of the IMG-2010 and GR-300. Each IMG-2010 control is demonstrated: CV1 filter, CV2 resonance, balance, etc, and you can hear the effect on a Roland GR-300.
	IMG-2010 with GR-700
	This video is a quick introduction to the sounds and features of the IMG-2010 and GR-700. Each IMG-2010 control is demonstrated: CV1 filter, CV2 resonance, balance, etc, and you can hear the effect on a Roland GR-700.
	IMG-2010 with GM-70 and XV-5080
	In this video the IMG-2010 is hooked up to a Roland GM-70 for pitch-to-MIDI conversion. The GM-70 then drives a Roland XV-5080 sound module.
	IMG-2010 with BX-13 and VG-88
	In this short demo, the IMG-2010 is used to simulate a guitar with "Nashville" tuning, strings E through G tuned one octave up. By using the footswitch control found only on the BX-13, the direct guitar sound can be switched on and off.
	IMG-2010 with GI-10
	In this demo, the BX-13 is used with the Ibanez IMG-2010 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.

More about the Incredible Virtual Whammy Bar:

Originally, the IMG2010 was designed to work with MIDI instruments. Used with a Roland GM-70 or Ibanez MC1, the whammy bar can be set to transmit Pitch Bend messages. Of course, you can program the whammy bar to send other messages, like modulation, or delay level. The amount of control the virtual whammy bar has depends on the depth of programming on the MIDI receiver. With the introduction of the Roland VG-88, you can actually use the virtual whammy bar to bend the strings of your guitar as well! I have designed and built a device called the SBC+ for the specific purpose of using an Ibanez IMG2010 with a Roland GM-70 and VG-88. As an alternative, you can use a Roland US-2 with a Roland BC-13, though it is not as flexible a system. Check out the link below to see a QuickTime movie of the amazing virtual whammy bar in action.

	Virtual Whammy Bar with GM-70 and VG-88
	The stock "V-Guitar" patch on the VG-88 has been modified to respond to whammy bar MIDI messages from the GM-70. At the end of the clip, front panel controls are switched on for pitch and modulation.
	That "Pat Metheny" Sound and the IMG2010
	The IMG2010 with a GR-300, SBC+ and a VG-88. This clip shows using the guitar controls to blend the outputs from the GR-300 and VG-88. The GR-300 is processed through external reverb and delay. The acoustic and distorted guitars come directly from the VG-88. Click on the photo to download a 12 MB QuickTime Movie file.


The unique IMG2010 whammy bar is very hard to find or replace. As you can see, there are no threads in the whammy bar. I measured the diameter of the whammy bar as being around 5 mm. I followed a huge auction of Ibanez parts on ebay, and the owner of Ibanez Rules bought the lot. I emailed with a picture of the whammy bar, and bought the two whammy bars shown in the auction for $20 each. The original part number for the whammy bar is YM-05. The original part number for the nylon washer on the whammy bar is YM-06.
This link will take you to a high resolution scan of the whammy bar along with a ruler to help IMG2010 users who would like to fabricate their own whammy bar.

Ultra-Rare IMG2010 with Chrome Hardware:

Out of curiosity I did a search on ebay for the IMG2010 under "completed auctions," and was I shocked when I discovered this ultra-rare IMG2010! According to the auction listing, this was a demo guitar used by an Ibanez sales rep in the eighties, and it had been in storage ever since. Not only was the guitar in mint condition, but it has the chrome hardware that I had only seen in Ibanez print ads for the IMG2010. All the guitars that ever shipped had black anodized hardware. The chrome hardware shown in the pictures from Ibanez looked to be a prototype. And apparently one of these guitars, or perhaps the only guitar, made with this unusual hardware was sold almost immediately on ebay for $950, with an equally mint MC1. If anyone has any more information on this rarity, please let me know, I would love to find out more!

Controls on the IMG2010 and the Roland G-Series Guitars:

This diagram shows the controls on the Ibanez IMG2010 and various Roland guitars. Notice the layout is basically the same. Also, note the IMG2010 does not have touch plates to activate modulation. The vibrato (or modulation) knob, CV#4, is always active on the IMG2010.

The IMG-2010 and the Axstar Guitars and Basses by Ibanez:


Ibanez AX70 Guitar	Ibanez IMG-2010	Ibanez AX60 Bass Guitar
The IMG-2010 seems to be a variation of the headless Axstar guitars produced by Ibanez in the mid-eighties. These guitars were designed to be affordable, cutting edge guitars that appealed to the "modern" musician. The headless design appears to have been inspired by the popular Steinberger guitars.

Guitar Synthesizer Settings with CV-13:

VG-88

String	Pickup-Bridge	Sensitivity
E1	12.0 mm	55
B2	12.0 mm	26
G3	14.0 mm	30
D4	12.0 mm	42
A5	12.0 mm	42
E6	11.0 mm	58

VG-99

String	Pickup-Bridge	Sensitivity
E1	12.0 mm	07
B2	12.0 mm	00
G3	14.0 mm	00
D4	12.5 mm	00
A5	12.5 mm	00
E6	11.0 mm	15

The chart above shows the critical settings I used with the VG-88 and VG-99 to record the video demos. The string sensitivity setting will depend on the level of the trimmers inside the IMG2010. Your playing style may vary.