Roland GK-2 User manual

Roland
SYNTHESIZER DAIVER
DK-Z
Owner's Manual

The Roland Synthesizer Driver GK-2 can turn the
usual electric guitar to the controller for the GR-50
Synthesizer.
To make the best use of the GK-2, please read this
owner's manual carefully.
ff] FEATURES
e The GK-2 is designed to compact that it can be
connected to almost all types of electric guitars.
e The GK-2 simply consists of Pickup and Pickup
Controller Unit for synthesizer, therefore does
not need complicated procedure for installation.
e The switches on the Controller Unit of the GK-2
can change patches on the GR-50. It is also
possible to assign different functions other
than Patch selection to these switches.
Mi WARRANTY OF THE GK-2
Roland guarantees the GK-2 unit and all the parts
included in the package. Contact Roland service
Station when you wish to have the unit repaired.
Roland does not guarantee any trouble what-
soever caused by your processing the GK-2, such
as deterioration in appearance or function of the
GK-2 or the damage on the guitar. Such troubles
should be consulted with the shop where you
bought the GK-2.
Mi CONTENTS
WH FEATURES accra 2
WI WARRANTY aee ea eee eaaa eee ea awae 2
WH PANEL DESCRIPTION ............iaar eaaa eaaa 3
MB IMPORTANT NOTES nen. 4
INSTALLATION anae aranana nana nane aana aane 5
BB IMPORTANT NOTES ocn 5
1. Attaching the Pickup Controller Unit ....... 7
2. Attaching the Divided Pickup ................... 8
a. Using Both-sided Adhesive Tape ........... 8
b. Using SChEWS enerne 11
OPERATION | baba aan aga a Sa ana aan adi 12
1. How to connect the GK-2 oo... 12
2. Functions of Switches acere 13
BI SPECIFICATIONS oiccen 13

Mi PANEL DESCRIPTION
@ Normal Guitar Input Jack
@ Power Indicator \
@ Synthesizer Volume
= @ Divided Pickup
DOWN/S1
© GK-2 Socket
SYNTH VOL
UP/S2
© S2 Switch
@ S1 Switch @ Selector Switch

@ Divided Pickup
The Divided Pickup detects the vibration on the
guitar. Connect this between the bridge and the
pickup.
© S1 Switch
The S1 Switch controls the GR-50 in many different
ways depending what Function is assigned to it.
e.g. it decreases Patch Chain numbers of the GR-
50. When the GR-50 is in an Editing mode, this
switch changes the value of a parameter.
© S2 Switch
The S2 Switch controls the GR-50 in many different
ways depending what Function is assigned to it.
e.g. it increases Patch Chain numbers of the GR-
50. When the GR-50 is in an Editing mode, this
switch changes the value of a parameter.
@ Selector Switch
This switches the signals output from the GK-2.
When it is set to “Guitar”, the GK-2 outputs only
the signals for guitar's normal sound, and with it
set to “Mix”, it outputs the signals for the mixed
sounds of the normal guitar and synthesizer. At
“Synth” position, only the signals for synthesizer
sound is output.
© Synth Volume
This controls the volume of the synthesizer sound.
Adjust the guitar's normal sound with the volume
control on the guitar, since the Synth Volume does
not control the guitar’s normal sound.
@ Power Indicator
This lights up when the GR-50 and GK-2 are con-
nected using the C-13A cable.
@ Normal Guitar Input Jack
Through this jack, normal signal from the guitar is
fed into the Controller Unit. Use the supplied normal
guitar cord.
* Please do not fail to connect to this jack.
© GK-2 Socket
Connect the GR-50 through this socket.
Mi IMPORTANT NOTES
è Be sure to use the C-13A cable (supplied with
the GR-50) to connect the GK-2 to the GR-50.
Using any other cable will cause trouble.
è Before setting up the GK-2 with the GR-50,
make sure that GR-50 is switched off.
e The C-13A is a lock-type cable which cannot
be disconnected unless it is unlocked. So, for
disconnecting, do not pull the calbe hard, but
unlock it.
® Handle the cable gently.
ə Avoid using this device in excessive heat or
humidity conditions, or where it may be affected
by direct sunlight or dust and avoid places sub-
ject to high vibration.
è For cleaning the unit, use a dry and soft cloth.
e |f the casing is stained, use a cloth slightly
dampened with water.
e To remove stubborn stains, clean the casing
with a cloth moistened with a nutral detergent,
then wipe it dry with a soft cloth.
e Do not use solvents such as paint thinner when
cleaning.
e If this unit fails to operate correctly, turn it off
immediately and contact your Roland dealer.

[1] INSTALLATION
Before installing the GK-2 with the electric guitar,
read the following “Important Notes”.
E IMPORTANT NOTES
e |f your guitar is provided with a tremolo arm,
attach the tremolo arm before setting up the
GK-2.
e Before removing the tremolo arm from your
guitar, set the Selector Switch on the GK-2 to
the “Guitar” or “Synth” position.
è Please adjust the wrap of the neck and the
height of the strings of the guitar body before
installing the GK-2.
@ Please try placing the Divided Pickup and the
Pickup Controller Unit on the guitar to see if
they are compatible before actually connecting
them. At first please confirm with adhesive
tape and if there is no problem on installation,
then fix GK-2 with the screws.
e |f the pickup on the guitar is too close to the
bridge to connect the Divided Pickup, you need
to shift the pickup towards the neck.
@ Please use the screws for fixing the GK-2 more
securely. Attaching with the adhesive tape
many not be sufficient. The adhesive tape may
come off with the coating of the guitar.
(The supplied both-sided adhesive tape may be
used just for experimenting the right position of
the GK-2.) ;
@ Please handle the divided pickup gently. Bend-
ing or twisting it will break the coil.

First, check if all the following parts are supplied.
Tapping Flat A1 3x15 [mm] Pickup Spacer B
| x1 (For fixing GK-2)
Tapping Pan A1 3x20 [mm]
N
x10
x2 (For fixing Divided Pickup)
Pickup Spacer C
Spring
x2 (For adjusting the height of
Divided Pickup)
KA
Both-sided Adhesive Tape A
Both-sided Adhesive Tape B
Pickup Cussion x1 (For attaching the divided pickup)
LP Spacer
h
jf
x6 (Sponge type)

1. How to attach the GK-2
@ Place the GK-2 at the appropriate position on
the guitar.
Set up the GK-2 to the guitar at an appropriate
position where it does not prevent you from
playing the guitar comfortably.
If your guitar has a fine tuning control, set up
the GK-2 to the guitar where it does not prevent
you from using the fine tuning control.
1: Usual type
2: With a Fine Tune
* Set up the GK-2 to the quitar where it does not
prevent you from operating the S1 and S2
switches comfortably.
* When making connections, do not stretch the
cords of the Normal Guitar Socket, Divided
Pickup or the connection cable of the GK-2.
* Make sure that the plug of the GK-2’s connec-
tion cable and that of the Normal Guitar are well
inside the guitar's body. if not, they will be
damaged when the guitar is put down with the
pressure and strain given to them.
@ Bore on the holes of the GK-2 to make holes
underneath.
* The diameters of the under holes shculd be
about 2mm (0.08 inchas).
* Please make sure that the installation of Divided
Pickup has no problem (e.g. height).
@ Fix the GK-2 with the screw (flat-head tapping
screw) supplied with the GK-2.
* If your guitar is arched-top type (the one with a
round body), the gap between the GK-2 and the
guitar may make it difficult to fix the GK-2. if this
happens, attach the supplied LA spacer at the
rear of the GK-2.
ee
kakak, kah aa ah kanaka
N¥dvf puejoy
kak dhah ara an
The both-sided tape and LA spacer should be at-
tached to the three position indicated with dotted
lines.

2. Attaching the Divided Pickup
The Divided Pickup can be attached to your guitar
using both-sided adhesive tape, or using screws.
Attaching the Divided Pickup with screws requires
higher skills, but it allows you to adjust the height
of the divided pickup later.
a. Attaching the Divided Pickup with
Both-sided Adhesive Tape
@ Insert the divided pickup under the strings and
place it at an appropriate position.
Basically, the pickup should be located at the middle
of the six strings, and nearest to the bridge. If,
however, your guitar has a tremolo unit, it may be
touched by the Divided Pickup. If so, move the
Divided Pickup so far that it will not interrupt the
function of the tremolo unit. When using a guitar
with heavy gauge strings, attach the divided pickup
about 15mm (%e") away from the bridge.
* In any case, do not keep the Divided Pickup
away from the bridge by more than 20mm ('%e").
Maximum 20mm
* The appropriate position of the divided pickup is
where the center marker marked on the pickup
stays about the middle of the third and the fourth
strings.
y~ Divided Pickup
|
6th
String
`
4st
String
“GK2
Center Marker
* Please mark the position of the pickup so that it
can be distinguished later.
* Be sure that the direction of the divided pickup
is correct. Where the cord comes from is the
sixth string.
@ Check if the warp of the neck and the height of
the strings are optimum (if not, be sure to ad-
just them), then tune each string.
@ Adjust the height of the divided pickup by put-
ting the supplied spacer under the pickup. (At
this stage, do not peel the tape yet.)
Use either of the two pickup spacers (thicker and
thinner ones) depending on the height of the
pickup.

When using an arched-top guitar, put a pickup
cussion under the pickup spacers.
Pickup Spacers
The pickup spacer and pickup cussion are attached
to the guitar with the supplied both-sided adhesive
tape which will become thinner by 0.1mm (0.047)
when peeled. Therefore, when using many num-
bers of adhesive tapes, you must set the height
slightly higher.
The optimum height of the pickup is where the
distances between the pickup and the first and
the sixth strings are about 1.0mm with the highest
fret being pressed. Adjust and check the height
using the supplied clearance and gauge.
If the height of the pickup differs at the first and
the sixth strings, add half-cut or the one third
portion of spacer to make the height even.
@ Loosen the strings and remove them.
G) Peel the tape on the pickup cussion, pickup
spacer, and divided pickup, then attach them
onto the guitar.
© Apply the strings to the guitar as before, and
tune the strings, then check if the height of the
divided pickup is correct.
Use the clearance gauge, then play the string to
see that it does not touch the divided pickup.
@ If the divided pickup is too high or too low, use
the following procedure:
(1) If it is too low, provide as many spacers as
necessary, and if it is too high, work out how
many spacers to be removed.
(2) Loosen the strings and remove them.
(3) Remove the divided pickup from the guitar.
* Please handle the divided pickup gently. Bend-
ing or twisting it will break the coil.
Insert something thin such as table knife under
the divided pickup from the sixth string side, then
gently peel it.
4)
eee

HOW TO USE THE CLEARANCE GAUGE
(4) Remove the both-sided adhesive tape from
the bottom of the divided pickup carefully as
shown in the picture.
It is necessary to adjust the divided pickup of
the 1st and 6th strings so that the distance be-
tween a string and a dvided pickup is 1.0mm
(0.04”) with the highest fret pressed.
<=
The
supplied
clearance
gauge
is
1.0
mm
(0.04”)
‘thick.
As
shown
below,
insert
the
clearance
gauge between the divided pickup and the
string and adjust the distance.
(5) If the both-sided adhesive tape remains on the
upper side of the spacer that is applied to the
guitar side, remove it similarly.
(6) To add spacers, simply attach them. To subtract
spacers, remvoe them, then the both-sided
adhesive tape if necessary.
(7) Attach the supplied both-sided adhesive tape
onto the bottom of the divided pickup.
(8) Attach the divided pickup onto the upper side
of the spacer that is applied to the guitar side.
(9
Apply the string to the guitar, tune it, then
check if the height of the divided pickup is
correct.