Roland VG-99 Workshop Manual page 3

A divided pickup is also sometimes called a "hex," "hexaphonic," or
"polyphonic" pickup.
See the VG-99 Workshop booklet Introduction to the VG-99 for more
information on the benefits of using a divided pickup with the VG-99.
Using Regular Guitar Pickups with the VG-99
You can use the output from a regular electric or acoustic-electric guitar—or
any other electronic instrument for that matter—with the VG-99. Just plug
its output into the VG-99's rear-panel 1/4-inch GUITAR INPUT jack. You won't
be able to use COSM instrument modeling and its related features or the
Guitar to MIDI function; those require a divided pickup. However, you can
use all the rest of the VG-99's processing options, including COSM amps and
effects.
When using only the GUITAR INPUT, you should set the GK CONNECT
setting to AUTO or OFF. This is discussed in the "GK Connect" section
near the end of this booklet.
Blending the Signal from a Divided Pickup and a
Regular Pickup
The VG-99 allows you to combine and blend the signals from a divided pickup
and the guitar's regular pickup. Combining signals can be accomplished one
of two ways:
•
By sending your regular guitar's output down the 13-pin cable along with
the divided pickup signal—When using a Roland GK-3, GK2A, or GK-2
pickup, you can plug a short cable (included with the pickup) from your
guitar's output jack into the GK control unit mounted on the face of
the guitar. (See the image on the previous page.) The control unit has a
switch that allows you to select the divided pickup, regular pickup, or
a mix of the two.
If you have a guitar with a GK or piezo divided pickup system built in, it
will usually be configured to send the normal guitar sound through the
13-pin cable along with the divided pickup sound.
•
By plugging in the divided and normal pickups separately—
divided pickup's output into the 13-pin GK INPUT jack and the regular
guitar's output into the VG-99's GUITAR INPUT jack.
When a plug is connected to the GUITAR INPUT jack, it overrides the
normal guitar signal that arrives at the 13-pin connector.
When you wish to blend the divided and normal pickup sounds, you
should set the GK CONNECT setting to AUTO or ON. This is discussed
in the "GK Connect" section near the end of this booklet.
The COSM GUITAR section in the VG-99 provides controls to adjust the
levels of the modeled sound(s) and the normal pickup sound as desired
in each patch. To learn more, see the VG-99 Owner's Manual or the
VG-99 Workshop booklet COSM Instrument Modeling.
Plugging In
Divided Pickup
Using a Roland-compatible 13-pin cable (such as the one
included with the VG-99), plug one end into the 13-pin jack
on your guitar and the other end into the GK IN jack on the
VG-99's front panel.
The 13-pin cable supplied with your VG-99 may have a ferrite
sleeve attached at one end. If so, plug this end into the VG-99's
GK IN jack.
To 13-pin jack on
guitar
Plug the
To VG-99 GK IN
Ferrite sleeve
3