GK5 Fix

In this video we will address the problems people have with the GK5 pickup and install a newer firmware update. You will see steps that you can take to improve your tracking and you can get rid of those pesky ghost notes. This will also improve tracking if you are using one of the other GK pickups.

[@StringBanger]

This is incredibly helpful. I have a custom 7-string guitar fitted with a Graphtech Ghost piezo/hexpander system featuring loaded saddles. Currently, the 7th string doesn't function over the 13-pin, and I really would like to utilize this feature. This led me to prefer the GM-800 over the SY-1000, alongside a GK-5 serial pickup. I've just purchased the internal GK5-KIT-G7, which includes volume control, up/down switch etc., and I also acquired a used GM-800. Given the recent updates and the compatibility of the older GK3, I am considering installing the GK3 internal kit in my Suhr 6-string and using the GKC-AD. I believe the GK-5 will see further improvements with future firmware updates. Currently, I'm using an Axon AX-100MKII and a Roland GR-55 with the Ghost hexpander, and it performs well once the sensitivity is properly adjusted. This video is fantastic, thank you!

[@marcuscurtismusic]

Let us know how your GK5-kit-G7 works. Roland/Boss seems to have tracking issues when lower notes are played. i really don't like how the Bass pickups respond. Does the 7th string have tracking issues?

[@Barflew1]

Glad to see the update.Thanks for the Heads-Up.I'm all for the GK-3 working even better.Also using a Graphtech Midi Ghost Equipped guitar.It's already 18 years old.wow.Bet the update helps that too.I'm sending your video to somebody who can really use an update to the new pickup.I got So frustrated, I sent mine back to exchange it for a GK-3.Picked up some Good Tips from your previous videos.Best Regards..👍

[@marcuscurtismusic]

Thanks for sharing

[@Tmlong333]

This is good news; thanks for spreading the word!

[@marcuscurtismusic]

Any time!

[@MimiRochaOficial]

Thanks for the great vídeos. Come on Boss please fix this Gk5 Ghost notes bugs.

[@ShoggyTechTv]

Thanks for this. Wasn't even aware there was a new update for the GM800.

[@marcuscurtismusic]

You bet!

[@Tmlong333]

I'm gonna need to take some extra time off work to digest this...

[@boris123f]

welcome to the world of midi stuck

[@merman93]

I am a fan of the old GR-300. All of your Roland/boss guitar synths have Gr-300 patches , which do you prefer ? I love your videos.

[@marcuscurtismusic]

I have owned a lot of them. some I don't have anymore because I passed them on to other people. My all time favorite is the SY-1000. It is truly different from anything Boss has ever put out.

[@TechnoRiff]

Thanks for your analysis - I've held off even considering the GM-800 due to complaints about the GK-5. Perhaps the GK-5 is limited by its internal serialization vs. that of the GK-3 / Boss GKC-AD?

[@marcuscurtismusic]

I actually think it is software related. When I plug the GK-5 into an older synth it actually works better than the GK3. I use the default GK-3 settings in the older synth too. This tells me the pickup is not the issue. So it is not hardware related, it is software related. I hope future updates will make it work even better.

[@TechnoRiff]

@@marcuscurtismusic Are you saying that the GK-5 thru a GKC-DA works better than the GK-3? Just a pity that the GK-5 currently doesn't work so well thru the GM-800 as it's supposed to. Please do update us all if there's an update that addresses this. Thanks!

[@marcuscurtismusic]

@@TechnoRiff After installing the update that was released a few weeks back, I ran some tests. I noticed big improvements to the tracking and the removal of ghost notes on all GK pickups. The GK5 actually works better than the GK3 using the GKC-DA adaptor. I just used the default GK3 settings when I plugged the GK5 into my SY-1000 and my GR-55. This tells me three things. First, the issues are not hardware related. Second, my GK5 was installed properly. Third, software updates can fix all the issues this pickup has. I think Boss released it too early. They should have done more testing on the GM800 before releasing it. The update that was just released improves the performance of all pickups. I tested it with a GK2A, GK3, LR Braggs midi pickup found on the Godin guitars, and the GK5. So if you ever do decide to get one of these things, make sure it has the latest update before after you receive it. Mine came with older firmware. The very first thing I had to do in order to get it to work was to update the firmware.

[@helloxsw]

When I use the string effect, and I stop playing, the string sound will not hold up, I feel very distressed, how should I solve it 😂

[@DJCJ999]

Man that's a bummer that it didn't sort all the issues.. So what would you recommend? GR-55 with GK-3? or GM-800 with GK-3?

[@marcuscurtismusic]

Yes it is a bummer , but the update took care of many issues. Now I can at least use the pickup. In addition, the update dramatically improved the GK3 pickups, which were already good. So I am grateful for this update. I get the best performance from the GK3 pickup while using the GKC -AD converter box. Which one I would recommend all depends on your needs. The GM800 is a better synth than the GR-55, but it has no guitar modeling or amp modeling. If you want the modeling, you will need the GR-55. The pianos and other types of sounds track better on the GM800 and they also sound better. Now with the new update you don't get the ghost notes.

[@cindileavingscarlet3281]

Hi… does the update wipe out any saved patches?? Thanks, Cindi

[@marcuscurtismusic]

It did not wipe out any saved patches, but I did a restore anyway for safe measure. My advice would be this. Get a thumb drive and format it using the GM800, then back up all your saved patches. You can also use Tone studio to back up your saved patches. Once you back them up in tone studio, export them and put them somewhere safe. Then do your firmware update.

[@Rqmod]

do you still believe the gk3 is more accurate and faster?

[@marcuscurtismusic]

The GK3 still preforms better, even though the GK5 has improved. This update helps all pickups

[@Rqmod]

@@marcuscurtismusic is the gk3 faster as well or is it mostly the same in that regards

[@marcuscurtismusic]

@@Rqmod I remember reading from Roland long ago that the tracking is performed by the unit itself and not the pickup. The primary job of the pickup is to send 6 independent signals to the synth. The synth then translates that into midi and then it plays that midi in the patch or scene that is selected. This means that the pickup has a small role in the tracking and the synth plays a larger role. The pickup still needs to be setup properly in the synth, but the tracking is mainly done by the synth. I don't know if any of that changed with the GK5, but one thing seems true. The pickup is sending less data to the synth because it is not sending any information from the guitar's internal pickups. I believe this is the reason why Boss no longer needs to use a 13 pin cable. I tested the GM800 with a standard TRS cable and it seemed to work fine. In fact, in some cases, the TRS cable actually worked better. Boss recommends that you only use their synth cable with the GM800 and they seem to discourage the use of a standard TRS cable even though I got better results from a standard TRS cable. But to answer your question, I would say yes. The tracking is better using the GK3 on the GM800 than it is when you use the GK3 on the SY-1000 or the GR-55. At least I notice a difference when I conduct comparison experiments. As the computing power of each synth improved over the years, the tracking has also improved.

[@Rqmod]

@@marcuscurtismusic so the speed of the translation is more the gm800 vs a vg 99 or another example

[@marcuscurtismusic]

@@Rqmod Yes according to what I read.