Sunday, August 21, 2011

The GR-30: Update




Saturday, July
30, 2011 I posted:
The Roland GR-30.
The Godin Multilac Steel
SA.
The Glenside Contra.
8-4-11
What could possibly go wrong...?


Actually, not much at all. The GR-30 performed very well, with no glitches or problems. I stayed on one patch for the entire evening, specifically D-11 (Mute Bass), which added a nice octave-below sound; and the Multilac's onboard electronics make it incredibly easy to mix the synth signal with the Godin's piezo pickup. Kind of like having a Bajo Sexto without the inconvenience of tuning 12 strings. Speaking of tuning, the built-in tuner in the GR-30 was a pleasure to use. My only regret was not bringing either a volume pedal or a mute switch for silent tuning and whenever I wasn't playing.
I should also mention the Fender Acoustasonic Junior amp I've been using for the past few years. It's been a constant companion, mainly as a personal monitor, and I really think it's helping me play better by allowing me to hear my own playing in more detail in a live situation than is possible with the monitor systems most dances use. It even went up to NEFFA in 2009 and saved the day when we played on a big stage in a echoey school gym. I had the PA guys mic my guitar for the house, plugged my guitar straight into the Junior, and got what I couldn't get for the all the previous years- a clear, full guitar sound onstage.
Btw, the Godin Multilac is strung with a Darco D9100 Nickel Wound Light Jazz set:
.012, .016, .024w, .032w, .042w, .052w