Beginner's questions: MIDI guitar

[Reilley]

Are guitars commonly used as MIDI controllers? Do you
1) Buy a MIDI guitar?
2) Play your Telecaster through a MIDI box?
3) Attack a MIDI pickup to your Telecaster and play through a MIDI box?
4) Some of the above?????

I'm thinking primarily of string and horn [oboe, French horn] orchestral sounds to
orchestrate popular [sung] songs.

Thanks very much.

[altitude909]

There were some dedicated guitars made by casio, yamaha, and some others in the 80's but their popularity waned fairly quickly. There are some boutique manufactures today but those run into the thousands of dollars. The only modern one I know of is the Roland GK series and it is a retrofit for any quitar. It will run you about a grand between the pickup and the voice unit (which also provides midi out)

[Reilley]

Thanks, altitude. So, learn to play a keyboard?

[TelePaul]

Originally Posted by Reilley

Thanks, altitude. So, learn to play a keyboard?

With horn sounds you can just sketch in the notes...its actually easy with brass, as you wont be layering notes like you would with a guitar or piano.

[ssscientist]

Here's a link to a KVR disussion on the Yamaha EZ-EG and the EZ-AG --- LINK. For what you're looking for one of these would probably fill the bill nicely.

I've got one and within limits it's quite a functional little instrument.


.

[mikemorgan]

Fender, Godin, and Brian Moore all make 13 pin guitars for less than a grand.

Attaching a Roland GK-2a pickup to a Telecaster has it's own difficulties.
You'll find pictures of what other's have done if you do a search on www.tdpri.com.