Roland GK-3B Divided Pickup for Bass

I waited a while to post this review so I could expound with clarity when I reviewed it. I use this pickup on a Peavey Cirrus 6 string and run it through a Roland GR-20 guitar synth. I would love to tell you the GK-3B tracks flawlessly, but that is not the case. However, I am not sure if the problem is the nature of GK-3B or the fact that I am running it through the somewhat antiquated Roland GR-20. At some point I will get the Roland GR-55 and I believe I will likely see an improvement in the overall tracking.Having said that, I am very pleased with the GK-3B. I use it extensively in my home studio and my live church gig with our worship team. It is so incredibly powerful to add a realistic, breathy sax or vibraphone or flute or vocal pad to an intimate time of heartfelt worship, without having to have all those instrumentalists and vocalists on stage. Also, it has revolutionized the way that I record. A friend even commented recently how remarkably uncanny it is that I am able to produce entire multitrack recordings using only my bass guitar.In the beginning I used the GK-3B with the "temporary" adhesive application pads and it was ok. I did that because I did not want to wait to have it professionally, permanently installed as there were only a few local shops/luthiers that were able to do the job and they had long wait times. Finally, I had it installed by a tech at the local Sam Ash. He did an excellent job and it added to the tracking accuracy and cut down (a little) on the somewhat bulky footprint of the GK-3B.If money was not an issue I would prefer to outfit all my basses with internal peizo synth access systems. But as money is a factor, for me, the GK-3B is the most cost effective way to utilize the infinate possibilities of the world of synth access.

I have a Roland GR-55 synthesizer. I use the Roland guitar pickup on my Les Paul & I bought this pickup for my Fender Jazz Bass and it works well with the GR-55 synthesizer on its bass guitar function

I own a gk3, for my guitar, but this brings a great array of sounds. I love it.

It's in the nature of bass instruments that it is very difficult to get midi pickups to trigger correctly. Even playing an octave up on a six-string bass I could not get satisfying results.

I put this on my Tobias Basic 6 and other than the first octave I enjoyed the tracking and playability I was able to achieve. Long awaited and overdue!

I have a gk-3 on my guitar and have been using it for years with my GR-1 synth. I thought I could install the GR3B on my bass and get some of the same coolness. This was not to be!!! Installation went okay but the functionality was not where near the response of the GK3 on my guitar. I put it on a 5 string bass, maybe I will try it with my 4 string but I was hoping for far more... It might be that the GR-1 is too old for good function but it still works great on my guitar. the odd thing is I could get certain notes to synth trigger but not others and very few at that. I have tried every adjustment I could find in the manual... I am somewhat disappointed and wish I was in a position to return it. oh well..

I have had Roland gear for a long time and I was pretty impressed by how well the GK-3B can be attached to the bass. They seem to have thought of everything and my attachment is quite solid, without making any modifications to the bass itself.

Altough the GK3B functionally is a great option to get synth sounds out of a Bass guitar My main complaints aré actually about the product design itself. About how is made. For $200 i guess most of us who has it would have expect a studier product. Its really flimsy And delicate. Why Did roland used the frágile And easy to scratch coat? The paint is so frágile you actually Scratch it by just mounting. And the little cable itself!!! My god, why did roland made it so the cable outs in front to the bridge? The GK2A was better design. The cable goes out at a side. A much clever design. With the cable going out directly to the bridge you dont get too much Room to the cable to sit nice And relax. I can see mine getting bent over a short period. And it looks cheap going out facing the bridge. I would have given this unit 10 stars if it wasnt for the flimsy, delicate, And no si well design. It is like roland is Working in the idea you replacing it over And over. Why Didnt roland design the mic so it could be unpluged by some plug in/out cable. That Way you dont need to Let the whole mic And unit attached to the Bass. That Way just te mic would be attached And then connected to the unit by a plug And play little cable. For $200 i would expect that kind of features. If there would be another option i guess most Will turn down the GK3B. But its the only option. As i said, it works, And works quite well. But a design full of flaws instead of clever decisions