Quote:

Don, your question in your second post is well put. If there is no technical reason why such a device is not possible, is it possible then that the string manufacturers have exerted pressure on the pedal makers not to produce one, in order to keep shmucks like us buying strings?

Cheers, J.



J-Shack,

Don't go down the conspiracy road. That way lies madness.

I'm not trying to talk you into a universe of new sounds and presets, only I am. I've gotten to be rather a zealot about the thing. The VG-88 V-Guitar has transformed my playing, and me as a player, as well as keeping me from having to own and lug all that gear about. I don't know how often you change strings, but there has to be an economy in there somewhere along with everything else it offers.

An addendum to my point in the previous post is that modeling/emulation utilizes hypersampling. Google it and see what goes into it. Given the effort that it takes, it is unlikely that anyone would do it solely for the purpose of modeling strings. Then there is the issue of triggering the thing. It has to know which string you are playing, which means you need a divided pickup--the Roland GK3-B, e.g. Now you are into a system anyway. Since you have gone to the effort to write all that code and take all those samples, let's move on from the strings and sample the cool Js and Ps and Ricks, run 'em through those old Ampeg and Polytone amps, and throw on some FX for good measure. Which is precisely what the V-Bass (and guitar, and drums, and synth, and choir) are--modeling systems, and damned reasonable when you consider what has gone into making them and what they replace.

Note also that Roland's are unique among emulators. Fender has incorporated some of Roland's technology into a Strat, and Line 6 into one of their guitars. I don't know about basses. But even if they exist, you have to play their axe, and you are limited to the presets they have given you. The V-Axe lets you play your chosen instrument and does in fact give you that incredible palette. You don't have to delve any deeper than the presets (although it keeps me pretty busy; I'm still searching for my Grail.). But wouldn't it be nice to call up whatever the Holy Grail among bassists is whenever you liked . . . ? Or have an upright? And ALWAYS have (emulated) fresh strings?

I'm messing' with ya now.

R.

"My primary musical instrument is the personal computer."