Harry's Rant was: Guitar synths (Don's rant)

[Peter Snow]

Michael,

> The hex-fuzzed signal is actually generated at the guitar, not
> the in GR-300 module, and it completely bypasses the GR's pitch conversion
> circuits, going straight to the filter, VCA, and output. 

Well, you learn something everyday. I also have a GR-300 in addition to
the Ibanex XIMG (and MIDI brain) mentioned in my earlier post.  As the
XIMG uses the same cable and connectors as the Roland guitar, I saw no
reason to buy the guitar or even the Roland hex pickup.  After playing
with the Ibanez/GR-300 combination for a while, I could not understand
why I did not seem to get the hex fuzz that was mentioned in articles on
the GR-300.  

I believe 2 of the parameters for the synth were controlled by touch
switches on the Roland guitar - one of them to turn the hex-fuzz on and
off.  I assumed that the Ibanez simply did not have these switches as it
was not built for the GR-300 and thus could not control the hex fuzz.  I
was going to try to figure out a way to add a switch on the GR-300
itself to enable the hex-fuzz.  But now I know I would have been wasting
my time. It ain't there! It's on the Roland guitar, not in the GR-300. 
Thanks Michael!

BTW, you mention a VCA in the GR-300.  Is this controllable in any way,
or is it simply linked to an envelope of the guitars natural decay?
There appears to be no controls for this anywhere.  It would be nice to
have a controllable attack for those "backwards" sounds.  

Cheers,

Peter