# So, what is this Doohickey on this electric guitar? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 1, 2018, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-this-doohickey-on-this-electric-guitar/805664 "2018-01-01T00:21:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2018, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-this-doohickey-on-this-electric-guitar/805664/1 "2018-01-01T00:21:02Z")
This Guys guitar has developed an odd black plastic growth on it’s tail. Anyone recognize this gadget? Will the guitar live to play another day? 😉 I watch a lot of YouTube teachers. Never seen this used before. It’s plugged into the guitar socket. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/GTED1ktKnfc/hqdefault.jpg "GUITAR STYLES: The Blues Rock Difference") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTED1ktKnfc) ---
**Author:** ![Shakester](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shakester/32/437_2.png) [@Shakester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shakester)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2018, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-this-doohickey-on-this-electric-guitar/805664/2 "2018-01-01T02:03:34Z")
Guitar synth controller, attached to a pickup. One of [these](https://www.roland.com/global/products/gk-3/). ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2018, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-this-doohickey-on-this-electric-guitar/805664/3 "2018-01-01T02:22:59Z")
> [@Shakester](#): > > Guitar synth controller, attached to a pickup. > > One of [these](https://www.roland.com/global/products/gk-3/). So…it’s an active pickup that allows you to use the guitar (presumably somehow connected to a synthesizer) to play _through_ the synth? Is that how that works? ---
**Author:** ![BlueMerle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a87d85/32.png) [@BlueMerle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlueMerle)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2018, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-this-doohickey-on-this-electric-guitar/805664/4 "2018-01-01T02:29:57Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > So…it’s an active pickup that allows you to use the guitar (presumably somehow connected to a synthesizer) to play _through_ the synth? Is that how that works? It’s no different than many of the [Line6](https://line6.com/) offerings, only this one clips on to the guitar directly. Usually there’s a computer involved or some other device that modifies the signal. ---
**Author:** ![Weisshund](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ba8739/32.png) [@Weisshund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weisshund)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2018, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-this-doohickey-on-this-electric-guitar/805664/5 "2018-01-01T02:58:10Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > So…it’s an active pickup that allows you to use the guitar (presumably somehow connected to a synthesizer) to play _through_ the synth? Is that how that works? It basically works as a midi synth controller. it interprets the string vibrations as midi notes. play something off the judas priest Turbo album all the keyboard sounding stuff is guitar synth ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2018, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-this-doohickey-on-this-electric-guitar/805664/6 "2018-01-01T06:15:17Z")
You guys are good. I was completely stumped. Thank you. I didn’t know guitar synth was a thing. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2018, 7:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-this-doohickey-on-this-electric-guitar/805664/7 "2018-01-01T07:19:00Z")
The patch cable plugs into the guitar and synth pickup. Should be another cable running to this box. [https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/GR55sBK--roland-gr-55-guitar-synth-gk-3-pickup-not-included?gclid=Cj0KCQiAsqLSBRCmARIsAL4Pa9Te9CB5UdlZxr10oYiSUKBsmPyRai8BBsLAU7Zs2iRTsd365Id\_N2AaAsuTEALw\_wcB](https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/GR55sBK--roland-gr-55-guitar-synth-gk-3-pickup-not-included?gclid=Cj0KCQiAsqLSBRCmARIsAL4Pa9Te9CB5UdlZxr10oYiSUKBsmPyRai8BBsLAU7Zs2iRTsd365Id_N2AaAsuTEALw_wcB) I don’t see one in the video. But there’s got to be a connection somehow. ---
**Author:** ![Shakester](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shakester/32/437_2.png) [@Shakester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shakester)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2018, 11:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-this-doohickey-on-this-electric-guitar/805664/8 "2018-01-01T11:04:25Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > The patch cable plugs into the guitar and synth pickup. > > Should be another cable running to this box. > [https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/GR55sBK--roland-gr-55-guitar-synth-gk-3-pickup-not-included?gclid=Cj0KCQiAsqLSBRCmARIsAL4Pa9Te9CB5UdlZxr10oYiSUKBsmPyRai8BBsLAU7Zs2iRTsd365Id\_N2AaAsuTEALw\_wcB](https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/GR55sBK--roland-gr-55-guitar-synth-gk-3-pickup-not-included?gclid=Cj0KCQiAsqLSBRCmARIsAL4Pa9Te9CB5UdlZxr10oYiSUKBsmPyRai8BBsLAU7Zs2iRTsd365Id_N2AaAsuTEALw_wcB) > > I don’t see one in the video. But there’s got to be a connection somehow. Not if the player is just using the guitar as a guitar. You only need to connect the synth module if you’re using it, if you’re not the guitar works like any electric guitar. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2018, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-this-doohickey-on-this-electric-guitar/805664/9 "2018-01-01T12:26:00Z")
So it’s kind of a blend between an effects pedal and a pickup that mounts to your guitar, and you just plug into your amp like normal? ---
**Author:** ![Shakester](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shakester/32/437_2.png) [@Shakester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shakester)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2018, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-this-doohickey-on-this-electric-guitar/805664/10 "2018-01-01T12:36:04Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > So it’s kind of a blend between an effects pedal and a pickup that mounts to your guitar, and you just plug into your amp like normal? It’s a synth controller. It’s like the keyboard part of a synth, except with guitar strings instead of piano keys. It plugs into a synth module, which is the electronic stuff that generates the sounds. You plug _that_ into a keyboard amp or a PA if you’re using it to sound like a piano or an electric organ or a flute or whatever synthesised sound you’re making. The guitar part is separate, you can use it just like a regular guitar, blend the guitar sound with the synth, or go full synth. In practice, it’s most likely to be put through a clean guitar amp, but if you’re really into using it as a synth you’d get a dedicated amp or route the synth sounds through a PA. ---
**Author:** ![Shakester](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shakester/32/437_2.png) [@Shakester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shakester)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2018, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-this-doohickey-on-this-electric-guitar/805664/11 "2018-01-01T12:59:51Z")
…in case I haven’t been clear enough, the pickup part sends the notes from the strings to the controller (ie the big black thing attached to the guitar) which then translates the notes from the strings into MIDI, and sends the MIDI information to the synth module, which outputs the synth sounds. You play the synth with a guitar rather than a keyboard. You can get MIDI pickups that attach to your wind or brass instrument and play the synth that way too. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2018, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-this-doohickey-on-this-electric-guitar/805664/12 "2018-01-01T13:09:05Z")
That would be extremely helpful playing Elton John’s song, Daniel. The flute is a critical part of the song. It would be great to play the part on the guitar and still sound like a flute. It’s only a few bars in the intro and then later in the break. I wouldn’t spend $700 for a Synth controller. I’d never use it enough to justify the cost. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2018, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-this-doohickey-on-this-electric-guitar/805664/13 "2018-01-01T13:43:17Z")
> [@Shakester](#): > > …in case I haven’t been clear enough, the pickup part sends the notes from the strings to the controller (ie the big black thing attached to the guitar) which then translates the notes from the strings into MIDI, and sends the MIDI information to the synth module, which outputs the synth sounds. You play the synth with a guitar rather than a keyboard. > > You can get MIDI pickups that attach to your wind or brass instrument and play the synth that way too. OK, got it (I think). So the guitar actually replaces the keyboard as the instrument being played, but the controller translates the notes being picked into a MIDI format. My only confusion is the module part. Is that like a rack effect type box that routes into the guitar amp? I’m just trying to get the daisy chain/signal path order down. Also, is there a footswitch or something to engage synth sound presets for this? ---
**Author:** ![Shakester](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shakester/32/437_2.png) [@Shakester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shakester)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2018, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-this-doohickey-on-this-electric-guitar/805664/14 "2018-01-02T01:19:40Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > OK, got it (I think). So the guitar actually replaces the keyboard as the instrument being played, but the controller translates the notes being picked into a MIDI format. My only confusion is the module part. Is that like a rack effect type box that routes into the guitar amp? I’m just trying to get the daisy chain/signal path order down. Also, is there a footswitch or something to engage synth sound presets for this? It’s a synthesiser. You’re thinking “effect pedal” which adds an effect to the sound of the guitar. That’s not what this is. It **replaces** the sound of the guitar with the sound of a synthesiser. You play the synth with a guitar rather than with a keyboard. That’s what it is: a way to play the synth for people who are good at guitar but bad at keyboards. Yes, you can blend the synth sound with the guitar sound for an effect-pedal-ish result, but that’s not the main point of the thing. The point is to play (synthesised) sax or piano or flute or whatever with your guitar. ETA: The module is the synth, it’s the part that generates the sounds. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2018, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-is-this-doohickey-on-this-electric-guitar/805664/15 "2018-01-02T01:29:16Z")
Jimmy Page used one throughout, “In Through The Out Door.” ARP Avatar?