Wellllllllll, I used a DB9 connector, but the link you referenced is for RS232. RS232 is a serial data protocol, the connection with this guitar is basically a voltage level from the touchpad, an RS232 interface would simply not function. However, if someone wanted to write a conversion routine for a PIC chip they may be able to utilize an RS232 wireless soultion. Bah, wireless, isn't a crazy guitar and lights enought that you don't have to dance around?

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Phil [at] substatica [dot see oh ehm]

It's a great concept.  I'm going to create my own now!  Fortunately I have access to a router and a guy with a masters in EE.  Two things that look like they'd help a lot with this project.

My plans are to put together a new guitar from scratch, buying the body/neck/hardware all separate.  One thing I'm wondering is this: technically your delay/modulation effects are supposed to come at the end of your signal chain (ie lineup of pedals).  Is there a feasible way to make this happen with this type of setup?

Also, I've read a bit about Matt from Muse and his setup.  It appears as though he had an XY midi controller installed in his guitar, which in turn controls the Kaoss 2 on his board.  I'm thinking about doing this move as it seems like it could be a easier.  Having trouble finding an XY controller by itself though.

Do you guys think it could be possible/smart to mount the entire kaoss pad in a guitar?  I guess with the whole power thing you would have a mess of cables running out of your system (but might be able to do some sort of "snake" thing).  I really like the concept of this and want something that's road-tuff and won't fail on me.  I get emotionally attached to consistency in my gear...and get all in a tizzy when things don't do what they're supposed to.

Once I embark on this project I'll make sure to document and post everything.  My goal is to make the thing as smooth and foolproof as possible.  Any additional ideas and/or upgrades are definitely welcome! 

Phil, amazing job with this mod.  Really great stuff.  The only things missing now are wireless and the lights behind the pad changing according to where on the pad your finger is.  After two months nonstop researching every forum on electronics, lights, and MIDI.  After consulting with teachers at my college with doctorates in digital audio, physics, and electronics, I have no solution.

Here is what I know regarding MIDI and the KP2:

1.  The KP2 does not transmit or receive note number (true voice) messages, or velocity (note on, note off) messages.

2.  The KP2 DOES transmit pitch bend (this is what I believe needs to be used to control the LEDs), control change, and program change.

 

Also, I'm going to be replacing the DB9 with a cat-5 ethernet cable.  I'll let everyone know how it goes.  Should be no problem, just a little smaller ends.
 

Hi there !

Thxs Phil (and Adam) i managed to build my own "kaoss guitar" - it works great ! i skipped the light thing cos i don't really like it :(

Got some pics of the whole process, i may write a fully detailled tutorial complementary to phil's one in case some people may need more details on how to digg the guitar,etc..

here you can watch the finished job :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhNejyIyxdE

some pics : 

 

Awesome work!

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Phil [at] substatica [dot see oh ehm]

So what effects are you digging with it on the guitar now? There's so many I'm sure I'm missing some sweet ones.

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Phil [at] substatica [dot see oh ehm]

Thanxs !

Well i haven't fully discovered what it can do, but i like all modulating effects (#10-#19), some synth effects kick ass (also it's a bit tricky to get the right sound at the right time ) , #43 and #44 can be cool when used with the hold button...

Got a korg AX1500 multi effects pedal too, mixing effects from it with effects from the kaoss pad can be rather cool ;)

At this time there's no entire song but i'm trying to get some cool stuff and put it here and there in my band's music, i'll let you know when we put something online

btw have you deactivated video responses for your first you tube video ? I've tried to post my video as one, but didn't managed :(

I may just have to approve it, I'll go check the settings. Yup, now approved.

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Phil [at] substatica [dot see oh ehm]

Here is my finished product.  One thing I noticed, the X and Y axis are now switched.  Any one else have this happen?

That's looking spicey!

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Phil [at] substatica [dot see oh ehm]

looks cool man. i wish i had a working guitar to put mine in and finish off.

As for the XY axis, i've had nothing but wierd problems with mine! I'd of guessed your wires could be backwards. In the sense that its very easy to accidentally mirror the connections due to the many different ways you can look at the serial connectors, I found anyway.

Looks groovy though, is it  KP2? Mine had broken for ages after I got it out the guitar, just fixed it this evening. I think my pad is starting to screw up though as it requires quite a bit of pressure sometimes, i think its a good idea to make sure that if you're storing the pad, its tightly pressured together, as this is how it is normally kept inside the KP, in a world where people are sensible with triple figures of pro audio equiptment :D

 

Anyway, have fun with it, get giggin!

-adam

nah, the switched x-y came from using a patch (crossover) cable instead of a standard ethernet, so no problem there.

and if anyone on this forum wants this done, but doesn't want to risk doing it yourself, I'd be happy to do it for you for a fair price.  i also do custom fuzz factory installs (http://youtube.com/watch?v=csTH83GM--Y and http://youtube.com/watch?v=LOAFBnujNsw&mode=related&search=)  my AIM is: beminesamaire, just leave an IM, even if i'm offline.   

Now I've seen this on a few Manson guitars, but they seem to be using a MIDI X/Y controller and going into the MIDI input of a Kaoss Pad.  Does anyone know where you can purchase a separate touchpad like this?  I'm going to incorporate this into the next guitar I build, but I'd rather do it with a separate touchpad without butchering my KP if at all possible.

 Thanks!

you have an interesting plan, but unfortunately, there probably is not a way of getting around butchering a kp2.  but more importantly, even if you were to get a pad somehow without ripping it out of a kp2, what is your plan for having it be able to send midi messages?  It's output is going to be that 4 wired ribbon cable, not a midi-out port.

but don't get me wrong, you seem in the right direction, and i hope you succeed.  that m1d1 manson video definitely looks like the pad just uses a midi cable to go to midi-in of that kp2.  but doing it that way will cost you twice as much, since you'll have to get at least the pad from another kp2 (or maybe a regular kaoss pad).  good luck though, and keep this forum in touch with your progress. 

Can I install it in Epiphone SG?