G-Vox Guitar guitar-to-MIDI device

Has anybody on here ever had a G-Vox?  I saw a demo of this thing when it 
came out and it seemed to work OK.  I just got a cheap electric guitar and 
don't know how to play, and it seems like guitar-to-MIDI would be a great 
way to learn, with decent instructional software.  I found a G-Vox on eBay 
and bought it for about $45, but its software is hopelessly outdated and 
won't even come close to running on a current version of Windows.

I contacted G-Vox, which still exists with a total product line of three 
pieces of software (unrelated to the old hardware).  They hinted at possibly 
reintroducing the hardware this summer (but didn't make it sound likely), 
but were quite unwilling to cough up any technical info on the format of 
serial messages coming from the old device.  I told the guy I was a software 
developer, but apparently he didn't understand the value of having 
third-party support for one's product.

Anyone know anything about this thing?  Is it worth bothering with?  I find 
it really irritating that there's no guitar-to-MIDI product out there that 
doesn't force you to buy a synth and cost $1000.  Why the hell do I need a 
synth when I have two already: a computer and a MIDI keyboard!  Isn't this 
an extremely common scenario?

Thanks.

Gavin





>From: midiguitar@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>Reply-To: midiguitar@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>To: midiguitar@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>Subject: [midiguitar] Digest Number 1010
>Date: 28 Feb 2003 14:04:37 -0000
>
>
>--to unsubscribe send a blank message to 
>midiguitar-unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>There are 4 messages in this issue.
>
>Topics in this digest:
>
>       1. GK Switcher, etc.
>            From: "Aurelius Prochazka" <aure@xxxxxxxxxxx>
>       2. RE: recommendation for nonmidiguitar list
>            From: "Doug Osborne" <dougosborne@xxxxxxxxx>
>       3. Re: Casio Midi Guitar info needed
>            From: "irababoon4u <irababoon4u@xxxxxxxxx>" 
><irababoon4u@xxxxxxxxx>
>       4. AXON 100 for SALE
>            From: "D Matkovsky" <d_matkovsky@xxxxxxxx>
>
>
>________________________________________________________________________
>________________________________________________________________________
>
>Message: 1
>    Date: Thu, 27 Feb 2003 05:59:03 -0800
>    From: "Aurelius Prochazka" <aure@xxxxxxxxxxx>
>Subject: GK Switcher, etc.
>
>As some of you know I've been working with this czech company, CHD,  to
>offer their products in the U.S.  I'm selling the first one on eBay:
>
>http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=22669&item=2511320152
>
>It's a really good US-20/GKP-4 alternative and this one is an extra, I have
>one for myself as well: http://aure.com/gear  (at the bottom).
>
>Also, I'll be putting a sound garage order in soon:
>http://vg-8.com/sound-garage/
>if you're interested in the righ angled cables or stealthy hex pickups.
>
>Aure
>
>
>
>________________________________________________________________________
>________________________________________________________________________
>
>Message: 2
>    Date: Thu, 27 Feb 2003 11:24:39 -0800
>    From: "Doug Osborne" <dougosborne@xxxxxxxxx>
>Subject: RE: recommendation for nonmidiguitar list
>
>
>A web-based forum with lots of helpful members:
>
>
>http://www.musicgearnetwork.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=forum;f=19;Da
>ysPrune=100
>
>
> >>Message: 4
>    Date: Wed, 26 Feb 2003 14:02:50 -0800
>    From: "Tim Burke" <frankenstrat@xxxxxxxxxxx>
>Subject: recommendation for nonmidiguitar list
>
>Once again I'm appealing to the collective widom of the list.
>
>I'm hoping members have a favorite list they can recommend for guitar
>players with NON-midiguitar questions. My ideal list would be members
>with a
>wide range of ages, styles, lots of experience who enjoy talking with
>and
>helping other guitarists.  Very much like this list actually but
>NONmidiguitar topics. There are a lot of possibilities and I would like
>to
>avoid having to lurk for three months on them all before finding the
>right
>one!
>Thanks in advance for any helpful suggestions
>Tim
>
>
>
>
>
>
>________________________________________________________________________
>________________________________________________________________________
>
>Message: 3
>    Date: Thu, 27 Feb 2003 21:06:45 -0000
>    From: "irababoon4u <irababoon4u@xxxxxxxxx>" <irababoon4u@xxxxxxxxx>
>Subject: Re: Casio Midi Guitar info needed
>
>It had the converter built in - that is- I could go straight from
>the guitar into any unit like a Kurzweil, the midi in on a keyboard,
>etc without having to convert first. I think it was a straight 5 pin
>(not like the Roland 13 pin) and that was one of the best features
>about it. You could also select patches by flipping a switch and
>playing a certain note on the neck. If anyone has one of these I
>would be very much in the market, or if anyone could just figure out
>what the heck model it was I'd appreciate the info.
>John - Columbus Ohio
>
>--- In midiguitar@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, Roger <edigraph@xxxx> wrote:
> > I've got an MG-510 which is also black. And I found mine on ebay
>too. I'd try a serch as 'midi guitar' as well as 'Casio Guitar'. Do
>you remember if yours had an on board synthisiser?
> > If so it was most likely a PG-380...these were usually white, like
>your old one.
> > -------Original Message-------
> > From: "Alex F <alexf@xxxx>" <alexf@xxxx>
> > Sent: 02/21/03 02:22 PM
> > To: midiguitar@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > Subject: [midiguitar] Re: Casio Midi Guitar info needed
> >
> > >
> > > It sounds like an MG-500, just like mine, but mine is black.
> > Best bets are ebay (just search for casio guitar - don't include
>the
> > model number or anything as the people selling might have spelled
>it
> > w/ or w/o the "-" or might not even include the model #).
> >
> > Also try the www.harmony-central.com classified ads section.
>Hint:
> > Search for "All ads" not just "past 3 weeks"  Many times I have
> > bought stuff from there that was last listed months ago, but never
> > sold.  I ust emailed the seller and asked if it was still
>available.
> >
> > Alex F/Brain21
> >
> >
> > --- In midiguitar@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, "irababoon4u
><irababoon4u@xxxx>"
> > <irababoon4u@xxxx> wrote:
> > > Hi all, I'm new to this group.
> > > Years ago (1987 or so) I had a marvelous Casio Stratocaster type
> > > midi guitar and I have kicked myself for years for having sold
>it.
> > > Does anyone have any ideas where I can find one of these?
> > >
> > > Also, maybe someone could tell me what model I had from the
> > > following description:
> > >
> > > White Stratocaster-type body
> > > Rosewood fingerboard
> > > as I remember a small area around the volume controls that had
>the
> > > midi controls including an octave changer, a tuner and I "think"
>a
> > > blend knob that controlled either the midi volume output - OR-
> > blend.
> > >
> > > I know thats not a lot to go on, but I did buy it new in either
> > 1986
> > > or 1987 in california.
> > >
> > > Any help would be greatly appreciated.
> > >
> > > Take care,
> > > John Booth
> > > Columbus Ohio
> >
> >
> > --to unsubscribe send a blank message to
> > midiguitar-unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> >
> > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
>http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
> >
> >
> > >
>
>
>
>________________________________________________________________________
>________________________________________________________________________
>
>Message: 4
>    Date: Thu, 27 Feb 2003 19:00:10 -0800
>    From: "D Matkovsky" <d_matkovsky@xxxxxxxx>
>Subject: AXON 100 for SALE
>
>AXON 100, Guitar MIDI Converter, N/R
>
>  for SALE on EBay.com
>
>http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2512057915&category=7266
>
>Thanks
>
>
>
>[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
>________________________________________________________________________
>________________________________________________________________________
>
>
>
>Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/


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