PRS Tremolo Bridge RMC Pickup Retrofit for MIDI

neil godbole

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Has anyone experimented or know anyone who has experimented / installed an RMC retrofit into the PRS tremolo system? The retrofit is really clean looking w no external midi nonsense to be seen beyond the gold piezo sensors for each string.

I have these for an Alembic guitar I own and its fun. There is little to no info on this stuff that I can see and I’m not even sure if RMC is really still in business.
 
Ok - so I hope this helps. These are the cleanest and most elegant way to install piezo/MIDI sensors into guitars. They track better than Roland products. But it takes some work.

Also - I believe the PRS Hollowbody and other guitars with 'Piezo' pickups use the RMC system - these pickups are built into the bridge. However, these pickups aren't connected to a 13-pin MIDI connector for use with Guitar Synth devices (Like Roland GR-55). These guitars would require that 13-Pin Midi jack to be installed (https://www.amazon.com/Graphtech-Ghost-Traktion-Switch-PE-0540-00/dp/B004GIEP9O).

My goal is to install the pickups AND the 13-pin jack into my already modded PRS Special Semi Hollow 22 LTD (https://forums.prsguitars.com/threa...-modification-thread.47373/page-2#post-645416)
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Company that makes them: https://www.rmcpickup.com/products.html

Name of Product: Pow'r Bridge 'RS' Retro-fit Saddles for PRS tremolo guitar bridges

Example of Product for Sale:
Better Look of Product installed on various bridges: http://iguitarworkshop.com/upgrades13pinsynthrmc.aspx

Look of Actual Product Installed in a Bridge: (on my alembic):
136219.jpg
 
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Wow nobody? Well I guess MIDI, especially more esoteric MIDI options aren't as popular/common anymore.
 
Can't help you with the midi stuff, but I have out graphtec piezo saddles on a custom 24. I drilled 6 holes on the trem at the center of each saddle, in order to feed the cables through the trem.
 
Can't help you with the midi stuff, but I have out graphtec piezo saddles on a custom 24. I drilled 6 holes on the trem at the center of each saddle, in order to feed the cables through the trem.
That's cool. You could pass those through to a MIDI 13-pin connector as well as retain the piezo analog pickup sound. This way the piezo's act as individual string MIDI sensors in addition to their analog sound. But yah, MIDI is kind of a niche thing I gave up on until I found an old GR-55 laying around and suddenly brought my interest in it back to life.
 
I also went Ghost. I drilled two holes in the trem plate to pass three cables each. I’d do that again because they’re a known known. I’ve never heard of these other guys. I installed it at least 15 years ago and never had an issue. Currently, I have the 9v running both the piezo and active pickups. No problem.
 
Thanks for the info. Seems like RMC may have gone out of business - but they were/are a well regarded piezo pickup manufacturer catering more specifically to MIDI/synth guitars.

Godin is a big name that uses RMC pickups. Alembic used the RMC pickup to add MIDI to Jerry Garcia’s rig in the 90’s, and I believe PRS used the RMC system for their hollowbody electrics - at least in 2014 and earlier. They may have updated the electronics in more recent times.

Other notable players have been: Adrien Belew, Alan Holdsworth, Al DiMeola, Anthony Jackson…
 
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