I've had this NS a few months now. The sharp eyed might notice a few more switches and extra knob. It has a Roland divided pickup with the electronics built inside the stick and all the audio going down a 19 core cable. It works well with the Sy1000. Ive gigged it quite a few times now but this is the first decent photo.

Nice!

Did you build / configure the MIDI pickup or was that something SE did?

I Installed an internal GK kit. The pickup needed to be cut up and re-engineered to correct the string spacing. A flat ribbon cable takes the signals from the pickup under the bridge and into the cavity where the GK board is installed. To keep the full functionality of the EMGs the TRS jack was replaced with a 19 pin lemo socket, so the 6 outputs from the GK and the EMG outputs all go down a single cable to a breakout box. There in no room for batteries so the stick is powered via the Lemo cable either from the SY1000 or from a cioks psu if the stick is used only for the EMGs. The only irreversible additions are the 5th control knob and the 2 GK toggle switches.

Heres a rough and ready video of my lad George Price playing it when he visited the Channel Islands last week.

When I get some time I'll post some photos

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUH8R8tedvw

Hey Phil.

They look like a good bunch of blokes.
I’ve secretly wanted an NS forever. ♾️
Do you think it’s worth getting the MIDI and is it both sides, (all 8 strings)?

Obvioulsy I'm not Phil, but for a new NS I don't think MIDI is an option any more because the special customised (wider spacing) GK-3 pickups are no longer available?

An email to could confirm.

Thanks David, appreciate it.

How’s your NS playing going?

Nowhere. I don't have one. The 'no MIDI option' applies to all flavours of Stick at present.