Roland GR-20 Guitar Synth

[johnnymegabyte]

Anyone tried out a Roland GR-20 Guitar Synth ( I haven't )

Pro's and Con's .... any comments ?


This looks like it might be quite the dream toy.


Any price info ?

[juststartingout]

I have a GR-09 and love it.

http://home.comcast.net/~bonrox/guitars/gr09.htm

The biggest downside is the GK-2 pickup. To get all the benifits, you need to set it up the distance from the strings to the pickup. It is a very critical, a couple of thousands makes a big difference. The other thing is you need to keep your playing steady. It's not a very dynamic pickup.

On the good side, it is a very cool toy and I use it for recording a lot.

[Monsterpop]

I have the GR30 and the GK 2A pickup!i originally borrowed the main unit and a Godin synth ready guitar,which was excellent.
my mate then bought an updated version of the synth,so sold me the 30. its been lying here since December cos im so untechy that i dont even want to try an d fit the pick up. though im DYING to get using it! i REALLY want a synth ready guitar!

[Kelly5150]

GR-20?.. is that new?

I know they went from the 09 to the 30 then the 33, but never heard of the 20...


After doing a search, I guess it is a new synth,.... They also upgraded the pickup to a GK-3....

[Kelly5150]

Wow, check out the video and audio demos for the GR-20, Awesome!!



http://www.rolandus.com/products/det...20&PageMode=15

[juststartingout]

The 20 looks like a cut down version of the 09 or 33. Not as many voices but it does look like fun.

Hey Monsterpop, get that thing hooked up. You'll frickin love it.

I personally like it for playing acoustic and mixing in a light string section from the synth. It really fills out the rythm tracks.

[Monsterpop]

Hi mate
im dying to ,,really . i just dont ike that idea of drilling holes in ANY guitar,,,and i believe that taping the pick up on will just be crap!
What do you think?

Originally posted by juststartingout
The 20 looks like a cut down version of the 09 or 33. Not as many voices but it does look like fun.

Hey Monsterpop, get that thing hooked up. You'll frickin love it.

I personally like it for playing acoustic and mixing in a light string section from the synth. It really fills out the rythm tracks.

[Buck62]

I have a GR-30.

I bought a Yamaha Pacifica for US$150 and drilled two small holes to mount the GK-2A pickup.

It plays and sounds really great, and there's only two tiny little holes in the white pickguard under the GK-2A. You wouldn't even notice them if I removed the pickup and squirted in a little splotch of Elmer's glue.

You should see how much the crowd freaks out when you play sax, organ, or piano sounds through your guitar. It's a lot of fun.

[juststartingout]

Originally posted by Monsterpop
Hi mate
im dying to ,,really . i just dont ike that idea of drilling holes in ANY guitar,,,and i believe that taping the pick up on will just be crap!
What do you think?

Yep, taping it on would look like crap. It's also not adjustable. I actually bought that Yamaha just to mount the pickup on it. I used springs under the pickup so that I could adjust it.

[Kelly5150]

I have a GK-2A on my Jackson, its not drilled.. I used the two sided tape and spacers that came with it, it stays put and looks fine... no probs...

The main unit is "two sided taped" to the body too....



You don't need to drill anything!

[Monsterpop]

Hmm,,,,,interesting!
Maybe i WILL have another wee look at it then,,,
thanks mate!
iM really keen to get using it,,
but just totally shite at doing anything remotely technical!

[mixmkr]

I put a GK-2A pickup on a Gibson L6S with the two sided tape and spacers. Works ok. I would like a Roland ready Strat, but since I already have 3 Strats, I don't see that happening.

I have the GR-33... pretty neat machine and this new unit DOES like like a scaled down version.

How much is the total package? Maybe an inexpesive way to convert your gtr to MIDI if you already have a sound source.

[Kelly5150]

It's $599 for the GR-20 and the GK-3 pickup package...

The synth is suppose to be better/faster tracking than the previous synths, and it has new patches...

It's true it's not as programmable as the GR-33, but I'd rather have the better tracking and new sounds than being able to do more technical stuff....

I'm more of a plug and play kinda guy anyway, I have no patience to learn stuff...

I'm debating whether to get a Roland ready guitar, I hear the Godin's are awesome....

[Buck62]

Whatever you do, don't by the Roland-ready Strat.

It's a regular "made in Mexico" Strat with the GK built in.... big deal. They're still cheaply made guitars, IMO.

Brian Moore guitars have the 13-pin output that matches perfectly with the Roland guitar synths, and they're cheaper than the Godin's. Although, the Godin's are definitely the best you can get for use with the synth and normal playing. They're just a bit too costly.

[Monsterpop]

"I'm debating whether to get a Roland ready guitar, I hear the Godin's are awesome.... [/B][/QUOTE] "



my mate got an enormous,,semi acoustic/jazz style guitar.
he sold that on eEbay and got a more normal lookin one instead.
they are excellent!
Both Godins by the way. he has six at last count!
YES,,,SIX! And he doesnt write,,record or gig.
figure that out!

[teknomike]

I have a Godin LGX-SA, and yes, it is awesome ...

I use it on a GR-50, which, at over 14 years old, still functions perfectly well. It would be nice to try it on a newer version of the GR, though.

Right now, I'd love to buy a VG-7, but I haven't found one here (and shipping from N.A. is just too cost prohibitive).

I've gotten so much pleasure out of my guitar synth over the years - the money was well worth it.

Mike