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Features of the DC-13:
- Adapts Vintage Roland Guitar Synthesizers to Control Modern Guitar Synthesizers
- Use One Vintage Roland 24-Pin Guitar Controller to play Two 13-Pin Modern Guitar Synthesizers
- Independent Volume Control Over Each Synthesizer
- Separate Hex Fuzz Output for G-202, 303, 505, 808 Guitars with Internal Hex-Fuzz
- Powered by 13-Pin Guitar Cable! No External Power Supply or Batteries Required
- Rugged Stomp-Box Enclosure Design
- Backed by Five-Year Warranty
- Elegant Design
The New Link Between Vintage and Modern Roland Guitar Synth Technology:
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For about ten years, Roland Corporation and other manufacturers produced a range of unique, very high quality 24-pin guitar synthesizer controllers. With the advent of the contemporary Roland 13-pin standard, vintage guitar synth owners could only access the latest in guitar synthesizer technologies with the incredibly rare, hard-to-find Roland BC-13 Bus Converter.
The DC-13 expands on the features of the BC-13 by adding Roland US-20 style switching features so that not only one, but two synthesizers can be played at the same time. The DC-13 also has features not found on the US-20, like the ability to independently control the volume levels of each guitar synthesizer. In addition, the DC-13 has an individual output for the hex fuzz.
Completely Independent Volume Control Over Two Guitar Synthesizers:
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In addition to the footswitch controls on the DC-13, there is completely independent control over both synthesizers’ volume. The DC-13 does this by using the Filter knob (or CV#1) on a vintage GR-Controller to control the volume of guitar synthesizer A, and by using the Resonance knob (or CV#2) on a vintage GR-Controller to control the volume of guitar synthesizer B. The Master Volume knob is still used to control the volume of the normal guitar output from the 1/4” jack on the guitar.
Rear Panel Connections:
- Does the DC-13 add any latency or delay?
- Will the DC-13 work with ANY Vintage Roland Guitar Controller or Guitar Synth?
- Does this unit require any power?
- Can I get the Hex Fuzz sound with any vintage GR Controller?
- Is this unit for sale? Yes! A complete DC-13 sells for $799.
- How was the DC-13 developed? Is there anything else like the DC-13?
- Where do you get the connectors? I thought they were discontinued by Roland a long time ago.
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Dual 13-Pin Synthesizer Outputs |
| Like a Roland US-20 Unit Selector, the DC-13 features two 13-pin guitar synthesizer outputs. The two 13-pin connectors are completely identical, except that the Synth A input is also used to power the DC-13. The DC-13 is engineered with a maximum efficiency design to safely draw as little current as necessary from any 13-pin synthesizer. With only one synthesizer plugged into the DC-13, the unit will function like a Roland BC-13. | |
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24-Pin Guitar Input and Hex Fuzz Output |
| In addition to the vintage style, 24-pin guitar input connector, there are jacks for guitar input, and hex fuzz output. The guitar input signal is used to add the regular sound generated by the pickups on the guitar to the 13-pin signals. Hex fuzz is a unique distortion circuit found in the G-202, 303, 505 and 808 guitars. Each string is fuzzed independently, creating a dense, symphonic-style distortion. Previously this signal was only available for owner’s of Roland GR-300 or GR-100 synthesizers. |
QuickTime Video Demos:
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| With a DC-13 this Roland G-707 guitar can access the cool sounds of the cutting edge Roland VG-88 Virtual Guitar System. In this short demo, the G-707 is used to generate a stunning nylon acoustic guitar sound. This is probably the only "nylon" guitar in the world with a whammy bar! | |
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| In this demo, the DC-13 is used with the G-707 to play two contemporary Roland synths: the Roland GI-10 Pitch-to-MIDI converter and the VG-88 Virtual Guitar Synth. First the GI-10 quickly and accurately translates hammer-ons and pull-offs to drive a synth patch from a Yamaha CS6R. Then Electric and 12-String acoustic guitar sounds from the VG-88 are blended with the original Yamaha synth by using the Master Volume and the EDIT knob. |
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NO! None of my processors add any delay at all. Like the GR-300 and GR-100, they are purely analog processors that do not suffer from the inevitable latency introduced by digital systems. Many players notice that their guitar synths actually play better, since the gain stages have been especially designed to deliver the best possible signal to the guitar synthesizer.
YES! I have tested this with the Roland G-303, G-505, G-707, G-808 and the Ibanez IMG2010. The DC-13 is also designed to work well with the Roland GK-1, and other third party controllers built by Gibson, Steinberger and others. The DC-13 has also been tested with the Roland GR-33, GI-10 and VG-88.
NO. The DC-13 gets its power from the connection to guitar synthesizer A. This is the same approach Roland used for the BC-13, US-20 and GKP-4.
NO. The Hex Fuzz feature was included only on the Roland G-202, 303, 505, and 808 guitar. The Roland G-707 and the Ibanez X-ING IMG2010 do not have the Hex Fuzz circuit. There were two "add-on" guitar controller kits sold by Roland that could be installed in any guitar. The LPK-1 and the STK-1. The LPK-1 (Les Paul Kit) does have the Hex Fuzz circuit. The STK-1 (Strat Kit) does not.
The price also includes a one year warranty on parts and labor. Email me if you are interested, and I can let you know the availability of a new DC-13.
YES! The DC-13 contains circuitry derived from the SBC+. The SBC+ does everything the DC-13 does plus a whole lot more.
YES! Roland discontinued the connectors from active production about fifteen years ago. So the 24 pin connectors are virtually impossible to find. I bought as many of these connectors as I could from Roland a while back. Depending on availability, I also use connectors refurbished vintage guitars and synths. Either way, there is no new supply of these connectors, so all the processors I build have a very, very limited production run.
