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Introduction to the Roland G-303:
If there is one guitar that has become the "gold standard" of guitar synthesizers, it has to be the Roland G-303 guitar. No doubt much of the popularity of the G-303 comes from Pat Metheny, who has played this guitar year after year on stages across the world, always amazing audiences with the moving and emotional quality of the G-303 and GR-300 rig.
There is another reason why the G-303 is so popular: it is just a really great guitar. There is no learning curve to the G-303, no time required to "get acquainted," this is a guitar you want to play as soon as you put your hands on it. In Los Angeles I have seen many jazz players using the G-303 plugged straight into a Polytone amp, just for the sound and playability of this great axe. In terms of sophistication of design and electronics, the weighty Ibanez IMG2010 comes out way ahead of the G-303, but like the Roland G-707, the IMG2010 is a bit of an acquired taste, and its curious body design means that the Ibanez IMG2010 is virtually impossible to play sitting down without a guitar strap!
The other vintage controllers, the G-202 and G-505, are well-built, fine guitars. But they cannot escape the feel of being really well made Fender copies, no matter how nice they are. The G-303 has a sibling, the G-808. The more expensive G-808 has through-neck construction and other nice features, like gold hardware.
There are some ideas as to why the more expensive, classier G-808 never quite took off with the same following as the G-303. Aside from the fact that Pat Metheny is not dragging a G-808 out every night, the G-808 guitar seems slightly neck heavy when compared to the G-303. Also, vintage guitar synth guru Rich Hilleman has suggested that the through-neck design of the G-808 adds to the resonance of the guitar, making the G-808 less suitable as a synth controller. I have tested and played both guitars, and can not say that I was able to detect a difference.
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The Pat Metheny Group performing this year at the Montreaux Jazz Festival.
Pat Metheny can play any guitar he wants, but for 25 years he has stayed with the G-303. The neck is easy and comfortable, the action is great, and it exhibits an even, excellent sonic performance across the range of the guitar. |
Details: Front of Guitar
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Details: Back of Guitar
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Details of Guitar Control Overlay:
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Rare White G-303:
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Origin of the Roland Guitars:
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It is often reported that the Roland guitars and the Ibanez IMG2010 guitar were built by the Japanese guitar builder Fuji Gen Gakki. The name "Fuji" comes from Japanese icon, Mount Fuji. "Gen" means stringed, and "Gakki" means musical instrument. Fuji Gen Gakki built a lot of guitars, for a lot of people, including Greco Guitars. Greco Guitars were sold almost exclusively in Japan. Fuji Gen Gakki also built guitars for Ibanez, Fender, Fender/Squire, Yamaha, and of course Roland.
Contractors could provide their own designs to Fuji Gen Gakki, but often they would consult with the Fuji Gen Gakki engineers, and make modifications of existing designs. This explains the similar designs and features of Roland and Ibanez guitars of the same era. The 1981 Greco Catalogue shows every Roland guitar synth product in production at that time. The Roland G-808 is a modified version of the Greco GO1000. These Greco guitars are excellent, top-of-the-line instruments. In case you are wondering, it has been suggested that the "GR" at the top of every Roland guitar actually stands for Greco-Roland. |
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Video Sample of the G-303 and GR-300:
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| Brief video clip from the early nineties. Classic Pat Metheny shredding with the Roland G-303 and GR-300. | |
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| This video is a quick introduction to the sounds and features of the G-303 and GR-300. Hear samples of each of the humbucking pickups, hex fuzz, synth sounds and various other features like LFO Touch pads and Filter Modulation. The video clip was recorded with the GR-300 output going through a Yamaha 01V to add delay and reverb. |
