Roland SIP-300 Guitar Pre-Amp
Features and Specifications:
High and Low Gain Inputs
Distortion with Overdrive and Output Level Control
Foot Switch Overdrive Bypass
High-Impedance, Rear-Panel Effects Loop, Pre-Equalizer
Low-Impedance, Front-Panel Effects Loop, Post-Equalizer
Three-Band Equalizer with Selectable Frequencies
Low Band Frequencies: 40 Hz/50 Hz
Middle Band Frequencies: 50 Hz/1 kHz
High Band Frequencies: 6 kHz/9 k Hz
Low-Cut Filter Switch, 60 Hz
High-Cut Filter Switch, 6 kHz
Volume and Master Volume Control
Front Panel Balanced, XLR Output
Front and Rear Panel Unbalanced Output
Dimensions: 482 (W) x 92 (H) x 247 (D) mm
Power Consumption: 9 watts
Weight: 4.0 kg
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Roland Rack. Click to enlarge. |
Introduction to the Roland SIP-300:
In the early 1980’s Roland produced some of its most acclaimed rack mount effects processors. This series included the SIP-300 guitar preamp, the SIP-301 bass preamp, the SBF-325 voltage-controlled, stereo rack-mount flanger, the famous SDD-320 Dimension D chorus unit, the SRE-555 rack-mount version of the RE-501 tape-delay/chorus, and the SPV-355 pitch-to-voltage analog synthesizer.
The SIP-300 is a dynamic, flexible, analog guitar preamp. There is a high and low gain input, followed by an overdrive section. The overdrive can be disabled using a foot switch. After the overdrive section is an optional effects insert, then a very flexible three-band equalizer, with high and low cut filters. Each band in the equalizer has two selectable frequencies as well. After the equalizer there is another effects insert! Then a volume control which feeds directly to the front panel XLR output, and a master volume control that feeds to a pair of unbalanced outputs, one of the front panel, and one on the rear panel.
The SIP-300 is a fully professional unit that can be used simply as a direct box for guitar or any high-impedance input, or it can be used as a additional processor to add some analog quality sound to any sound source.
Be sure to check out the interior photos. The SIP-300 is packed with hand-wired analog goodness! Check it out: there is not one single plastic connector in the entire unit, everything is point-to-point, hand wired construction. This unit must be over twenty-five years old, and yet the interior is in fantastic condition. Today, a unit like the SIP-300 would be considered a "boutique" analog processor, and would sell for thousands of dollars. Not only does this unit have a sweet, selectable 3-band equalizer with independent high and low frequency shelving equalizers, but there is also a vintage overdrive circuit for that authentic late 70s early 80s sound!
All Discrete Component Three-Band Active Equalizer:
Notice that the equalizer is all old-school, using entirely discrete components, with no operational amplifiers in this first-class design. Most modern equipment makes use of off-the-shelf, inexpensive op-amps. This greatly lowers production costs, and makes design easier, but all discrete circuits like the SIP-300 have lower noise, with more precise musical operation, since they are specifically for sonic applications. There are two selectable frequencies per band. The selectable frequencies are low band: 40 Hz or 50 Hz, mid-band: 500 Hz or 1 kHz and high band: 6 kHz or 9 k Hz.
Roland SIP-300 Block Diagram (click to view on a new page).
Links to more information: Download the SIP-300 Guitar Pre-Amp Owner's Manual (pdf).
Andy Summers 1981-1982 Ghost in the Machine Tour musical gear (includes SIP-300).
