Pedulla XJ-S Vintage Roland Guitar Synth Controller

Stunning, Hand-Built Through-Neck Construction Vintage Guitar!

Introduction to the Pedulla XJ-S Vintage Roland Guitar Synthesizer Controller:

In the mid-1980’s, a handful of third-party guitar builders created instruments with the Roland 24-pin guitar electronics built-in. These costly instruments were premium guitars, designed to appeal to cutting-edge players. Perhaps some of the rarest of these guitars are the handful of instruments built by the American-based Pedulla company. While Pedulla is widely regarded as one of the best bass manufacturers in the world, few people are aware of the top-of-the-line guitars they also built, specifically for the growing guitar synthesizer market.

This Pedulla XJ-S is a great example of hand-built, American crafted guitars at their finest. The XJ-S is a rock-hard maple guitar with stunning through-neck construction for killer sustain and tone. Everything about the XJ-S is top-of-the line, starting with three Bartolini pickups. Presented in the popular and versatile single/single/humbucker configuration, the tone quality of the Bartolini pickups exceed typical stock pickups. The five-way pickup selector switch is wired to select from the single coil neck pickup, the neck and middle pickup together, out-of-phase, for the typical sweet Strat tone, middle pickup alone, middle pickup and bridge pickup together, out-of-phase again, for funky Strat tones (with the bridge position pickup working as a single-coil), and finally, the bridge position pickup in full humbucking mode for a fat, driving sound.

Other hardware on the XJ-S includes sealed Schaller tuning mechanisms, and a fixed Schaller bridge with rollers. In the electronics department, the XJ-S is one of the few non-Roland guitars that feature the full G-303/G-808 electronics card. This means the XJ-S includes hex fuzz, not found on the majority of third-party guitars. And all the familiar G-303/G-808 controls are on the XJ-S as well: filter cutoff, resonance, LFO depth, mode switch, and touch pads to activate/deactivate the LFO feature.

Detail: Bartolini Custom Pickups and Roland Hex Pickup


2 - Single Coil Bartolini Pickups	Bartolini Bridge Humbucker and Roland Hex Pickup	Hex Pickup with Fixed Schaller Bridge
Custom Premium Bartolini Pickups with Roland Hex Pickup. The 5-way strat-type toggle switch selects from neck, neck and center (out of phase), center, center and bridge (both single coil, out of phase) and bridge.

Detail: Electronic Controls


L-R: Master Volume, Tone, Balance, Pickup Selector	L-R: Mode, LFO, Resonance and Filter	Standard 1/4” Output and 24-pin Connector
The XJ-S has the exact same electronics package as the G-303/G-808, and the same controls. The only difference is the mode toggle switch is after the LFO depth, instead of being between the Resonance and LFO control.

About this Guitar:

I was not familiar with Pedulla guitars, and found only a passing reference to them in the all-inclusive Guitar Bluebook, so I would have to say this is indeed a very rare find. As you can tell, I am impressed by the construction of the guitar, and the high quality of the components used in the construction. Given the commitment to making a great instrument, I can see why Pedulla choose to use the G-303/G-808 electronics card, instead of the STK-1 card which is smaller, and easier to install.

My only observation is that the plexiglass panel used to hold the pickups does not seem as sturdy as I would like. Like the standard pickups, the hex pickup is mounted on the pickguard. This is one difference from the G-303/G-808, where the hex pickup is mounted to the guitar body. I am guessing there were cosmetic considerations here, since it appears that the panel has the exact same blue finish inside as the guitar does. This makes it easy to maintain a consistent appearance while providing access to the pickups. Normally, I think you would find a large pickguard like on a Strat, or a huge rear access panel like some of the similar Parker guitars have. As I noted earlier, check out the videos, and you can see and hear how well this guitar performs.

Demo Video Samples of this Pedulla XJ-S Guitar with Vintage Guitar Synthesizers:

	XJ-S with BX-13 V2 US-20 VG-88 GI-10 and VL-70M
	A BX-13 V2 converts the XJ-S to 13-pin format, then a US-20 selects from VG-88 and a GI-10 hooked to a Yamaha VL-70M. Direct output with the VG-88 features BX-13 V2 volume swells and hex fuzz.
	XJ-S Pickup Combinations with Roland SIP-300 Preamp
	In this video the XJ-S runs through a Roland SIP-300 directly to a Yamaha 01V, which adds delay and reverb. The EQ is flat on the SIP-300.
	XJ-S with GR-100 and delay effects.
	In this video the XJ-S drives a Roland GR-100, with 800 ms delay effects added on the Yamaha 01V mixing console. After clean guitar, mode I and mode II are heard, then chorus is added and filter modulation.
	XJ-S direct to Orange Amplifier
	In this video the XJ-S drives a "virtual" Orange Amplifier for a more traditional amplifier distortion sound. A wide range of tones are produced using pickup selection, tone and volume controls.
	XJ-S with Korg Z3
	Pedulla XJ-S with the Korg Z3. The sounds are classic, vintage early 1990’s FM synth sounds. In MIDI speed tests, the Korg Z3 is just as fast as any of the current pitch-to-MIDI systems available now.
	XJ-S with Ibanez MC1 and Korg TR Rack
	Quick video of the XJ-S with the Ibanez MC1, highlighting velocity response and touch pads.
	XJ-S Pickup and Hex Fuzz Sound with GR-300
	This video again presents the 5 different pickup combinations of the XJ-S, then highlights the hex fuzz circuit in the XJ-S.
	XJ-S with Roland GR-700 and PG-200
	This video demonstrates the XJ-S with a Roland GR-700 being programmed with the PG-200. All the editing features of the PG-200 are used in this video.
	XJ-S with Roland SIP-300 Featuring Overdrive
	This video again the Roland SIP-300. This video highlights the Overdrive and Tone Controls on the SIP-300.
	XJ-S with Roland SIP-300 Featuring Tone Controls
	This video again the Roland SIP-300. This video highlights the Tone Controls on the SIP-300.

Detail: Neck


As noted above, this guitar has killer through-neck construction. The nut width is 1 5/8” inches, the same as the Ibanez IMG2010, which is slightly narrower than the G-303/G-808.

Detail: Headstock and Tuners


Sealed Schaller Tuners	Sealed Schaller Tuners	Nut detail

Complete Roland G-303/G-808 Electronics Package:


G-303/G-808 Electronics Card	Five synth controls as found on the G-303/G-808	Electronics access panel
The Pedulla XJ-S is one of a very few third party Roland-compatible guitars that feature the exact same electronics package as the G-303/G-808. Most guitars, like the Steinberger GL2T-GR, Gibson Explorer or Modulus Blackknife Special have the STK-1 electronics card. The STK-1 card, originally found in the Roland G-707 guitar, does not have the hex fuzz feature. The XJ-S has every feature found on the G-303/G-808 guitars: hex fuzz, touch pads, plus G-808 build qualities like neck-through construction.