Updates: May 2013

BX-13-VC - Rare Roland BC-13- clone, new for 2013.

RC-1324-VR - Play vintage 24-pin synths with new 13-pin guitars!

G-808 Photo updates, plus G-303 vs G-808 neck profile photos.

G-707 Photo and video update, new hex fuzz circuit.
Vintage Roland 24-pin Compatible Guitar Synthesizers:

Roland GR-100
Roland GR-300
Roland GR-33B
Roland GR-500
Roland GR-700
Roland GR-77B
Roland GM-70
Ibanez MC1
Korg Z3

Vintage Roland 24-pin Guitar Synthesizers

Roland GR-100

Roland GR-100

Complex hexaphonic distortion circuit
Additional sustain overdrive (mode 3)
6 individual -12 dB low-pass Voltage Controlled Filters, one per string
Frequency peak and sensitivity controls for VCFs
Built-in footswitch controls the VCF mode (on, bypass, or inverted)
Low Frequency Oscillator with rate control, for vibrato effects
Lush analog bucket-brigade chorus/vibrato
Pedal control input for the VCF
3 outputs: guitar, mix/e.q. and chorus
Synchronized, flashing LED status indicators
Dimensions: 11.75" (W) 9.8" (D) 3.75" (H)
Power Requirements: 9 watts
Roland GR-300

Roland GR-300

6-voice polyphony
2 oscillators per voice
VCOs (voltage controlled oscillator) are directly harmonically locked to each string, but can be tuned separately
VCF (voltage controlled filter, low pass) -24 dB per octave, with envelope modulation (attack and sensitivity)
Low Frequency Oscillator, for Vibrato Effects
Built-in foot switch controls the VCO mode (single/dual)
Built-in foot switches control the VCO harmonize pitch (detuning of the VCO's)
Built-in foot switch controls the VCF mode (on, bypass, or inverted)
Pedal control input for the VCF
The GR-300 can output either the guitar, the synth, or a mix of the two
Synchronized, flashing LED status indicators
Dimensions: 15.7" (W) 11.4" (D) 3.9" (H)
Power Requirements: 20 watts
Roland GR-33B

Roland GR-33B

4-voice polyphony
2 oscillators per voice
VCOs (voltage controlled oscillator) are directly harmonically locked to each string, but can be tuned separately
VCF (voltage controlled filter, low pass), 2 modes, -12 dB or -24 dB per octave, with envelope modulation (attack and decay)
Low Frequency Oscillator with lag (delay) generator
Built-in foot switch controls the VCF or VCA modulation
Built-in foot switches control the VCO harmonize pitch (detuning of the VCO's)
Built-in foot switch selects envelope presets A or B
Pedal control input for the VCF
The GR-33B can output either the guitar, the synth, or a mix of the two
Synchronized, flashing LED status indicators
Dimensions: 15.75" (W) 11.125" (D) 4" (H)
Power Requirements: 20 watts
Roland GR-500

Roland GR-500

Guitar Section: Equalizer ON/OFF, Equalizer Frequency
Polyensemble Section: Voicing volume, wood, soft reed, brass, strings. Envelope generator: attack, decay, and sustain
Bass Section:Voicing volume, percussion, soft, hard, decay (long/short), string selective switch 1-6/4,5,6/5,6, Envelope generator: attack, decay, and sustain
Solo Melody Section: Pulse width modulation (LFO/Manual/Env), mixer (square 16' 8', saw 8', polyensemble) VCF frequency, resonance, LFO frequency, Envelope generator: attack, decay, and sustain. Modulation: envelope, LFO, pitch follower, pitch follower or pedal control. VCA: initial gain, envelope, touch sense (2/1/off)
Ext Synth Section: transpose, portamento time
Dimensions: 603 (W) x 154 (H) x 309 (D) mm
Power Requirements: 19 watts
Roland GR-700

Roland GR-700

6 voice, Dual Oscillator Synth Engine Based on the Roland JX-3P/MKS-30
3 - Selectable Octave Settings for Each Oscillator, 2’, 4’ and 8’
Choice of Square, Sawtooth or Pulse Waveform, plus Noise for Oscillator 2
Cross Modulation Between Oscillators
Frequency Modulation with Envelope and/or Modulation
VCF Low-Pass Filter with LFO, Envelope and Pitch Modulation
Variable High-Pass Filter
Four Stage Envelope Generator
Low Frequency Oscillator for Vibrato Effects
Selectable Dynamic Control Over Pitch, Filter and Amplifier per string
Selectable Pitch Bend, Hold and Voice On/Off per String
Lush Analog Chorus Mode
Programming Via Foot switches or with optional PG-200 Programmer
Dimensions: 27 3/16" (W) 14 3/4" (D) 6 1/8" (H)
Power Requirements: 45 watts
Roland GR-77B

Roland GR-77B

4 voice, Dual Oscillator Synth Engine Based on the Roland JX-8P
4 - Selectable Octave Settings for Each Oscillator, 2’, 4’, 8' and 16’
Choice of Square, Sawtooth, Pulse Waveform or Noise
Cross Modulation Between Oscillators
Frequency Modulation with Envelope and/or Modulation
VCF Low-Pass Filter with LFO, Envelope and Pitch Modulation
Variable High-Pass Filter
Dual Four Stage Envelope Generators
Low Frequency Oscillator for Vibrato Effects
Selectable Dynamic Control Over Pitch, Filter and Amplifier per string
Selectable Pitch Bend, Hold and Voice On/Off per String
Lush Analog Chorus Mode
Programming via foot switches or with optional PG-800 Programmer
Dimensions: 27 3/16" (W) 14 3/4" (D) 6 1/8" (H), 12 kg/26 lb. 8 oz.
Power Requirements: 45 watts
Roland GM-70

Roland GM-70

128 Patches, each with four "Branches" (A to D)
Two editing methods to create a branch: General Edit and Individual Edit.
Supports assignable MIDI control numbers from 0 to 95, MIDI Poly and Mono Modes
CV #3 (Whammy Bar) supports "Absolute" or "Center" modes of operation
Up to 4 continuous controllers from guitar, plus 3 position mode switch
2 - Assignable foot switches (Roland FS-5L, FS-5U or similar)
1 - Assignable foot pedal (Roland EV-5)
Guitar volume control simultaneously transmits MIDI volume (controller 7)
Stereo input for one synthesizer
Optional use of Roland FC-100 foot pedal controller to change patches, plus adds one more MIDI switch and controller
Dimensions: 482 mm (W) 276 mm (H) 44 mm (D)
Power Requirements: 22 watts
Weight: 4.0 kg 8 lb. 13 oz.
Ibanez MC1

Ibanez MC1

Continuous control of MIDI trigger threshold
Continuous control of MIDI dynamic range
Effects Loop Send and Return
Peak and decay calibration mode
10 segment display for string dynamics
Two mono synth inputs, internal Voltage Controller Amplifiers are used to control guitar and synth levels
Dedicated HOLD foot switch with front panel display LED
Dedicated front panel Chromatic mode LED
Built by Maxon Electronics (manufacturer Ibanez foot pedal processors)
Dedicated multifunction edit keys for easy editing, with support for assignable MIDI control numbers from 0 to 32
Optional use of Ibanez IFC60 foot pedal controller to change patches
Dimensions: 482 mm (W) 276 mm (H) 44 mm (D)
Power Requirements: 12 watts
Weight: 4.0 kg 8 lb. 13 oz.
Korg Z3

Korg Z3

Fastest and Most Accurate Vintage Pitch-to-MIDI Synthesizer (24-pin Format)
Yamaha FM Synthesis
Built-in Reverb
Built-in Tuner
Multi-timbral operation (allowing each string to play a different sound)
Easy front-panel access to most frequently used functions
Responds only to Master volume commands, ignores all guitar controller information, CV knobs, bender-arm, etc.
Foot switch inputs for patch up and down
Detailed sound editing only through software
Useable as MIDI sound module (disables Guitar Synthesizer input)
Synthesizer Off foot switch input
Dedicated Hold foot switch input (like Ibanez MC1)
Dimensions: 19" (W) 10.875" (D) 1.75" (H)
Power Requirements: 24 watts