December 2018

SBC-1324 Roland 24 or 13 Pin Input to 13 and 24 Pin Output
Back in 2009 I was approached by a very talented Canadian guitarist who wanted to be able to control both vintage Roland 24 pin GR-series synthesizers and modern Roland 13 pin GK-series synthesizers with one guitar, either a 13 or 24 pin guitar.

The SBC-1324 is the unit I built to meet this need. The unit has both 13 and 24 pin inputs, and a master analog switch to select between the two. There are six amplifiers for each string input, used primarily to boost the 13 pin signals to the 24 pin format, but they can also be used individually to amplify any single string input, whether 13 or 24 pin.
Artist Highlight: Neal Schon
Journey guitarist Neal Schon was frequently seen in the early eighties playing a Roland G-505 guitar paired with the GR-300. Schon is not usually thought of as a 'Strat' player, much less a guitar synthesist, but he makes great use of the G-505/GR-300. An outstanding track is the tune 'Valley of the Kings', using the 'Duet' mode of the GR-300.
Roland SIP-300 Fresh Photos! Super clean photos from an auction by Tone Tweakers.
Roland GR-300 Emulation with Kontakt 5 or Roland SR-JV80-04 / SRX-04 Ultimate Keys / INTEGRA-7. Download a complete Kontakt 5 patch and trigger a GR-300 with MIDI! Or check out a demo of the Roland GR-300 patch created by the legendary Scott Summers.
UX-20 - 13-Pin Splitter/Distributor with Buffered Guitar Input Schematic
Pat Metheny writes about on using the NED Synclavier Digital Guitar Option - First Time Online! From the 1984 NED Owner's Manual.
Steinberger XL2-GR Guitar Synthesizer Controller - Vintage Roland Ready Bass Guitar Synthesizer Controller
Pedulla MVP-S Guitar Synthesizer Controller - The phantom Roland Ready Guitar Synth Controller!
GK QuadBox Schematic Build your own GK QuadBox, 1 input, 4 output 13-pin Guitar Synth Signal Distributor - Combined US-20 and GKP-4 clone!
RC-1324-VR Roland 13-in to 24-pin Converter Detailed schematic on the acclaimed RC-1324. Control vintage 24-pin Roland guitar synths like the GR-700 and GR-300 with modern 13-pin controllers like the GK-3, GK-2A or the Godin series of guitar controllers
Modulus Graphite Blackknife Special Guitar Synthesizer Controller
Roland GR-700 Operating System Upgrade New Sounds! Faster Response!!
Do-It-Yourself DIY Roland and Ibanez Guitar Synthesizer Control Panel Overlays
The summer NAMM 1985 show was the year when MIDI became accepted as a standard across the industry, and guitar manufacturers unleased a variety of MIDI guitar products not seen since. From Roland to Steinberger to Ibanez to the ultra rare Octave-Plateau Voyetra MIDI guitar, MIDI was everywhere.
Detailed information on the vintage IBM-PC music production software from Voyetra. Voyetra is the same company that produced the Kat and Kitten analog synthesiers, the ground-breaking Voyetra Eight polyphonic analog synthesizer, and the ultra rare Octave-Plateau Voyetra MIDI guitar.
WBRA Public Television Music Video featuring Wayne Joness using Voyetra Sequencer Plus - Live Performance.
Vintage Interview with Jazz Fusion pioneer John McLaughlin about using the Roland G-303 guitar synth controller and the New England Digital Synclavier with Digital Guitar Option
Details on the amazing Synclavier II Digital Guitar
East Side West Side by John McLaughlin From the Album Mahavishnu - Transcribed by Steve Vai.
Vintage 1980 Full Page Roland G-808 Advertisement featuring Bernie Marsden (Whitesnake) - Who knew? Hard rock icon Bernie Marsden with a Roland G-808!
Gibson Custom Shop Les Paul "Studio Custom" Roland Ready Synthesizer Controller Update
More pictures on the Gibson Custom Shop Les Paul Roland Ready Synthesizer Controller page, plus an update on the number of models built.
Musico Resynator | Hexsynator - 1980s Pitch and Envelope Tracking Synthesizer with Roland 24-pin Guitar Synthesizer Input - Detailed photo gallery from November 2017 fundraiser at Sound City Studios in Van Nuys, CA.
Gibson Custom Shop Les Paul "Studio Custom" Roland Ready Synthesizer Controller
Beyond the standard Roland offerings in the G-X0X series, there are vintage 24-pin Roland-Ready guitars for just about every niche: the Hard Rock Hamer A7, the traditional player's Zion Strat, or the cutting edge Steinberger GL-2T/GR.
But the classic, eternal, "Cadillac" of the series has got to be the Limited Edition 1985 Gibson Custom Shop Les Paul with the Roland LPK-1 Electronics. Every guitar was the product of Gibson's acclaimed Custom Shop in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Kalamazoo made Gibson Les Pauls have been called the 'Holy Grail' of electric guitars. These vintage guitars combine all the craft and musicality with the feature-rich Roland LPK-1 electronics package, the same electronics found in the G-303 or G-808 guitars.
Jazz and the GR-50! Acclaimed Jazz Guitarist Brad Rabuchin rocks the Roland GR-50 in this track 39 Steps: A Spacewalk. This is Space Station MIR, a collaboration with Flugelhorn Horn genius and composer Michael Wetherwax, with Wayne Joness on keyboards and programming. Watch Now on YouTube.
BX-13 Micro Schematics Yes! At long last! The final schematic for the BX-13 Micro is available on the website! This design incorporates a VCA (voltage controlled amplifier) with an option to select either guitar or hex fuzz as the guitar signal, plus using controller 2 (resonance) as secondary control source acting as a EV-5 pedal.
At long last the Vintage Roland Guitar Synthesizer Resource site has a full profile on the Steinberger GL-2T/GR Guitar Synthesizer Controller, with unseen schematics, photos and video, with additional information on the GL-3T/GR and GL-4T/GR.
Musico Resynator | Hexsynator - 1980s Pitch and Envelope Tracking Synthesizer with Roland 24-pin Guitar Synthesizer Input.
Korg Z3 Patch Editor Adaption for the Korg Z3 - Thanks to Korg Z3 user David for this free software download.
GS-500 Video Playlist featuring Terje Rypdal - Luc Bertels hipped me to videos of Terje Rypdal using the Roland GR-500 and GS-500.
Roland GR-700 and GR-77B AB-700 Case - Image gallery with 12 photos of the rare official Roland factory road case.
Xotica EA-1 with Roland Ready Guitar Graph Tech Ghost Pickups - Detailed information on this very rare, Rland ready 13-pin Acoustic/Electric Roland guitar synthesizer controller.
Factory Blue Roland GS-500 - Last year while visiting Japan I stumbled upon a factory BLUE Roland GS-500 in a Tokyo music store! Check out the exclusive photos published for the first time.
Sounds of the GR-77B! New video posted featuring a layered bass combination of the Roland MKS-70 (same sound engine as the GR-77B) and the GR-77B.
Pat Metheny Extended Interview - I tracked down the original Guitarist Magazine, May 1985, and have posted the complete interview with Pat Metheny. The previous interview was an abbreviated version.
GR-300 Synthcheck - A detailed 2000 word review from "The Complete Music Magazine", dated November 1980
Gibson Explorer - Finally! A home for one of the rarer custom Gibson vintage Roland guitar synth controllers
Jimmy Page - Vintage 1985 magazine ad featuring the guitar legend and his G-707/GR-700 rig!
LPK-1 Installation Diagram thanks to John Doucette for emailing the scans.
GK-20 Schematic - 13-pin Guitar Switcher, Schematic ready for download
Filter/Buffer Schematic - Schematic ready for download.
Roland GR-700 and GR-77B Updates: From the Roland User Group Archives, a complete MIDI guitar and MIDI bass system profile!
Roland GR-77B Updates: Finally! The Roland GR-77B and G-77 pages have been updated. Be sure to check out the G-77 page as well.
Vintage Roland G-505 and GR-300 combination magazine advertisement.
GR-700 One Step Beyond!: From the 1985 Roland User Group Magazine
GR-700 4x Memory Expansion!: Easy to do, super DIY Memory Expansion!
Ibanez IMG2010 and MC1: Updated! High-Res Brochure from 1985
G-707 Steve Hunter: Vintage Product Review from 1985, Part 2!
G-707 Steve Hunter: Vintage Product Review from 1985, Part 1
GR-500 Steve Hackett: Vintage Product Review from 1978!
GR-500 Patch Sheet: Original Blank Patch Sheet
GR-500 - Solo Voice Tuning : Adendum on Tuning the Solo Section
GR-300 Filter Mod: LFO to Filter Modification
GR-300 Output Mod: Increase the output of your GR-300!
GR-55 Schematics, Service Notes: Full factory service notes for the Roland GR-55
Ibanez MIU8: Specs, photos, details on the rarest of rare!
MIU8 Schematics: Schematics and Service Manual (pdf)!
Korg Z3 Product Page: From early Product catalog!
Hamer A7 Guitar: Added to the guitar pages, a tribute to the Hamer Phantom A7! Tubo Lover rocks!
GR-500 24-pin Connector Change: Documentation of the change from the original, pin-type C24 connector to the much more common C24 positive (locking frame) connector.

Vintage Roland 24-pin Compatible Guitar Synthesizer Controllers:

Gibson Explorer
Gibson Les Paul
Hamer A7 Phantom
Ibanez IMG2010
Modulus Graphite Blackknife Special
MV Pedulla MVP-S
MV Pedulla XJ-S
Roland G-202
Roland G-303
Roland G-505
Roland G-707
Roland G-808
Roland G-33 Bass
Roland G-77 Bass
Roland G-88 Bass
Steinberger GL2T-GR
Steinberger XL2-GR
Zion Turbo Synth

Vintage Roland 24-pin Compatible Guitar Synthesizer Controllers

Model: Gibson Explorer
Retail price: $1,049.00
Body: Mahogany
Finish: Lacquer
Neck: Maple
Fingerboard: Ebony
Frets: 22
Bridge: Gibson Tune-O-Matic
Nut: Plastic
Tuning Machines: Schaller
Pickups: Two humbuckers
Scale: 24 3/4”
Truss Rod: Single, adjustable
Neck Width: 1 11/16 ”
Body Width: 16 5/16 ”
Body Depth: 1 3/4 ”
Overall Length: 42 ”
Weight: 8 lbs 13 oz

Model: Gibson Les Paul
Retail price: $1,299.00
Body: Maple and mahogany
Finish: Lacquer
Neck: Maple
Fingerboard: Rosewood
Frets: 22
Bridge: Gibson Tune-O-Matic
Nutt: Plastic
Tuning Machines: Schaller Pickups
Pickups: Two humbuckers
Scale: 24 3/4”
Truss Rod: Single, adjustable
Neck Width: 1 11/16”
Body Width: 12 21/32”
Body Depth: 1 15/15”
Overall Length: 39 1/4”
Weight: 8 lbs. 12 oz

Model: Hamer A7 Phantom
Retail price: $1,500.00
Body: Multilaminate Honduras ma-hogany
Finish: Nitrocellulose lacquer
Neck: 3-piece glued-in maple
Fingerboard: Rosewood
Frets: 22
Bridge: Kahler tremolo with added plastic shim to reduce stray resonance
Nut: Hamer Lubritrak
Tuning Machines: Schaller
Pickups: Hamer Slammers (one humbucker combined with a single-coil, plus one single-coil)
Scale: 24 3/4”
Truss Rod: Single, adjustable forward and back
Neck Width: 1 11/16 ”
Body Width: 13 1/2 ”
Body Depth: 1 3/4 ”
Overall Length: 40 1/2 ”
Weight: 8 lbs 8 oz

Model: Ibanez IMG2010
Retail price: $1,600.00
Body: Maple
Finish:
Neck: Maple, 1 Piece with GFRP Stabilizer Bar
Fingerboard: Ebony
Frets: 22
Bridge: Custom Ibanez
Nut: N/A
Tuning Machines: Ibanez Microtuners
Pickups: Two Ibanez Humbuckers
Scale: 25 1/2”
Truss Rod: Single, adjustable
Neck Width: 1 5/8 ”
Body Width: 12 ”
Body Depth: 1 1/2 ”
Overall Length: 37 ”
Weight: 8

Model: Modulus Graphite Blackknife Special
Retail price: $1,500.00; $1,750.00 with Kahler or Washburn Wonderbar tremolo
Body: Alder
Finish: Polyurethane
Neck: Modulus Graphite molded graphite-epoxy
Fingerboard: Phenolic
Frets: 22 Jumbo
Bridge: N/A
Nut: Laminated graphite-epoxy
Tuning Machines: Gotoh
Pickups: N/A
Scale: 25 1/2”
Truss Rod: None
Neck Width: 1 11/16 ”
Body Width: 12 5/8 ”
Body Depth: 1 13/16 ”
Overall Length: 38 7/8 ”
Weight: 9 lbs

Model: MV Pedulla MVP-S
Retail price: $1,745.00
Body: Maple
Finish: Polyester
Neck: Through-body maple
Fingerboard: Ebony
Frets: 24
Bridge: Kahler tremolo (available with Schaller fixed bridge)
Nut: Graphite
Tuning Machines: Schaller
Pickups: Bartolini Beastie humbuckers (also available with two single-coils and a humbucker)
Scale: 25 1/2”
Truss Rod: Single, adjustable
Neck Width: 1 5/8 ”
Body Width: 13 ”
Body Depth: 1 3/4 ”
Overall Length: 39 1/4 ”
Weight: 8 lbs 15 oz

Model: MV Pedulla XJ-S
Retail price: $1,745.00
Body: Maple
Finish: Polyester
Neck: Through-body maple
Fingerboard: Ebony
Frets: 22
Bridge: Schaller fixed bridge
Nut: Graphite
Tuning Machines: Schaller
Pickups: Bartolini two single-coils and a humbucker
Scale: 25 1/2”
Truss Rod: Single, adjustable
Neck Width: 1 5/8”
Body Width: 14 1/4”
Body Depth: 1 1/2”
Overall Length: 38”
Weight: 8 lbs 6 oz

Model: Roland G-202
Retail price:
Body: Ash
Finish: Acrylic, red, white, blue, natural
Neck: Maple One Piece
Frets: 21
Bridge: Adjustable
Nut: Polycarbonate
Tuning Machines: Gotoh
Pickups: Two Roland PU-120H humbuckers
Scale: 25 1/2”
Truss Rod: Single, adjustable
Neck Width: 1 5/8 ”
Body Width: 13”
Body Depth: 1 3/4 ”
Overall Length: 39 1/2 ”
Weight: 7 lbs 3 oz

Model: Roland G-303
Retail price: $930.00
Body: Maple top and mahogany back
Finish: Acrylic ("robert" brown or white)
Neck: Set-in 3-piece maple
Fingerboard: Rosewood
Frets: 22
Bridge: Fixed, adjustable
Nut: Polycarbonate
Tuning Machines: Gotoh
Pickups: Two Roland PU-114H Humbuckers
Scale: 24 3/4”
Truss Rod: Adjustable
Neck Width: 1 11/16 ”
Body Width: 13 ”
Body Depth: 1 3/4 ”
Overall Length: 38 3/4 ”
Weight: 8 lbs 8 oz

Model: Roland G-505
Retail price: $925.00
Body: Ash or Alder
Finish: Acrylic, sunburst, metallic red or metallic blue
Neck: Maple One Piece
Fingerboard: Maple (rosewood is $25.00 extra)
Frets: 21
Bridge: Adjustable
Nut: Polycarbonate
Tuning Machines: Gotoh
Pickups: Three Roland PU-134S single-coil
Scale: 25 1/2”
Truss Rod: Single, adjustable
Neck Width: 1 5/8 ”
Body Width: 13”
Body Depth: 1 3/4 ”
Overall Length: 39 1/2 ”
Weight: 7 lbs 3 oz

Model: Roland G-707
Retail price: $1295.00
Body: Ash
Finish: Acrylic, silver, red, or black
Neck: Maple with ABS stabilizer bar
Fingerboard: Rosewood
Frets: 22
Bridge: Roland tremolo
Nut: Polycarbonate
Tuning Machines: Gotoh, 6-in-line
Pickups: Two Roland humbuckers
Scale: 25 1/2”
Truss Rod: Single, adjustable
Neck Width: 1 5/8 ”
Body Width: 9 ”
Body Depth: 1 3/4 ”
Overall Length: 39 1/2 ”
Weight: 8 lns 12 oz

Model: Roland G-808
Retail price:
Body: Maple and Mahogany, thru neck
Finish: Acrylic, natural
Neck: Maple and Mahogany, thru neck
Fingerboard: Select Ebony
Frets: 22
Bridge: Fixed, adjustable
Nut: Polycarbonate
Tuning Machines: Gotoh
Pickups: Two Roland PU-114H Humbuckers
Scale: 24 3/4”
Truss Rod: Adjustable
Neck Width: 1 11/16 ”
Body Width: 13 ”
Body Depth: 1 3/4 ”
Overall Length: 38 3/4 ”
Weight: 9 lbs 6 oz

Model: Roland G-33 Bass
Retail price: $895.00
Body: Ash and Walnut
Finish: Acrylic, natural
Neck: Maple, set-in
Fingerboard: Rosewood
Frets: 21
Bridge: Adjustable
Nut: Polycarbonate
Tuning Machines: Gotoh
Pickups: One single-coil
Scale: 34”
Truss Rod: Single, adjustable
Neck Width: 1 11/16 ”
Body Width: 13 ”
Body Depth: 1 3/4 ”
Overall Length: 45 1/2 ”
Weight: N/A

Model: Roland G-77 Bass
Retail price: N/A
Body: Ash or Alder
Finish: Acrylic, ivory, red, or black
Neck: Maple with ABS stabilizer bar
Fingerboard: Rosewood (fretless available)
Frets: 21
Bridge: Adjustable
Nut: Polycarbonate
Tuning Machines: Gotoh
Pickups: Two single-coils
Scale: 34”
Truss Rod: Single, adjustable
Neck Width: 1 5/8 ”
Body Width: 9 ”
Body Depth: 1 3/4 ”
Overall Length: 46 ”
Weight: 9 lbs

Model: Roland G-88 Bass
Retail price:
Body: Ash and Walnut
Finish: Acrylic, natural
Neck: Maple and Mahogany, thru neck
Fingerboard: Select Ebony
Frets: 21
Bridge: Adjustable
Nut: Polycarbonate
Tuning Machines: Gotoh
Pickups: One single-coil
Scale: 34”
Truss Rod: Single, adjustable
Neck Width: 1 11/16 ”
Body Width: 13 ”
Body Depth: 1 3/4 ”
Overall Length: 45 1/2 ”
Weight: N/A

Model: Steinberger GL2T-GR
Retail price: $2,500 with TransTrem
Body: Single-piece neck/ body of Steinberger Blend synthetic reinforced fiber
Finish: Gel-coat (black or white)
Neck: N/A
Fingerboard: Phenolic laminated
Frets: 24 Nut: Zero fret (no nut)
Bridge: N/A
Nutt: Zero fret (no nut)
Tuning Machines: Knurled knobs on bridge
Pickups: Two EMG 81 humbuckers
Scale: 25 1/2”
Truss Rod: None
Neck Width: 1 5/8 ”
Body Width: 7 1/2 ”
Body Depth: 1 3/4 ”
Overall Length: 29 3/4 ”
Weight: 7 lbs

Model: Steinberger XL2-GR
Retail price: $2,400
Body: Single-piece neck/ body of Steinberger Blend synthetic reinforced fiber
Finish: Gel-coat (black or white)
Neck: N/A
Fingerboard: Phenolic laminated
Frets: 24 Nut: Zero fret (no nut)
Bridge: N/A
Nut: Zero fret (no nut)
Neck Width: 1 7/16 ”
Tuning Machines: Knurled knobs on bridge
Pickups: Two EMG-SS (Steinberger Sound)
Scale: 34”
Truss Rod: Single, adjustable
Weight: 8.8 lbs

Model: Zion Turbo Synth
Retail price: $1,395.00
Body: Alder
Finish: Polyester
Neck: Maple
Fingerboard: Phenolic
Frets: 22
Bridge: Kahler non-tremolo
Nut: Graphite
Tuning Machines: Gotoh
Pickups: Three EMG single-coil
Scale: 25 1/2”
Truss Rod: Single, adjustable
Neck Width: 1 5/8 ”
Body Width: 12 3/4 ”
Body Depth: 1 3/4 ”
Overall Length: 38 1/2 ”
Weight: 8 lbs, 9 0z