| Author |
 Topic  |
|
|
the-destructor
Silver Member
USA
334 Posts |
 Posted - 03/23/2009 : 00:19:10
|
Synth-Hell. Anyone have one, played one...
What's your opinion??? I have a chance to buy one with the pickup, cheap. God Damn the recession rocks!!!
 T-D |
|
|
Right Foot Boss
Gold Member
USA
881 Posts |
Posted - 03/23/2009 : 12:12:05
|
| No, and I want one really bad. |
 |
|
|
Dr. Bob
Moderator
Australia
6593 Posts |
Posted - 03/23/2009 : 13:02:35
|
Hi TD
Just remember that the GR-20 is a synth.
It tracks very well & fast, if set up properly.
I have been gassing for one, for a log time, but always seem to just miss out.
I have the all analog Generation-2 GR-300 & the G-808 controller,
it can do some nice bread & butter sounds, but it was conceived in the early 80's.
That's the main reason, I have been searching for one.
I have used my friends GR-33 and the GR-1 extensively.
The GR-33 can be a little slow.
I have also used the GR-700, which was basically the JX3P synth engine.
Yes TD, uncle Bob lives a lot in the past, technology wise.
There is a great site:
http://www.joness.com
That covers a lot of the older GR-series, but I don't believe he has the info on the GR-20
You could always email him.
The link to the GR-300 is:
http://www.joness.com/gr300/GR-300.htm
And over at:
http://www.synthmuseum.com/roland/rolgr30001.html
But as I first mentioned - it is a synth.
If you pass up on it, depending on price, I would be keen to buy it.
Good luck if you go ahead. 
I know I would not look back on the purchase.
You just have adjust your playing style a bit, to suit the synthesized instrument.
Regards Dr. Bob 
|
|
|
|
PaulH
Gold Member
535 Posts |
Posted - 03/23/2009 : 19:40:47
|
I've tried some guitar synths.
I'm tempted by the GR range, but...
Personally I prefer a synth with a keyboard and knobs to muck about with.
For me synths are about messing with those filters in realtime. |
|
|
|
j3yps
Copper Member
Philippines
14 Posts |
Posted - 05/26/2009 : 14:31:33
|
| GR20 user here!, got it from GuitarCenter together with the GK3 pickup(installed on my Epi LesPaul) so far so good, the sounds/patches are AMAZING, it will really set your inner creativity free...hehehe...If you guys got any inquiries about this unit just post em and i'll try my best to answer them... |
|
|
|
verivorax
Platinum Member
Canada
1185 Posts |
Posted - 05/26/2009 : 14:58:27
|
The GR-stuff is nice, especially if you're looking for some thickening of your sound, or splitting of the guitar into bass-and-sax for example. the GI-20 is also good, but it's just a half-rack (no pedals, but USB interface). Individual string sensitivity is also helpful - I think all models have that.
There are a bunch of pickups available.. the GK-3 is the obvious choice as it's Roland's product, but the Ghost system from Graph-Tech and the RMC saddles used on Godin synth guitars might track a little faster (piezo-based rather than 6 tiny humbuckers in the Roland).
Good luck in your hunt.. |
|
|
|
DeFrag
Moderator
USA
3409 Posts |
Posted - 05/26/2009 : 15:21:51
|
I've tried the GR-20 & it is amazing.
I run the Sonuus G2M (guitar to MIDI) unit through my keyboard as a cheap man's way into the field though. It tracks about like an OC-2, so only single notes played cleanly. |
Edited by - DeFrag on 05/26/2009 15:23:07 |
|
|
|
The_Doc
Gold Member
United Kingdom
509 Posts |
Posted - 05/26/2009 : 18:21:34
|
Same with me DeFrag - I use a GI-10 Midi Converter & GK2A Pickup bolted onto an old Yamaha Pacifica and midi'd into various keyboards and modules via a Phillip Rees selector switch.
Tracking isn't bad once you've got it set up and matched your playing style up to it - one simple little trick I picked up for laying down basslines was to play it above the octave (tracks better) and then transpose the midi sequence back down. Takes a bit of patience but works well for me if I need to get to a bassline quickly.
and there's nothing quite like playing the bagpipes from a guitar (there's an excellent Roland JV-30 preset for that) - hit a drone note and go for it.... |
|
|
|
DeFrag
Moderator
USA
3409 Posts |
Posted - 05/26/2009 : 20:16:41
|
I wish I had a Phillip Rees unit.
Nice |
|
|
|
The_Doc
Gold Member
United Kingdom
509 Posts |
Posted - 05/28/2009 : 23:16:13
|
The Phillip Rees switches are really useful, simple units DeFrag - I use them for all the midi routing in the studio combined with a Steinberg Midex 8 - all pretty seamless really - just set it up and forget about it - until you buy a new piece of midi gear that is  |
|
|
| |
Topic |
|
Roland GR-20
