Roland Shipping GR-20 Guitar Synth

GR-20 (Click for a close-up)

GR-20 Rear Panel (Click for a close-up)

GK-3 Pickup (Click for a close-up)

Roland is now shipping the new GR-20 Guitar Synthesizer and GK-3 Divided Pickup. The GR-20 makes playing synthesizer sounds from any steel-stringed electric guitar (including Les Paul-type instruments) simple--just attach the included GK-3 Divided Pickup, choose a sound and go. An all-new interface makes playing sounds easy using the Bank knob for sound categories and Value dial for variations, while new digital pitch detection provides superior tracking. With the GR-20, guitarists can explore a universe of new sounds.

The GR-20's new interface makes it operate more like a compact pedal. Sounds can be selected using the Bank knob to choose a category (like Strings/Orchestral, Brass, Bass/Guitar, Organ/Keyboard, Synth/Lead or even new Rhythm and Percussion loops). Individual sounds can be selected using the Value dial. The GR-20 features 48-note note polyphony and Roland's latest synth engine.

The front end of the GR-20 is the new GK-3 Divided Pickup, which is not only easy and safe to install, but also comes with a 1/4-inch jack for normal guitar input. The pickup's adjustable curve design can be adapted to fit a variety of guitars--keeping an even distance between the strings for better response. Adjusting the pickup cable length is a snap by coiling the pickup cable inside the controller unit. The GK-3 also includes a special attachment plate for use with Les Paul-type guitars.

Once installed, guitarists can create entirely new sounds by blending their normal guitar tone with the GR-20's synthesizer sounds via a large GK knob right on the pickup. And thanks to Roland's Patch Link function, the GR-20 can be easily paired up with a MIDI-capable multi-effects processor. Once connected, this allows you to easily assign GR-20 Patches to match effect Patches in MIDI-capable processors.