Roland GR-20

The Roland GR 20 is an guitar synthesizer that you must own if you play the electric guitar. it’s a complete system that has a great selection of sounds like strings, organ , synths and many more. Editing everything on the Roland GR 20 couldn’t be easier either with the quick editing knobs like chorus and release / delay. The Roland GR 20 also has some of the newest and latest sounds that come on other Roland products. If you are a Les Paul type guitar player there is an attachment plate for you as well.


UTILIZATION

There was a little learning curve me to get familiar with the unit itself. It wasn’t difficult but I didn’t read any manuals so I just started messing around with it it. Using it is painless but it was one of the first type of pieces of gear like this that I have ever used so it too me a while to really get the feel and flow of how it works and what each knob does and how well it does it. But after a few hours I had no further problems. It was even fun just doing the trial and error method because I was able to create some really neat sounds. It really brought my creativity out.


GETTING STARTED

Sounds are good, it has some sax, flute, and brass just to name a few. Everything seems to sound pretty realistic as well. Most Roland sounds do sound authentic and they have carried that over to the Roland GR 20.


OVERALL OPINION

Overall, if you are in need of a guitar synthesiser then this could be the one you need to get. It cost a little more than what I was expecting and most of Rolands products arent cheap so I do expect it to hold up for me for a long time. Only time will tell how well built it is, I havent dropped it yet so that is a plus. I am looking forwared to some more synths for guitars that roland will come out with in the future.

*Affordable guitar synthesizer with new sounds, easy interface, and GK-3 pickup

*Easy to use: select a sound category (Strings, Organ, Synth, etc.) and play!

*Quick editing via Attack, Release, Chorus, and Delay/Reverb knobs

*Digital pitch detection for lightning-fast tracking

*Includes Roland's latest sounds like sax, strings, flute, brass, bass and percussion loops

*Includes an adjustable curve design and pickup cable length, plus an attachment plate for Les Paul guitars

*Patch Link enables easy connection with MIDI-capable multi-effects such as the GT-6

*Includes built-in expression pedal

*Built-in effects such as reverb, delay

UTILIZATION

The synth is fairly easy to figure out, but one still needs to have the manual there to figure out all the extra functioning. The digital display only shows patch number information, nothing more, so navigating the deeper functions takes some reading. This is not a bad thing - it is a deep, technologically advanced unit, and should be treated as such. But it's not such a steep learning curve that one couldn't jump right in and make good sounds, provided that they have the proper pickup (GK3 or GK2A) installed properly.

It can be a bit annoying travelling from one patch to another, as you basically have just up or down with the secondary functions of the 2 stomp pedals or using the patch toggle on the GK pickup. One can get around this annoyance by saving useful patches to the User bank, next to each other, or by getting a seperate midi footcontroller to navigate the banks more quickly.

GETTING STARTED

The first thing that needs to be done with this is to install the GK synth pickup on the guitar. The GR-20 will not track notes without one, so proper installation is necessary. It can be a tiny headache figuring it all out, getting the proper spacing to get the pickup height at the right setting, as well as deciding whether or not to mount permanently or use the double-sided tape. But once this minor inconvenience is hurdled, the GR-20 unit provides loads of fun, inspiring sounds.

OVERALL OPINION

The Roland GR-20 used to be one of the top line guitar synth units from Roland. It can be found now on the used market for a song, and provides an excellent variety of quality tones. The organ, synth lead, and pad sounds were the most inspiring to me. The piano sounded a bit tinny, and the brass sounded a bit "80s cheeseball", but the organ, pad, and synth sounds are absolutely enough to get me shredding on this for hours at a time.

One great feature is that one can use a midi out to a sequencer program, and just play the data in - no more tedious programming note by note! That right there is worth the price of admission if one likes to sequence, and the sounds are just the icing on the cake. I like this unit a lot, and I highly recommend checking one out if you can.

see the net!

UTILIZATION

config and installation of GK03 can be done quickly to make the system work relatively quickly.
the manual clear and filled info

GETTING STARTED

the device does not require particular implementation except qq basic settings the first time.

The GK03 is mounted in a double-sided first time on my telecaster to try the machine and see a little how it all behaves.

I intend to mount it on my les paul thereafter.

OVERALL OPINION

I've had ... one week!!!
I think it's great!

sounds or piccolo saxophone with guitar ... it's just excellent!!
just for fun device worth (170 € mine with GK03 sensor included!)

actually play other instruments with guitar requires some adaptation but it can be fun quickly!!

I'll try to insert qq sounds of live .. see!

In any case, I do not regret buying the machine.

Has a complete connection and nothing is missing. GK connection my Godin was made for this. Remained just connect to an amp.

UTILIZATION

Configuration and simple manual and portends huge potential. The programming is against a fairly high level while remaining simple.

GETTING STARTED

A simple and all instrumentation twelve o'clock installation is available from a guitar amp ... What happiness!

OVERALL OPINION

Fairly regular use, use more home externally. The choice fell on this product, because at the time, and especially at the meeting, some suggested taking a product-type GK. Despite the lack of choice, this is more appropriate. No regrets except that the lack of choice at the time.