Back in 1978, this little rhythm box helped kick off Roland's CompuRhythm era, laying the groundwork for legends like the CR-78 with its pure analog beats that still punch through mixes today.
It's a compact, preset-only drum machine packing 34 rhythms from 4 Rocks and 2 Discos to Waltz, Shuffle, Bossa Nova, and Tango, each with 5 variations you can scan through easily. Analog sounds cover bass drum, snare, rimshot, hi-hat, cymbal, maracas, claves, cowbell, bongos, congas, and that signature metallic beat overlay, all tweakable via balance, accent, and volume sliders plus a classic Fill-In button for breaks. Tempo glides smoothly with a dedicated knob, and it outputs via a single stereo jack with a 1/4-inch trigger out for syncing to other gear. No programming here—just fire it up and dial in the groove on its straightforward panel.
Owners love its raw, transistor-driven snap, especially those amazing hi-hats and lively fills that add character to vintage setups, though some note the fixed patterns keep it simpler than its programmable sibling. A solid, affordable entry into that iconic Roland sound.
