Introduced in 1980, this pioneering analog guitar synthesizer transformed the electric guitar into a polyphonic powerhouse, delivering real-time tracking so precise it handled everything from hammer-ons to glissandos without missing a beat— a game-changer that left earlier models in the dust.
At its core, it packs 6-voice polyphony with two VCOs per voice, harmonically locked to each guitar string for flawless pitch following, plus a -24dB/octave low-pass VCF with envelope modulation via attack and sensitivity controls. A built-in LFO adds vibrato, while footswitches command VCO modes like single or duet for chorusing, harmonize detuning, and VCF sweeps—up, down, or bypassed—letting you tweak on the fly without touching your hands. The rugged blue pedal unit measures 15.7" wide by 11.4" deep by 3.9" high, connects via a sturdy 24-way cable to a compatible guitar like the G-808, and mixes dry guitar signal with synth output through stereo outs and a mono input, all balanced by front-panel knobs for cutoff, resonance, vibrato depth, and more. Touch plates near the bridge pickup even let you dab in vibrato dynamically.
Guitarists and synth heads still chase its thick, soulful tones—think Pat Metheny's iconic trumpet leads—with praise for the human feel and Minimoog-rivaling warmth, though some note the limited waveforms and occasional power supply gremlins from age. It's a live-performance legend that begs for a spot in any vintage rig.
Roland Corporation was founded on April 18, 1972, in Osaka, Japan, by Ikutaro Kakehashi, who established the company with a capital stock of 33 million yen and released its first products as rhythm machines. The company soon built its Hamamatsu factory and grew into a global leader in electronic musical instruments, maintaining a museum of vintage synthesizers, drums, and other innovations at its R&D Center in Hamamatsu that informs ongoing development.
