Roland's string synthesizers defined an entire era of keyboard sound, and the RS-101 represents the company's most accessible entry point into that world—a fully polyphonic 61-key machine that captured the lush, shimmering character of orchestral strings without requiring a room-sized instrument or a second mortgage.
Built around Roland's classic sawtooth divide-down oscillator architecture, the RS-101 delivers genuine analog warmth across its full keyboard range with complete polyphony, meaning every key you press produces a voice without stealing notes from others. The synth splits into two independent regions at F3, letting you layer different timbres across the upper and lower keyboard halves. Each region has its own brass and string tone controls, slow attack envelope, and soft volume switch, giving you enough flexibility to dial in everything from bright, cutting brass stabs to warm, sustained string pads. A single LFO provides vibrato modulation, and the built-in ensemble effect adds the characteristic shimmer that made these machines so appealing in the first place. The whole package weighs just 17 kilograms and runs on standard AC power, making it far more practical than its larger siblings in Roland's string synth lineup.
The RS-101 has aged remarkably well among collectors and players seeking authentic 1970s analog character. Its straightforward control layout—just volume, tone, and envelope switches—means there's no menu diving or steep learning curve, though some find the limited sound-shaping options constraining compared to more complex synthesizers. The divide-down oscillator gives it that distinctive buzzy, slightly grainy quality that defines the era, and the full polyphony makes it genuinely playable for chord work and melodic passages alike. If you're after that specific vintage string synth vibe without the complexity or expense of deeper synthesis, this remains a compelling choice.
