The Roland Synth guitars were a series of electric guitars designed to be used as controllers with Roland's series of guitar synthesizers.
ROLAND G-202ROLAND made the G-202 between 1980 and 1984 | |
ROLAND G-303The Roland G-303, made from 1980-1984, was Roland's most popular synth controller guitar. Some of this popularity came from the G-303's association with Pat Metheny, who played one in combination with the Roland GR-300 synthesizer. But the G-303 was also a high quality playable guitar in its own right, and although not the most technologically advanced synth controller its synth controls were intuiative and usable. The G-303s were made by the Japanese Fujigen Gakki company, an important OEM builder for brands like Greco, Ibanez, Fender, Squier and Yamaha. | |
ROLAND G-505ROLAND made the G-505 between 1980 and 1984 | |
ROLAND G-707The G-707 was made between 1983 and 1986 | |
ROLAND G-808ROLAND manufactured the G-808 between 1980 and 1984. It was designed as a controller for the Roland GR-300 guitar synthesizer and was the top of the guitar synth controller range offered by Roland. | |
ROLAND GS-500Production of the GS-500 began in 1977 and ended in 1980 |
Specifications:
Model | Image | Configuration | Made in | Number of strings | Finish colors | Scale length |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ROLAND G-202 1980 to 1984 | guitar synth controller | Japan | 6 strings | - | - | |
ROLAND G-303 1980 to 1984 | guitar synth controller | Japan | 6 strings | natural finish, white finish | 24.75 inches scale-length | |
ROLAND G-505 1980 to 1984 | guitar synth controller | Japan | 6 strings | - | - | |
ROLAND G-707 1983 to 1986 | guitar synth controller | Japan | 6 strings | - | - | |
ROLAND G-808 1980 to 1984 | guitar synth controller | Japan | 6 strings | - | - | |
ROLAND GS-500 1977 to 1980 | guitar synth controller | Japan | 6 strings | - | - |
Model | Body shape features | Body material | Body top material | Body style |
---|---|---|---|---|
ROLAND G-202 1980 to 1984 | double cutaway | - | - | - |
ROLAND G-303 1980 to 1984 | double cutaway | mahogany body | maple body top | - |
ROLAND G-505 1980 to 1984 | double cutaway | - | - | - |
ROLAND G-707 1983 to 1986 | asymmetrical body | - | - | shark fin style |
ROLAND G-808 1980 to 1984 | double cutaway | ash body | walnut body top | - |
ROLAND GS-500 1977 to 1980 | single cutaway | wood body | - | Les Paul-style body |
Model | Pickup selector controls | Tone controls | Volume controls |
---|---|---|---|
ROLAND G-202 1980 to 1984 | 1 pickup selector switch, 3 synth control switches | 2 tone controls | 2 volume controls |
ROLAND G-303 1980 to 1984 | 1 pickup selector switch, 3 synth control switches, 3-way selector switch | 2 tone controls | 2 volume controls |
ROLAND G-505 1980 to 1984 | 3 synth control switches, 5-way selector switch | 2 tone controls | 2 volume controls |
ROLAND G-707 1983 to 1986 | 1 pickup selector switch | - | - |
ROLAND G-808 1980 to 1984 | 1 pickup selector switch, 3 synth control switches | 2 tone controls | 2 volume controls |
ROLAND GS-500 1977 to 1980 | 1 pickup selector switch | 2 tone controls | 2 volume controls |
Model | Pickups configuration | Pickups brand and model |
---|---|---|
ROLAND G-202 1980 to 1984 | hexaphonic pickups | - |
ROLAND G-303 1980 to 1984 | 2 humbucker pickups, hexaphonic pickups | Roland PU-114H pickup(s) |
ROLAND G-505 1980 to 1984 | hexaphonic pickups | - |
ROLAND G-707 1983 to 1986 | - | - |
ROLAND G-808 1980 to 1984 | 2 humbucker pickups, hexaphonic pickups | Roland PU-114H pickup(s) |
ROLAND GS-500 1977 to 1980 | hexaphonic pickups | - |
Model | Tuner layout | Neck joint | Neck material | Neck width | Peghead (headstock) | Number of frets |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ROLAND G-202 1980 to 1984 | six-in-a-row tuners | - | - | - | - | - |
ROLAND G-303 1980 to 1984 | three-each-side | set neck | maple neck | 1.69 inches wide at nut | - | - |
ROLAND G-505 1980 to 1984 | six-in-a-row tuners | - | - | - | - | - |
ROLAND G-707 1983 to 1986 | - | - | - | - | reverse headstock | - |
ROLAND G-808 1980 to 1984 | three-each-side | neck through body | mahogany neck, maple neck | - | - | 22 fret |
ROLAND GS-500 1977 to 1980 | three-each-side | - | - | - | - | - |
Model | Bridge | Hardware color | Tailpiece | Tuners |
---|---|---|---|---|
ROLAND G-202 1980 to 1984 | - | - | - | - |
ROLAND G-303 1980 to 1984 | tune-o-matic bridge | chrome hardware | stop tailpiece | Gotoh tuners |
ROLAND G-505 1980 to 1984 | tremolo bridge | - | - | - |
ROLAND G-707 1983 to 1986 | - | - | - | - |
ROLAND G-808 1980 to 1984 | tune-o-matic bridge | gold hardware | stop tailpiece | - |
ROLAND GS-500 1977 to 1980 | - | - | - | - |