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The Roland GR-300 and G-808 guitar combination was the original flagship of the early 1980s Roland guitar synthesizers. It was this combination most prominently featured in advertising promoting the breakthrough Roland guitar technology. While more people are familiar with the G-303 guitar, thanks to Pat Metheny, the G-808 was the premium guitar, with complete through-neck construction, gold hardware and more. The G-808 was simply one of the best guitars available at the time and sold with the GR-300, the finest guitar synthesizer system ever designed.

In many ways, the original GR-300 and G-808 combination was a continuation of the earlier GS-500 and GR-500 guitar and synthesizer combination. These two systems used the same 24-pin cable, but the GR-300 is a simpler system than the earlier GS-500/GR-500. Notably, the GR-300 and G-808 offered a level of playability that had been promised since the introduction of the guitar synthesizers. When players picked up a GR-300 and G-808, they did not have to adjust their style to play this expressive system. And with the G-808, players did not have to compromise their choice of guitar. The G-808, with its high-end hardware, through-neck construction, and ebony fretboard, was as good as any mass-produced guitar on the market.

Specifications

Polyphony: 6 voices

Oscillators: 2 oscillators per voice

VCOs: (voltage controlled oscillator) are directly harmonically locked to each string, but can be tuned separately

VCF: (voltage controlled filter, low pass) -24 dB per octave, with envelope modulation (attack and sensitivity)

LFO: Low-Frequency Oscillator, for Vibrato

Effects: Built-in footswitch controls the VCO mode (single/dual), VCO harmonize pitch (detuning of the VCO’s), and VCF mode (on, bypass, or inverted) Pedal control input for the VCF

Output: The GR-300 can output either the guitar, the synth, or a mix of the two Synchronized, flashing LED status indicators

Dimensions: 15.7″ (W) 11.4″ (D) 3.9″ (H)

Power Requirements: 20 watts

Response Time: 3.32 ms

Manual