GR-700 Guitar Synthesizer - MAME machine

Musical Instrument (Electronic) published 42 years ago:

GR-700 - Guitar Synthesizer © 1984 Roland.

The Roland GR-700 Guitar Synthesizer was a MIDI-controlled guitar synthesis system designed to transform electric guitar performance into a fully programmable synthesizer experience. Developed by Roland, it worked in conjunction with a dedicated hexaphonic pickup system that converted each string’s vibration into MIDI data. The GR-700 module then used analog and digital synthesis techniques to generate a wide range of synthesized tones, allowing guitarists to control polyphonic synthesizers with expressive guitar technique.

TRIVIA
The GR-700 was part of Roland’s early guitar synthesizer ecosystem, alongside systems like the GR-300 and G-series controllers.

It required a special hexaphonic pickup mounted on the guitar, capable of detecting each string independently for accurate pitch tracking.

Unlike earlier purely analog guitar synths, the GR-700 used MIDI, making it compatible with a wide range of external sound modules.

It was often paired with Roland rack synthesizers to expand its sound palette far beyond onboard capabilities.

Tracking latency and accuracy were significant challenges, but it was considered advanced for its time in expressive control.

The system allowed guitarists to trigger synth pads, brass, strings, and experimental textures while playing standard guitar techniques.

It played a role in the evolution of MIDI guitar controllers and hybrid performance systems in the 1980s.

Today it is regarded as a transitional instrument between analog guitar synthesis and modern digital MIDI guitar systems.

CONTRIBUTE
Edit this entry: https://www.arcade-history.com/game/261564/?o=2