GR-20

Guitar Synthesizer

GR-20
Discontinued

Plug and Play

Ever wanted to thicken up your guitar sound with a warm synth pad? Or how about a screaming lead sound that puts you in front? The GR-20 Guitar Synthesizer makes playing high-quality synthesizer and instrument sounds from your guitar as simple as 1-2-3. First, attach the included GK-3 Divided Pickup to your steel-stringed electric (no drilling necessary). Second, select the type of sound you want using the Bank knob. Third, choose a sound variation using the Number/Value dial and start playing. With the GR-20, it’s easy to tap into the power of guitar synthesis.

Video Library

Audio Library

Guitar Synth, or Compact Pedal?

With the GR-20 it feels like both. Simply attach the included GK-3 Divided Pickup to your guitar and you can be playing high-quality Roland sounds in seconds. Selecting a sound is like choosing an effect. First, select a sound category using the Bank knob. Categories include Strings/Orchestral, Wind, Brass, Bass/Guitar, Organ/Keyboard, Piano, Synth/Lead, Voice/Pad, Ethnic, and Rhythm/Percussion. Now you can select individual sounds using the Number/Value dial. It’s easy!

Roland’s Finest Sounds with Exceptional Tracking

At the heart of the GR-20 is an advanced sound engine based on Roland’s professional synthesizers. Sounds can be played with up to 48-voice polyphony for full, rich-sounding Patches. And the sounds are equally impressive. From expressive string ensembles to spiritual tabla loops coupled with sitar—all with adjustable attack and release—there’s no limit to what you can do. Sophisticated DSP makes the GR-20’s pitch detection ultra-reliable, so you can strum with confidence.

Take Your Guitar Playing Further

Want to create a sound that’s all your own? Try blending the natural sound of your guitar pickups with the GR-20. Thankfully, the GK-3 Divided Pickup makes this easy via a larger and smoother GK knob. Imagine playing chords and then slowly fading in a swirling, breathy pad to create intensity. Or how about playing a distorted lead on your guitar with a thick synth lead sound? Now take this a step further with the GR-20’s Patch Link function. This allows you to easily assign GR-20 Patches to match effect Patches in MIDI-capable processors like the BOSS GT-6. It’s the ultimate system for serious guitarists.

Includes the New GK-3 Divided Pickup

When you buy a GR-20, you also get a GK-3 Divided Pickup and GK cable in the box. In other words, everything you need to start playing synth sounds is included! The GK-3 is 30 percent thinner than its predecessor, and it now uses a 1/4-inch jack for normal guitar input. The pickup includes an adjustable curve design to keep an even distance between the strings for better response (the pickup cable length is also adjustable). Owners of Les Paul-type guitars can install the GK-3 safely without drilling using a special attachment plate included in the box.

Sound Generator
1 part
Maximum Polyphony
48 voices
Patches
User: 99
Preset: 469
Display
7 segments, 2 characters (LED)
Effects
MULTI-FX (included in the patches)
Chorus
Delay/Reverb
Connectors
GK IN
GUITAR OUT
MIX IN L
MIX IN R (MONO)
OUTPUT L (PHONES)
OUTPUT R (MONO)
MIDI IN
MIDI OUT
AC IN
Power Supply
AC 14 V (AC Adaptor)
Current Draw
600 mA
Accessories
Owner's Manual
AC Adaptor BRC series
GK Cable (5 m)
Divided Pickup (GK-3)
Options
GK Cable: GKC-3 (3 m), GKC-5 (5 m), GKC-10 (10 m)
Unit Selector: US-20
GK Parallel Box: GKP-4
Size and Weight
Width
314 mm
12-3/8 inches
Depth
245 mm
9-11/16 inches
Height
63 mm
2-1/2 inches
Weight
1.7 kg
3 lbs. 12 oz.
(excluding the AC Adaptor)
*The specifications are subject to change without notice.

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Updates & Drivers

Support

If you have questions about operating your Roland product, please check our Knowledge Base for answers to the most common questions.
You can also contact our Product Support department by phone or email.
In addition, we have a library of Owner’s Manuals and Support Documents that you can download and reference.

Owner's Manuals

Support Documents

  • GR-20 Q&A

    A collection of popular articles from the GR-20 knowledge base.

  • GR-20 TurboStart

    Turbostart for the GR-20

  • GR-20 Workshop 01: Getting Started with the GR-20

    This booklet helps you get up and running with the GR-20. You’ll learn how to set up your rig, and how to optimize the GR-20 for the way you play. It also discusses the various ways to select patches and how to get the most out of them.

  • GR-20 Workshop 02: Customizing GR-20 Patches

    The GR-20 offers lots of ways to make its patches your own. In this booklet, you’ll learn how to edit GR-20 patches, changing the way they sound and the way they behave.

  • GR-20 Workshop 03: Using the GR-20 with a Sequencer

    This booklet explains how the GR-20, together with a MIDI sequencer, allows you to make MIDI recordings from your guitar. It contains lots of setup instructions and tips for sequencing.