FS: 1981 Roland GR-300 + GR-202

Started by admin, December 18, 2017, 06:26:34 PM

Previous topic - Next topic

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.


chrish

Those are in incredible condition. If I remember correctly, I read that the g-202 had a slightly different hex Distortion circuit than the G505, 808 and 303.

Without a doubt, imo, the gr 300 is the best guitar synthesizer that was ever made. It does way more than just that Metheny trumpet sound.

And the tracking is superb.

admin

#2


often the GR-300 goes for $1500 alone

Although one recently sold for $650
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=Roland+GR-300&_in_kw=1&_ex_kw=&_sacat=0&LH_Complete=1&_udlo=&_udhi=&_samilow=&_samihi=&_sadis=15&_stpos=93401-7119&_sargn=-1%26saslc%3D1&_salic=1&_sop=12&_dmd=1&_ipg=50

Quote, I read that the g-202 had a slightly different hex Distortion circuit than the G505, 808 and 303.

Correct  - details
http://www.joness.com/gr300/G-202.html
One-of-a-kind Hex Fuzz Circuit

The G-303/505/808 guitars used separate opamps for the hex fuzz circuit. The G-303/505/808 guitars used two types of diodes in the hex fuzz circuit, first 1S2473 diodes to provide waveform clipping to create the fuzz sound, and then 1S188FM diodes to act as a noise gate. And in the G-303/505/808 hex fuzz circuit, there are six filter capacitors, of increasing values, to specifically filter out high frequency content for a smooth fuzz tone. Incidentally, the "FM" in 1S188FM indicates that these diodes were originally designed to be used a FM radio waves detectors.

The G-202 by contrast has only the 1S188FM diodes, and uses them not as noise gates, but to provide the waveform clipping to produce the fuzz sound. The G-202 does not have the additional opamp stage or any additional capacitors to smooth out the fuzz tone. As a result the G-202 is not as dense or smooth as the G-303/505/808. The form-factor/size of the G-202 is identical to the G-303/505/808 cards. Since the electronics cards are the same size, a G-505 card can be installed in a G-202 guitar without any changes.

chrish

#3
Yeah and that $650 unit sold with a 24 pin cable.

I was looking at that for a spare, but I like to be able to see the red marker on the knobs as an indication of condition and how well it was cared for. That unit in your GC link still has the plastic cover.

I wound up paying $550 for mine including shipping, with a case. And then of course, I had to replace one of the power supply capacitors which are prone to failure as detailed over at Dr. Joness site.

The 24 pin cables themselves have been selling anywhere between $225 and $300 from what I've seen.

I'd say that Guitar Center set up is a great deal for somebody.

Lots of people seem to pay a premium price for the G 303 probably because that's the model that Metheny uses.

I'm very happy I didn't go that route and got the G505 instead.

That G202 looks sweet.



mooncaine

I just saw one of those G202 guitars at a local GC 2 days ago. They're asking $300-400* but they are bound to come down because, A). they don't have anything to test it on, not even a 24-pin cable, much less a GR-300, and B). they are looking pretty desperate over there these days. It's a sunburst, neck and fretboard seemed in good shape. It's a heavy, solidly built Strat-ish guitar, if you've never played one. Feels like a decent Tokai in the hands.

*I forgot.

Elantric

#5
Quote from: mooncaine on December 20, 2017, 12:05:51 AM
I just saw one of those G202 guitars at a local GC 2 days ago. They're asking $300-400* but they are bound to come down because, A). they don't have anything to test it on, not even a 24-pin cable, much less a GR-300, and B). they are looking pretty desperate over there these days. It's a sunburst, neck and fretboard seemed in good shape. It's a heavy, solidly built Strat-ish guitar, if you've never played one. Feels like a decent Tokai in the hands.

*I forgot.


The Roland G202 / G505 "Strats" were made for Roland under contract with Fujigen Gakki
( supplier to Hoshino ( Ibanez) for Roland japan. Since 1966, Hoshino contracted their Guitar production with Fujigen Gakki



they are heavily based upon the early 1980's Ibanez Roadstar II - all were built at the same Fujigen  facility in Japan.


the older G303/G808 were by Fujigen

"Made by Fuji Roland"

- similar models were marketed under the Greco name brand ( compare Roland G-808 with Fujigen GO1000 model below (the brown set neck/neck thru models).  Fujigen often made many of the best Ibanez guitars as well. 


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoshino_Gakki
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FujiGen
http://mi.fujigen.co.jp/
https://ipfs.io/ipfs/QmXoypizjW3WknFiJnKLwHCnL72vedxjQkDDP1mXWo6uco/wiki/Greco_guitars.html
http://www.joness.com/gr300/G-808.html

I know this because while at Ernie Ball ( 1999-2001) I had the opportunity to work 2 weeks with Kanda Shokai in Japan, and I used to study all the japanese "Young Guitar" Magazines from 1977-1999. 

More history of Elger, Hoshino, Fujigen
http://uniqueguitar.blogspot.com/2009/11/ovation-kaman-corporation-aluminum-neck.html

mooncaine

Now that I've seen those images you shared, I think I saw a G-505. At the Guitar Center near North Druid Hills Road in Atlanta.

chrish

#7
I really like my G505 which I purchased this year off of Craigslist, with a cord and a gr100, all in excellent condition. The seller used to work for Roland and all acquired new in the 80s and didn't play it much. He upgraded the pickups also and the fretboard is the optional Rosewood.

My only concern with purchasing vintage gear that is in mint condition is that electronics need to be used  in order to keep the capacitors in working condition.

I like the concept of having the guitar  being part of the synthesizer with controls for vibrato, vibrato depth, filter, resonance , and mix on the guitar itself, with a switchable built-in hex fuzz circuit.

The only thing that I don't like about the guitar is the placement of the pickup selector switch which is kind of in the way if you're doing aggressive strumming.

chrish

Quote from: Elantric on December 20, 2017, 12:31:22 AM

The Roland G202 / G505 "Strats" were made for Roland under contract with Fujigen Gakki
( supplier to Hoshino ( Ibanez) for Roland japan. Since 1966, Hoshino contracted their Guitar production with Fujigen Gakki



they are heavily based upon the early 1980's Ibanez Roadstar II - all were built at the same Fujigen  facility in Japan.


the older G303/G808 were by Fujigen

"Made by Fuji Roland"

- similar models were marketed under the Greco name brand ( compare Roland G-808 with Fujigen GO1000 model below (the brown set neck/neck thru models).  Fujigen often made many of the best Ibanez guitars as well. 


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoshino_Gakki
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FujiGen
http://mi.fujigen.co.jp/
https://ipfs.io/ipfs/QmXoypizjW3WknFiJnKLwHCnL72vedxjQkDDP1mXWo6uco/wiki/Greco_guitars.html
http://www.joness.com/gr300/G-808.html

I know this because while at Ernie Ball ( 1999-2001) I had the opportunity to work 2 weeks with Kanda Shokai in Japan, and I used to study all the japanese "Young Guitar" Magazines from 1977-1999. 

More history of Elger, Hoshino, Fujigen
http://uniqueguitar.blogspot.com/2009/11/ovation-kaman-corporation-aluminum-neck.html
I hadn't seen this model Ibanez artist before but it looks like a cross between an artist and a Roland G 808.

https://reverb.com/item/6565285-ibanez-artist-custom-2700-1977-1978-natural

Elantric

Quote from: chrish on December 22, 2017, 10:25:10 AM
I hadn't seen this model Ibanez artist before but it looks like a cross between an artist and a Roland G 808.

https://reverb.com/item/6565285-ibanez-artist-custom-2700-1977-1978-natural


Yes - that Ibanez was made at same factory as the GR-808

tms13pin

Yeah, the G-series (24-pin) stuff was great.  I sold my G505/GR100/GR300/US-2/and three 24-pin cables earlier this year for about $2500 and had people posting on my listings that my price was out of line.  This was probably the coolest era of guitar synth stuff.  I just wasn't using it and felt it would be better off in someone's hands who would use it.  Had a modified G-303 for a bit and also a cool G-202 but always thought the G-808 was the coolest of the bunch and wish I'd had a chance to own one at some point.  That G-505 was my regular gigging guitar (without the synth stuff) in the 90's for a bit.  I really loved how it felt. 

--Tom

chrish

#11
 here is the original Reverb ad I believe.

https://reverb.com/item/4649962-roland-analog-guitar-synthesizer-bundle-tobacco-sunburst-g-505-gr-100-gr-300-us-2-three-cables

Based on prices that I've been seeing recently, if you were to price the gear  in that bundle individually, it seems like it was a fair price.

There seems to be a lot of G707's on the market right now and of course like any thing it's supply and demand and what someone is willing to pay. A lot of those owners are steadily reducing their ad prices.

Unfortunately for me I have gear lust for 24 pin gear right now.

The analog GR 300 blew me away when I tried it recently. As far as playing feel and sound, it feels like the guitar is actually part of the synthesis process.

The sy-300 and the VG 99 come close to that experience. It's hard to quantify, the original GR300 just has a Nuance to it that the others don't have to my ears.

And I don't think it's an analog vs digital thing because I run my GR300 through digital effects ( analog input to effects in a Korg Triton rack) It just feels like it's a true guitar synthesizer.

Sec6, do you have an opinion on how good a price the gear in the op is at $1600?

It's all in mint condition so I'm wondering if I got ripped off? :D



chrish

Quote from:  sec6
I think you paid on the high side, but not ripped off.  Did you also pay tax and shipping on top of that? (You made up for it with the G505 at $350)  How are the frets?  A refret on a maple neck can run a lot of money. The poster originally posted his gear wanting to sell it for someone who was having health problems. In order to move it in a timely manner, I suggested fair prices.  Sure you can part out the collection and sell for more, but you could be looking at a year before it is all sold. 

BTW, here's a gr300 for you:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Rare-Vintage-Roland-GR-300-Analog-Guitar-Synthesizer-Roland-24-Pin-Connection/192413007472?hash=item2cccb57e70:g:JDcAAOSw0A9aRZjh
yeah I paid tax. I tried hard to haggle with the price but was only able to get free shipping.

That's good information about fret jobs on Maple.

That g 505 was my first maple fretboard experience and with the Finish they put on it makes for a smooth feel and fast play. I may be a shredder someday after all. ;)

The Frets on that G505 are in excellent condition. I haven't received the other Gear yet but it all looked mint from the photographs.

I did also get a seven-day return option instead of their three-day policy for vintage gear. I want to check out the capacitors.

It's kind of amazing that a lot of this 24 pin stuff is in such good shape for it's age. Hardly played or well taken care of.

Yeah I kind of thought I paid on the high side. But that's what gear lust does.

Oh and thanks Steve for posting the link to the set up in the op. I waited quite a while hoping someone else would buy that so I wouldn't have to. ;)


tms13pin

I sold it for $2850 (pretty quickly) on Reverb.  I cleared about $2500 (which is what I wanted to clear out of it) after the Reverb/paypal/shipping fees.

--Tom


Quote from:  sec6
The prices I recommended for your gear were fair and accurate. If you want to try and inflate the value of this gear go ahead. You should be extremely happy you got 2500 for all of it. What was your original asking price? Unfortunately I can't seem to locate your original vguitar post. The reverb ad price is listed at $2850.  You came into this forum asking for over three grand, and ended up selling it for what I thought it was worth. So I was correct on the pricing. The only thing more inflated than the vintage market is the prices they are asking for Gibsons. I go by bluebook pricing and actual sales and not the asking prices of gear that hasn't sold in years on ebay and reverb. Weren't you also the person that pitched the sale as raising money for somebody for charity and I asked you for the web donation page?  Were they happy with the money you donated? One more question concerning that custom built Hamer 24-pin that you had custom built by Hamer: Was that a refin?  I get the feeling you have difficulties with telling the truth.

aliensporebomb

I owned a G-202/GR-100 for almost eight years - pretty interesting sound.  I still have the tapes.  I created a patch on the VG-99 that came close to simulating that sound.  It sounded interesting itself but mixing it with standard guitar added an unusual clarity to chords.
My music projects online at http://www.aliensporebomb.com/

GK Devices:  Roland VG-99, Boss GP-10, Boss SY-1000.