Roland GR-55 Guitar Synthesizer

MIDI-fy your guitar with the Roland GK-3 pickup -- then put 900 inspiring and fully editable sounds at your feet with the GR-55 guitar synth pedal.

When your collection of effects pedals and stompboxes no longer excites you -- or your guitar -- check out the Roland GR-55 guitar synthesizer and give yourself the sound overhaul you deserve. With this advanced floor pedal, you can perform with more than 900 unique, customizable synth tones and guitar models.

Note: Requires Roland GK-3 pickup to use.

Check out our exclusive track through the Roland GR-55 Guitar Synthesizer:


A Hi-Tech Mecca for Synthesis Enthusiasts

Made up of two PCM synthesizers, the GR-55's triple-core engine makes this Roland guitar synth fast, versatile, and fun to play. The triple-core engine provides a wealth of virtual guitars, basses, amps, and synth voices, all of which may be accessed instantly with quick-access category buttons and foot pedals. The GR-55's expansive collection of unique sounds is ready to go for a variety of genres, in the studio or on stage.

Roland's pitch-detection technology adds an unrivaled touch of speed and accuracy to the guitar synthesizer, ensuring that it plays exactly what you want to play, when you want to play it. According to Roland, the COSM guitar-modeling engine needs zero detection time, allowing the GR-55 to respond instantly and exactly as you play, detecting pitch, velocity, and behavior faster than your synapses can tell your brain what just happened.

Play with Powerful Presets

If you're a "plug and play" type of musician who would rather start playing right out of the box than mess with read more programming and editing sounds, you will enjoy the many presets available on the GR-55. Dive right in to a collection of 270 ready-to-use presets, as well as 297 user presets, accessible with simple category buttons. There to kick off your noodle session or jam, the presets cover all popular genres, including pop and rock.

When you want to delve deeper into the GR-55's sounds, check out the EZ Edit function, which makes it "EZ" to customize sounds and make them your own. Other features that make the synth easy to use include a large LCD, a number of controllable parameters, and USB connectivity. Use the two USB ports -- one on the rear panel and one on the side -- for MIDI communication or to exchange audio files and upload samples or effects. On the GR-55, your feet control USB audio playback, leaving your hands free to play your guitar.

Check out our overview of the Roland GR-55 Guitar Synthesizer:


Features:

- Guitar synthesizer pedal combines guitar synthesis and COSM amp/guitar modeling
- Add the Roland GK-3 Divided Pickup to your guitar to send MIDI data from the guitar to the GR-55
- Up to 4 sound sources at a time: 2 PCM synth tones, plus COSM guitar modeling and normal guitar input
- Over 900 fully editable PCM sounds cover pianos, organs, strings, vintage synths, and more
- Straightforward parameters and buttons make it easy to use
- Advanced Roland technology provides excellent sound quality and fast response
- 2 Types of multi-effects engines, plus global reverb, chorus, and delay effects, and an onboard looper
- Built-in USB audio player with foot control
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Sound Generator:
- PCM: 2 tones Modeling: 1 tone

Tones:
- PCM: 910 types
- Modeling: 23 types (guitar mode) 17 types (bass mode)

Effects:
- MFX (Multi-Effects): 20 types
- AMP (Preamp): 42 types
- MOD (Modulation): 14 types
- DELAY: 7 types
- REVERB: 5 types
- CHORUS: 4 types
- EQ: 1 type

Patch Memory:
- Guitar mode Preset: 270 + User: 297
- Bass mode Preset: 90 + User: 297

AD Conversion:
- 24-bit (GK Pickup)
- 24-bit + AF method ** (Normal Pickup)

DA Conversion: 24-bit

Sampling Frequency: 44.1 kHz

Nominal Output Level:
- OUTPUT jacks: -10 dBu
- GUITAR OUT jack: -10 dBu

Output Impedance:
- OUTPUT jacks: 2 k ohms
- GUITAR OUT jack: 2 k ohms

USB Memory Audio Player:
- File Format: WAV, AIFF

Display: Graphic LCD 240 x 64 dots

Connectors: GK IN connector (13 pins DIN type) GUITAR OUT jack (1/4-inch phone type) OUTPUT L/MONO, R jacks (1/4-inch phone type) PHONES jack (Stereo 1/4-inch phone type) MIDI connectors (IN, OUT) (5-pin DIN type) USB COMPUTER connector (supports Hi-Speed USB, USB MIDI and USB Audio) USB MEMORY connector (supports Hi-Speed USB Flash Memory) DC IN jack

Power Supply: DC 9 V

Current Draw: 700 mA

Accessories Included: AC adaptor Owner's manual Divided pickup (GK-3) (only for GK included model) GK cable (5 m) (only for GK included model)

Options (sold separately): Divided pickup: GK-3 (for guitar), GK-3B (for bass guitar) GK cable: GKC-5 (5 m), GKC-10 (10 m) MIDI foot controller: FC-300 Unit selector: US-20

Size and Weight
Width:
- 405 mm
- 16 inches

Depth:
- 244 mm
- 9-10/16 inches

Height:
- 78 mm
- 3-1/8 inches

Weight:
- 3.3 kg
- 7 lbs. 5 oz.
Dimensions and Weight in Packaging
Black, GR-55GKBK, Bundle with GK-3 Pickup
Shipping Weight: 11.5 lbs
Shipping Dimensions: 24 x 14 x 6 in
Manufacturer Part Number (MPN): GR-55GK-BK

For support or warranty questions, please contact the manufacturer:
Phone: 323-890-3700

Roland GR-55 Guitar Synthesizer

The Roland GR-55 is a revolution in guitar synthesis, with features never before available in any guitar processor. In terms of speed, it's the fastest ever. It's also the most accurate, thanks to recently developed pitch-detection technology. As for sound, the triple-core generator houses a world-class array of virtual guitars, basses, amps, and synth voices, enabling tones and textures that have never been heard before. Onstage or in the studio, you can instantly access the GR-55's huge library of ready-to-use sounds, from pop to rock and beyond, with quick-access category buttons.

Note: Requires Roland GK-3 pickup to use.

Features

- A revolutionary fusion of guitar synthesis and powerful COSM(r) guitar modeling
- Up to four sound sources at a time: two PCM synth tones, plus COSM guitar modeling and normal guitar input
- Easy to use and easy to play with hundreds of great, ready-to-use sounds for rock or pop guitarists
- Advanced Roland technology provides superb sound quality and lightning-fast processing
- Over 900 of Roland's fully editable PCM sounds, including pianos, organs, strings, vintage synths, and much more
- COSM guitar and amp modeling
- Two types of multi-effects engines, plus global reverb, chorus, and delay effects, and an onboard looper
- Built-in USB audio player with foot control
- Available with or without GK-3 Divided Pickup

Greater Sound Possibilities

The GR-55's powerful triple-core engine comprises two PCM synthesizers (with over 900 tones powered by Roland synthesis technology) and COSM guitar modeling, featuring a virtual treasure trove of guitar, bass, amp, and synth models. Together, these combined technologies allow you to create unique, revolutionary sounds. The "Metal Synth Lead" preset, for example, combines two types of thick, brilliant synth textures with an overdriven solid-body/humbucking tone for incredible punch and power.

Lightning-Fast Tracking

Thanks to Roland's decades of research and dedication to guitar synthesizers and powerful pitch detection technology, the GR-55 is far and away the fastest guitar synth ever. Furthermore, the COSM guitar-modeling engine needs zero detection time, allowing the GR-55 to respond instantly and exactly as you play. The GR-55 detects pitch, velocity, and behavior for unprecedented response to your performance.

Instant Gratification

Get ready to rock...and fast! The GR-55 puts you instantly in touch with a huge library of amazing sounds, no editing required. The onboard lineup of ready-to-use presets (270, plus 297 user) takes the pain out of the process, with simple category buttons for finding the perfect sound fast. Choose from hundreds of great presets for pop, rock, and beyond, and kick-start your song or jam with unique, powerful sounds that will turn heads and raise fists.

Easy to Use

If you're just beginning your journey into the world of technology, fear not. The GR-55 is powerful yet extremely friendly. For customizing sounds, the EZ Edit feature (made famous in the GT-10) and large LCD takes the guesswork out of the process. And for those who want to go deep, the GR-55 offers huge array of controllable parameters.

USB Connectivity

The GR-55 conveniently bridges the guitarist to the desktop music production world with its two USB ports. The rear-panel port can be used one for MIDI/Audio data communication; the side-panel port is dedicated to real-time playback of audio files from a USB memory device (sold separately). The GR-55 provides foot control of USB audio playback so your hands never need to leave the guitar.

Reviewers gave this product an overall rating of 5 out of 5 stars. (47 ratings)
Submitted October 31, 2011 by a customer from yahoo.com

"We broke up, but we are together again at last!"

Overall: 5 out of 5 stars
(see rating details)
Verified Customer zZounds has verified that this reviewer made a purchase from us.
This review has been selected by our experts as particularly helpful.
Sound
Let me start by saying that this is the second time I bought this unit. The first time I sold it because I needed money and because I had only one gripe with the unit. The problem was that I missed using my guitar in regards to volumes, feel and also the whammy bar. With the pickup system on the Gr-55 I would dive bomb and hit the pickup and the wail would just end. Also, even though the guitar models,amps,pedal effects etc are pretty good, they did not have the feel and complete sound I was akin to...those two reasons are why I sold it. Then I realized after a few gigs of playing out without the GR-55 that I really missed it. The reason I had to get it back is that the synth sounds on this thing are nothing short of awe inspiring. Add to that with the proper adjustment of the pickup and calibration menu (which will take some time to get right) the tracking is phenomenal compared to past relics. I use the piano,sax,harmonica,church bell, and other cool synth pads and bass effects that add a whole new dimension to our sound and the expression on peoples faces in the crowd add joy to having this gem. One more thing that I really missed was the thumb drive plug in which I utilze to its full potential by putting samples on it and adding them to our songs. For instance we play Children of the Grave by Sabbath and when it gets to the bridge I trigger Vincent Price doing the Thriller speech over the juggernaught sounding drums and guitar. There read more are so many things you can do with this great sounding unit that I can say literally I can't part with it.

Features
Like I said the USB thumb drive adds a great dimension to this unit, also it is great to load guitar backing tracks to the drive and then jam with sounds on the GR-55; it's like having the e-band and a synth in one! The addition of having two PCMS playing at once or controlling them in one patch with or without the guitar is great too. The only thing that I find this unit lacks is an XLR output and a dedicated guitar input to use the moldeled guitar tones to have a more authentic guitar feel and tone, but this is a synth unit so I have accepted that and bought the Eleven Rack to work that end of the spectrum and together they are the shiznit.

Ease of Use
It does take some time to understand the setup of custom sounds as you will find that you may have artiufacts from the preset that was installed if you do not go through everything and set it exactly as you want it. But, the presets are also a great place to start to get inspiration to build your sound and keep the paramaters of the patch. Just expect to take some time getting used to the interface and jumping back and forth through menus quite often. I have not tried the librian so I don't know if that is an easier alternative, but all in all I could not think of a btter way of making the unit more user friendly.

Quality
I did have an issue with the first units GK-3 pickup on the A pickup where it would be faint at times and also there is a screw that hides the wires to the GK-3 that came out on the first one and it was lost. The second unit had the same problem with the screw, so I used some locktite to take care of that. Besides those two issues it is built strong and holds up well for live use.

Value
I think this is a great value for everything you get. So much so that I bought it again even after losing money on the sale of the first one

Manufacturer Support
N/A

Musical Background:
Working musician

Musical Style:
all but country
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Black, GR-55GKBK, Bundle with GK-3 Pickup

$949.99
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