Guitar Synthesizer

TurboStart

Using the Tuner

Its important to tune your guitar accurately so the GR-20 can operate efficiently. Use the following steps to tune your guitar: 1. Press TUNER so its lit. Note: Immediately after pressing TUNER, two numbers show briefly in the displaythey represent the reference pitch. By default, the GR-20 is set to 440Hz which is shown as 40 in the display. 2. 3. 4. If desired, you can select a different reference pitch from 427Hz to 452Hz by turning the NUMBER/VALUE dial. st Play the 1 (High E) string unfretted repeatedly. Tune the guitar so that only the green indicator under SW MODE is lit and the display shows Ethe display shows E if youre close to the correct pitch. If a different letter is in the display, continue tuning the string until E shows up.

Welcome

Congratulations on your purchase of the Roland GR-20 Guitar Synthesizer. This TurboStart contains step-by-step instructions that will quickly introduce you to a few of the GR-20s major features.

Making Connections

1. 2. 3. 4. Confirm that the power is OFF on the GR-20. Connect one end of the 13-pin cable to your GK-3 pickup (or 13-pin receptacle on an RMC type pickup). Connect the other end of the 13-pin cable to the GK IN jack on the GR-20. With a standard guitar or instrument cable, connect the R (MONO) OUTPUT on the GR-20 to the INPUT on your amp, mixer or PA. If you prefer, connect your headphones to the L (PHONES) OUTPUT.
Note: No synth sound is produced at the GUITAR OUT of the GR-20. Use the GUITAR OUT to send your dry guitar signal to a different amp or effects processor if desired. 5. Now turn on the GR-20, and then your amp.
Note: If the red indicators under PATCH LINK SETUP or MIDI CH light, the string is too sharp. If the red indicators under SIGNAL or OUTPUT LINE/AMP light, the string is too flat. 5. 6. Repeat the process for each of the remaining strings. Press TUNER so its not lit, or EXIT when youre finished tuning.

Setting Sensitivity

Adjusting the sensitivity in the GR-20 is crucial for optimum tracking results. Use the following steps to set the sensitivity: 1. Press SENS so its lit. 2. Play the 6th string (High E) repeatedly with the maximum amount of force youll use during your performance. Note: The left-most character in the LED represents the string number. The right-hand character represents the sensitivity value. The vertical set of BANK indicatorsjust to the right of the BANK dial]function as a level meter and show the strength of the guitar signal. 3. Turn the NUMBER/VALUE knob to adjust the sensitivity so that all of the indicators light up briefly each time the string is played. You can set sensitivity anywhere from 1 to 9. Repeat the process for each of the remaining strings. When youre finished setting the sensitivity, press SENS so its not lit, or press EXIT.
Selecting the Correct Output Setting
Its a good idea to tell the GR-20 what youre connected to for amplification; i.e. a guitar amp or PA system, etc. This settingreferred to as Output Selectallows the GR to internally optimize its sound for the type of playback system youre using. Use the following procedure to change the Output Selection to match your setup: 1. Press SYSTEM/EDIT so the indicator under OUTPUT LINE/AMP is lit. 2. Turn the NUMBER/VALUE dial to select the appropriate setting; GA if youre connected to a guitar amp, or Ln if youre connected to a PA, keyboard amp, mixer, recorder or headphones. 3. Press EXIT when youre finished.

TBS209

2004 Roland Corporation U.S.

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Page 1

Storing a User Patch
There are 99 user locations to store your own patches. Use the following procedure to save a patch: 1. Select a desired patch. 2. Edit or change the patch as desired. 3. Press WRITE. 4. Turn the VALUE dial to select the desired patch location (1-99) for storing your changes. 5. Press WRITE to store the patch.
Selecting and Auditioning Patches
The GR-20s preset Patches are grouped in ten sets, or banks, by type, with individual patches numbered within each bank. Use the following steps to select and try out some of the patches in the GR-20: 1. Turn the LEVEL (volume) knob on the GR-20s back panel to MAX. 2. Turn the GK-3s pickup volume clockwise. 3. Turn the BANK dial to select PIANO. 4. Turn the VALUE dial to select 06. 5. Confirm that the GR-20s EXP pedal is in the toe forward position. 6. Now play your guitar. Experiment with your playing technique. Try plucking the strings instead of strumming. 7. Now turn the BANK dial to select ORGAN/Kb and turn the VALUE dial to select 01. 8. Play your guitar. While youre playing the patch use the EXP pedal to control the rotary speaker effect. 9. Turn the BANK dial to select RHYTHM/PERC and the VALUE dial to 31. 10. Play the Low E string and then press and hold the HOLD pedal. While the loop is playing back, play the other strings. Tip: You can also use the S1/S2 buttons on the GK to scroll through patches.

Exchanging User Patches

You can exchange, or swap, patches within the user bank area. This can be helpful for organizing patches or putting them in a specific order for performance. Use the following procedure to exchange patches: 1. Select the patch to be exchanged. 2. Hold EXIT and press WRITEthe patch number flashes. 3. Release EXIT and WRITE, and then turn the VALUE dial to select the other patch that you want to exchange. 4. Press WRITE. Note: Do not turn the power off at this time.

Starting Over

If youd like to redo the GR-20s settings from scratch, you can use the following procedure to clear the GR-20s internal memory and reload its factory settings. Caution: All USER information will be lost. Be sure to back up any information you wish to keep. 1. 2. Power on while holding WRITEALL flashes in the display. Release WRITE, and then press WRITE again.

Changing the Function of the Footswitches (SW MODE)
By default, the GR-20s footswitches are set to control GLIDE and HOLD. Use the following steps to change their function so they scroll up and down through the patches: 1. Press SYSTEM/EDIT so the indicator under SW MODE is lit. 2. Turn the VALUE dial until 2 shows in the display. This selects Switch Mode 2. 3. Press EXIT.

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Q&A
A collection of popular articles from the GR-20 knowledge base
How Do I Connect the GR-20 to My Rig?... 2 How Do I Optimize the GR-20s Sensitivity for My Pickup?.. 3 How Do I Select Patches?... 4 Why Dont I Hear the GR-20 Synth Sound?.. 5 How Do I Save My Patches?... 6 How Do I Find GR-20 Articles in the RolandUS.com Knowledge Base?.. 7
2009 Roland Corporation US
GR-20 How Do I Connect the GR-20 to My Rig?
Confirm that the GR-20s power is turned off. Connect one end of the supplied 13-pin cable to the GK-3 pickups 13-pin jack. (If youre using an RMC-type pickup, connect the cable to its 13-pin jack). Connect the other end of the 13-pin cable to the GK jack on the GR-20s rear panel. Connect the GR-20 to amp, mixer or PA input(s). To connect the GR-20 in mono to an amp, mixer, or PAconnect the GR-20s R (MONO) OUTPUT to the desired input. connect the GR-20 in stereo to an amp, mixer, or PAconnect the GR-20s L (PHONES) and R (MONO) OUTPUT jacks to the desired pair of inputs. Note: If you prefer to listen on headphones, you can connect a pair to the GR-20s L (PHONES) OUTPUT. Note: To hear your guitars dry signal without the GR-20 synth sound, connect the GR-20s GUITAR OUT jack to a different amp or effects processor. No synth sound comes out of this jack. 5 Turn on the GR-20.
How Do I Connect the GR-20 to My Rig?
GR-20 How Do I Optimize the GR-20s Sensitivity for My Pickup?
Adjusting the GR-20s sensitivity is crucial for optimal tracking results. Use the following steps to set its sensitivity to the way you play your guitars strings. Note: Were assuming here that youve already set the GR-20 to Guitar or Bass mode, depending on the instrument youre using. To learn how to switch between these modes, see Page 32 in the GR-20 Owners Manual. Press the SENS button so it lights. Play your first stringthe high Erepeatedly with the maximum amount of force you intend to use during your actual performance. The left-hand character in LED shows the strings number. The right-hand character shows the strings current sensitivity setting. The vertical set of LEDs on the GR-20 front panel just to the left of the BANK dial act as a level meter to show the strength of the signal the GR-20 receives from the GK pickup. Turn the NUMBER/VALUE knob to adjust the sensitivity so that all the indicators light up briefly each time the string is played. (Sensitivity values from 1 to 9 are available). Repeat the process for each of the remaining strings.
Tip: You can also select each string for setup by pressing the HOLD and/or GLIDE pedal. 5 When youre finished, press the SENS button so its not lit, or press EXIT.
How Do I Optimize the GR-20s Sensitivity for My Pickup?
GR-20 How Do I Select Patches?
The GR-20s factory patches are organized into ten banks according to type, with individual patches numbered within each bank. Use the following steps to select and try out some of the patches in the GR-20: 9 Turn the LEVEL knob on the GR-20s rear panel to its MAX position. (Adjust the volume of your amp, mixer, or PA if necessary.) Turn the GK-3s pickup volume all the way clockwise. Turn the BANK dial to the PIANO position. Turn the NUMBER/VALUE dial to select 06. Confirm that the GR-20s Expression pedal is fully in its toe-forward position. Play the GR-20s piano sound on your guitar, experimenting with your playing technique. Try plucking the strings instead of strumming, for example. Turn the BANK dial to the ORGAN/Kb position and turn the NUMBER/VALUE dial to select 01. Play your guitar. While youre playing this patch, use the Expression pedal to control the patchs rotaryspeaker effect. Turn the BANK dial to RHYTHM/PERC and use the NUMBER/VALUE dial to select 31.
10 Play the low E string, and then press and hold the HOLD pedal. While the loop is playing back, play other strings. 11 Continue to select and audition other GR-20 patches using the BANK knob and NUMBER/VALUE dial. Tip: You can also use the GK-3s S1 and S2 buttons to scroll through the GR-20s patches.

How Do I Select Patches?

GR-20 Why Dont I Hear the GR-20 Synth Sound?
If you cant hear any synthesizer sound from the GR-20, go through the following troubleshooting checklist: 1 Make sure youre connected to your amp, mixer, or PA using the GR-20s R (MONO) OUTPUT jackfor mono. R (MONO) OUTPUT and L (PHONES) OUTPUT jacksfor stereo. Note: You cant use the GR-20s GUITAR OUTPUT for its synth sound. The GUITAR OUTPUT produces only your guitars dry, unprocessed sound. 2 Make sure that your sensitivity settings have been adjusted properly. Refer to How Do I Optimize the GR-20s Sensitivity for My Pickup? on Page 3 of this booklet, or Adjusting the Input Sensitivity (GK SENS) on Page 12 of the GR-20 Owners Manual. Is your GK pickup switch set to SYNTH? Check your GK cableis it properly connected at both ends? Is the volume of your amp, mixer, or PA turned up? Try connecting headphones to the GR-20s L/PHONES OUTPUT jack. Is the GR-20s Expression pedal in its proper toe-forward position? Make sure the GR-20s rear-panel LEVEL knob is set to its MAX position, and that the GK-3s volume knob is turned up.
Why Dont I Hear the GR-20 Synth Sound?
GR-20 How Do I Save My Patches?
There are 99 User locations in which you can store your own patches. Use the following procedure to save a patch: 5 Select a patch. Edit the patch as desired to create a new patch of your own. Press the WRITE button. Turn the NUMBER/VALUE dial to select the memory location from 1-99 in which you want to store the patch. Press the WRITE buttonas the GR-20 stores the patch, a blinking dot appears in the corner of the display.
Important!! Do not turn the power off while the GR-20 is storing you patch. Wait until the dot stops blinking before powering down the GR-20.
How Do I Save My Patches?
GR-20 How Do I Find GR-20 Articles in the RolandUS.com Knowledge Base?
3 Point your browser to the GR-20 Support area on RolandUS.com. Click Knowledge Base. If youre not already logged into Roland Backstage, the Roland Backstage login appears. If youre: a Roland Backstage memberenter your email address and password, and then click the Login button. not yet a Roland Backstage memberclick Create New Profile to create a free new user account. As a Roland Backstage member, you become part of the online Roland US.com community and gain access to helpful tools and services. 6 Once youre logged in, click the large Knowledge Base button. On the Knowledge Base screen, enter GR-20 in the Product field. Click the Find button in the middle of the screen to browse the available GR-20 Knowledge Base articles.

How Do I Find GR-20 Articles in the Knowledge Base?