1979 Roland G-808 Vintage Neck Through Guitar & Synth Controller, GR-300 Synthesizer, Japan Fujigen

Up for sale, a 1979 Roland G-808 Guitar Synthesizer Controller and GR-300 Synthesizer in near-mint, 100% original condition and in perfect working order, complete with the original 24-pin cable and hardshell cases for each unit. Produced at the Fujigen factory in Japan, the G-808 Guitar Controller was a flagship synth controller at the time of production, featuring neck-through construction.

The Roland GR-300 synthesizer is perhaps best known for its usage by Pat Metheny, offering a huge range of decidedly unique sounds, with a hexaphonic fuzz circuit and VCO synth that can be toggled independently or in a variety of combinations.

Tonewoods on the G-808 controller include a seven-ply maple/mahogany neck, ash/walnut body wings, and a select ebony fingerboard, weighing 9lbs 3oz. The PU-114H humbuckers are rich and warm, with punchy mids and smooth trebles; the bridge is notably spanky, with a pronounced vocal-like character not dissimilar to a cocked wah, and the neck has a much broader, thick character. The G-808 has been professionally setup here at Mike & Mike’s Guitar Bar with 10-46 strings, low action, and accurate intonation.
 
Neck Specs:

-Wood: Maple/Mahogany (seven-ply)
-Shape: Medium C, measuring .845” 1st fret, .935” 12th fret
-Fretboard: Ebony, 22-fret, dot inlay
-Frets: Medium jumbo, faint wear beneath the plain strings on frets 1-8
-Scale Length: 24 3/4”
-Nut: 1 11/16”, bone
-Tuners: Roland-branded, gold-plated
-Serialization: K79-prefix translates to November, 1979 build date

Body Specs:

-Wood: Ash, Walnut
-Pickups: PU-114H humbucker x2, Divided pickup (for use with GR-300)
-Controls: Guitar (humbucker Master) Volume, Guitar Tone, Guitar/Synth Balance, VCF Cutoff, VCF Resonance, VCO/VCO+Dist/Dist three-way mini-toggle, LFO Depth knob
-Hardware: High-mass brass bridge, tailpiece (mahogany insert)
-Plastics: Gold reflector cap knobs (ridged grip), ridged black knobs

GR-300 Specs:

-Up to 6-voice polyphony
-2 oscillators per voice
-VCOs are directly harmonically locked to each string, but can be tuned separately
-VCF (voltage controlled filter, low pass) -24 dB per octave, with envelope modulation (attack and sensitivity)
-Low Frequency Oscillator for Vibrato Effects
-Built-in footswitch controls the VCO mode (single/dual), VCO harmonize pitch (detuning of the VCO's), and VCF mode (on, bypass, or inverted)
-Pedal control input for the VCF
-Synchronized, flashing LED status indicators
-Dimensions: 15.7" (W) 11.4" (D) 3.9" (H)
-Response Time: 3.32 ms

The satin finish on the G-808 exhibits only very light buckle wear central to the lower bout, and a few light finish scratches and small dings. The neck profile also has a smooth/clean satin finish. The GR-300 synth is in remarkably good shape with only a few minor marks on the enclosure.

The original pair of black tolex hardshell cases are included, along with the original 24-pin cable.