Roland GR-50 Guitar Synthesizer - Rack Mount Sound Module

Classic 1989 Guitar Synth Made in Japan

Excellent Cosmetic Condition - See Photos

One scratch on module top - see photo

Powers On - LED & all Control Buttons Function - No further testing

Integrated AC power cable

Measurements: 19L x 14W x 1.5H

This GR-50 was purchased in 2010 from a music store in Orange County, CA that was going out of business.It has been in my studio since then but never used because I did not have a GK-2 or GK-3 pickup.

The Roland GR-50, released in 1989, is a classic 1U rack-mount guitar synthesizer that combines Roland’s renowned Linear Arithmetic (L/A) synthesis engine with an accurate guitar-to-MIDI converter. 

It requires a compatible divided pickup (such as the GK-2 or GK-3) and a 13-pin cable.

Key Features & Specifications:
Sound Engine: Features the same L/A synthesis technology found in the legendary Roland D-Series keyboards, delivering rich, late-80s and early-90s digital textures, pads, and orchestral sounds.

Patches: Comes with 128 preset tones and 64 user-programmable tones, plus support for optional PN-GR50-01 memory cards.

Connectivity: Housed in a 19-inch rack unit with standard MIDI In/Out/Thru, a 13-pin GK input, mix outputs, and a headphone jack.

Unlike standard effects pedals, the GR-50 analyzes the pitch, amplitude, and articulation of each string individually through the divided pickup. It translates this physical guitar playing into digital MIDI data, which then triggers the internal synthesizer voices. This allows you to blend your normal electric guitar tone with lush synth layers like pianos, strings, or brass.