Roland GR-30 Guitar Synthesizer with GK-2A Pickup

A complete guitar-to-synth rig that turns your pick attack into 384 playable instrument sounds — plug in and start exploring.

Buyer-Fit Overview

This GR-30 is a great match for a guitarist who already loves their main instrument but wants to step into synth territory without rebuilding their whole rig. Because the GK-2A divided pickup is included, you are not chasing down a separate part to get started — this is a working setup right out of the box. It is also a smart pick for players who grew up wanting one of these floor-mounted Roland guitar synths and are happy to find a used unit that still delivers the arpeggiator, harmonist, and onboard tone set that made the GR-30 a cult favorite among guitarists curious about MIDI and orchestral textures.

Key Highlights

• 384 onboard instrument tones, from vintage analog synths and fat basses to nylon string guitars and orchestral sounds
• Includes the GK-2A divided pickup, so your guitar is ready to track notes individually for synth response
• Built-in arpeggiator turns held chords into evolving rhythmic patterns with no extra gear needed
• Synth Harmonist feature adds intelligent harmony to single notes on the fly
• Onboard reverb, delay, chorus, and flanging effects for shaping tone without a separate pedal chain
• MIDI output opens the door to outboard sound modules and computer-based sequencing
• Includes power cable and MIDI cable, so you have what you need to connect and power up

Why You'll Love It Features

A 384-tone sound set, programmable arpeggiator, Synth Harmonist, and built-in multi-effects all live inside one floor unit, controlled with simple knobs and footswitches.

Advantages

With the GK-2A pickup already paired, you skip the guesswork of sourcing compatible parts. The onboard effects mean you can dial in usable tone without building out a pedalboard.

Benefits

You get faster access to synth and orchestral textures while playing guitar normally, plus a MIDI output that lets your rig grow as your setup evolves.

Great Fit For

• Guitarists curious about synth textures who do not want to learn a separate instrument
• Home studio players layering guitar-triggered synth sounds into recordings
• Songwriters who want orchestral or pad textures without a keyboard rig
• Players who enjoy chord-triggered arpeggios live or while writing

Sound and Use Case

The GR-30's tone set spans clean analog-style synth patches, deep bass tones, nylon string guitar emulations, organs, orchestral textures, and a range of ethnic instrument sounds, giving you a wide creative palette from a single unit. The arpeggiator and Synth Harmonist make it especially fun for live looping, ambient layering, or simply experimenting with sounds you cannot get from a guitar amp alone.

Specifications Instrument Tones 384 Onboard Sounds Included Pickup GK-2A Divided Pickup Arpeggiator Built-In, Programmable Synth Harmonist Included Onboard Effects Reverb, Delay, Chorus, Flanging MIDI Output Yes Included Cables Power Cable, MIDI Cable Condition Used Production Status Discontinued From Spotts Music Center

There is something special about a unit like this one — it represents a stretch of guitar synth history that a lot of players still talk about, and finding one with the GK-2A pickup already in the box is not something that happens every day. If you have questions about getting it set up with your guitar, or you just want to talk through whether it fits what you are trying to do, we are happy to help.

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