Roland GR700 with G707 - Is it worth getting?

paugui

Hi

I was wanting to add other electronic instruments to my setup.
I already got an Akai EWI and some electronic drumsets and was now thinking of getting an electronic bass or guitar.

I was offered a set of a Roland GR700 with a G707.
The G707 looks in pretty good shape, but the GR700 is covered with rust, but seems to work well.

I was thinking about getting a GR300 instead, since it seems amazing in the King Crimson albums.

It also seems the GR700 is just an MKS30 to be used with a guitar (unlike the GR300 which is its own synth).
Also, it seems that with a converter, the G707 with the MKS30 is an even better combo, as the tracking is improved, and that way I could also use my keyboards to control the MKS30, and program it without a remote (or transfer patches).

Given that the GR700 isn't in good shape, with all that rust, and I will have it at home, I am not sure if I should go for it...

Should I try to find a GR300 instead and a MIDI-converter to control other synths, if I want more complex synth-sounds?

And if I decide it can be a good buy... how much would it be a good price for one with the GR700 covered in rust?

Thanks in advance,
Best

Paulo

GovernorSilver · Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2011 1:01 pm Post subject:

I once owned a GR700 with G303 guitar. I really regret ditching the G303, but not the GR700, mainly because I get the sounds I need from my current synth collection. My current guitar synth is the Roland VG-99, but I haven't used the synth side of it much because of the other synths I have - I am comfortable playing keyboards and am not dependent on the guitar for making music with synths.

One thing I do miss from the GR700 compared to the VG-99 was the ease with which I could get glitchy sounds. For example, I could play harmonics above the 5th fret to get the GR700 to react wildly. It could not handle harmonics very well. Wild sounds are possible with the VG-99, but they have to be programmed specifically for that, with controllers assigned accordingly. The GR700's wild behavior was accessible with any patch. Laughing

This web page is a good read:
http://www.joness.com/gr300/GR-700.htm