From Strings to Keys: How Roland's Guitar Synth Revolutionized Rock

This episode uncovers the origins and evolution of guitar synthesizers, beginning with Roland’s 1980 GR‑300 and tracing its path through innovators like Pat Metheny, Adrian Belew, and the broader progressive‑rock scene. We examine the technology—hexaphonic pickups, pitch‑to‑CV conversion, early latency—and show how these gadgets altered performance practices, studio workflows, and genre boundaries, ultimately opening new avenues for hybrid sonic expression rather than replacing traditional guitars.

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