Roland GR-500

The Roland GR-500 is a polyphonic guitar synthesizer from 1977, controlled by the Roland GS-500 guitar.

Andy Summers used a GR-500 guitar synth, which he bought from Manny's Musical Instruments store on 48th Street, New York. The GR-500 provides the bubbling sounds heard faintly in "Walking On The Moon" on the Reggatta De Blanc, probably using the LFO's on the synth. The slide guitar solo for "On Any Other Day" possibly has some blending with the GR-500.

However, he did not get to use it much while on tour with The Police, and later chose the newer Roland GR-300 which played a larger role in The Police's sound on the next few albums.

Quotes about the Roland GR-500
On buying the guitar synth: "'Well, I played [the GR-500] in store and immediately fell in love with it, with its possibilities. I also had in mind how useful it would be in a three-piece like The Police. I've used it a bit on the new album [Reggatta De Blanc], and I may be using it onstage. I'm very keen to experiment with synths of all kinds.' (Sounds, 1 September 1979 issue)"

Comparing the GR-500 to the GR-300: "'But I think [the Roland GR-500]'s a great instrument, and it's completely different to the newer GR300 that I have. It does a lot more, it's like a real synthesiser in a way.' (One Two Testing, December 1982)"

Andy Summers on his first two Roland guitar synths: "'I’ve been into guitar synthesis for about five years now. By the second album [Reggatta De Blanc] I had bought the original Roland GR-500. We were working so hard on the road, though, that I didn’t really get a chance to get into it. Later on, I used a Roland GR-300 for a couple of numbers every night in the Police show - 'Don’t Stand So Close to Me,' as well as material from the fourth album [Ghost In The Machine].' (Guitar Player, June 1986)"

Further information

 * Joness vintage Roland GR resource page