Introduction to the Roland G-707:
Roland's commitment to guitar synthesis took a wild and unexpected turn in 1984 with the introduction of the GR-700 guitar synthesizer, and the G-707 guitar. In its previous incarnation, Roland had conservatively leaned on the knowledge and experience of Fujigen to produce guitars with familiar shapes and sounds: the Les Paul like G-303/808 and the familiar Fender designs of the G-202/505.
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Jimmy Page and G-7070
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The G-707 was simply a guitar of the kind no one had ever seen, a strikingly original instrument in the generally derivative guitar market. Its 25 1/2" scale neck, and dual humbucker pickups, put it in the "super strat" category, but the wild body shape and stabilizer arm went places no major manufacturer had ventured before. I have yet to meet a person who has actually played the G-707 who did not remark on the ease and playability of the G-707 guitar. The ABS stabilizer bar really works to tame the inconsistencies of a guitar neck, if you can get past the visual effects. And much of the G-707 was never seen again: the Roland roller tremolo bridge, the newer, smaller electronics package that did not include the hex fuzz option of the G-202/303/505/808, and of course the ABS stabilizer bar.
The G-707 is really a performance instrument. The striking appearance will elicit remarks from a crowd whether its 1984 or 2012, but understandably it's nearly impossible to play sitting down without a guitar strap, something it has in common with the similarly forward-thinking Ibanez IMG2010.
The G-707 is really a performance instrument. The striking appearance will elicit remarks from a crowd whether its 1984 or 2012, but understandably it's nearly impossible to play sitting down without a guitar strap, something it has in common with the similarly forward-thinking Ibanez IMG2010.