The SBC+ Super Bus Converter Plus Version 2.0

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Details:
"00, GR-300, GR-700, GM-70, G-202, G-303, G-505, G-707, G-808, VG-88, VG-99, GI-10, GI-20, GR-30, GR-33, GR-50 and More!

The Link Between Vintage, Modern and Future Guitar Synthesizer Technology

Combines Roland US-2, US-20 and BC-13 Technology in One Rack-Mount Unit, with Internal Hex Fuzz, CV Pedal Inputs plus more!


* Use ONE Vintage Roland Guitar Controller to play Three Guitar Synths: a 24-Pin Vintage Roland Guitar Synth and two 13-Pin Modern Guitar Synthesizers
* Special GK-1 Mode for GK-1 Users
* Built-In Hex Fuzz adds G-202 Style Hex Fuzz to ANY Vintage Roland or Ibanez Guitar Synth Controller
* Dedicated Switches for 13-Pin Systems
* Interface Vintage Roland Gear with OTHER Analog Synthesizers and Control Voltage Devices.
* Footswitch Control over 24-Pin Output, 13-Pin Output, and Direct Guitar Output or Auxiliary 13-Pin Output
* Additional SW1/SW2 Latching Footswitch Assignable to Primary or Auxiliary 13-Pin Synth
* 4 Electronically Buffered Rear Panel Inputs for Control Voltage Pedals
* 6 Front Panel Control Knobs for 24-Pin String Output Levels - No Need to Adjust Tiny Trimpots for Level Control!
* 4 Front Panel Control Knobs Selectable as Control Voltage or Volume Level
* 2 Front Panel Switches for Volume and Mute Assign
* 6 Rear Panel Individual Outputs for Each String
* Individual Output for Hex Fuzz Sound
* Selectable Internal or External Hex Fuzz sound
* 13 Front Panel Function Switches
* 10 Front Panel LEDs Show Mode Status of all Control Knobs and Power Supply
* High Quality Internal Power Supply
* Rack mountable or Desktop Operation
* Elegant Design




"New to Version 2.0 are individual outputs for each guitar string. The output level is controlled by the six output control knobs on the front panel. The output of the hex fuzz is fixed. In addition to the four CV pedal inputs, Version 2.0 has a new 7-pin Mute jack. The new 7-pin jack contains both the Mute functions and S1/S2 functions. However, the 7-pin connector is backwards compatible with the Version 1.0 and 1.1 5-pin footswitches. And the S1/S2 input jack allows use of the Version 1.1 S1/S2 auxiliary footswitch that used momentary footswitches instead of the latching footswitches found on the new consolidated footswitch.

Finally, one detail note: the input on Version 2.0 has been moved to the front panel. Also, the front panel input does not include a locking ring, but an additional locking ring is included with the unit. I simply found it faster and more convenient to skip the locking ring connection on the front. The primary outputs are still on the back, but the auxiliary output is on the front.


The SBC+ V2.0 has an unprecedented level of documentation. The 81-page General Design and Construction Notes is divided into three sections: Design and Build Notes, Reference Schematics and Reference Specifications.

The first section, Design and Build Notes, explains in detail how to use the SBC+ V2.0, along with example applications. Next are four pages explaining how the circuitry actually works, related to the four pages of electronic schematics that follow. In addition there are two full page color photos of the circuit cards, followed by part layout pages identifying each part and how it is wired on the color photo pages. And then there many pages of addition notes. The second section, Reference Schematics, includes schematics of circuits used as a reference for the design of the SBC+ V2.0, such as the GK-2, the IMG2010, US-2, US-20 and more. And finally, there is the Reference Specifications section, which reproduces technical information on critical components, like the LM13700 chip used for the internal VCA, and NTE 2355 digital transistors used for muting functions.

This spiral bound technical manual is basically a collection of all my plans and notes on how I made the SBC+ V2.0. This is made available exclusively to the owner, so that they can understand how the unit works, or modify the unit if they choose. If the unit needs service, and for some reason I am unavailable, then a basic electronic technician will be able to easily repair any problems.

I modeled this reference manual after the original GR-300 service notes, that not only gave technical data, but also explained in detail how the GR-300 works in clear English."

Link to the videos while they are up.