Roland E-20. Wonderful vintage keyboard, but this one GLITCHES big-time

I really like glitchy sounds, they're a lot of fun and good for sampling. I do wish this one worked perfectly though, because some of the sounds are very surprising.

[@christoph7270]

Since 1989 in use at home and for kids.. still in love with the Sounds „Soundtrack“, „Sakuhachi“

[@FREDDIE1977ful]

Uwielbiam ten instrument. Jest fantastyczny mimo tyłu lat brzmienie kosmos. ❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@Alex-kk5yh]

This was one of my first Roland Synth/arranger keyboard.... I remember having problems with few glitchy sounds.... Thank You Buddy for sharing this, brought back some memories from the 80s 😁 God Bless

[@gearfacts]

Glad I could help!

[@bestrickie2]

A good old keyboard. I’ve owned loads over the years including a Roland E-5, E-30 and others. I regret getting rid of the E-30 as it’s like the E-5 and E-20 but E-30 has 64 extra sounds and other stuff I like.

[@kefmif]

I've got the upgraded model, the E-30 - better voices, more styles and better "UI". Everything works very good and it is wonderful to play on. Amazing LA synthesis sound engine combined with the best arranger system at the time is a top fun gear to use.

[@Mad4400]

I scored one of these on ebay for $30ish. Sold as is and untested, it had less than half the case screws with it and a few of them were just rolling around inside it. The power switch had been bypassed as it wasn't working consistently and the jury rigged rewiring was potentially lethal. After rebuilding the switch, restoring the correct wiring and a bit of cleaning it looked and sounded pretty good. Due to it's size I kept it up on a wall bracket meant for bike storage until it and the bracket fell to the floor moments after I had walked past. The keyboard looked no worse for the event but it had become a lot more rattle-y. Dreading what I would find if I opened it. I just placed it on a much more suitable shelf high up on the wall and haven't touched it since.

[@gearfacts]

Like a museum exhibit :)

[@dawnr8511]

According to the 1988 manual, this synth was born glitchy. Just have to live with it. No factory reset available either. :(

[@gearfacts]

haha "Born Glitchy" - if I ever make an album that's what I'm going to call it :D

[@Mad4400]

Do you know where to find it online? I could only source one for the smaller E10.

[@dawnr8511]

@@Mad4400 Nothing right now, but with the vintage synths, you have to do a search, like every couple of days. I'm sure one will pop up eventually, but ask a lot of questions of the seller to make sure it all works. It's the stuff sellers do not mention, like dead keys or no sound that will make your purchase turn sour.

[@dawnr8511]

@@gearfacts How about a band name, the "Glitchy Chicks"? 😬😬

[@gearfacts]

@@dawnr8511 A band with that name *could not fail* to be awesome !

[@LittleRichard1988]

It's basically got the same sort of sound chip as either the MT-32 or CM-32L. Last summer I actually bought a CM-32L and CM-32P that were both sold together for £400 ( £200 for each module basically ) which is what an MT-32 on it's own can go for. I was going to also buy a Roland U-110 as one of the buttons on my U-220 doesn't work so I could use all my PCM cards properly but as I also wanted these lofi LA Synthesis sounds I decided to go for the CM-32L and 32P instead. These LA Synthesis sounds do have that FM-like character to them so maybe I might do some tracks entirely using them but at least with the CM-32P you get 64 instruments from the U series covering all the basics like pianos, basses, guitars, strings and saxophones plus you can use one PCM card at any time. If you wanted styles on the CM-32s you could use Band in a box or Chordpulse. Even well into the mid 90s some producers were still producing music commercially on either an MT-32 or the beige box CM modules, those drum sounds are actually not bad even if they are considerd dated by today's standards. But I don't think it's ever "too late" to buy any Roland synth or drum machine.

[@goonluv]

Ive got one. Are they worth any money?

[@LittleRichard1988]

@@goonluv People can ask a fair bit for them but I personally think maybe £70 or £80 is a more realistic price. It would probably sell for around £80 in a second hand shop.

[@markstevens5442]

Regarding the start up issues, the might be due to the onboard battery being flat. Change it out and you'll be good to go. It's basically a CR 2032 battery which is cheap and easy enough to find. It might also cure your glitches as mine certainly does not glitch and I've had it since I bought it new in 1988 :)

[@pcuimac]

You have to apply flux to the chips on the motherboard and resolder them. I saved my JX-305 that way. Old SMD chips get loosend with time and temperature changes. Also remove all old caps and solder new ones inside. Chips and resistors should work forever. Capacitors sadly die with time, if they are based on liquids.

[@gearfacts]

Agreed.

[@angeljorgeofficial]

Pretty interesing piece of gear. Maybe if i stumble across one, I can record the demo songs on it cuz they are awesome

[@gearfacts]

I think my DEMO button is a goner, I couldn't get them to play.

[@ilovekeyboards7830]

Hi gearfacts my Roland e 20 works really good the only that show ever time I turn it on check instrument battery but it doesn't affect it at all so I just leave it

[@gearfacts]

It sounds pretty good I think

[@SoulEdits]

Hello, thank you for your video! I am willing to buy this wonderful e-20 but i would like to know how is the touch ? is it smooth kinda like a piano, with a sort of velocity or is it light without any particular feeling except a bad quality plastic ?

[@gearfacts]

It’s got decently balanced velocity sensitivity, the keys are just spring-weighted though.

[@mchobbyfotografie9392]

Hi , just bumped in this video have also a Roland E-20 , it starts traight up ,, only thing i saw this afternoon he yels check internal battery , so will have to check this one ,, i have also couple cards with it , to have some extra beats ,,

[@gearfacts]

Cool

[@waspcameras5836]

Gearfacts can you please make a special video for you playing the sound electric Oregon 1 sound on your keyboard

[@darklordvlad5850]

Hello I found this keyboard in my grandma’s home, but without cables can someone tell me which cables did I need to buy to make it run?

[@gearfacts]

I don't know, but if you search up "Roland E20 PDF" you'll find the manual, and it will have the answer in the specifications section.

[@bestrickie2]

Hello, I may have asked you this previously, what is the device you’re using for the arpeggiated effects and is it easy enough to just plug and play via the midi? I’d love to get hold of all of those devices to put through my stunning Roland E 30.

[@gearfacts]

Ah you mean the Roland PMA-5 :)

[@bestrickie2]

@@gearfacts yes thanks. I see it’s a sequencer which uz fine. However I don’t need a sequence there and I’m wondering if there are any other devices which can be plugged via Midgie straight into my Roland stunning E 30 which activate the sounds on board that keyboards become appreciated. In the same way as you are accomplishing with your E 20? I have modern keyboards with arpeggios on board but I’m not sure if it is possible to activate the Roland keyboards via these modern keyboards to activate an arpeggio effect on the Roland, as I’m not sure if they arpeggio option on the modern keyboards are midi, and not only that, my MIDI skills are extremely illiterate ha ha.

[@onni9472]

Hi! Do you have this synth still or have you sold it already? I have one and yeah the sounds are glitchy but bigger problem is that my sustain pedal is inverted. Do/did you have this problem? And do you know how to solve this?

[@gearfacts]

Roland keyboards are normally fixed when it comes to sustain pedal polarity. You might have to buy a pedal that has the opposite polarity to the one you're using, or see if your pedal has a switch on it. Many pedals have a polarity switch that can solve this problem instantly. Hopefully you won't have to buy a new one :)

[@RosalvoParadella]

Gosto muito dos sons dessa "era" da Roland. Eu tenho um Roland KR100, um piano digital desta mesma época. Mesmos timbres deste E-20, só que com uma interface mais simples.

[@gearfacts]

Sim, eles têm sons sólidos agradáveis :)

[@bestrickie2]

Again, what is the name of the device you’re using via midi to arpeggiated the sound on that keyboard? I wonder what the fault is with the glitching? Once again, I’gladly own a Roland E 30, which is similar to the E 20, but mine has a lot of extra features including an extra 64 sounds which includes, a beautiful slow strings, a few extra-base sounds and other stuff. No, I won’t part with it and again, I’d love to use my E 30 for appreciating the sounds as it sounds like there’s fantastic results.

[@gearfacts]

I think I was using a Roland PMA-5 via midi connection. The PMA-5 doesn't actually have an automatic arpeggiator, I would have built those arpeggios in its sequencer.

[@bestrickie2]

@@gearfacts thanks, you wouldn’t happen to know what device if there’s one out there which is an automatic arpeggio plug and play. I have arpeggios on modern music keyboards and wondering if I were to put my RolandE 30 via midi if it would work this way the E 30 pick up the arpeggio from the other keyboards.

[@bestrickie2]

Good news, I can’t remember if I’ve mentioned I salvaged an E-30 recently, it’s fantastic. What’s midi device you use to gain these EFX?

[@gearfacts]

I think I was using my trusty Roland PMA-5, and maybe a KORG monologue.

[@manvasile4318]

Nu ma descurc să obțin un card de memorie Ronald E20... As dori un sfat! Unde pot apela? Vă rog

[@DimitrisFrini]

I have the same but it makes from time to time an irregular buzz. Not associatted with any particular sound. It comes as a buzzing wave and I need to shut it off as the speakers go really zzzap zzzap... Any ideas?

[@gearfacts]

No clue sorry, I guess the amplifier board is messed up. All you can do is take it to a repairer.

[@waspcameras5836]

Hi gearfacts do you still have the gilching Roland E-20

[@gearfacts]

Yep

[@waspcameras5836]

@@gearfacts can you please video you Roland E-20 on and leave for little we're and please Gmail me

[@GoodenoughDlamini]

Where can i get these old Roland keyboard E-series

[@gearfacts]

Facebook marketplace, gumtree, ebay etc

[@travisguide4516]

I have a huge casiotone that has to be warmed up to work too

[@gearfacts]

Interesting! I wonder if it's a capacitor thing or whatever.

[@waspcameras5836]

Hi gearfacts do you know how to fix the Roland e 20 keyboard you have

[@gearfacts]

No, I had a look inside and it appears to be mechanically perfect.

[@waspcameras5836]

@@gearfacts is it fixable

[@waspcameras5836]

Hi gearfacts if you fix the Roland e 20 are you going to make another if the the e 20

[@gearfacts]

@@waspcameras5836 I guess so :)

[@waspcameras5836]

@@gearfacts my favorite sound of all time is electric Oregon 1 on the Roland e 20:)

[@TheLokiBiz]

Theres one in my local classifieds for $125 (Canadian dollars) - is it worth this, you think?

[@gearfacts]

Hmmm it's okay I think. Not a bargain, not over-priced. If it makes you smile I say go for it :)

[@raisabrouwers5376]

do you know how I can set the keyboard so that I have normal piano sounds?

[@haji2nd444]

I dont think this keyboard has a built-in piano pcm, so it's piano sounds are entirely synthesized. It appears to use the same (or a similar) sound chip as the Roland MT-32, a Roland sound module first released in 1987.

[@pachecãox]

Do you have floppies with demo sounds of yamaha keyboards? I had a CD with several floppies of old Yamaha PSR Keyboards, my CD was ruined and I lost everything...

[@gearfacts]

Sorry Michael, I’ve got nothing either.

[@pachecãox]

@@gearfacts no problema, thanks

[@waspcameras5836]

Hi gearfacts why are you saleing your Roland E-20?

[@gearfacts]

Yep I sure am. Everything I review gets sold after filming.

[@waspcameras5836]

@@gearfacts I didn't get to hear the electric Oregon 1 sound on your keyboard

[@waspcameras5836]

@@gearfacts can you please make a special video of the electric Oregon 1 sound on the Roland e 20 for me please:)