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Since the beginning this site tryes to be a compilation center of the best sources for the JD800. Not a copy.
So please, visit the sites at the Links section for lots of much more very good information.
Gaining access to the internal parts of the JD-800 is a simple process but requires a little care.
Removing all screws may do your internal components fall.
You must remove only the screws AROUND the bottom and two screws in the center line, they are at 1/4 from side, and may be you can see a few bigger hole where thy fit to.
Sometimes the bottom have some "dust" acting like glue to.
Photo: Gwydion Elderwyn
How to remove the panel. JD-800 Manual. (click to enlarge) Source: Roland Co.
As a JD-800 lover, maybe you perceive I really love this synth, I was after this for a long, long, long time. To be clear, since 2002 when I got the JD-800 and created this site.
In short, the JD-800 SE is a Brazilian edition with the Strings Card plus exclusive patches but the same original factory presets.
In practice, the JD-800 SE included all 5 cards.
In the early 1991-92 years, people from Roland's Brazil asked for a group of very experimented Brazilian musicians to help create new patches for the JD-800.
This version received an entirely new set of patches that were not included in the factory presets.
But this was a problem too because almost all users forgot to save the internal memory into a memory card (not included), so those patches become lost for a long time.
So, if you have a JD-800 SE and restore factory presents, you will lose the SE version patches! This happened to most of them sadly.
My first contact with the JD-800 SE was in 2005 with Elberto Ronald Manske who had a very nice studio and with all cards.
After nearly two decades, I found someone who still has the patches saved plus the original prints included with that special model.
And yes, I have the JD-800 SE, but I was after such patches for a long time, and still, sadly I do have not the String Card (a really fantastic one).
The new patches were created due to the great work of:
Eric Persing
Adrian Scott
Paulot Roberto T. A. de Oliveira
Lucas K. Shirahata
Carlos Alberto F. Merussi (Pardal)
The patches:
After finding this, I commented in local groups and then another colleague made a simple video about it, and for sure the JD-800 SE deserves a better one, but he has not the String Cards and his machine sadly is in bad shape, using another keyboard as a controller.
The original credits to these great guys:
On this page below you can download this rare set of patches. Copyright @Roland Co.
Also, watch this video made after we got the material to get a very simple idea. Tiago is using a controller without the Strings Card.
Anyways, no matter who made what, I give thanks to this beloved great friend who gifted me with the original material after decades so we solved the mystery of the JD-800 SE!
A very good video from Scott MacLean with a full JD-800 repair, restoration and modification.
It's a really very complete video, including links for all the parts and products used!
His words:
"The Roland JD-800 is a virtual analog synthesizer produced from 1991 to 1996. Like the D-50, it uses Linear Arithmetic synthesis, which combines samples with digital synthesis. There are 108 built-in waveforms, with the ability to expand this with cards. This is a JD-800 I acquired that was in sad shape - it was suffering greatly from the "red glue of death" - a common problem with Roland synths of the time. This epoxy failure causes sticky, red glue to drip out of the keys and into the synthesizer, gluing keys in place and destroying circuit boards. In this video, I show how I take the synth apart, fix the red glue mess, then do some modifications to the aftertouch and power supply."
Mr Katsunori is a well know musician and his reviews are always great!
In his words:
"The Roland JD-800 was an epoch-making synth that combined the operability of a digital sound source and an analog feel. The character that is clear and has a strong presence is wonderful even if you listen to it now! .. The famous no.53 piano is still very nice! Katsunori UJIIE"
Thanks to all lovers of the JD-800, here's a very complete work about the new PCB that has been designed by Guy Wilkinson with the help and manufacture of PCBWay.
We cited them in a recent topic too. Thanks, guys!
Please follow the link bellow for the very complete material I'm sure all you will love it!
