“Excellent working and cosmetically clean Roland System-100M Polyphonic 4 CV 184 Keyboard. Serial Plate is in Japanese. Used with my System-100M. Selling to finance other interests. I was told the previous owner probably bought it new in Japan and brought it to California where it stayed for decades in his home studio. I’ve barely used it. Pretty sure I am the second owner. Sadly no original box.
Overall this analog multi-CV controller is visibly excellent, almost like new. It’s condition is remarkable. (I’ve been a synth collector since 1984). There’s no visible mold or mildew or rust. A little legacy dust here and there from 36 years of use. Input jacks all look very clean and feel solid, I cannot make out any oxidization and I would put them at 95% clean.
Pitch bend works. Tuning knobs works. Portamento works. Transpose works. All keys work and appear very clean. Action is springy and tight. Arp and control buttons appear like new, all buttons engage and all knobs work. Both wood end panels appear very good to excellent. One small plain white sticker from previous original owner on top left wood panel, clearly visible in photos. An area with slight gum residue from probably a removed sticker (not me) is next to power button. A few rubs and marks on underside. On long surface scratch on the underside. All cosmetic issues appear in the photos.
*One issue or concern, which may be my older System-100M: slight intermittent tuning changes happen when you twist “Pitch Bend Sens” knob while playing a note. That said, after my 100M warmed up, this effect was diminished. I just leave it at 5 and there’s no issues. Again this may be a System-100M issue, not 4CV 184 issue. I’m not sure. My 100M does need a tune up, one VCO and VCF have scratchy pots.
All 4 KCV and Gate outputs work and have been tested on my System-100M, MC-202 and SH-101. Both 1/8′ and 1/4″ and one each Total CV and Total Gate outs. The 4CV will play the System-100M, an MC-202 and a SH-101 all at the same time, or individually, using both ⅛” CV and ¼” CV outs from the 184. Pretty cool!
The arpeggiator on this model is unique and odd. Everything arpeggio works and the arp will sometimes place rests in Up/Down and Random Mode – I don’t know if that is common or voltage oddities or an issue. Sure does sound cool and unpredictable.
I was able to patch the 100M’s LFO to the 184’s Arpeggio Clock In and use the LFO Freq (speed) to affect the 184’s arpeggio speed. Very cool!
*Another Issue – and I may not be using it properly, when “Unison 1 and 2” are depressed, keys play, but nothing sounds like it’s in “Unison”. *When Poly 1 Button is pressed, keys play intermittently*. When Poly 2 is pressed, all keys play.
Polyphonic: I have been able to play 4 notes through two VCOs on the 100M but the fourth note sometimes cuts out one of the others. Playing one key and holding, then playing another, then a third, does work, making a chord. Playing three notes at once on this unit sometimes plays a chord, other times not. However you can connect two to four CV outs to as many other instruments and play more than one note, sustaining one after the others, like they are all playing on the same MIDI channel. ” Click here to visit listing on eBay