Best Guitar / Bass Synthesizers Under $1,000 2026

• Weight3.3 kg

You get a guitar synth that can also model guitar, bass, synth, effects and amps, with 910 sounds to pick from. It suits you if you want synth, piano or strings tones from your guitar, and you already have or plan to buy a compatible Roland GK pickup and GKC cable, since those are not in the box.

You get a lot of synth sounds from this small pedal, with 128 memory spots to save the ones you like. Because it needs no special pickup, you can plug your current guitar straight in. It suits you if you want synth tones in a compact box that runs on batteries or a DC power supply you buy separately.

You get a guitar and bass synth with over 1200 tones and 150 User scenes, plus USB and MIDI so it also works with a keyboard or computer. It suits you if you want synth sounds from your guitar or bass and like to organise your sounds on a computer with BOSS Tone Studio. Remember you will need a GK pickup and a serial GK cable, which are sold separately.

The KEY9 is a pedal that turns your guitar or keyboard signal into electric piano and organ style tones. It has nine presets, such as Wurli, Suitcase and Vibes, plus knobs to blend your original tone with the keys sound. It suits you if you want to add keyboard textures to your guitar or keys playing.

This is a slim pickup that adds synth capability to your electric bass. It works with four, five and six string basses and uses the Serial GK interface, so you will need a compatible Boss cable, which is sold separately. If you already use Boss guitar synth gear and want to play synth sounds from your bass, this is a good fit for you.

You get nine mellotron-style sounds, from strings and flute to choirs and brass, all made from your guitar, bass or keyboard. The effect and dry volume knobs let you mix in your clean sound, and the separate dry output keeps your untouched signal available. It suits you if you want orchestral or vintage tape textures without special pickups.

• Strings6-string

You get a GK pickup for 4-, 5- and 6-string basses, with a housing that is 30% smaller than the GK2B and a larger volume knob. The magnet spacing adjusts to match your bass's string spacing, from jazz-bass to six-string width. If you play bass and want a pickup that fits many different instruments, this one is a solid choice for you.

You would use this box if you want a GK pickup system to control a 13-pin device such as the SY-1000 or GP-10. It takes the Serial GK signal from a GK-5, GK-5B or GM-800 and turns it into the analogue 13-pin signal those units need. It also has an instrument input, so your regular guitar or bass pickup sound can pass through to the 13-pin output.

• Strings6-string

The Triple Play Express is a clever entry point into guitar-based MIDI synthesis. It’s fantastic for guitarists curious about exploring virtual instruments without complex modifications or a huge investment, especially those wanting a straightforward, portable setup. While it's not a replacement for a full-blown MIDI keyboard rig, it’s a surprisingly capable tool for sketching out ideas and creating unique sounds.