I acquired this unit at the Guitar Center for $800. I have used and researched many guitar effects processors, and finally have found one that I really enjoy using, as well as the way it sounds. One of the other things that really attracted me to it, was the ability to change alternate tunings on the fly. How many times have you wanted to play along with the song you really like, but can't because it is drop D tuning. As I mentioned previously, the ability to change guitar tunings was a big thing for me, which no other effects processor that I've come across can do. Equally as important, is the modeling capabilities of the unit, not only as far as amps go, but also guitars as well. With this unit, you can get the sound of Hendrix classic strat sound just as easily as Jeff Beck's clean leads. You can make your electric sound like a 12-string acoustic. While it's not 100%, it's 80% plus there, and unless you have the money to buy all of the possible guitars and amps, $800 is a pretty good deal for what it offers. Unless you buy the roland ready strat (which is a mexican strat, and they don't make the american standard roland ready ones anymore), you'll have to buy the gk-2a pickup and install it on you guitar. I had it installed on my music man axis sport without any problems. Don't try to use the adhesive because it won't stick and the pickup will eventually move out of position and will fail to operate correctly. Just get a pro guitar tech to do the job installing it (you have to drill to permanently intstall it). This thing is made out of solid steel, and would probably still work even if a tank ran over it! Roland has always made high quality products that are generally designed to take abuse during normal gigs and such. A few years ago, Roland came out with the VG-1 which was priced in excess of $2000. Now you can buy a much better sounding unit for about 1/3 of the cost. If you don't mind the inconvenience of having to install the pickup, this is the best unit which features modeling and tuning capabilities you will not find in any other guitar effects unit. It's very easy to use and intuitive, and is perhaps the best unit I have ever bought. And if you are afraid of screwing up your guitar, buy the roland ready strat and see how satisfied you are with it. You won't be sorry. This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com
(Originally written by la.boulanderie/translated from Audiofanzine FR) See Roland's website for detailed features and other user reviews. However, I'll tell you something you won't find there: The VG 99 is compatible with the GK2 I installed on my Ibanez 10 years ago, and which I didn't use a lot because the high latency of Midi guitars discouraged me. But this is a different story and it relates exclusively to the playing of the guitarist. I didn't try to burn my guitar like Jimi Hendrix but I think that's also possible. I tried to use the up/down buttons of the Midi pickup but had no success, and I think it has to do with wrong parameter editing on the VG. The Midi pickup settings are a breeze. You only need a measuring tape if you don't know how much your guitar measures. Choose the pickup model. Enter the strings length and the distance between each string and the Midi pickup. Set the sensitivity according to your playing style and the balance between all chords. And you're ready to start playing (it takes five minutes). You can also make settings for several guitars. The sound is accurate and clean because it's digital. It's not the right gear for you if you want noise, crackle, hiss and other vintage pleasures. On the contrary it's the perfect tool if you want perfect recordings. For my part I expect the following results with such a device: In the studio it must provide me a wide sound range without having to buy and service all corresponding instruments (folk guitar, classical guitar, dobro, banjo, sitar, mandolin, ukulele, Stratocaster, Telecaster, ES335, jazz hollowbody, Rickenbaker, Les paul, SG, 12-string acoustic and electric guitars, synth, bass... and more). Live on stage it must allow me to mix several instruments at the same time (bass/guitar, folk/electric guitar, guitar/synth) and to create different sound ambiances for each song (we are only two musicians playing with a female singer). UTILIZATION Very easy to use. I bought it Friday morning and I already used it live on stage on Saturday night. I did get a user's manual. I read it only to set up the Midi pickup. All other steps are very intuitive. I read it the day after our gig and I understood that I already knew everything I needed. If you want to test all possibilities (which seem to be endless) you'll probably have to spend a lot time with it but it's certainly worth it. The editor software provided is also very easy to use. I think the main difficulty is to understand all the possibilities in order to accurately edit it if you want to use all external controllers. During our live gig I did use my electro-acoustic guitar because I didn't feel that comfortable with the system, but next time I will take the time to edit each sound according to the set list and I'll take only one guitar to the gig. The ribbon controller and the D beam, which at first sight seem useless, can come in really handy in some stage situations. GETTING STARTED And what about the sound? It's perfect for electric guitar and I can't really hear any difference compared to the original models (its actually unnerving that, given the authenticity of the sound, you actually think that you are playing with the pickups and you tend to try to use the guitar knobs which of course are useless). The acoustic guitar sounds are really interesting. They can't replace a real acoustic guitar but they are still amazing. I didn't expect to be able to hear the sound of my fingers on the strings and to have the possibility to easily play pinch harmonics. The only thing I miss is the possibility to hit the top to get percussion effects (but perhaps it works if the Midi pickup is mounted on an acoustic guitar). Sitar and banjo sounds are great. My only complaint would be regarding the classical guitar, it has a strange response, more like a flamenco guitar than a classical guitar maybe? But I think this upsetting feel has more to do with the playing technique than with the sound itself. When you play a folk guitar the position of your hand is different because the body is bigger. And the strings are heavier and thicker. Their vibration is different from the string vibration of a solid body guitar with a Midi pickup. If you can adapt your playing technique accordingly it ought to work perfectly. The sound of all 12-string guitars is perfect. And also the dobro sound. The bass guitar simulations sound quite good. I don't use a lot of synth presets but I'm sure you can get pretty good results with some editing. What about effects? They are effective and well applied in the presets. OVERALL OPINION As a summary, I find this product amazing considering its price. I'm convinced that everybody will play such systems in the future and that our old magnetic guitar pickups will fall into oblivion. I haven't tried the Midi and audio interface functions of the system. So I can't say anything about them. Now I have a serious dilemma: either I definitely put away my Vigier (I like its wonderful neck, its weight and its color) and only play my old Ibanez via VG 99, or I buy another Midi pickup for my Vigier?
