Roland VG-8 - 27 year old technology still sounds great

[hippietim]

I think the Roland VG-8 came out in 1995 and it was well over $2k at the time. It requires a Roland GK pickup but it doesn't do MIDI synth stuff - it processes the individual strings directly. It offers guitar, amp, and effects modeling - they're all pretty dated now. But it also offers a whole bunch of synthesis options. It's like the great great grandfather of the SY-1000. The lineage is something like this - VG-8 -> VG-88 -> VG-99 -> GP-10/GR-55 -> SY-1000. But there's still stuff in the original VG-8 that didn't get carried through even to the VG-88. Because Roland.

Anyhow, if you watch out for these you can pick them up really cheap. I've had one a long time and ended up grabbing a backup for $175 and then ran across another for $125. These are a steal for those prices if you can make use of the synthy/trippy sounds they can do. You're better off with a later generation model if you want guitar/amp modeling.

I did some samples for someone that asked about it a few years ago. These are all factory presets.

 

[hippietim]

 

[JiveTurkey]

I love these clips Tim. The VG series still piques my interest as I never gave them a try.

 

[Hush]

Seems like Joni was using something similar to the Crystal patch on this song. VG-8 is all over her newer releases.



I've been interested in getting a VG-8 for a while but never pull the trigger because I also would need a GK-3 guitar. Tim do you have a preference of guitar with it built in like a Godin XTSA or just adding one to a guitar you already own?

 

[JiveTurkey]

TIM WE ARE SUMMONING YOUR WISDOM

 

[hippietim]

TIM WE ARE SUMMONING YOUR WISDOM

For?

 

[hippietim]

I've been interested in getting a VG-8 for a while but never pull the trigger because I also would need a GK-3 guitar. Tim do you have a preference of guitar with it built in like a Godin XTSA or just adding one to a guitar you already own?

For starters, if you buy a VG-8 you want to get a VG-8EX. The non-EX version can be upgraded but the EX has much improved IO. The non-EX has some hiss that is fixed on the EX. The way to identify an EX is that the V in the logo on the front is yellow/orange and the other one is blue. Also, the EX as additional lettering on the left most foot switches - Mod, Delay, Reverb and Tuner. If you’re patient, you should be able to get one for like $200.

I’ve had the Godins before (still have a nylon) and for Vguitar stuff I prefer a GK pickup. The piezo style are a bit better for pitch-to-MIDI. So I prefer the GK. I’ve put them on a couple guitars. If you want to go nuts, get the CycFi pickup with a Nexus GM box. You can do GK compatible stuff and very high quality 6 individual string outputs.

 

[JiveTurkey]

For starters, if you buy a VG-8 you want to get a VG-8EX. The non-EX version can be upgraded but the EX has much improved IO. The non-EX has some hiss that is fixed on the EX. The way to identify an EX is that the V in the logo on the front is yellow/orange and the other one is blue. Also, the EX as additional lettering on the left most foot switches - Mod, Delay, Reverb and Tuner. If you’re patient, you should be able to get one for like $200.

I’ve had the Godins before (still have a nylon) and for Vguitar stuff I prefer a GK pickup. The piezo style are a bit better for pitch-to-MIDI. So I prefer the GK. I’ve put them on a couple guitars. If you want to go nuts, get the CycFi pickup with a Nexus GM box. You can do GK compatible stuff and very high quality 6 individual string outputs.

For that!^

 

[hippietim]

For that!^

Oh. I’m not always the sharpest tack.

 

[JiveTurkey]

Going through these again.

G-Steps clip is the trumpet sound we need!

 

[hippietim]

VG-8

VG-8EX

 

[JiveTurkey]

I bet it would fit on a sliding rack shelf

 

[hippietim]

I bet it would fit on a sliding rack shelf

It is over 19" wide - close to 20" - so you'd have to put it in sideways

 

[mbenigni]

It is over 19" wide - close to 20" - so you'd have to put it in sideways

 

[mbenigni]

I still vividly remember sitting on my lunch breaks back in '95, when the VG-8 first dropped, pouring over Recording magazine's massive review. Man, I wanted one so bad. It's crazy now, seeing them change hands for so little $$$. But I worry about reliability and, more importantly, I suspect its "window of relevance" has passed for me. Love these clips, though! This era of Roland was so fun!

 

[hippietim]

I still vividly remember sitting on my lunch breaks back in '95, when the VG-8 first dropped, pouring over Recording magazine's massive review. Man, I wanted one so bad. It's crazy now, seeing them change hands for so little $$$. But I worry about reliability and, more importantly, I suspect its "window of relevance" has passed for me. Love these clips, though! This era of Roland was so fun!

Reliability? Roland? Their stuff has always been great.

 

[mbenigni]

Reliability? Roland? Their stuff has always been great.

I know Roland builds tanks as a rule. I just get cold feet whenever I consider buying hardware that's been in service for, what, nearly 30 years?

EDIT: Yes, nearly 30 years. It's right there in the thread title LOL.

 

[hippietim]

I know Roland builds tanks as a rule. I just get cold feet whenever I consider buying hardware that's been in service for, what, nearly 30 years?

EDIT: Yes, nearly 30 years. It's right there in the thread title LOL.

Honestly, I was wondering about it myself so I bought a backup. No need yet.

 

[Piing]

Roland VG-8 VeryFX! patch on SY-1000

Roland VG-8 VeryFX! patch on SY-1000

www.vguitarforums.com

 

[DrewJD82]

I’ve always been interested in these as a result of hearing Kirk Hammett use one on the Load album. That clean guitar part in “Until It Sleeps” was supposedly the VG-8. There were some other tones on that album I know he used it for but I can’t remember anymore. If I can find one for $200 I’d scoop that up.

I was supposed to get a Fishman Triple Play a few months back but I think it turned into another guitar or a bunch of pedals.