I have owned the VG8 the VG88EX and now the VG99. This is the first unit that really does sound exactly like the guitars and amps it models. It is by far the most amazing guitar product I have ever used. The only complaint I have heard is that it doesn't play well with piezo pickups. I use a GK3 and it works perfect.

According to the Roland rep, over 4000 adjustable settings.

For the price of one amp you get every guitar , amp and effect known to man.

I couldn't figure something out but after 5 or 6 emails the Roland rep found an answer for me.

30 years playing guitar

The 24-bit sound quality is very dynamic in offering many "extremes" from very dry to wet effects. Checking out all of the presets, as I'm doing still now (just got it yesterday) with headphones is quite impressive! And having the D-Beam and Ribbon Controller used by some patches is also very easy to interact with.

The updated OS firmware 1.04 (online from RolandUS.com) now offers better support for piezo pickups which have even better sensitivity to a user's playing sinse their detection of tuning is much more accurate. Thus if you get a guitar with piezo pickups builtin, you are definitely better off. I'd suggest the Carvin SH575 Synth Access guitar.

My familiarity with the older VG-8EX gave me a "bias" in easily adjusting to the VG-99's interface (better display AND panel layout than before). I'm especially interested in its MIDI and/or USB MIDI/Audio support for use with its included Editor/Librarian and a PC DAW program (like SONAR).

It is very light weight with a very fine finish and compact design, but since so many LEDs are used [obviously designed with low-lighting stage use in mind], I hope their bulbs don't burn out anytime soon <g>.

I wish that I had known that the VG-99 specifically is designed (with an included connecting cable, and software/panel support for the FC-300 AND included it as a "bundle". As it is, I clearly "need" (and want) to buy it AND the "optional" PDS-10 stand, as rack mounting it (although screws were provided for that) is not that practical for me. Indeed, I'm using its shipping box as a pseudo-stand until I get a proper one <g>.

I have only dealt with Roland via their website never having a technical problem with any of their gear except one, which I haven't yet gotten help about -- the LED display "died" on my 5+ year old XP-50, although I replaced its internal battery, it still doesn't work, but the instrument does still work fully otherwise. I had a similar problem my my Kawai GMega synth.

Since I could and did directly compare the design to my older VG-8EX (which I've now "retired"), I consider the LED display and overall compact "ergonomic" and _light weight_ design to be MAJOR improvements. It made LOTS of sense to separate the "embedded" pedals of the VG-8 into the much more versatile FC-300 foot controller, which I certainly intend to buy later, as well as the PDS-10 stand.

hobbyist, music engraver, arranger

folk, jazz, pop, progressive rock, techno

The sound on this product is amazing. I played a Roland Ready Strat through it and was suprised at how clear the sound was, despite the single-coil pickups of the Stratocaster.

Delay, reverb, stompbox modeling, guitar modeling, amp modeling, instrument modeling, etc. Anything you want to play and almost any effect is available by using this product.

I found it to be somewhat complex. I don't read manuals on products if I can help it, simply because I like tweaking and toying around with it. But I would say reading the manual would probably be a big help. As far as the interface goes, it seemed pretty straight forward.

I never felt that I would break it. It seems that if you purchase this, it will last you for a very long time, despite taking the occasional bumps and bruises that come from being on the road.

This is a seriously nice piece of machinery from Roland. It sound amazing and everything, but in reality, that's pretty expensive. You could buy a Gibson Explorer or SG for a similar price. I definitely think that the price needs to be lowered on this. If it was somewhere around the $700-$800 range, I would go out and buy one in a heartbeat. Even so, I'm almost positive I'll be buying one anyone because its so awesome!

I never had experience with Roland support

Intuitive interface, nice bright screen. This is one sexy piece of equipment.

Hobbyist

Rock (RATM, U2, Audioslave, Coldplay)

To be honest I'm still getting my head round this, right now I,m using a VG8 system with a Godin LGX SA through a Music man amp I have changed the speaker to a EV 12inch, to me it sounds great (and a lot of people say so too at our gigs) I'm sure it must be brilliant once I've sorted it out, but its just not as straight forward as the VG8 was,,, and it looks like I got to find some more money for the FC300 :(

out of the box it was just the Vg99, to use this live I'm going to need a stand and a foot controller didn't tell me that at the shop !! good job my guitar is fitted with the pickup needed to run this thing ...but I knew that !!! most sounds need tweeking for my needs ...

Think you have gathered I,m not finding this that easy I recon its going to take me a couple of weeks or even months to get the VG on the road ...

I cant comment on reliability because I havnt had it long ..but its Roland and I'm a fan

To be fare there is nothing else out there that does what this claims to do but it is expencive and you need more equiptment to run it dont even get a bag thats extra !!

Roland have never let me down

Because I love my VG8 I though this would be loads better maybe it should come with a tutorial DVD

Band member

Rock

In my opinion roland and line 6 have been doing the most cutting edge work in guitar FX. With the VG-99, I have to say they've surpassed line 6 by a wide margin. The Range of sounds you can get with this is equal to at a guitar processor plus an analog synth and if have a midi module you can use those sounds as well. I suppose some could say "this vintage guitar and/or amp doesn't sound exactly like the one i hear on such and such recording." That's hard to argue. If you can't match the sound you need by tweaking with the 99 a bit, you probably don't know what your talking about.

As far as features go this has more than any of it's ancestors. I was afraid some features would be taken out to make it easier to use (a common issue with roland's GR line.) But plenty of features have been added. The D-beam and ribbon controller are cool additions. I might miss the pedal board of the VG-88 but i've had a keyboard expression pedal and a dual switcher pedal kicking around here for a while and they plug right into the 99.

They managed to make the new model really straightforward, without sacrificing power and options. Perhaps the best aid in this is the editor and librarian software. I'd like to give roland additional praise for supporting OS X as well. For some the issue of how and where to install the GK pickup might present a problem. A couple of points: A) You don't need to put this on your 7000$ vintage museum piece, any guitar with a decent setup will sound equally good. B) If your not handy with a drill and screwdriver you can use double sided tape.

I haven't had any serious problems with roland products, as of yet. The vg-99 looks a bit more delicate than the 88 or 8 though.

It seems like the price is jacked up on this at first glance, but it will take days or weeks to explore all the features. If your the type of guitarist who buys a lot of different axes and amps and the keeps them in your closet because there too valuable to use, this will definitely save you money.