Roland

[MrMike]

This could probably go under the Boss thread, but...

Anyway, I have a Roland VG-88 that I bought at the behest of our then-producer/label president. I've been thinking about getting rid of it because I used it in the studio a few weeks ago and could hardly get a sound that I could tolerate, let alone use. However, I just got back from rehearsal where I had it plugged into my Peavey Classic 50, and I'm rethinking my decision. This thing rocks. I could get feedback when I wanted, it's nicely touch sensitive, and it's dead quiet when I'm not playing. It has a lot more tweakability than I'll ever need, and the harmonizer function sounds pretty cheesy, but the amp sounds are pretty cool. Granted, nobody is going to think that I'm using a nice old Marshall or anything, but it has a bunch of really useable stuff. Looks like it's time to go do some more tweaking...

[kewlpack]

My current guitar teacher uses a Roland Guitar Synth setup to play all kinds of horn and big band accompaniments when his main band gigs.

It is really funky how it can sound so legit. Probably more akin to how a keyboard modeler would sound, but it's close enough for rock n roll. ;)

~A~

[Crunchyriff]

It is really funky how it can sound so legit.

A LOT of that is how you play it. For instance, the key to pulling off a good sax, trombone, or say, violin part on the guitar synth, is that you have to approach the attack, phrasing and what not as you would if you were a real player of those said instruments. That is a HUGE factor in making the guitar synth "believable".

[MrMike]

Absolutely. Playing Stevie Ray Vaughan style licks with a flute voice just doesn't fly.

[Crunchyriff]

Mike-

It's interesting to note that just a few short years ago, this new tech. was SO ugly sounding (to my ears, anyway); and it didn't matter WHAT way you used them, or what kind of amp powered them.

Now, into a console for recording; or through the right amp (usually tubes) for live work, and these new tools just SMOKE.

I'm not surprised that your VG-88 took on a whole new character slapped into the front of a tube amp.

Unlike the naysayers, I don't see tubes going bye-bye anytime soon. There is nothing on the face of the earth that can replace or accurately duplicate the majic that happens inside the glass envelope of a vacuum tube; headroom and all.

Especially for live use.

Way to go!!

[MrMike]

True to my somewhat indecisive nature, I now think I'm gonna ditch the VG-88, for 2 reasons. 1.) This thing is kinda cool, but it's just plain too complex. It does a lot of cool stuff, but getting there is quite a time-consuming process. You can spend a great deal of time programming, chasing the sound that you want, and spending even more hearing ones that you don't want. 2.) I found a great deal on a Vox Valvetronix head, cab and foot controller. They'll take my Peavey Classic in trade, and the sale of the VG-88 should cover the difference. I'll go check it out on Friday (Please pray that it isn't sold before then. It's about 2 hours away, and my schedule prevents me from getting there sooner. I don't want to have them hold something that I'm not yet 100% sure about yet.)

The final straw was that I was in the music store the other day and just plugging a few guitars in. I grabbed a Wolfgang, plugged it into a newer Line6 amp, and within 15 seconds and a couple of knob tweaks I had a sound that I liked. I really miss that simplicity.

[MrMike]

I just got home with the Vox Valvetronix amp. Tone report to come soon.