The VG Stratocaster is gone for 2 years, now.

'Purchased one on closeout for $999 and it's still a favourite guitar. Interestingly though, almost always played as an American Standard without the battery pack.

Any other thoughts on this come-and-gone electronic Strat?

History will likely portray it as an instrument ahead of its time, a POV which I'll probably agree with (eventually).

I played a few in stores and it had some useful attributes. However, the deal-killer (IMO) was the bread-and-butter finish selection and its lackluster pickups which never really sounded "Stratty" to my ear. Thus, a "generic" guitar with "generic" tones -- but one that could emulate alternate tunings and even a 12-string.

Arjay

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"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY

I really did like the 12-string sound on the VG, that was almost enough to get me to buy it. They only had one at the local GC and when they went to close it out they dropped the price down to about $799, but I missed it. God's will, I guess.

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Dennis in CR
Rockin' since 1963

In this opinion, the weakest point about the VG is not its sound. Actually, the settings are useful (albeit not perfect) and fairly true. 'Agree the 12-string model is above average.

In this opinion, reliance on ONLY the battery pack with no live line power option is what killed the VG. If Fender had sucked it up and bought the license to use Line 6's excellent one-cord power and signal solution, the VG Strat (and maybe Tele and Bass) would be alive and well.

Line 6's Variax 300 and 500 are not great guitars, but the electronics are fab. Their Variax 700 Acoustic and the 4- and 5- basses are downright excellent.

I bought a Black/Rosewood VG at the closeout price and I'm still enjoying mine. I play it as an American Series Strat most of the time but I like two of the acoustic models (positions 1 and 3) and the 12 string model.

I also like having a Tele model in a Strat body. Yeah, I have Teles that sound better but I don't have to get up from my comfy recliner to grab one.

Hmmm, and I think the VG along with an '08 American Standard was the first outdoor guitar picture I ever snapped, so it helped make my digital photography life easier.
000_0227 by John Bohn, on Flickr
John

I love mine. I mostly play it without the batteries installed, but when I do, it's usually to use either the 12 string setting or the drop D.

I never got to play one. Was never bothered, I don't look to Fender for high tech-ery and I love the 'purity' of the Strat as is.

Not to say I'm not interested in modelled guitars - one of my classicals is a Variax.

However (and the point emerges..), I'd guess that the VG Strat shared the current limitations of built-in modelling. Would I be right in saying there was the usual time lag between striking a note and it sounding? If so, there's a potential reason for the guitar not really taking off. AND of course, many guitar players do tend to be very conservative when it comes to technology..

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Fender Highway & Classic 60s Strats, Fender Toronado, Telecaster, Gretsch Projet, Charvel 3, PRS SE Soapbar II & Custom 24, Burns Batwing and many others!