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Post subject: VG Stratocaster?
Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2008 4:16 pm
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Does anyone have any first hand experience with the new VG Strat? I play in a country band and am thinking about buying one.


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Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2008 4:52 pm
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yeah, it is an extremely versatile guitar and if you have the money, i feel it is a great guitar.... make sure you play it first, but its quite a nice guitar in my mind


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Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2008 6:13 pm
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I've read a few posts and camps are divided. One poster said that the batteries burned out in no time, blah, blah. Check downstream in the forum and you'll see other references to VG strat.


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Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2008 7:00 pm
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Keep a few batteries handy and you'll be fine. (Use rechargeables for more time than throwaways.)

It's an awesome guitar to play and own. Definitely go to guitar center and try it out though.


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Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2008 8:05 pm
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Sounds like great advice but I am in South Central Pennsylvania and none of my local dealers have one in stock. They want me to order one. Unreal. I like the bass sound. I want that Don Rich sound from the old Buck Owens records.


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Posted: Wed Mar 05, 2008 8:41 am
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I really like mine.
The tele sound is realistic for country style playing as is the 12 string tuning.

You can even play 12 string tele if you want.


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Posted: Wed Mar 05, 2008 1:26 pm
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It depends on what sounds best to your ears and feels best to your hands. :!:

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Posted: Wed Mar 05, 2008 1:42 pm
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jtmccall1 wrote:
Sounds like great advice but I am in South Central Pennsylvania and none of my local dealers have one in stock. They want me to order one. Unreal. I like the bass sound. I want that Don Rich sound from the old Buck Owens records.


i'm from south central PA as well, the nearest shop with a big selection to me is either altoona or monroeville, but i have a few local shops which stock enough to suit the basic needs


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Posted: Wed Mar 05, 2008 7:00 pm
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jtmccall1 wrote:
Sounds like great advice but I am in South Central Pennsylvania and none of my local dealers have one in stock. They want me to order one. Unreal. I like the bass sound. I want that Don Rich sound from the old Buck Owens records.


I've owned a VG since last June, and I still can't put it down. Its awesome. Based upon your style, you would LOVE the Barritone tuning, B to B, tuned down an entire octave. And you get there from standard tuning with just the flick of a switch. Great country western barritone sound.

If you can afford it, get one. Even if it means you have to order it. I normally agree with everyone on this forum that you always want to play the guitar before you buy it. But sometimes that's just not possible. It sounds like you're the exception to the rule.

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Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2008 12:58 pm
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I really couldn't afford it, but got one anyway. :D

Although not a biggie, one more tuning setting would fill my bill: a 1/2-step down tuning. The disadvantage is that you would't get the benefit of slacker strings with the VG system but you could go from a song in standard tuning to 1/2-step down without retuning the guitar.

Nonetheless, I'm really loving this guitar and its wide range of sounds and tunings. As noted already, you get a true Telecaster and Acoustic sound as well as 12-string tuning option. That's a pretty wide range of instrument emulation from one guitar - without the tracking issues of the Roland MIDI synth emulation.

I've played a few hours so far and no hint of battery burn out. Luckily, I have a stack of Rayovac Alkaline rechargeables in the wings and will see how their lifespan works out. Fender recommends 2500mAh NiMh rechargeable batteries for long lifespan. Probably worth the investment if you are gigging.


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Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2008 1:07 pm
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Kuroyume wrote:
I really couldn't afford it, but got one anyway. :D

Although not a biggie, one more tuning setting would fill my bill: a 1/2-step down tuning. The disadvantage is that you would't get the benefit of slacker strings with the VG system but you could go from a song in standard tuning to 1/2-step down without retuning the guitar.

Nonetheless, I'm really loving this guitar and its wide range of sounds and tunings. As noted already, you get a true Telecaster and Acoustic sound as well as 12-string tuning option. That's a pretty wide range of instrument emulation from one guitar - without the tracking issues of the Roland MIDI synth emulation.

I've played a few hours so far and no hint of battery burn out. Luckily, I have a stack of Rayovac Alkaline rechargeables in the wings and will see how their lifespan works out. Fender recommends 2500mAh NiMh rechargeable batteries for long lifespan. Probably worth the investment if you are gigging.


Congratulations. Its great buying new gear. And I agree about the half step down tuning, that would come in handy, especially for all those SRV and Hendrix fans out there. I don't know which type I have, but I have two sets of four rechargeable batteries, and I just swap them out when they drain, then charge up the drained batteries. The old ones are always charged long before the new ones go dead. Works fine.

Congrats, again.

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Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2008 1:56 pm
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I'm glad some people like their VG's. My band mate bought one and really doesn't like it. Yes, the batteries (4 AA) don't last very long. If you are at a gig, you'd beter know how to switch to the unmodified setting right away. I thought the acoustic and twelve string settings sounded tinny and brittle. There was no depth. My friend is considering selling his and has fallen back onto his Clapton signature Strat.

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Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2008 2:40 pm
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Guitargeezer1 wrote:
I'm glad some people like their VG's. My band mate bought one and really doesn't like it. Yes, the batteries (4 AA) don't last very long. If you are at a gig, you'd beter know how to switch to the unmodified setting right away. I thought the acoustic and twelve string settings sounded tinny and brittle. There was no depth. My friend is considering selling his and has fallen back onto his Clapton signature Strat.


Can't afford rechargeables? The FAQ says that you should get 10 hours out of NiMh rechargeables - unless you're doing Woodstock, that should be plenty for a gig. :) Now, I realize that there might be plenty of pre-playing (practice, warmups, diddling) - so, as noted, best to keep two sets of rechargeable batteries. This is pretty much standard practice for any electronic device (camera, camcorder, wireless) using rechargeable batteries - using one set while recharging another.

Of course, to each his own. If it hurts your live sound (apparently or otherwise), then stick with what works. I'm a hobbyist and don't gig any more - I doubt your guitarist would even touch an Ibanez as they are famous for being 'tinny'. :D


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Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2008 4:46 pm
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Glad the VG is finding its fans.

I gotta admit that I couldn't bring myself to like it. Me and my buddy were really stoked to try out this crazy concept but just found the sounds too unnatural, the alternate tunings in particular, which is a bummer 'cause that's the feature that I was originally stoked about. And the whole idea of these modulated sounds still doesn't sit well with me. Completely alienating... for me at least.

We both put it down to a gimmick that wouldn't last long, but I stand corrected. 'If the shoe fits...', I guess.

Gotta do whatever you can to try before you buy.


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