Roland is unveiling a newer version of the VG Stratocaster at NAMM today, See link below from Premier Guitar. Seems to have all the original features with the addition of some new tunings. They seem to be using the MIM Strat on this go round...

http://www.premierguitar.com/Video/20120119/1727/NAMM_12_Roland_G_5_VG_Stratocaster_Demo.aspx

It should be significantly cheaper then if it's a MIM. It also won't be considered as being as much of a "risky" purchase financially.

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2012 Fender American Standard Stratocaster
2013 Fender Pure Vintage 65 Stratocaster
2003 Gibson ES-355
2015 Gibson Les Paul Traditional
2002 Gretsch Duo Jet
1980 Rickenbacker 360/12 Fireglo
2014 Martin 000X1AE
2014 Fender Blues Junior III

There's also a GK-Ready Strat GC-1 announced for the 2012 NAMM:



This guitar is fully compatible with the GR55 synthesizer bank and the VG99 virtual guitar modeler.

Nice demo from Jeff "Skunk" Baxter, IMO!

Nice!

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2012 Fender American Standard Stratocaster
2013 Fender Pure Vintage 65 Stratocaster
2003 Gibson ES-355
2015 Gibson Les Paul Traditional
2002 Gretsch Duo Jet
1980 Rickenbacker 360/12 Fireglo
2014 Martin 000X1AE
2014 Fender Blues Junior III

If the quality control on this one is ... impeccable, and the parts are high quality, I want to try one! I'm using many guitars for various tunings. It will be a relief not having to maintain 13 guitars!

Funny thing, last night and before reading this thread, I was thinking about getting a variax cuz the vg is not in my budget currently.

Good news reading this!

I'm ah gonna try the variax and compare the two when the new VG comes out!

Seriously man go for the Variax .... I have a cheapest 300, for the price of good night out, great sounding models, excellent alternate tuning, nicely modelled, LP, Acoustics, 12 Strings and Teles. The Strat '59 is nearly as good as my EJ soundwise, misses fractionally on sustain. The necks are a little chunky but play fast - pick one up on evil bay for $300 (got mine for that as NOS), you can sell it back on tweleve month later and get what you paid for it.

If I see one, I'll play one! $300 is cheap.

[/quote]Seriously man go for the Variax .... I have a cheapest 300, for the price of good night out, great sounding models, excellent alternate tuning, nicely modelled, LP, Acoustics, 12 Strings and Teles. The Strat '59 is nearly as good as my EJ soundwise, misses fractionally on sustain. The necks are a little chunky but play fast - pick one up on evil bay for $300 (got mine for that as NOS), you can sell it back on tweleve month later and get what you paid for it.[/quote]


I think the biggest problem with the variax is it's looks. Probably great sounding Guitars but I can see a lot of people being put off by the way it looks. Compare that to the beautiful Strat above...............

_________________
2012 Fender American Standard Stratocaster
2013 Fender Pure Vintage 65 Stratocaster
2003 Gibson ES-355
2015 Gibson Les Paul Traditional
2002 Gretsch Duo Jet
1980 Rickenbacker 360/12 Fireglo
2014 Martin 000X1AE
2014 Fender Blues Junior III

I'm looking at the photo of the new Roland Ready Strat chomeface posted and I'm wondering if both it and the new VG Strat are made in China?

I think you're quite right, the V-Guitar series is made at the same Chinese factory which builds the Modern Player guitars and basses.

This axe has lots of Clapton vibe!!!



Not sure if Eric will start playing guitar synthesizers again.

He used to play a CAR Greco GR505 in 1984/85, but his guitar synth days failed to attract the attention of his die-hard fans, even he did a masterful use of the instrument.

The Custom Shop built a SynthStrat in 2004 for him, but he never used it live and in the studio.

I'll try.

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Roland

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2000 American Deluxe Stratocaster
2011 Gibson Les Paul Trad Pro 50's
2007 Epi Les Paul Custom
90's ESP Eclipse
JH-1B Jimi Hendrix Crybaby
Analogman KOT
Korg Pitchblack
Boss NS-2 PH-2
Blues Deluxe Reissue
1999 & 2007 Marshall TSL 100 w/1960BV cab

Seriously man go for the Variax .... I have a cheapest 300, for the price of good night out, great sounding models, excellent alternate tuning, nicely modelled, LP, Acoustics, 12 Strings and Teles. The Strat '59 is nearly as good as my EJ soundwise, misses fractionally on sustain. The necks are a little chunky but play fast - pick one up on evil bay for $300 (got mine for that as NOS), you can sell it back on tweleve month later and get what you paid for it.[/quote]


I think the biggest problem with the variax is it's looks. Probably great sounding Guitars but I can see a lot of people being put off by the way it looks. Compare that to the beautiful Strat above...............[/quote]

....from the school of cool looking guitars always sound better? I think Jack White demonstrated it best with a block of wood, a nail, a pickup and a coke bottle. A guitar only sounds as good as it's player not because the way it looks ... from the school of I look like a tool and play like a fool

Out of all the alternate tunings you would think that Roland would have included a "half step down" mode instead of baritone. I own an original VG and while I like it's versatility it is frustrating to still have to tune down or bring another guitar. Oh well...

PS: John...What did you notice about Chromeface's picture that clued you in on Chinese manufacture?

Presumably you don't have a Clapton Strat!