Roland VGA-7

This amp does everything except make decent coffee. All the needed features a guitarist could want are in this amp. Put a good guitar plugged into it and you have no problem -- if you read the manual and take your time with it.

I play a Gibson Les Paul and a Godin LGXT - synth setup through it. The sounds are fantastic.

I use it all the time gigging - five nights a week. No backup needed or wanted. At 82 pounds this baby is enough to get around.

These guys are great at Roland. I got an extra manual just for the asking -- sent priority mail.

I've been playing for 30 years as a session player and lead guitar in a pretty well-known group. If someone stole this amp, I'd track the bugger down and kill him.

Previously I had a marshall 4 12 w' a 100 w JMP Superlead custom and Korg A3. I wanted something a little more versatile. In the store I loved the amp sims, but the guitar sims seemed weak; however, when I placed them in our live mix, the sound guy didn't have to tweak much of anything, and the guitar sims sounded great. I can't go wireless any more; too bad, but the acoustic sims are too valuable to bybass and go wireless. I wish it had more synth variation.

After using a marshal, it was nice to not have huge hiss between songs. Also I can access so many more music genres and the synth sim is fun with wah on it. Using distortion, I prefer not to use guit sim, because the guit sims don't have the bite and cruch of the strings, but the sound guys can't tell between the two. I send signal mono direct out because when the chorus is on you need to mic both speakers or it sounds funny. Mono direct out I don't need a mic or stand and the speaker simulation sounds great.

It's pretty new , but Roland seems to be pretty reliable. I have friends who play line 6 and their amp is always getting repaired. Also I thought that this amp sounded much more realistic than line 6

The amp is 82 lbs. When the sales person stuck it in my car, it dinged the back a bit. I told Roland and they appologized and gave me a free amp cover. (And it wasn't their fault) They have been exceptionally friendly to me.

It sits nice in the mix, is versatile, clean, and I don't need racks of independant gear anymore. It's nice to set up different guitars and amps for different songs, so each song can have a unique sound. I don't have to move it, so the weight is irrelevant. It can rock too, in fact it sounds better in the mix than my marshall did.

The price was pretty scarey, but I spent alot more on my previous gear.

I wish the product wasn't so new. There was alot of disbelief about cosm that I and the sound guys had to work through. The end result is the final mix and that is why I bought it.

Check below. Too many to list.

Let me get my biases out of the way. I like a variety of sounds but am a shredder at heart. I've been playing for 22 years. Now...I put this amp through its paces at Mars. Frankly, I don't get it. I've owned two Boss GX-700s for the last three years and still love them. So, I figure cool, a JC-120 with the rack built into it. Got to be the same sound right? Wrong. The COSM sims on the VGA-7 are not nearly as dynamic and responsive as the GX-700. And where's the gain? The GX-700 can get brutal, particularly with a Sonic Maximizer through the loop. I did NOT use the special pickup but only the regular 1/4" jack. I assume that will make a difference. This amp is about the only Roland product I've tried that I don't like. Besides the two GX-700s, I own or have owned the following Roland products: a KC-300, JC-120, JC-77, and a GC-408X. BTW, I play through an Anderson humbucker-equipped strat.

Wouldn't know.

Unless you're interested in the synth and tunings, etc., get a used GX-700, GT-3 or 5 and plug it into a Mosvalve power amp. Run that into a Genz-Benz George Lynch cab and you still save $700.

FEATURE PACKED!
AMPLE POWER?
SOUNDS?

Obviously the JC-120 sound is best, the Fender??? What the heck happened? THIS AMP HAS NO SPRING REVERB SIM??? No doubt you are NOT playing a fender amp!!! Damn that hurt with the price one pays for the AMP, the Controller, the GK-2A, the 13-pin cable...This thing is SUPER expensive!!!

This thing has lots of features! I'd recommend a ROLAND GK-2A ready strat! Otherwise you have to install it yourself and does NOT look as good!!! + the GK-2A is over $200...the best price I found was at SAMASH. com $219.99~~~
The Amp can be found at CINTIOLI's Music STORE in PENNSYLVANIA for
$1,099 ($200 cheaper than MUSICIAN's FRIEND or SAM ASH...However, call them for a price match!)

This thing is easy to tweak, but if you are a looking for maximum tweaking of all parameters look elsewhere (LINE 6's AX2 tops the tweaking area)

I am using an American Deluxe Strat with NOISELESS pick ups...
The amp is quiet even with some "sim-distorted" (If you want real distortion get a real TUBE AMP please... The distortion on this thing SUCKS!!!)

The JC-120 sound is better than the original b/c of the increased freq. response!
The Fender sound? Like I said NO SPRING REVERB...So it basically sounds like an imitation w/ a cheap REVERB!
This may force me to to buy a real tube amp and get the real thing
(I have had enough of this SIMULATING crap)

I don't know why ROLAND even bothered to SIMULATE an acoustic guitar.
THE EMULATIONS PLAIN SUCK for the ACOUSTICS...The only consolation is they included a regular input so you can take advantage of their FULL RANGE amps...

THE NYLON STRING Simulation is a PLAIN JOKE and sucks beyond belief...
Whoever chose the waveform is a total jerk!!!!
I already made the mistake to buy this freaking amp b/c of the guitar SIMS...Get a real Acoustic (especially a NYLON -- If you already have one, plug it in and use the FULL RANGE AMP SIM!~~ =o)

So the overall sound is good; The JC-120 sound is great!
The clean sounds are no doubt clean (So a 9 is my rating for the clean JC sound)and the Digital Capo and User defined tunings are great features.

DAMN this thing NEEDS a Super high quality WAVEFORM update for the ACOUSTICS SIMS!!! I can't say that enough!!!! The NYLON SOUNDS LIKE A 1980's Synth Guitar SIM of a NYLON (Hello?! We are in the NEW MILLENIUM ROLAND!!!)....NYLON STRING SIM. just PLAIN SUCKS!!!!

The DISTORTION is NO DOUBT DIGITAL!
BOSS PEDAL SOUNDS ARE GOOD BUT FAMILIAR SO NO NEW GROUNG HERE!...The LINE 6 pedals run the GAMMOT of CLASSIC SIMS...so you are NOT STUCK with just ROLAND SOUNDS...I have yet to buy the CONTROLLER b/c I heard a dedicated controller is on the way...I hope the WAH is as good or better than the LINE 6 which I previously owned!

Too early, but knowing ROLAND equipment, it should be very reliable!

Have never dealt with them.
THANK GOD!

If it were stolen, I'd cry just b/c of the MONEY I lost!
I'd buy something else!

Compared to LINE 6

PROS:
Better Clean Sounds.
Better Freq. Response.
Better Effects (BOSS Pedals)
Easier to Tweak.
Louder and Sturdier.
ROLAND is know to be RELIABLE~~~ a huge plus vs. competitors~
Acoustic Sims mixed with original guitar useful but will NOT substitute a real acoustic guitar (THE NYLON STRING ACOUSTIC Does NOT count at all...what a piece of CRAP!!!)
Amp simulations are DIGITAL but useful. The "Full Range" and Special Amp Sims are useful for Acoustic instruments (Plug a real Acoustic into the regular input jacks)and Organ/Brass/Pipe type sounds~~~

Favorite Patches? P03, 05, 68 (Take the effects off or just leave the chorus and use it for a nice rhythm sound), 69 (Play "Jump- Eddie Vanhalen") with this brass type sound), 71, 75 (mix and enjoy using volume controls to come in and out), 78 (Mix w/ a trebly guitar sound)Try Carlos santana's "Oye como va"

CONS:
Super Expensive ($1,099 w/o the GK-2A $219-$249, plus $60 for the cable, plus FC-200 $299-$350), + Midi cable...Get the Drift???
DON'T BUY THIS DAMN THING unless you are a MASOCHIST or know you will use the sounds in a STUDIO SETTING ONLY!!!
My humble suggestion will save you lots of money and less back pain. WAIT for LINE 6 to respond with the AX3 (Buy from a responsible
retailer since RELIABILITY has been a problem)!!!! or the other companies to catch up...try the other companies and compare (Forget the JOHNSON MILLENIUM...it is very expensive and NOT reliable)

This thing Weighs like a truck. (BACK BREAKER)
Less parameters to tweak.
The Acoustic Sims are from PAR to PLAIN JUNK (NYLON)!!!

I HOPE I SAVED SOME OF YOU FROM THE MISTAKE OF BUYING THIS AMP, ESPECIALL NEW...IF YOU MUST HAVE THIS WAIT FOR A USED AMP OR AN UPDATED VERSION IN A FEW YEARS!!!
OTHERWISE... If you can't wait give the competitors a try, read the reviews here in HARMONY CENTRAL and GOOD LUCK!!!The latest Modeling Amp to enter the MARKET!!!
So lets get cut to the chase.
What is my OPINION???

DON'T BUY THIS FREAKIN AMP!!! Although it has lots of features, the Expense, weight (Why do you think it comes w/ caster/wheels???...82+ pounds!!! that is why...this thing should NOT be moved out of a studio...so if you want a gig amp...get one that weighs a lot less!!!)
Wait till LINE 6 and others include a FULL-RANGE (Horns + 2 12" Speakers - greater Freq. Response)

Extreme Disappointment, but maybe my GOALS are set too high...I haven't given up...I am hopeful =o) LINE 6 and others kick butt with better products in the future.

I'd be the first to admit, if you were do buy all of the emulated instruments, amps, and others seperately you'd spend a fortune, but sometimes i believe
NOTHING COMPARES to real thing
You want a LES PAUL SOUND
Buy one but it will cost more than the amp...
So in all fairness.
I will rate it at a 7-8 for value and sound.

I HOPE THIS HELPS!

i tried this amp out at my local sam ash. i ran it through it's paces for about 2 hours.brand new release. every feature under the sun. uses cosm modeling tech. has a midi in so you can hook up a virtual guitar syn. it has all the bells and whistles. 130 watt , 2 2x12's , 80 lbs with wheels. all solid state.

the amp sims are exactly like the other cosm rack units ie: sx-700, gt-3 etc. effects are exactly like the matching boss pedals ie: ce-1 chorus, rv-3 etc. there were a couple of great settings but on the whole it sounded pretty sterile. a big let down for new ground breaking tone. no tube tone here.

seemed very well made as are all roland products

never dealt with them

the most versitile amp i have ever seen. 100's of tones with easy interface, guitar sims as well as alternate tunings, cab sims and much more. very loud. just one thing wrong, i've heard all these sounds before. all roland did was combine about 15 boss pedals, a gt-3 or gp-5 cosm amp modeling and a vg synthesizer into one unit. nice package, same flavor. if you wabnt a groundbreaking modeling amp, try a rocktron replitone or h&k zentera.