Sweetwater®

Sweetwater offers special extended financing on more than 50 top brands! Learn more »
(800) 222-4700
  • Español: (800) 222-4701
Cart

Guitars > Electric Guitars > MIDI Guitars/Pickups > Roland VG-99 with GK-3

Roland VG-99 with GK-3

Item ID: VG99GK3

Guitar Effects Modeling System with GK-3 Pickup, Dual COSM Modeling Engines, Dynamic Control, and GT-Pro-class Effects

Yes, It's In Stock!

This item is available for immediate delivery. You'll enjoy the fastest delivery time in the industry with our centrally-located warehouse and latest shipping cut-off times.

Get More Value From Sweetwater

or make 3 easy payments
Limited Time Offer

12 Months Interest Free Financing!

On purchase of Roland or BOSS products totaling $499 or more, made with your Sweetwater Card now through June 30, 2013.
Click here for details

From Our Research Team:

Turn Your Guitar into a Virtual Tone Machine

The Roland VG-99/GK-3 guitar modeling system turns your guitar into a versatile synth instrument! The VG-99 has three powerful new processors at its core, plus expressive performance controls such as Ribbon Controller and D BEAM. The highly accurate GK-3 pickup sends individual signals to the VG-99 and is simple to install. Other highlights such as an onboard guitar-to-MIDI converter and on-screen editor let you take your 6-string capabilities to new heights with the Roland VG-99/GK-3 system.

Click for Video & Audio Demos:

Play Demo


Roland VG-99/GK-3 Guitar Effects Modeling System at a Glance:
  • Wide range of COSM-modeled guitars and amplifiers
  • Control switching between virtual guitars and/or amps by foot controllers, buttons/knobs, or your picking dynamics
  • Easy alternate tunings
  • Designed for easy control onstage
  • Guitar-to-MIDI converter and other user-requested features
  • Includes GK-3 pickup

Multi Modeling
The VG-99 contains an incredible range of COSM-modeled guitars and amplifiers including new electric, acoustic and bass guitar models, a new GR-300 synth wave, and much more. It even models two signal paths at once. Complete dual processing of guitar modeling on the VG-99 allows you to play two different guitar sounds simultaneously. For example, one virtual guitar could be a Telecaster in a vintage Tweed amp with full effects and the other a nylon-string guitar with just a hint of reverb.

Dynamic Control
Both modeled guitar and amp paths can be active at the same time, or they can be dynamically switched or blended. You can control the switching behavior between virtual guitars and/or amps by foot controllers, buttons/knobs on the unit, or according to your picking dynamics. Imagine, for example, playing softly for an acoustic-guitar sound, and transitioning to a full metal blast simply by picking more aggressively. Furthermore, each modeled guitar can be separately assigned to individual guitar-strings. For example, you could have a 12-string guitar on 1st to 4th string and Synth-bass for 5th and 6th.

Alternate Tunings
The VG-99 can produce custom tunings - anything the player desires on any virtual guitar. A virtual Les Paul, for example, could be tuned down four or five steps for a heavy sound, while a nylon string could be tuned as a 12-string, and also tuned down four or five steps at the same time. Open and drop tunings are also supported as well as user defined custom tunings and can be applied to any COSM guitar, so the player can switch instantly between tuning setups without physically switching guitars or having to manually retune.

Guitar Performance in Higher Dimension
With its new performance based design, the VG-99 can be placed within a player's easy reach on stage by using an optional PDS-10 stand. This new style setup allows various new performance possibilities such as D BEAM, Ribbon Controller and more. In combination with the versatile new foot controller FC-300, the VG-99 takes your guitar performance onstage to a whole new dimension.

Most Wanted
You asked for it, now Roland delivers the most-requested new features in the VG-99, including an onboard guitar-to-MIDI converter for direct connection to keyboards, sound modules, soft synths, etc. Audio output via USB or S/PDIF digital out, and optional RAD-99 rackmount adapter further enhance your music production environment. Built in stereo XLR and 1/4" outputs are ideal for live stage performances and touring. The striking new on-screen editor makes programming the VG-99 super easy and fun.


Roland VG-99/GK-3 Guitar Effects Modeling System Features at a Glance:
  • Guitar Guitar Effects Modeling System with included GK-3 pickup
  • Dual modeling engines allow guitar and amp models to be dynamically switched, layered and combined
  • New COSM electric, acoustic and even bass guitar models, and new synth waves such as the famous GR-300
  • Guitar-to-MIDI converter for direct connection to keyboards, sound modules, soft synths, computers, and other MID compatible devices
  • Supports USB audio and MIDI for easy digital recording and sequencing
  • Dual GT-Pro-class effects processor enables unequalled flexible tone creation.
  • Advanced performance controls, including D BEAM, V-LINK, and Ribbon Controller take guitar performance to a whole new level
  • Simple and intuitive knob based interface and new design support live performance
  • Graphical Editor software included to support sophisticated sound making.
  • Versatile I/O including USB, S/PDIF, and XLR provide pro connections for stage and studio recording

Open your playing to a whole new dimension with the Roland VG-99/GK-3 system!
Specification Detail
Type Guitar Synth
Amp Modeling Yes
Analog Inputs 13-pin GK Input, 1 x Instrument
Digital Inputs No Digital Inputs
Analog Outputs 1 x 1/4" Guitar Out, 2 x 1/4" Line Out, 2 x XLR Out, 1 x 1/4" Headphone Out
Digital Outputs 1 x S/PDIF
Other Inputs MIDI In
Other Outputs MIDI Out
Computer Connection USB
Power Supply Included Yes
Batteries No batteries
Height 3.2"
Depth 9.6"
Width 16"
Weight 7.3 lbs.
Manufacturer Part Number VG-99/GK-3

VG-99 with GK-3 Image Gallery

Can We Help?

Sweetwater's friendly and knowledgeable Sales Engineers are regarded as the most experienced and educated professionals in the music industry, with extensive music backgrounds and intense training on the latest products and technologies. As your personal contact here at Sweetwater, they are available to provide personalized advice any time you need it.
Call toll-free (800) 222-4700 or E-mail us

Recommended Accessories

These people absolutely do the best job of anyone I've ever dealt with online. I highly recommend Sweetwater Sound to anyone needing anything pertaining to music. They are very helpful with what you need and I had my order in hand in two days!


Carter, Mattaponi, VA

Reviews

based on 2 reviews

Truly amazing

by Steve Uveges from Charlotte NC
April 21, 2010
Music Background: 35+ years of playing/home project studio engineer
I am 47 and have been playing and recording for decades. I have spent thousands of dollars on effects that you have to manually change for each song. I have used the Line 6 PODX3Live which gives you t... read more [+]he capability to store presets. This is truly the coolest device I have ever seen, heard and used. Anyone who says that this COSM stuff just doesn't match the real thing is crazy. They said the same thing when digital recording hit. That no way can it match analog recording. Well every studio uses digital recording now. With the software that comes with the VG-99 it is so simple to create and store endless patches and to program the FC-300 foot control for each patch. Then save them to your computer. This is truly the last effect processor I will ever buy! Oh and did I mention it comes with guitars!!!!!!! Oh my it will blow you away! close [-]

Limitless possibilities

by Steve from Phoenix, AZ
November 16, 2008
Music Background: Pro Musician, Recording Engineer
First off, I was thinking of making a technical review...but I'm actually going to spin this to the "pro-sumer" audience who might be trying to decide between this or some other, less expensive multi-... read more [+]effects unit.

For years, I've been the budget conscious musician who likes to go pick up little odds and in's here and there.
I've had single pedals, multi-effects pedals, rack mounted units for touring use, and the list goes on. They served their purpose, and I really enjoyed them for a while.
But as with any musician, we grow, and our tastes mature.

In the last year, I've had a paradigm shift in the way that I look at gear. I became very dissatisfied with the standard fair of tones and effects that every kid in guitar center buys. (Nothing wrong with Guitar Center kids...I'm just saying ;-)

In stead of having thousands of dollars worth of low to medium level equipment laying around that only gets me low to medium level quality...why not downsize in quantity, and make quantom leaps in quality. So I decided to just purchase a few really high end units that will do EVERYTHING that I need.

Enter the VG-99.

I've owned a whole line-up of Boss, Ibanez, Dano, Zoom, digitech Rat, etc. through the years...

This unit single-handedly replaces all of them.

The sheer amount of sounds that you can get out of this unit make it worth the price of admission. Combine that with a computer based editor, MIDI control, Alternate tunings, all the effects you can ask for and any instrument that you can get a sample or MIDI info on, and you should be sold.

I play progressive rock and jazz fusion, so I like having TONS of sounds and the ability to experiment.
This unit does that and more.

It makes playing the guitar that much more fun, because now you can play any instrument you want with the guitar as the "interface."

The key, as with any multi-effects unit, is knowing where to put it in the signal chain.
Don't get me wrong, you can plug this unit straight into an amp and it sounds awesome, but for those who are concerned because you have a boutique amp and a killer axe and you don't want to loose your tone...don't be concerned.
I've got a Gibson Explorer and a custom, hand made electric running into a Mesa Boogie Dual Maverick Rectifier...so I want to keep my natural sounds for sure.
For the guitar, you can still use your normal pickups along with the MIDI, and you can blend the sounds.
For the amp, you can turn any "modelling" off, and just use the unit in your amp's effects loop.

The D-beam and the Ribbon controller open up whole new options for controlling effects in real time.

So the bottom line is this:
If you just want lots of effects all in one place and you just want to plug in and go, then maybe you should go with a GT-10 (which is still a great unit).
If you are like me, and you want to take a little time to truly create new sounds and to not be limited to just guitar sounds or normal tunings, then this is some of the best money you will spend.

If you record, you cannot go without this unit, because it gives you any sound you want at your fingertips. close [-]

Also popular

See Also: MIDI Guitars , Roland , Roland MIDI Guitars/Pickups

Roland VG-99 with GK-3

Today's Payment: $543.00
Includes $10 processing fee
Payment 2: $533.00
In approx. 30 days
Payment 3: $533.00
In approx. 60 days

Buy Today, Make

Sweetwater's Flexible Payment Plan is a convenient, interest-free way to buy gear now and stretch your purchase across three budget-friendly payments. Simply choose the "3 Easy Payments" option in your cart, and we'll divide your purchase amount into three convenient payments, billed to your current MasterCard, Visa, Discover, or American Express card. There is a $10 processing fee for using this service, and your billing address must be in the United States to be eligible. It's just another way we make shopping at Sweetwater easy and convenient!

Get your Roland VG-99 with GK-3 now and spread out the payments!


This program is subject to credit approval. We will pull a copy of your credit report to approve your application.

Sweetwater Sound Inc.
5501 U.S. Hwy 30 W
Fort Wayne, IN 46818
Get Directions »

Toll Free (800) 222-4700
Español (800) 222-4701
Local (260) 432-8176
Fax (260) 432-1758
E-mail us

Phone & Retail Store Hours:
9–9 Monday–Thursday
9–8 Friday
9–7 Saturday
(All hours listed are Eastern Time.)

© 2013 Sweetwater Sound Inc. All rights reserved. Please read our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Links | Press Releases