All kidding aside, I have to wonder that none of our readers (about 200,000 of them) took exception to what I wrote. Am I that persuasive? Do all of you really, secretly wish you had bought a Mac? Considering the amount of e-mail I normally get on other topics, this one should have lit at least a couple of fuses out there. Very strange...

Well, on to other subjects. I get an awful lot of e-mail on digital guitar amplifier modeling. It's powerful new technology, but there's a lot of information out there and sifting through it all can get confusing. Here are some of my thoughts and experiences.

Many of you know from my past articles that I have been using Roland's VG-8 with the EX upgrade along with a Godin LGX-SA for my recording work for about four years now. When the VG-8 was released, it was truly a dream come true. While I used to have to tote several guitars and a number of amplifiers to sessions, I now needed only one guitar and the VG-8. And by simply stepping through the presets, I could get everything from a Strat through a small Fender amp to a Les Paul plugged into a full Marshall stack and everything in between. Talk about slick! However, the VG-8 had one drawback (aside from the originally high price tag - well over $2,000), which is the fact that you needed a Roland GK-2A divided pickup on your guitar to drive it. Which meant that if you wanted to play your favorite Les Paul or G&L or whatever, you had to "deface" it by mounting the GK-2A right between the rear pickup and the bridge.

What's more, the GK-2A came attached to a small plastic connector box that had to get fastened onto the front of your guitar. The result was that you had a functional, but very inelegant interface - really, to be honest, the whole thing spoiled the looks of your guitar. For that reason, Fender released a Strat that came complete with a GK-2A pickup and top mounted controls, while Godin's LGX-SA kept all the electronics hidden and used the piezos to drive the VG-8.

Now Roland didn't get to be the giant company it is by sitting still. So when they went to design the successor to the VG-8, the new VG-88 ($1295 list - hundreds less than the VG-8EX). The VG-88 still uses advanced COSM technology to model the most popular guitars, amps, speaker configurations and even mic placement, but here's the interesting part: You can actually access all the COSM amps, mic placements and killer effects with your existing guitar by simply plugging it into the 1/4-inch input jack. However (and this is a big however), despite rumors to the contrary, you cannot access the guitar and pickup modeling via this input, nor can you take advantage of the VG-88's alternate tunings and the ability to pan each string to a different position across the stereo field. I'm afraid that you'll still need a GK-2A or a Godin for that.

In any case, the VG-88 is still, to my knowledge, the only box out there that can turn a Strat into a "virtual" Les Paul (or a hollowbody jazz guitar, acoustic or a Rickenbacker 12-string and on and on). So here's my advice: Get yourself an inexpensive new (or beatup old) electric and do the GK-2A thing on that instrument. There are tons of great-playing guitars being built today that are remarkably inexpensive. A perfect example is the Godin Radiator, which retails at just $449 and is a great instrument in its own right, one you'll actually find yourself playing regardless of whether it has a GK-2A pickup on it or not. Moreover, if you shop around on the Net - on eBay or at the Sweetwater Trading Post (www.sweetwater.com/tradingpost/home.tpl) - you can find some great deals on used guitars.

Before I move on to some other guitar innovations, I should mention that the VG-88 has some exceptional new guitar and amp models, a stunning selection of "guitar meets synth" patches and some wonderful brass sounds. There's even a nifty new nylon string guitar patch. Add to that a built-in foot pedal (to access things like the excellent wah effect) and new insert effects derived from the Boss cutting edge GT-Series of effects processors.

As far as affordable modelers that can provide you with tons of amp and speaker cabinet models along with a wealth of digital effects, I don't think you can beat Line 6's POD 2.0, which is a small, kidney-shaped module that lets you record your guitar direct, while providing excellent digital models of - what else - real guitar amps, plus some outstanding effects. There's more information on this red hot unit on Page 7, but I just used one on a sampling project and I have to say I am quite impressed, particularly given the POD's affordable price. I actually ended up using a modeled sound because when I miked up the real amp POD was modeling and plugged in my Les Paul, I just couldn't get the beefiness I wanted without cranking up to ear shattering levels (which my neighbors really don't appreciate).

A couple if issues ago I talked about Line 6's Stomp Box Modelers. If you'll recall, I was hugely impressed. So it shouldn't have surprised me that the latest version of their POD is so mind-blowing. And all you original POD owners take note: You can easily upgrade to 2.0! (Call your Sales Engineer for details.) I love it when a manufacturer cares this much about its customers and doesn't leave them high and dry and forced to buy a new product to get the new features. Other manufacturers take note: I could name names, but I won't (and next time I won't let you off the hook so easy).

Meanwhile, if you're a gigging guitarist, up there on stage, night after night, shredding your fingers, you probably want to know about amplifiers that can do all the sophisticated digital modeling, and there sure are some terrific ones out there these days, starting with the full line of amps built by the same people who make the POD: Line 6. Another company who has gotten an excellent reputation for their outstanding modeling amplifiers is Digitech, who offer up the Johnson Millennium line of amps. I have heard their 150-watt, 2x12 JM150 Combo (though I haven't played one myself) and have to admit it sounded pretty darn sweet. You can get into one of the Johnson amps for just $649 (list) for the JT50 Combo.

Finally, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the modeling amp that I personally use, which is the Tech 21 Trademark 60. It doesn't have all of the bells and whistles of some of the other amps, but I personally find it to be the perfect blend of old and new: There are no presets - you have to dial up the sound you want on either of the two channels, which is more like the amps I grew up with. But if you want to know how good it sounds, well, I sold my Mesa Boogie after I used this amp for a few weeks.

The bottom line is that there are a lot of options available for great guitar tone. Yes, you can spend a small fortune on a real vintage amp or one of the new boutique models available from several companies. There's no argument from me, they do sound fabulous. But they are inherently limited in terms of tone. If all you play is blues or country, well they might do just fine. I have to play in a number of styles on most of my sessions, so it's great to have the luxury to be able to call up a specific sound with the touch of a button or turn of a knob.

Sweetwater stocks just about every digital modeling device on the planet. Better still, they have these amps and modules at great Sweetwater prices and every one of them comes with that famous "no hype/no hassles" money back guarantee: If you're not happy, send it back, no questions asked (call your Sales Engineer for full details, please).

Whoa! I had planned on talking about guitars a bit this issue, but I see my space is all but gone, so I'll try to get into that next issue. See you then.