Roland VG-8EX V-Guitar System

4.5 (3)

1 Review

This product is Vintage or Discontinued

Find out who is using Roland VG-8EX

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Page last updated Jan 13, 2026

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Description

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The Roland VG-8EX is a breakthrough guitar processor that uses advanced modeling technology to emulate the most popular guitars and amplifiers in music history. Using Roland’s Composite Object Sound Modeling (COSM) technology, the VG-8EX combines multiple "sound objects"—like double-cutaway guitar bodies, vintage tweed amplifiers, and humbucking pickups—to create a perfect reproduction of these components that can be played from any steel-stringed guitar with a Roland GK-2A pickup. The VG-8EX also has a built-in polyphonic pitch shifter for creating 12-string guitars and open tunings as well as a complete digital effects processor and parametric EQ

Videos

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Ebotronix

Roland VG 8 ex vio guitar / full moon

Ebotronix

Roland VG 8 EX - Acoustic Sounds Demo

Drop D

A.N.F.S.C.DIFFERENT..-ROLAND GUTAR SYTH GR-1 AND THE VG-8 EX

Dan Johanson

Reviews

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4.5 out of 5

Based on 1 Review and 3 Ratings

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lfradkin

202

over 11 years ago

The best guitar modeling system. Used it since 1996

When I perform, this does the business. Any guitar, any effect, any amp, all in one box.

Roles:

Guitarist Bassist Keyboardist

Genres:

Rock Pop Pop rock

Artist usage

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Matthew Bellamy

Singer, Guitarist

Muse

Verified via Musewiki

Matthew Bellamy used the Roland VG-8EX V-Guitar System during the Showbiz era, as detailed on MuseWiki's "Guitar effects & Amplifiers" page.

Johnny Marr

Singer, Guitarist

Modest Mouse

Verified via Petshopboys-online

"The song was recorded at Bunk, Junk and Genius, and has got Johnny Marr [ex-Smiths guitarist, now with Electronic, and regular collaborator with the Pet Shop Boys] playing on it. He used the Roland VG8, the physical modelling guitar, which was really good, because often it’s hard to blend real guitar in with synths. It’s got a slightly unnatural sound, but it still sounds really good; there’s no delay, because it’s not a MIDI guitar. It’s very good at following all his bends and runs. "

Robert Fripp

Guitarist, Keyboardist

King Crimson

Verified via Pinterest

This image from Pinterest shows Robert Fripp’s stage setup from 1999.

Pat Metheny

Guitarist, Bassist

Pat Metheny Group

Verified via Jazzguitar

Pat Metheny uses the vg-8 as stated in this article.

Allan Holdsworth

Guitarist

Level 42

Verified via Richardhallebeek

What about the VG-8? You're not using that anymore?

"No. I sold it out of desperation. But I would have liked to have kept it 'cause it was a useful tool. I actually liked it a lot. I thought it was a really great thing."

Al Di Meola

Guitarist

Dream Theater

Verified via Jazzguitar

According to this article Al uses the VG8 to control the GR30.

Joni Mitchell

Singer, Guitarist

Joni Mitchell (band)

Verified via Jonimitchell

According to Mitchell's official site, she uses a Roland VG-8. "In every gig since the 1995 New Orleans Jazz Festival, Mitchell has used the VG-8, using its effects to build a guitar sound reminiscent of her Hejira era."

Béla Fleck

Composer

New Grass Revival

Verified via Guitarplayer

My main electric banjo is a custom Deering Crossfire. It has EMG pickups and an EMG preamp. I’ll also use it to trigger synthesizers with a Yamaha MIDI pickup connected to a Roland VG-8 guitar synth and a Roland GI-10 MIDI interface.