Roland VG-99 Workshop Manual page 2

About the Workshop Booklets
Roland's VG-99 V-Guitar System is, simply put, the most powerful guitar
processor ever made. It's the third and latest generation V-Guitar system
from Roland, and it offers an astounding set of creative sound-making tools
for the guitarist. Featuring dual COSM instrument and amp modeling paths,
two independent multi-effects processors, massive realtime control options,
guitar-to-MIDI conversion, and USB, the VG-99 is a guitarist's dream machine,
capable of creating sounds that are limited only by your imagination.
Each VG-99 Workshop booklet focuses on one VG-99 topic, and is intended
as a companion to the VG-99 Owner's Manual.
About This Booklet
This booklet discusses setting up the VG-99 for use with a divided pickup
such as the Roland GK-3 or a piezo system. Connecting the guitar's normal
output to the VG-99 is covered as well.
The trademarks listed in this document are trademarks of their
respective owners, which are separate companies from Roland. Those
companies are not affiliated with Roland and have not licensed or
authorized Roland's VG-99. Their marks are used solely to identify the
equipment whose sound is simulated by Roland's VG-99.
Understanding the Symbols in This Booklet
Throughout this booklet, you'll come across information that deserves
special attention—that's the reason it's labeled with one of the following
symbols.
A note is something that adds information about the topic at hand.
A tip offers suggestions for using the feature being discussed.
Warnings contain important information that can help you avoid
possible damage to your equipment, your data, or yourself.
Hot Links
Each Workshop booklet is meant to be read in order from beginning
to end. However, if we mention an upcoming section—and you see
this arrow—you can click the arrow to jump there immediately.
About Pickups and the VG-99
Using a Divided Pickup with the VG-99
To use the VG-99's COSM instrument modeling (along with its related
features such as alternate tunings and Poly FX) and Guitar to MIDI function,
you'll need a guitar with a "divided" pickup and a 13-pin output jack. This
could be a guitar with:
•
a Roland GK-3 pickup (or similar)—
a user-installable divided pickup and control
unit that can be easily mounted on most six-
string electric guitars, with no modifications
necessary. The installation kit comes with
everything needed to mount the pickup and
the accompanying control unit. The GK-3 can
be attached on many steel string acoustic
guitars as well. (Roland's earlier generation
GK-2A and GK-2 divided pickups can be used
with the VG-99, too.)
•
a permanently installed GK pickup and
controls—such as the Fender Roland-Ready Stratocaster or a guitar
that's had a Roland GK-KIT-GT3 Divided Pickup Kit installed.
•
a piezo-type divided pickup system—
bridge saddles are replaced with special saddles, each incorporating
its own piezo-type (pressure sensitive) pickup. Each pickup has its
own separate output, which is fed first to a preamp unit and then to
a 13-pin jack. Piezo-type divided pickup systems are available from
pickup manufacturers such as RMC, L.R. Baggs, and Graph Tech Guitar
Labs. Instrument manufacturers such as Brian Moore, Breedlove, Godin,
Carvin, and others offer guitars with this type of pickup system factory
installed.
The GK-3 is
Guitar with a Roland GK-3
Divided Pickup Installed
With this setup, the guitar's normal
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