Fender-Roland G-5 Stratocaster

Started by aliensporebomb, January 19, 2012, 03:11:05 AM

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papabuss

#50
FENDER STRATOCASTER (1974); BRIAN MAY RED SPECIAL; VG 99; GR 55; Yamaha DX 7

Music was my first love and it will be my last (JOHN MILES)

marcelcarvalho

I know that I can connect GC-1 on GR-55 and drive it, but is there any kind of way to connect the G5 VG on GR-55? I don't think it has the 13 pin plug on it, but as it has a built in GK-3, why da hell not?

datsunrobbie

13 pin is required for the GR-55, so no, you cannot connect the G-5 to the GR-55 without modifications. The GK pickup on the G-5is wired to an internal processor. If Roland had combined the G-5 and GC-1 and added the ability for the user to edit the sounds and tuning in the G-5 (alternate tunings, roll your own COSM sounds - the stuff Line6 does with the Variax line) they would actually have something worth checking out. How hard could it be to split the GK signal to both the internal board and a 13-pin socket when you have access to all the design specs?

The local Guitar Center (Orange, CT) does not even have these guitars on hand to check out, I just bought their demo VG-99, and their demo GR-20 is gathering dust in the clearance section. They do have a GR-55 in stock, in the box 12 feet off the ground - not really trying to sell them. It's sad that these cool toys get treated like Cinderella at pretty much every step, from development to sales.

Elantric

The G-5 is basically a re-release of the 1997 Fender V-Strat, simply with new firmware.

Damn shame the powers that be who designed this decided to omit the 13 pin jack = total failure in my opinion 

montyrivers

Quote from:  Elantric on June 12, 2012, 08:47:24 AM
The G-5 is basically a re-release of the 1997 Fender V-Strat, simply with new firmware.

Damn shame the powers that be who designed this decided to omit the 13 pin jack = total failure in my opinion

I have a feeling the omission was made just because they wanted to hurry up and throw it back out on the market.

drjoness2001

Quote from:  montyrivers on June 12, 2012, 07:46:23 PM
I have a feeling the omission was made just because they wanted to hurry up and throw it back out on the market.

Roland has had years to add a 13-pin jack to the G-5, this is a replay of the same complaints when the original V-Strat shipped. If I worked at Roland, I would believe that adding a 13-pin jack would cut into sales of GR-55s and GK-3s. As an end user, it is clear to me that adding a 13-pin jack would be awesome.

datsunrobbie

I could see the combo G-5/GC-1 cutting into sales of gk3 pickups. I think it might actually increase sales of other 13-pin hardware. People who buy the G-5 have no immediate incentive to buy a GR-55 or VG-99, because they still don't have a 13-pin guitar. But if you add the 13-pin to the G-5 the same buyers now have a direct path to purchasing more gear, and the 13-pin connector is there reminding them that there are new toys just over the horizon.

Elantric

QuoteBut if you add the 13-pin to the G-5 the same buyers now have a direct path to purchasing more gear, and the 13-pin connector is there reminding them that there are new toys just over the horizon.


Very true - I know many Variax owners who bought a POD XT Live or HD500 - mostly because their Variax had a VDI connector that would connect to those units.

They had 5 fricken years to sort this out, and the prior track record of poor sales of the '97 VG Strat  - strikes me that they merely gave the G5 about 10 minutes thought in the design,

Quote"If we make these G5's in Mexico we can lower the cost, as that was the only hurdle of the poor selling Fender VG Strat "
- WRONG.

Aynsley

I'd be interested to hear anyone who has used one of the 2012 versions (if they are any different at all)
I actually SAW one in a UK dealer today, and it looked, well, "cheap" compared to an American Standard.
Sadly, I was unable to actually try it (not the shop's fault, I'd dropped in with too little time, and unannounced)
I never had the opportunity to look at the instrument the first time around (2007?)
In some ways, if it were of American Standard quality, I'd be tempted over fitting a pickup to my own instrument, and buying a VG-99 or GR-55.
I get the vibe that I may be alone in that view! :o

Elantric

This post sums up the G5
https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?topic=5173.msg35347#msg35347
RE  VG Stratocaster G-5 - might work for some, who prefer WYSIWYG, (and are living under a rock with no exposure to a Line 6 dealer.) but no 13 pin output, no high level guitar model editor, no path for smart connectivity to other gear is a complete  miss in my book. - I figured the poor selling 2007 Fender Roland VG Strat would have revealed those design flaws, but here they are again with this years model with identical limitations as the 2007 version.

The Roland G5 is built on the same Mexican Strat platform as the new Roland Strat GC-1

"GC-1" seems to be the new name for the 14 year old Roland Ready Strat.


Re the new G5 VG Strat    - I see they removed the USA two point bridge from the G-5 Strat VG. (???)
and 2012  is the 5th year anniversary of the 2007 Fender VG Strat - hmmm.

Do the math - I figure the release of this "new" Roland distributed  G5 VG Strat was a result of a mid 1990s Fender / Roland joint contract giving Fender a 5 year exclusivity for this guitar, in exchange for use of the Roland COSM DSP technology.  "G5" = the 5th year Roland version.


Here is a post from an actual owner of the Roland G5
https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?topic=6189.msg42474#msg42474

Quote >:(
Was excited to have some new sounds from a decent strat but I am getting some warbling om the lower strings in some of the tuning modes .
Is it just the Roland Pick up proximity to the string or ??  any help is appreciated. THanks

Dave

aliensporebomb

Nearest I can tell the only difference between my recently bought Roland Ready strat and the GK Ready Strat (GC-1 or whatever they call it) is it has a GK3 pickup internally rather than a GK2A.

I've tried one of the newer ones at a local store and besides the Maple neck and electronics it appeared to be fundamentally the same guitar.

Of course with mine I replaced the stock Fender trem with a SuperVee Bladerunner and replaced the crap string tree with a nicer no/low friction one.  It's a real great guitar now after these mods.  I even like the stock pickups when usee as a regular guitar now.

My music projects online at http://www.aliensporebomb.com/

GK Devices:  Roland VG-99, Boss GP-10, Boss SY-1000.

Elantric

QuoteNearest I can tell the only difference between my recently bought Roland Ready strat and the GK Ready Strat (GC-1 or whatever they call it) is it has a GK3 pickup internally rather than a GK2A.

And the GC-1 has added a 22nd fret!

aliensporebomb

Quote from: Elantric on June 27, 2012, 12:12:07 PM
And the GC-1 has added a 22nd fret!

Then maybe my RR strat has a non-original neck because I could have sworn it had a 22nd fret (checking after hours..)
My music projects online at http://www.aliensporebomb.com/

GK Devices:  Roland VG-99, Boss GP-10, Boss SY-1000.

Aynsley


montyrivers

I'm getting ready to dodge a flying rock with this one, but I think another hurdle for the G5 and GC1 is that a MIM strat doesn't seem that appealing with an $800-1200 price tag.  I'd rather grab an American standard or deluxe model and shell out the extra cash for a GK internal and installation.  Or, if I were trying to save money I'd get another strat knock off for $80-150 and then the GK3 external.

I dunno.  I'll concede that I'm probably not the target audience for the roland ready guitars but even still I can get a Godin midi guitar and deal with the piezo glitches if it means locking tuners, ebony fingerboard and acoustiphonic outputs- all those fancy gadgets.  The XTSA still costs less than the G5 and is only a little bit over the GC1, and the Freeway is about the same cost as the GC1.

In the end, the G5 would have at least been able to compete with all the alternatives if they included the 13 pin jack in addition to all the fancy hardware already installed.  As it is now it just strikes me as a cheaper knock off of the Gibson Robot guitar with a few guitar modelling features.

http://www.amazon.com/Gibson-Standard-Electric-Fireball-Technology/dp/B003KVKQZ0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1341548208&sr=8-1&keywords=robot+les+paul


Elantric

Bad case of PhotoShop I'm afraid.
I'm sure a creative type could modify a G5 to provide 13 pin output, but certainly the factory G5 lacks this connection.

DeRigueur

I have an old VG strat.  I wish there was a way to put a 13 pin connector on it.
Fender GC-1 -- Boss SY-1000 -- Alto TS112A

marcelcarvalho

This link is from "Mercado Livre" an e-Bay kind in Brazil. The guy who is selling this VG says that his VG is made in USA, I've checked the serial number (Z7 035359) and it seems to be an american one:

http://produto.mercadolivre.com.br/MLB-240421064-fender-vg-stratocaster-made-in-usa-_JM

and Fender U.S. Instruments Product Dating webpage:
http://www.fender.com/en-BR/support/articles/u-s-instruments-product-dating

Elantric

Correct - That is the old 2007 model

Yes that is a USA Fender Strat

And there is no 13 pin output on that guitar

marcelcarvalho

I see! I've just talked to the Roland/Fender specialist who is in giving a workshop right now, about the G5 and GC1, in Brasilia Brazil, where I live, and he confirmed that there isn't a G-5 13 pin ready guitar because Roland would consider an unfair competition with the GC-1. Also he confirmed that both guitars, G5 and GC1, are assembled in Mexico but the parts and wood are USA, and, after assembled, they are sent to Japan to be reviewed (or revised) and then to the stores.

shopstartuk

#71
Hi,

does anyone know if the Roland G5 strat with built in COSM modelling is compatible with the GR55 or is it a different beast? Does it have a 13 pin out like the GK ready strat?

Does anyone also know if the COSM modelling inside is based on the modelling in the guitar processors, eg GT100 or the GR55 modelling? I am interested in it but I would also like to be able to use my synth sounds from the GR55 with it.
Fender Strat Plus Delux
Fender Tele 60th
Roland GR 55

Kevin M

The G5 does guitar modeling with alt tuning only and has no 13 pin output on it. The guitar modeling is similar to the guitar modeling features in the GR55, but without any synth models.

DeRigueur

I have a VG strat (a previous version of the G5) and the lack of a 13 pin connector is a big disappointment.

If you have a GR55, the G5 strat won't add anything new.
Fender GC-1 -- Boss SY-1000 -- Alto TS112A

mockchoi

Agreed, the guitar doesn't go with the GR-55 at all.  As far as I know the modeling in the guitar is the same modeling you get out of the GR-55 anyway, so there is nothing gained.

You're better off with the V-Guitar.