Roland VGA Modelling Amp

[99_not_out]

I have a Roland VGA5 COSM modelling amp ...  I had been thinking of changing it but decided to buy some BKPs first. Now it turns out I probably didn't like the amp becasue my old pickups were shitee. I was just wondering if anyone else has ever used a Roland, and what their thoughts are. I had been thinking about getting a Laney instead, but then again:

* The Roland has good reverb, chorus, wah and delay built in and is not lacking in distortion ... as you'd expect from a modelling amp.
* Its 65w, 1x12 and sturdy when lugging about ... I'd be worried about busting a valve amp for instance
* It sounds pretty good on low volume as well as high, so I can use it in the house without causing marital strife :)

However, it lacks tonal character. It does a lot of modelling well, but is a bit flat, especially for cleans / low gain stuff. I'm also worried that all those electrics are taking away some of the definition from the BKPs. Things are 100% better since putting the BKPs in, but I just don't trust all that solid state not to be clipping something out of the sound somewhere.

Anyone have any opinions? Should I bother replacing it at all? Just interested because I've never actually met anyone else who has played one!

[Kilby]

Go out and try amps, and take your guitar with you so you get a 'proper' idea of the sound you will get.

[99_not_out]

aye, I was thinking of that. Gone of the days where I can point at a guitar hanging on the wall of the shop and say "I have one just like that" :)

Thankfully!

[Transcend]

aye, I was thinking of that. Gone of the days where I can point at a guitar hanging on the wall of the shop and say "I have one just like that" :)

Thankfully!

i have never seen either of my guitars in a shop EVER.

and i have only ever seen one guitar ina  shop loaded with BK's it was a epi les paul gothic with miracle man/ cold sweat combo

they had the same guitar next to it with emg 81 & 60 and again with Duncan JB & Jazz

they asked everyone who came in the store to play them all and ask which they preferred.

Nearly everyone said the BK equipped one.

Then a few months later they started stocking BKs

this shop in question is referred to as "the rip off shop" or music ground.

Those from leeds will know what i mean :D

everything in there is overpriced apart from the BKs which they sell at £90 each

[Doadman]

My only experience of Roland amps is the Cube series. Overall I was very impressed. It was excellent for Metal, seemed solidly built and had some very useable sounds. My only complaint was that it lacked a little character and warmth. Ultimately I felt it would be great for Metal but rather limited for anything else though if that's what you're after it seemed great value. I think it compared well with the Vox equivalent, which was full of warmth in the tone but lacked some edge for Metal and didn't seem as well screwed together.

[Muzzzz]

I have a Cube 15 at home, and I can say it's a lot better than any other 15 watt solid state I've tried. It likes metal and works well with FX, but then again, it's solid state, so lower gain and clean stuff is simply not in the league of a decent valve amp.

Only complaint in the gain category is that the lead tone is a bit dull, but that's to be expected from solid state.

Sounds like you need a new amp. Is this Laney you're looking at a valvy?

[LazyNinja]

aye, I was thinking of that. Gone of the days where I can point at a guitar hanging on the wall of the shop and say "I have one just like that" :)

Thankfully!

i have never seen either of my guitars in a shop EVER.
and i have only ever seen one guitar ina  shop loaded with BK's it was a epi les paul gothic with miracle man/ cold sweat combo
they had the same guitar next to it with emg 81 & 60 and again with Duncan JB & Jazz
they asked everyone who came in the store to play them all and ask which they preferred.
Nearly everyone said the BK equipped one.
Then a few months later they started stocking BKs
this shop in question is referred to as "the rip off shop" or music ground.
Those from leeds will know what i mean :D
everything in there is overpriced apart from the BKs which they sell at £90 each

Wow they did that? Wish I was there at the time. It's true they are rip offs but the guys once you get to know them are friendly and their tech Gordon did a great job fixing my LP's cracked neck.

[Adam.M]

"the rip off shop"

Teeheee.

 :twisted:

[Transcend]

aye, I was thinking of that. Gone of the days where I can point at a guitar hanging on the wall of the shop and say "I have one just like that" :)

Thankfully!

i have never seen either of my guitars in a shop EVER.
and i have only ever seen one guitar ina  shop loaded with BK's it was a epi les paul gothic with miracle man/ cold sweat combo
they had the same guitar next to it with emg 81 & 60 and again with Duncan JB & Jazz
they asked everyone who came in the store to play them all and ask which they preferred.
Nearly everyone said the BK equipped one.
Then a few months later they started stocking BKs
this shop in question is referred to as "the rip off shop" or music ground.
Those from leeds will know what i mean :D
everything in there is overpriced apart from the BKs which they sell at £90 each

Wow they did that? Wish I was there at the time. It's true they are rip offs but the guys once you get to know them are friendly and their tech Gordon did a great job fixing my LP's cracked neck.

did you not notice they suddenly got rid of the 3 epi goths they had in and then started selling BK's?

[LazyNinja]

aye, I was thinking of that. Gone of the days where I can point at a guitar hanging on the wall of the shop and say "I have one just like that" :)

Thankfully!

i have never seen either of my guitars in a shop EVER.
and i have only ever seen one guitar ina  shop loaded with BK's it was a epi les paul gothic with miracle man/ cold sweat combo
they had the same guitar next to it with emg 81 & 60 and again with Duncan JB & Jazz
they asked everyone who came in the store to play them all and ask which they preferred.
Nearly everyone said the BK equipped one.
Then a few months later they started stocking BKs
this shop in question is referred to as "the rip off shop" or music ground.
Those from leeds will know what i mean :D
everything in there is overpriced apart from the BKs which they sell at £90 each

Wow they did that? Wish I was there at the time. It's true they are rip offs but the guys once you get to know them are friendly and their tech Gordon did a great job fixing my LP's cracked neck.

did you not notice they suddenly got rid of the 3 epi goths they had in and then started selling BK's?

Nah, I didn't even notice they had Epi goths, normally the only time I go there are when I need something done. They are expensive for everything else imo (e.g my Laney cost £650 which is £50 more than anywhere else, they sell Epi LPs for £400+ etc). I first noticed them selling BKPs when I asked them to install Nailbombs in my LP, I couldn't do it myself coz I was getting mine with push pull pot and didn't know how.

[LazyNinja]

"the rip off shop"

Teeheee.

 :twisted:

 :!: lol you dont happen to be the Adam that works there?