BOSS has premiered the VG-800, a modeling and amp/effects processor for guitar and bass. Driven by the latest generation of BOSSV-Guitar technology and the Serial GK divided pickup, the VG-800 allows players to completely transform their sound at the push of a button.
Advanced modeling provides the ability to play different stringed instruments together or on isolated strings, explore alternate and down tunings, and go even further with all-new sounds not possible with traditional instruments.
BOSS VG-800 Guitar Processor
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Coupled with the Serial GK divided pickup, the VG-800 recreates a variety of electric guitars, acoustic guitars, and basses, plus instruments like sitar and banjo. Users can also play synth tones, including an emulation of Roland’s GR-300 from the early 80s, and travel to undiscovered territory with the unique VIO type and its bowed attack characteristics. The VG-800 comes loaded with great preset sounds, ready to play on their own or inspire new creations. It works equally well with bass, providing a dedicated mode with bass-optimized processing algorithms and 150 independent memories.
The VG-800 menu structure allows users to build virtual instruments with customization tools that include string behaviors, instrument style, pickup position, resonance, and much more. Each string’s pitch and panning are adjustable, enabling alternate tunings and ultra-wide sounds. With the unique Dual Guitar and Dual Bass options, players can create supercharged platforms with two independent instruments.
The VG-800’s onboard switches and external control options unlock performance possibilities. With a single press, the user can change the instrument type or tuning, bend the pitch of individual strings to create pedal steel, “B-bender,” and other effects, or smoothly morph between instrument types, each with a discrete signal processing chain.
The VG-800 claims to provide creative power in a compact size
Along with its instrument modeling functions, the VG-800 is filled with advanced signal processing derived from flagship-level BOSS multi-effects. Amps and effects can be applied to two modeled sounds and the dedicated guitar input. Send and return jacks are also available to patch in mono and stereo pedals.
With its USB audio/MIDI interface, the VG-800 can also be a recording tool for computer music production. Versatile multi-channel routing lets the user capture the stereo mix or record two modeled instrument sounds and the direct guitar input to separate DAW tracks. It’s even possible to separately record the unprocessed string sounds from the GK divided pickup, then pipe them back into the VG-800 for re-guitar or re-bass processing. Pitch-to-MIDI conversion is also supported to trigger software-based instruments with a guitar or bass.
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BOSS VG-800 Features:
- V-Guitar processor with the Serial GK interface
- Low Latency performance and independent string processing with divided pickup technology
- Stringed instrument modeling, including electric and acoustic guitars and basses, banjo and sitar
- Dual guitar and bass functions for creating simultaneous combinations
- Freely change the tuning for each string independently
- Harmony function for creating ensemble sounds with single notes or chords
- Dedicated guitar and bass modes
- Individual string bend function for performing dynamic pitch effects with a footswitch or expression pedal
- Selection of amps and effects derived flagship BOSS guitar/bass processors
- Modeled synth sounds, including a detailed emulation of the classic Roland GR-300 analog guitar synth
- VIO Guitar and VIO Bass for creating unique sounds with bowed attacked characteristics
- TRS send/return jacks for integrating external mono or stereo pedals
- USB-C audio/MIDI interface and TRS MIDI I/O
- Guitar-to-MIDI and bass-to-MIDI functions
- Two external control jacks, each with support for up to two footswitches or an expression pedal
- Serial GK output for interfacing with products such as the GM-800 Guitar Synthesizer
- BOSS Tone Studio editor software (Windows/macOS)
- Sampling Frequency: 48 kHz
- Processing: 32-bit floating point
- Width: 173 mm – 6-13/16 inches / Depth: 135 mm – 5-3/8 inches
- Weight: 920 g / 2 lbs 1 oz
BOSS Tone Studio (macOS/Windows) allows users to edit memories, adjust system settings, import speaker IRs, and manage setups for different playing applications. BOSS Tone Exchange is also accessible within the software, providing access to professionally created Livesets and sound sharing with the global BOSS community. Please Note: A Serial GK pickup is required to access the advanced modeling features on the VG-800. There are user-installable Serial GK guitar (GK-5) and bass (GK-5B) pickup models for external mounting, plus Serial GK kit options for permanent installation within instruments.
