Boss VG-800 Virtual Guitar Processor
Estimated Shipping Widget will be displayed here!
- This item is covered for 3 years
Couldn't load pickup availability
Information
Information
Manufacturer Information
Boss
https://www.roland.com
------------------------
Safety manager:
Roland Central Europe N.V.
Email:
Address:
V-Guitar: The BOSS/Roland Legacy, Modernized with the Serial GK Interface
The VG-800 continues the line of iconic guitar modeling solutions from BOSS/Roland, with an approach focused on the instrument itself: type of guitar/bass, string behavior, pickup positions, resonances, and dynamic responses. Paired with the Serial GK interface and a compatible divided pickup (GK-5 for guitar or GK-5B for bass), it opens access to unprecedented textures while maintaining a natural playing feel. It also carries the spirit of historic guitar synthesizers through an emulation of the Roland GR-300, as well as more experimental tones thanks to the VIO sounds.
Important: the VG-800 requires a Serial GK divided pickup GK-5 (guitar) or GK-5B (bass) to access V-Guitar functions.
Who It's For and What It Does: The Swiss Army Knife for Creative Guitarists and Bassists
The BOSS VG-800 is aimed at musicians who want to multiply instruments without multiplying gear: cover guitarists, musical theatre musicians, bands with quick changes, studios seeking varied tones, or creators of ambient textures and sound design. Dedicated guitar and bass modes facilitate work according to the instrument, with separate memories and tailored algorithms.
In live settings, it's a formidable solution for switching from electric to acoustic, from standard tuning to Drop, or from a rhythmic sound to a hybrid instrument with a single press. In the home studio, USB connectivity and MIDI capabilities make it a production and composition hub, notably for triggering virtual instruments from the guitar.
Controls, Routing, and Integration: Designed for a Modern Pedalboard
The VG-800 combines a library of preamps and over 150 effects with an architecture designed for routing: the Dual Guitar/Bass function allows stacking or splitting two instruments, each with its own signal path. The stereo Send/Return jacks facilitate integration of external pedals (favorite drive, dedicated reverb, etc.) without sacrificing preset coherence.
The String Bend function enables pitch variation of certain strings via foot control (CTL switch), useful for simulating pedal steel vibes, chord movements, or selective "pitch" effects. The Guitar to MIDI function opens the door to controlling external MIDI instruments via USB or MIDI, to double a line, reinforce a riff, or create synth layers.
For advanced management, editing and organizing sounds is easy on a computer via BOSS Tone Studio, with the ability to load/share Livesets through the BOSS ecosystem.
Sound Character
The VG-800's character is based on modeling centered on the instrument's response: attack, dynamics, string-by-string balance, and tactile sensation. Electric sounds range from precise clean to modern saturated tones via built-in preamps and effects, while acoustic models provide a credible alternative for rhythm, arpeggio, and unplugged parts in a set. The VIO textures (bowed attack) and the GR-300 section offer access to more expressive and organic timbres, perfect for ambient, modern pop, electro-rock, or cinematic arrangements.
Finally, the Dual function is the signature tool: it allows creation of wide and complex sounds (for example, a bright single-coil guitar on one side and a thicker humbucker on the other), or building "guitar + bass" arrangements on a single instrument to fill out the space in a trio.
Technical specifications
| Effects | Multi-effects, Modeling Processor | Use | electric guitar |
| Format | Desktop | Color | Blue |
| Type | sector | ||
| Sampling Frequency | 48 kHz | RETURN | 6.35mm TRS jack |
| Processing | 32-bit floating point | CTL 2, 3/EXP 1 | 6.35mm TRS jack |
| Guitar Mode | 150 | CTL 4, 5/EXP 2 | 6.35mm TRS jack |
| Bass Mode | 150 | USB (computer) | USB Type-C |
| GK IN | 6.35mm TRS jack (for BGK cable only) | MIDI IN | 3.5mm TRS jack |
| GK OUT | 6.35mm TRS jack (for BGK cable only) | MIDI OUT | 3.5mm TRS jack |
| GUITAR INPUT | 6.35mm jack | Power Supply | AC adapter |
| OUTPUT (R/MONO) | 6.35mm jack | Required Voltage | 9 V DC |
| OUTPUT (L/PHONES) | 6.35mm TRS jack | Current Consumption | 690 mA |
| SEND | 6.35mm TRS jack | Power Consumption in OFF Mode (auto shutdown) | 0.1 W |
Questions frequently asked
Is a GK-5 pickup necessary to use the Boss VG-800?
Access to V-Guitar functions requires a divided Serial GK-5 pickup for guitar or GK-5B for bass, connected via a BGK cable to the GK IN input using a 6.35 mm TRS jack.
Does the VG-800 work with a bass guitar?
The guitar and bass modes each have 150 memory slots. The algorithms and memories are separate according to the instrument used.
Can the tuning be changed and multiple guitars simulated with this processor?
Modeling affects the instrument type, pickup positions, resonances, and string response. Alternative tunings, including Drop tuning, can be selected in the settings. The Dual Guitar/Bass function allows layering or splitting two instruments with separate signal paths.
What connectivity is available for a pedalboard and a computer?
Thanks to the stereo Send and Return jacks with 6.35 mm TRS connectors, external pedals can be integrated into the signal routing. A USB Type-C port connects to a computer, while MIDI IN and OUT ports use 3.5 mm TRS jacks.
What sounds and effects does the VG-800 offer?
The 32-bit floating-point processing at 48 kHz combines a preamp library with over 150 effects. The processor includes acoustic models, a Roland GR-300 emulation, and VIO sounds with bowed attack.
