I bought this guitar on the basis of these video reviews, the black g5 with maple neck in Australia for $1200 plus case, a bargain, the best playing guitar I own, just feels great in my hands. The greatest asset is it's versatility. I practice and play for hours on end, strat, tele, humbucker, 12 string, even the acoustic and sitar get a good run, so instead of looking at your guitar in the corner and feeling guilty, you can play this beast and quickly realise your skills are getting better by the day. Only drawback is having to put batteries in it. Lee you are a great player, I watch all your videos, cheers,
5 years later, Johnnywebb, can you update us on your experience with this guitar? I'm thinking to trying to find one of these... looks like they don't make these anymore?
I love it when there's a demo and the guy can actually play!!! And in this case, play great! Lots of styles and was great at all styles, hats off, man, great demo.
Hi Jim, First off, thanks for the kind words! sceondly..hopefully I 'll get up to Glasgow one day soon and 3rdly..yes all the sounds are coming solely from the G5A, no GR55 involved here! You use it as a regular guitar, plug it into an amp/pedals etc. You can have any combination of tuning with any model of guitar so..you could have a 12 string Dobro, a Tele tuned to Open G, a Baritone Sitar etc. There's ZERO latency and the tunings are virtual so they don't turn the machine heads of the guitar.
Hi from Dubai, Just soled my Fender VG Strat, and i am going to buy the G5A since it is much advanced in tunings and sounds over the 1st series of Fender modelling Guitars... Great demo, thanks a lot.. Joe
hey dude! The GC-1 is a midi enabled guitar..which doesn't require batterys. It interfaces with midi devices via a 13 pin cable from a GK3 pick up at the bridge. The G5 (as in this video) is a modelling guitar as opposed to midi and it's modelling function is powered by batterys. .Hope that clarifies! :)
Tempting, tempting.... :-) I tried out a Roland synth guitar in the early '80s, and on that one, I found I could set the top 3 strings to a clarinet sound and the bottom 3 to a saxophone sound. With fingerpicking, you can get a kind of pared-down WW2 Big Band Jazz sound happening (although I found out fairly quickly my fingerpicking 'weights' were pretty uneven, and some notes would drop out. I hadn't seen that on my ES 175...) Can you do that kind of splitting with this instrument?
To recreate different instruments like your example of sax & clarinet, you will need the GR55 with GK1 addon pickup or GR55 with the GC1 guitar(has the GK1 pickup built in). GR55 has more functionality than the G5, but in the less convenient form of a pedal system.
great shred sir... questions? how much editing can you do to the gains and amps etc? is it all as is, or can you ge tin there and get your own sound? alos, i have the roland guitar synth... is there any reason i could use this guitar to control it as well?
I installed the GK-2A on a Fender Squire Stratocaster. Played through a VG-88 and did not get the quality sounds you are getting. Could not bend the strings without getting a synthetic shrill. I'd like to try the actual Rolland-ready guitar then check the sound. Thank you for sharing. God bless you brother.
One thing is unclear: What are the pickups in this version? Alnico - as in the original VG strat (American strat) or ceramics as in the G5 (Mexican strat)?
So, all these sounds without a Gr55 like just the guitar and a decent amp or do we need a gr55 and/or some pedals too. I assume the drop tune is virtual not mechanical if so does it track and sound correct in all modes and can you virtual drop d and do dobro at the same time or virtual open g and dobro effect or is this gr55 territory.
Hello Lee, can you tell me if I use this guitar with my Boss GT-100 I will have the same functions or will lost some one like acoustic and 12 strings? Thanks.
Recently I picked up a 2007 VG Strat, the G5 predeceser, and love it except the acoustic models arent as nice as G5. My question is about the magnetic PUP setup. The height of the PUPs seem backwards from a normal strat. Theyre closer at the high E side. Im wondering if this was done for a better modeling sound. Has anyone with a G5 seen this?
Man pls don't change the heights of pickups as it is done for getting good modelling sound. I thought the same thing first but I got clarified after contacting fender.
actually there's one bad thing about this guitar ... which is the battery how would it go when it runs out of power and you dont have spare ones? and this is a question for the manufacturer: you could make it optional, why you designed it to loose the whole sound of the guitar once the battery runs out of power?? ... batteries should support only the addtional functions not the whole guitar sound!!!
yeah you're right :D ... thanks a lot dude. one more question if you don't mind me asking, what about the tonality and tremolo stability? it goes out of tune after bending or using the tremolo, any advises?
the sound of the instrument is cool, but the guy plays all demonstrated in a way only a single style, steel guitar and electric guitar, nylon guitar, like electric guitar, that is, does not touch the styles that the instruments are employed ...,too bad
I bought this guitar on the basis of these video reviews, the black g5 with maple neck in Australia for $1200 plus case, a bargain, the best playing guitar I own, just feels great in my hands. The greatest asset is it's versatility. I practice and play for hours on end, strat, tele, humbucker, 12 string, even the acoustic and sitar get a good run, so instead of looking at your guitar in the corner and feeling guilty, you can play this beast and quickly realise your skills are getting better by the day. Only drawback is having to put batteries in it. Lee you are a great player, I watch all your videos, cheers,
5 years later, Johnnywebb, can you update us on your experience with this guitar? I'm thinking to trying to find one of these... looks like they don't make these anymore?
An absolutely great demonstration of this guitar - by far the best on UA-cam. Thank you.
I love it when there's a demo and the guy can actually play!!! And in this case, play great! Lots of styles and was great at all styles, hats off, man, great demo.
Hi Jim, First off, thanks for the kind words! sceondly..hopefully I 'll get up to Glasgow one day soon and 3rdly..yes all the sounds are coming solely from the G5A, no GR55 involved here! You use it as a regular guitar, plug it into an amp/pedals etc. You can have any combination of tuning with any model of guitar so..you could have a 12 string Dobro, a Tele tuned to Open G, a Baritone Sitar etc. There's ZERO latency and the tunings are virtual so they don't turn the machine heads of the guitar.
@Scott partridge, thank you my friend :). I used the BOSS GT100 for all the amp tones on this video :)
You have some very unique vibrato. So strong. Thanks for the demo it was awesome. I just picked up a GK 55 synth.
Hi from Dubai,
Just soled my Fender VG Strat, and i am going to buy the G5A since it is much advanced in tunings and sounds over the 1st series of Fender modelling Guitars... Great demo, thanks a lot.. Joe
Thank you sir! Nice to be back :)
Sounds cool! It's really weird looking at a Strat but hearing a Telecaster
Great demo again!
(NEW 2013!) Fender Strat G5A, Roland virtual/modelling guitar demo -Lee Wrathe
My fave guitar modelling axe the G5a...what's yours?
gc1 and g5a- work only with battery? do you use Godin midi guitars?
hey dude! The GC-1 is a midi enabled guitar..which doesn't require batterys. It interfaces with midi devices via a 13 pin cable from a GK3 pick up at the bridge. The G5 (as in this video) is a modelling guitar as opposed to midi and it's modelling function is powered by batterys. .Hope that clarifies! :)
Lee Wrathe you can get a mains adaptor for it. Roland do one.
Great concept for versatility, especially when you can only have one guitar available and have to do many different things.
awesome playing and great guitar
That guy's got some SERIOUS chops.
Thanks for the great demo. What amp and what settings are to using for this demo.
Btw great playing, r u showcasing any Boss gear in Glasgow anytime soon?
5:05 OMG the shred...O M G!
could you please play an extended version of nylon song ???
It's nice piece....may be a new video...howbeit you are amazing dude !!!
Ciao.
Ciao Sandro! Thank you, sounds like a fun idea :)
These G-5a's are so hard to find now. I really wanted to get one, but could not find any anywhere (ebay, craigslist)
I got a G-5 two days ago.
Tempting, tempting.... :-) I tried out a Roland synth guitar in the early '80s, and on that one, I found I could set the top 3 strings to a clarinet sound and the bottom 3 to a saxophone sound. With fingerpicking, you can get a kind of pared-down WW2 Big Band Jazz sound happening (although I found out fairly quickly my fingerpicking 'weights' were pretty uneven, and some notes would drop out. I hadn't seen that on my ES 175...)
Can you do that kind of splitting with this instrument?
To recreate different instruments like your example of sax & clarinet, you will need the GR55 with GK1 addon pickup or GR55 with the GC1 guitar(has the GK1 pickup built in). GR55 has more functionality than the G5, but in the less convenient form of a pedal system.
great shred sir... questions? how much editing can you do to the gains and amps etc? is it all as is, or can you ge tin there and get your own sound? alos, i have the roland guitar synth... is there any reason i could use this guitar to control it as well?
Cool playing, dude 👍
Seems the GK PU could not tracked fast enough to Mr. Wrathe fingers, great playing!
really very nice demonstration.sir,i have a boss me 80..will the metal riff sound hear good n tight like schecter or ibanez models?plz reply..
Yes in humbucker pickup setting
I installed the GK-2A on a Fender Squire Stratocaster. Played through a VG-88 and did not get the quality sounds you are getting. Could not bend the strings without getting a synthetic shrill. I'd like to try the actual Rolland-ready guitar then check the sound. Thank you for sharing. God bless you brother.
a great return after injury.stating the obvious but,that is a fantastic colour red.
you are amazing at it. hatsoff 👌
Is it possible to get this processing unit pickup or something similar to fit into any other guitar?
I would love to retune at the touch of a switch!
I wonder if they make a mini version of this guitar?
The Dobro sounds nice, but it would have sounded more authentic if he'd used a bottleneck slide.
Bravo !
Thanks for a great demo. What do you have the a
One thing is unclear: What are the pickups in this version? Alnico - as in the original VG strat (American strat) or ceramics as in the G5 (Mexican strat)?
So, all these sounds without a Gr55 like just the guitar and a decent amp or do we need a gr55 and/or some pedals too. I assume the drop tune is virtual not mechanical if so does it track and sound correct in all modes and can you virtual drop d and do dobro at the same time or virtual open g and dobro effect or is this gr55 territory.
Hello Lee, can you tell me if I use this guitar with my Boss GT-100 I will have the same functions or will lost some one like acoustic and 12 strings? Thanks.
Hi lee thanks for demo. Could you please tell me if this has drop c tuning
Lee, i was just about to order one but, looks like no E-flat tunning? Is that correct? :(
Lee=Crazy Technic.
Get a shock in every video.
By the way how long does the bettery last in the G5?
What pick up use in the G5?
The batterieS (4) last about 9hrs.Best bet is to get rechargables
Recently I picked up a 2007 VG Strat, the G5 predeceser, and love it except the acoustic models arent as nice as G5. My question is about the magnetic PUP setup. The height of the PUPs seem backwards from a normal strat. Theyre closer at the high E side. Im wondering if this was done for a better modeling sound. Has anyone with a G5 seen this?
Man pls don't change the heights of pickups as it is done for getting good modelling sound. I thought the same thing first but I got clarified after contacting fender.
Will Roland still repair it ? They stop making in 2017 I think .
question! what amp is used in this vid?
hey LEE !!! WHAT IS THE NAME OF NYLON'SONG ???
CIAO FROM ITALY
Hey Sandro! It's just an improv piece..no name! :)
Sandro Bellacicco that song your asking sounded like Shape of my Heart by Sting. I believe that is the song.
thanks !
You can use a GR-55 with it if you want can't you??
Im looking for a good guitar for my GR-55 besides the GC-1
the G5 / G5A does not have the 13pin connector, hence it is unable to connect to the GR-55.
lol! thanks Jiasheng :)
ahh... so this is the guy that makes the on hold music
actually there's one bad thing about this guitar ... which is the battery
how would it go when it runs out of power and you dont have spare ones?
and this is a question for the manufacturer: you could make it optional, why you designed it to loose the whole sound of the guitar once the battery runs out of power?? ... batteries should support only the addtional functions not the whole guitar sound!!!
yeah you're right :D ... thanks a lot dude.
one more question if you don't mind me asking, what about the tonality and tremolo stability? it goes out of tune after bending or using the tremolo, any advises?
forget the guitar who's that player? Wow!
Bloody hell, you can shred hahah
So your love struck Romeo got a streetsus serenade...
6
the sound of the instrument is cool, but the guy plays all demonstrated in a way only a single style, steel guitar and electric guitar, nylon guitar, like electric guitar, that is, does not touch the styles that the instruments are employed ...,too bad
yes you can play very fast. obviously spent a long time on your own getting fast, ffs how about some feeling, need to watch pianists.
Lol
..