Roland VG-88, GR-33, Line 6 POD

[Bobbyguitar]

Hello folks and thanks for taking time to read this posting. I am a 38 year old blues/rock guitarist and have been playing 23 years. I am in the process of purchasing computer recording gear for my home studio. I recently sold my roland 1680 and want dive into computer recording. I just purchase a dell 1 gigahertz computer and I am ready to make the next purchase of hardware/software. I am leaning towards cubsae at this moment. I own a Brian Moore guitar with a 13 pin midi output. I can't make up my mind if I should buy the VG-88 or the GR-33 and the line 6 pod. Does the VG-88 sound as good as the pod. Are the synth sounds good on the VG-88. Also, I want to collaborate with people on the rocknet network aand I will need a midi sound module. Is the Gr-33 better suited for midi than the VG-88. I am totally confused aaaand need feedback from real musicians who have been in my shoes. I'm about to drop the last bit of money that I have and have to make sure that I'm doing the right thing. I know I skould be saving for retirement but life is short and I like my toys. A new Harley would be nice!!

Thanks in advance for any advice and hope to collaborate with you on a project

Bobby D

[Gary Lamb]

Hi,
Before buying the VG-88 you may want to check out a used (or new) Roland VG-8 (ie save $$$). I haven't tried the POD but I would think that the VG-8 or VG-88 would blow the POD away sound-wise.
Check out this link for the scoop on the VG-8/88:
http://www.VG-8.com/
HTH,
GL

[Mitch Glasgow]

You might also consider the Johnson J-Station. I just had the opportunity to try both (POD and J-Station). I was very impressed with the sounds and programability of both, but the J-station features a couple of acoustic simulators, and a few bass rigs (and in my opinion, one of those bass rigs, the SWR, actually yields a pretty good acoustic sound when a guitar is used). Best of all, the J-Station was $50.00 cheaper than the POD. I'm spending my retirement too my brother. But it's nice to know that in my twilight years, I'll have some good gear waiting at home, after a long day at McDonalds.

[ImdurC]

I own a VG-8EX and I compared this to the POD unit. The POD had some nice sounds, but I bought the VG-8EX because it holds many more guitar sounds and has plenty of mad sounds as well. The new VG-88 is sonically better and should hold some better distortions.
Gary's right, go to the VG-8 site and check out the classifieds for cheaper deals.

Btw, the VG-8(8) unit doesn't send midi notes like a master keyboard does. The midi functions are simply there to send control changes.

I read a review of the J-Station in the August issue of Sound On Sound (SOS) and the guy really loved the sound you could get from it. Btw, the guy hates things like the POD and never uses any devices like this, but he just couldn't get enough of the J-Station!

Hope this helps,
Adam.