The Fender® American Series VG Stratocaster® electric guitar is an incredibly versatile instrument that is not only a regular American Strat® it also gives you 37 different Stratocaster®, Telecaster®, humbucking, 12-string and acoustic sounds, plus five alternate tunings, all at the simple flip of a switch or twist of a knob.

It all comes in the gracefully familiar form of an American Series Stratocaster®, and it’s designed to deliver each sound with level, balanced tone and volume—no need to readjust your amp settings with each change in guitar sound.

Fender® and Roland® team up once again to bring you the revolutionary VG Stratocaster® guitar!

Wouldn’t it be nice to flip a switch on a Stratocaster® and all of a sudden be in an alternate tuning? Turn a knob on the pickguard and instantly have a clear acoustic sound, a raging humbucker pickup sound, the signature Tele snap, and the lush full sound of a 12 string.

These frequently asked questions and answers should give you a very good idea of what this amazing guitar is all about.

1. So what is the VG Stratocaster®? Is it a guitar synth or something?
It’s not a guitar synth—it’s an American Series Stratocaster® guitar with Roland® VG technology onboard. There is no synth interface, and no midi out—it is a fully functional, stand-alone unit that you plug in and play like any electric guitar—using a regular ¼” cable to any amplifier. In addition to it being an American-made Stratocaster, the VG circuitry expands the tonal palette to give you access to a total of 37 sounds and five tunings.

2. What’s the difference between the VG Stratocaster® and the Roland®-Ready Stratocaster®?
The Roland®-Ready Stratocaster® is built to interface with Roland’s outboard VG floor unit products. It does so using a 13-pin cable that speaks to the VG unit. On the VG Stratocaster®, there is no outboard unit—it’s all inside the guitar in a simple, easy-to-operate package!

3. What about tracking?
There is no tracking to worry about—you're hearing the actual strings. Only MIDI guitars have tracking issues, and this is not a MIDI guitar.

4. What other equipment do I need to operate the VG Stratocaster®?
Only a regular guitar cable, an amp and four AA batteries.

5. How long do the AA batteries last?
Several hours (if you use regular disposable ones). We recommend using the high-powered (2,500 mAh) rechargeable NiMh variety, which allows 10 hours of operation and can recharge in minutes, letting you avoid an expensive battery habit. The output jack activates the batteries, so unplugging the guitar when it's not in use helps prolong battery life.

6. Why batteries but not AC power?
The world is going wireless and hands-free, and we felt that preventing the need for auxiliary cables and similar extras was important. We felt that AC would just add an unnecessary layer of complexity and discomfort. Guitarists need freedom of movement; we felt that adapters aren't all that stage-efficient and that powered cables are cumbersome and easily misplaced. One of the most awesome advantages of the VG Stratocaster® is that it uses a regular guitar cable. Like your iPod® or your cell phone, you can take it wherever you go—you just need to recharge it every so often.

7. What happens if I don’t change the batteries and they go out?
The blue LED on the pickguard will flash, indicating low battery life, and eventually go out when the batteries are completely drained. The great thing about the VG Stratocaster® is that there is no emergency, even if you’re onstage—simply switch the Mode knob to “Normal” and play through the Alnico single-coil pickups, which don’t require battery power.

9. Why only five Modes and five tunings?
The VG Stratocaster®, for all its marvelous innovation, is the very model of true usability and simplicity. If the Mode knob had 20 positions, for example, you could never intuitively switch from, say, position 7 to 17 on the fly onstage. Since we’ve kept it to a “greatest hits” package, it’s as intuitive and easy as the five-way switching for which Fender® is already famous!

10. Why is there a “virtual” Stratocaster® when I already have the American Series pickups in “normal” mode?
The VG Stratocaster® setting enables use of the alternate tuning function with a Stratocaster® sound. So as to not offer redundant sounds, we used the opportunity to give you an ash-body Stratocaster® for a different tonality. Plus, the virtual Stratocaster® is free of 60-cycle single-coil hum.

11. What tunings are offered?
Drop D, Open G, D Modal (DADGAD), Low B (Baritone), and 12-string. The tunings work across all of the VG pickup tones.

12. I play tuned down a half-step. Do I need to be in A440 to use the alternate tunings?
No. The tunings work relative to however you’re tuned. If you’re already down a half-step, for example, Drop D becomes C#. Tune as you like; it still works!

So there you have it… The exciting and revolutionary Fender® VG Stratocaster® can pretty much handle any musical situation you throw at it!