Boss VG-800

A guitar chameleon with the ability to dramatically transform your instrument

- BY MATT MCCRACKEN

WHEN IT COMES to tech, the Boss VG-800 sits at the cutting edge, not just in terms of modeling amps and effects, but transforming your guitar into an entirely different instrument. It can make your Strat sound like a Les Paul, turn a Tele into a 12-string acoustic and even imitate an analog synthesizer.

Getting your paws on this guitar juju won't come cheap, though. As well as the outlay for the VG-800 itself, you'll need the GK-5 Divided Pickup (around $270) and the Serial GK Cable ($65-ish) to unlock the myriad alternate tunings and modeled instruments contained within.