++ for Jam Origin's Midi Guitar.  It's amazing, cheap and you can try a demo too to evaluate it.
 
I have fitted a GK3 to a Les Paul SG.  It works perfectly with the Roland GP10 which the GK3 pickup came with, but I tried a GR55 and it went straight back; not only terrible triggering issues, but I thought the synth sounds in the module were pretty awful.  I have heard that you get better results with the GR55 if you use a guitar that has a built-in divided pickup (such as the GC-1 Fender Strat, or many Godin 'synth ready' guitars) than the DIY GK3.

Back when, Noel explained that the gr20 could do a much better sound synthesis job with the native signal from the gk3 pickup. When it converts the data to midi, even when it does a great job of this, a lot of info is lost to the midi synth that is available to the gr20.

When I record and perform with the gr20, I take a number of line outs. Guitar direct not through gr20. Left and right gr20 outs to a stereo track in Sonar. Midi in to at least one synth, often Galbanum piscus for Rapture. Sometimes Z3ta2.

The newer versions of the Roland synths use the same gk3 pickup that came with my gr20. It is possible that they do a better job if the midi conversion than my older model, but I'm guessing they have the same data coming in from the guitar.

I have one of these:
http://www.yourockguitar.com/
 
Guitar Center had them on sale for $99.00.  It works has its own MIDI-> USB interface.  Playing feels a little weird, but I am getting used to it.
Yes it IS plastics and kinda cheap feeling, but it does work.

A long time ago, Noel explained that the gr20 could do a much better sound synthesis job with the native signal from the gk3 pickup than a Sonar synth could do with the midi output from the gr20. When the gr20 converts the data to midi, even when it does a great job of this, a lot of info is lost to the midi synth that is available to the gr20.

When I record and perform with the gr20, I take a number of line outs. Guitar direct not through gr20. Left and right gr20 outs to a stereo track in Sonar. Midi in to at least one synth, often Galbanum piscus for Rapture. Sometimes Z3ta2.

The newer versions of the Roland synths use the same gk3 pickup that came with my gr20. It is possible that Roland does a better job of the midi conversion in the newer models than my older model, but I'm guessing they have the same data coming in from the guitar.

If you end up replacing completely, the Fishman TriplePlay might work for you.  I have one that I like a lot, but I don't push it very hard

MGMitchell
Anyone remember how to setup MIDIGuitar?
I d/l'ed it. Do I put the VST's into my vst folder?
When i ran the MIDIGuitar64 application, a stand alone program UI came up.
What do I do with this?
https://dl.dropboxusercon...om/u/24683934/midi.jpg
 

I can't see that jpg file (blocked at my workplace), but in standalone, you have to point Midi guitar's scanner to the folder(s) where you keep your VST's and let it scan. After it's done the scanning, you can choose which synth you want (instead of the piano that's included in MG) and.......have fun!! 
 
You'll have to do some initial configurations to suit your playing style and also setting MG to use your audio interface (I use ASIO with my Focusrite at 48k, with the lowest buffer MG allows.....and it works very well). BTW, I'm going from short term memory here and I'm not at my DAW.       
 
Oh, yeah you can put MG's VST file (.dll) within the Cakewalk VST folder (I have a folder beneath that for all 3rd party VST's).....
 
Here's a link to set it up in Sonar: http://www.jamorigin.com/docs/daw/#toggle-id-5

Glenn, Have you tried the MIDI output yet? 
 
The only differance is it introduces latency.
The main reason for Roland including a sound module with there systems is they found that driving a synth directly without midi reduced latency and the results are why their system was the most exceptable of all. 
NNow the issue is those sound modules are very outdated and to most the sounds are not anywhere near as good as what we are used to. But then again a lot of people have no problem with "Vintage" synth sounds. I take mine for what they are and have a dozen or so that I still use, like the organs, Poly Synth and flute. 
 
If it's only the sound module that is hooped but the midi output is still sending, then there's no reason you can't record midi into Sonar. 
 
Just hook the cables up , insert something like TTS-1 and set the input to the midi input of your interface. 
There will be some latency but the higher you play the less a of a lag. PLay the parts and then just quantize and transpose etc. 
I tried that MIDI Guitar by Jam and it's not even close compared to my GR 50 with the Godin. 
The Godin seems to track perfectly, no latency using the module and very few false triggers if I play it right. I'm using it in my band again after 20 years of gathering dust. All along the issue was the GK2 PU.  

IIRC you need to run the stand-alone version of MIDI Guitar for it to a) 'see' the licence file so it knows that it's a registered version and b) check for any available updates (the application will inform you).
 
Those are the only reasons I use the stand-alone version.  Beyond that, pop the .dll into your vst folder, then load the vst into an audio track.  I kill the fader for that track so as not to output the guitar signal (or the synth sound from MIDI Guitar) and then route the MIDI from MIDI Guitar into the input of an instrument/MIDI track for triggering synths.

The GR-55 would be the current replacement for the GR-20. I think it's pretty good. It has a COSM channel that does guitar/amp/synth modelling. If you do synth modelling in COSM there is virtually no latency. It also has 2 PCM channels that play with some latency. It does GTR-To-MIDI as well. It does have a known problem - the guitar out is noisy. The main outs are fine. Street price in the states is around $700 without a pu. If you have any interest in it check out the vguitarforums web site.
 
I like the SY-300, you don't need a hex pickup and there is no noticeable latency, but it is like an old analog synth and is probably not what you want. It does do some nice string and brass pads, ambient pads, good brass leads, etc, but you'll have to program them yourself.. There is no latency or glitchiness and is very expressive.
 
The following song was done with a GR-55 using GTR-To-MIDI for the background and SY-300 for the lead
https://sites.google.com/site/phoenixtaiji/music/content/cantShakeThisFeeling.mp3
 
This song has SY-300 for the leads. The bass is VG-99, but GR-55 can do the same.
https://sites.google.com/site/phoenixtaiji/music/content/strangeEvents.mp3
 
The electro-harmonix key9 pedal is pretty nice if you like Rhodes/Wurly keys, but that is all it does.
 
+1 for the yourock. I use it for pads or rhythmic patches that last more than a couple bars.

Great feedback guys. Thanks so much.
I'll be hacking away at these suggestions for a bit but will definitely let you know how it goes.