Line 6 Variax
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Posted on Jul 17, 2010 01:21 am
Fragile
Member Since: Sep 30, 2009
Hey :) been spending a little time away from the forum, trying to cut back on the amount of time i waste online. but. well, nature calls, and tonight i've really started looking seriously at those Variax's. Man...that is flipping cool! My les paul hasn't been playing quite right for awhile.. and i've always wanted something a little more versatile anyhow.
I know Db has one, and you seem to rave about it. Still any complaints? think it will withstand the test of time? Also, I'm thinking about getting that workshop thing or whatever to change the models. Is it good for heavy modern tones? Didn't really hear much modern stuff demo'd on the site. But, well. A lot of companies demo video's tend to be pretty bad compared to what their product is truely capable of, and the demo's that i heard and sounded "ew" i blame on just differences in taste on what they did with the amp model used.
So, whats the verdict so far on this thing? Also, has anyone used the bass? I'm pretty friggin' impressed by the demo's! More than enough to make me consider trading in my schecter, but they are discontinued (ebay can fix that). And i'm a little worried about their reliability.
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olddogMember
Since: Jul 02, 2003
Jul 17, 2010 02:26 am You may want to hold off a bit, the JTV Variax's are due out late summer and should from what I've heard and seen will be a huge improvement over the current ones. The Korean models start at ~$1200-$1400, the US models are ~$4000 and are handbuilt by James Tyler (both are designed by him), electronics are the same for both. No new models as the electronics are pretty much the same as current models, but the DSP is alot more powerful so the models supossedly sound better, particularly the acoustics, 12 string models, and virtual drop tuned models. The guitars themselves are <again> supossedly improved, especially compared to the 300 & 600, the 700 was the top of the line model and a pretty nice guitar all around.
I have a Variax 700 and overall I like it alot, it's very versatile and plays well. I didn't feel the guitar itself was quite up quality wise to the $1500 price tag, things like the fret board being a bit rough in spots, frets not finished as nicely on the edges as they should be, tuning stability using the trem bar, but it's still a nice guitar and plays well. The problems I listed aren't show stoppers, you just expect a bit more when you pay that much for a guitar, but a good portion of that goes to the electronics. :) The finish on the 700 models is flawless, some of the best I've seen. I've seen quite a few reliability problems in the 300 & 600 models but the 700 model seems to be pretty solid, I haven't had any problems with mine in the 2 years I've had it.
As for modern heavy tones, sound wise the LP models are really good as are a few others, but because of the piezo pickups they are not the best for palm muting and can produce kind of a plink noise which can be minimized by technique. If you're using the virtual down tuning, going much below D things get a little spongy feeling due to latency but still playable (I've used down to C). The ability to virtual capo and drop tune at the flick of a switch is a great feature though IMO and more than makes up for the slight problems.
Overall I'd say if you'd make use of the 25 models or even would like to have just excellent Strat/Tele tones available along with excellent LP models it's a great deal. If however you're going to be playing mostly one style you're probably better off with a real LP, PRS, Ibanez etc, that fits the style you play the most particularly heavy modern sounds. There'll probably be plenty of them up for sale when the new models hit, so if you want a first gen Variax you should be able to get one at a good price. I'll be selling mine when the new ones hit. :)
The bass I just don't really see the point of, same with the Acoustic 700, but I guess if you can find one for the right price it might be worth it.
Dan
Jul 17, 2010 07:36 am Hmm, looks a little cheaper too! 1200 and up. And they have magnetic pickups in addition to the piezo's. And, it ships with the workbench software.
I am still considering saving myself some cash and getting a 700. I found a few awesome looking deals on ebay. Plus, to be honest i like the look of the 700 model more. Especially that blue or red finish...ah! The body type reminds me of a schecter c-1, real...sleek and modern. And the no-pickup design actually looks pretty cool IMO. But i can understand why it's good marketing for them to have real pickups so that other people don't assume they are "toy guitars" with a hefty price tag. But still, i wish they were still selling one with that body shape and finish, its beautiful.
I'll probably spend the extra $100 and go for the LP-ish model. The flat ibanez-ish model doesn't really appeal to my inner need of fashion sense on a guitar ;)
So, back to the 700's. How reliable do they seem? and. Heck, whats your finish/asking price ;) Do you already have a copy of workbench?
olddogMember
Since: Jul 02, 2003
Jul 17, 2010 03:18 pm Mine is the Transparent Blue, and I have the Workbench software with USB interface, also the power supply footswitch that has 1/4" and XLR output and the L6 gigbag. The 700's, at least mine has been completely reliable, and you don't see near as many problem posts for the 700 as the other models on the L6 site. I haven't given price alot of thought yet but probably $800'ish.
They had a huge thread on the L6 site where the Product Manger of the Vax asked users what features they wanted in a new Vax and the main reason they included mag pickup's was alot of current owners wanted them for backup, and I guess since, eventually the electronics are going to die you'd have an expensive doorstop if you can't get replacement parts, with mag pickups it will still function as a nice regular guitar. Nearly every feature on the new models was requested in that thread. The one thing they/we didn't get was new models of guitars. Most wanted some newer guitar modeling instead of the Vintage instruments that the current models are. Myself I think there are enough models that if you can't get the sound you're after you probably couldn't get it with any guitar. :) With the Workbench software you can stack pickups, so you can get some pretty hot pickup combo's, put single coils on an LP, basically just about anything you want so there's alot of tone possibilities beyond what the guitar can do out of the box.
I think I'm going to go for the Strat'ish model, since I still have my SG if I want a real gibson to play, though I haven't touched it since I got my 700.
Dan
Jul 17, 2010 03:39 pm Mine is the translucent blue as well, but the electronics are starting to fry out on me, which pisses me off...if I recall that happened to Geoff as well.
Jul 17, 2010 10:43 pm I think i may be getting the strat model too. I own a les paul, but. To be honest, i never really thought the scale length fit my playing style. Idk, i just always felt more at home on a few guitars from buddies of mine, with wider necks and what i believe was 25 1/2 inch scales. I don't really do much lead playing either, most of the solo's i enjoy are mainly simple melodies, with maybe a few sexy grace notes to kinda spice things up :) Plus... the more i look at that black strat model, the more i fall in love with its beauty. It's really a great looking instrument. Something you don't see quite as often either.
Supposedly, the pickups on the new variax's are much more resilient and the palm muting clank issue is "essentially eliminated" which...could mean a few things. But, hey at least its a step in the right direction.
The pickup thing is nice, you're right. Even as a backup. Repair would be tough on something like this. I'm glad to see line 6 taking the initiative to actually ask users what their needs are. Especially a company as "cutting edge" as far as brand new technology goes. They really went above and beyond what i dreamed they would do for the next series. Its all so simple.
Well, i guess we all know where half of my graduation money is going :)
CptTrippsCzar of Turd PolishMember
Since: Jun 20, 2006
Jul 19, 2010 07:11 pm If I was sponsored by Line6 and they gave me a new one for every time it had problems then I would definitely play one :)
I think it would kickass in certain situations (recording) but there is no way I would gig with one at this time.
