Yes, you have 3 options: 1. Use Workbench and saving the new preset 2. In the Variax itself (check manual) 3. If you have an HD500, you can change the tuning of your Variax and store it in different patches. Which is super cool, saving effects, amps and tunings in a single patch.
Everyone tries to compare the real models with the variax but you are missing the point. If you want realism is an ism and doesn't mean authentic. Variax makes your life convenient if you record/gig. Variax will never be to your taste out the box and that is why you have so many edit parameters/workbench. It works at its best when connected through a pod to a stagesource or DT/powerecab then you truly hear how powerful it is. Been using it for recording/gigging for 5 years and it is incredible. Once imbedded in mixes and on stage you cant tell. amazing. 10/10
I have a 69s. I own some very well made and expensive guitars (not always the same thing) The 69s is GREAT quality and has a beautiful feel I love it Quality is top notch
Right, and there are some great guitar builders out there right now making very competitively priced grat quality instruments, like WOLF in Australia and DEAN is reborn and kicking ass. I may sell my vintage stuff, buy myself a WOLF LP, DEAN NSASHVEGAS which is a tele with SD pick ups and a floyd rose. and a Variax and walk away with a bunch of money in pocket and have every sound and look covered that i can imagine for under 2 grand!!! any other sound i might need or even stringed instrument I reach for the Variax and if I'm in a hurry and it's last minute gig with no time. just the Variax and an amp.
one of the best demos of this guitar I have seen. Maybe when I get my rig figured out I'll do a demo. JTV 89F through POD HD 500. There's a lot to figure out with line6 edit and workbench. I gotta quit sleeping so much. :)
i think one of the features that i find really amazing and useful is the almost magical change of tuning on the fly ! if you play with several different tunings you know what i mean !
You can tune anything. When making a tuning, You use the 12th string as a nut then play each string according to how many half-steps up or down you want that string to be from it's actual physical tuning.
I feel the same about this axe as I do the DT series amps. ALMOST THERE. This thing would be fun as hell to jam around on though, and I can see how if you wanted a certain type guitar ambiance on a track that this guitar could do the trick. ... its also a "regular" guitar. If it can stand on that alone, then the rest is gravy.
It's a great idea but it's just not there yet. I had one for a couple of months and found that the dynamics aren't quite right (couldn't put my finger on it but it just didn't react like a regular guitar). I also had a problem with false triggers on the D string. It went for repair but couldn't be sorted so i got a refund. Once they make them more reliable and sort out the dynamics I'll be happy to buy another.
This is a miracle guitar to me. I have so much invested already, but I Don't have a banjo. Or a sitar (guess I could buy a Regal.... not), or a 12-string. No one I know has that kinda cash. Wish I did. Until I hit the Power Ball lotto, I guess this variax is next best thing, huh? Cool. Cool indeed.
I had one but gave up after a while because of the problems that come with electronics. Having to charge the battery, living with glitches, etc. The concept is great though and the advancements are impressive. But more refinement may be needed to make it a go-to workhorse.
To make technology work, it's like learning to play...You need to work at it; get in the set up and do the research. It's like modellers that come with less-than-spectacular presets. Once you put the effort in, the rewards come. Personally, it's great that many guitarists are luddites because they sell their as-new guitars and modellers cheap on eBay and go back to the same-old same-old. I put a lot of time in to learning the Digitech GNX4 (ancient but amazing). Read the reviews and many say it's crap 😂 I now have *six* of them for a total outlay of under $1,000 👍 The only things that fail are the power supply capacitors and the occasional switch....easy fixes. A little bit of effort can go a long way 😁
@mfradell Yep, that's probably it. The Variax is doing it's best to model the sound of heavier gauge strings wound in bronze (all the way up to the G-string) to lighter gauge electric steel strings (that don't have a wound G). As much as the sound of the models may be accurate, you're going to get more fret buzz and string noise if you try to play them with the same technique that you would use on actual acoustic strings. A lighter touch will probably help it sound more authentic.
I called them It was a "typo" hack to regular price. I'm taking 2 gibsons, a schecter, a BC Rich and a Dean into GC for their trade in sale weekend on Saturday, I think I can get the Variax (they have 5 models within $200 0f each other) and they have a used Fender DeVille 410 that I think will sound great with this axe going into my mixing board or into my floor pod plus for the home studio.
Wow this is so old. The new variax guitars are phenomenal along with their giant foot pedal. Richie Castellano it's one of the most intelligent guy I know on the variax guitar. Two new one of his channels for an up-to-date review how he uses this wonderful instrument
If a band was playing live where they couldn't practically mic an acoustic, I'd much rather hear the acoustic sounds from a variax than that rubber band fart sound you get from a real acoustic with a piezo.
It does sound very realistic. The only thing I don't like is that the acoustic sounds all sound like they are being played on an acoustic with light gauge strings and very low action. You can hear the strings bottom out just after they are struck. Is there any way around this? Does it sound like this because of the light strings and low action of the Variax? It would be awesome if it could make your light strings sound like medium gauge acoustic strings.
@TheAlexkru I like the look but I agree on the head stock it looks out of place on that body to me I would have to make a custom pick guard too like pearloid I hate just white
DUDE, yes. I was wondering if you could go into capo mode and made a temp alt tuning and change models/pickups without changing the tuning back. This is great if you want a custom tuning on the fly.
@TheAlexkru maybe a future idea for Line 6, i think it would draw more attention to different customers and i am always looking for a studio piece to add to my collection, because i never know when im gonna need a certain piece of gear for certain sound
Fantastic guitar. Can you blend piezo with magnetic? Also has it got separate outputs so i can run my magnetic pickups in my pedalboard and have lets say distortion and still run my piezo in a p.a. system ??
Yes and yes if you have a POD pedal or probably a HELIX pedal. The HD 500 and 500x have duel effects chains which means you can use a different amp model on each chain. Pan them hard right and left, send the left side to your stage set up and the right side to the house mix. I don't know why you would do that, but yes you can.
The inherent problem with modeled alternate tuning (not just on this guitar, but on every modeled alternate tuning) is that there's a disconnect with the tactile feedback coming from your fingers and the body of the guitar that lets you feel the standard tuning. In addition, unless you have the modeled tuning set anywhere from medium to fairly high, you'll hear the acoustic sound of the standard tuning. It's an odd disconnect. Again, not just on this guitar, but on any system.
yeah, i hear that,too! Sounds like .08s on an acoustic..and that IS a problem. At $1600 I would hope they would do better, Id gladly loose the sitar and Banjo for the improved Acoustic and electric sounds. Its obvious at times. I think line6 did a great job..but this is no time to stop improving it.
Hi! Is it possible to by the Electronic stuff and put it in a real telecaster body with neck and Everything? Unfortunately I dont like the look of the Variax body and neck shape. :-(
@Bflatest i'm not that bug on conventional shapes, i like tele's and SGs because they are different yet classic looking, i think this guitar looks to much like a strat with a jacked up pickguard and half-assed ibanez headstock. im a big fan of my Schecter ultra III because it looks like someone took a tele and a firebird (2 of my favorite solid body guitars) and traced them onto a piece of paper and evened out the lines. I love the Concept i wish there was different body styles on this model.
Fishman Loudbox....but these guitars play fine through a regular electric amp....if you were just gonna use the acoustic sounds I'd go with an acoustic amp that's voiced for that sound.
Thanks. I almost bought one of these last year, but when I saw it in the store it seemed to be too gold. I had been wishing it looked more bronze as it looks in your video!
kubel83 any issues with the mode selector knob coming loose? I've had to tighten mine several times...gonna use some LokTite next time....hard as hell to get to it because it's buried between PC boards etc.
Amazing!. Y para Adrian. C: yo busco el sonido del sitar desde hace mucho, la verdad que no encuentro. Cada uno suena como quiere y hace la mùsica que quiere, y por ejemplo a mi me gustarìa tocar cosas con escalas indias y no tener que usar un enorme sitar.............
These are cool but I hear the guitar itself is kinda iffy? Anyone got some feedback? I really have been thinking of just getting away from an amp. I don't play live so a studio setup would be more convenient. However budget is tight for me.
I've been using a Korean made JTV59 for over two years now and regularly gig it and I've never had a problem. It's perfect for a covers band as you can get all the tones out of one guitar. The new line in collaboration with Yamaha is out later this year.
+Matthew Short I've heard that criticism on Facebook. Even the Roland V-Guitar has been criticized on that basis, because I think that Roland uses Fender Stratocasters made in Mexico.
I am working with a 300 model right now (recording, practicing with my band Holiday Road). The 300 doesnt blend easily. When I mix I find its in the mix but dissapears to easily. I can and should improve my technique of playing it, but STILL, I feel the modeling is good but not great. I can work my real guitars in songs far better. I think it will take alot of effort to get the variax to work as well. I am not sure the JT Variax is any better. Anybody out there know??????????????????????????
Strats are a classic. Strats have their own reason for being so famous. It's such a genius guitar. But Variax has it's reason for being so famous, it's HD modeling tech.
the vocal in this video is so much louder than the guitar. so when i crank up the guitar, dude starts talking and then i have to turn it down again. so frustrating.
Someone says that there is a bug by playing harmonics with the 12 strings simulator. Is it true? There is a video demo on youtube watch?v=OhLSqN_g1NQ&feature=related
I've had 3, none kept for long, sounds are good but build quality is consistently poor (I tested 11 of them at PMT, 9 horrible, 1 OK, 1 passable for 3 weeks). I'm taking the guts out and having them built into a custom made guitar
The variax guitar is a gimmick. Cant palm mute with one of these. Dont waste your money. Go to harmony central and check out the user reveiws for the variax.
This is unbeliavable. The 12 string sounded beautiful!
Yes, you have 3 options:
1. Use Workbench and saving the new preset
2. In the Variax itself (check manual)
3. If you have an HD500, you can change the tuning of your Variax and store it in different patches. Which is super cool, saving effects, amps and tunings in a single patch.
Everyone tries to compare the real models with the variax but you are missing the point. If you want realism is an ism and doesn't mean authentic. Variax makes your life convenient if you record/gig. Variax will never be to your taste out the box and that is why you have so many edit parameters/workbench. It works at its best when connected through a pod to a stagesource or DT/powerecab then you truly hear how powerful it is. Been using it for recording/gigging for 5 years and it is incredible. Once imbedded in mixes and on stage you cant tell. amazing. 10/10
I have a 69s. I own some very well made and expensive guitars (not always the same thing)
The 69s is GREAT quality and has a beautiful feel
I love it
Quality is top notch
Hard to argue that this is a tremendous piece of kit
Great demo and great playing.
Best Demo so far!!!
nine people that afraid to embrace new technology !! this is awesome
Right, and there are some great guitar builders out there right now making very competitively priced grat quality instruments, like WOLF in Australia and DEAN is reborn and kicking ass. I may sell my vintage stuff, buy myself a WOLF LP, DEAN NSASHVEGAS which is a tele with SD pick ups and a floyd rose. and a Variax and walk away with a bunch of money in pocket and have every sound and look covered that i can imagine for under 2 grand!!! any other sound i might need or even stringed instrument I reach for the Variax and if I'm in a hurry and it's last minute gig with no time. just the Variax and an amp.
one of the best demos of this guitar I have seen. Maybe when I get my rig figured out I'll do a demo. JTV 89F through POD HD 500. There's a lot to figure out with line6 edit and workbench. I gotta quit sleeping so much. :)
very good video!
useful !!!
Varaix should give in some nylon string guitar ✌🏻️
The Variax Acoustic 700 might be where you want to go for that.
Great playing. Very versatile.
I bought the 69 and love it. starting to see no need to hang on to my les paul standard and Fender strat anymore.
This guy is a great player
i think one of the features that i find really amazing and useful is the almost magical change of tuning on the fly !
if you play with several different tunings you know what i mean !
You can tune anything. When making a tuning, You use the 12th string as a nut then play each string according to how many half-steps up or down you want that string to be from it's actual physical tuning.
I feel the same about this axe as I do the DT series amps. ALMOST THERE.
This thing would be fun as hell to jam around on though, and I can see how if you wanted a certain type guitar ambiance on a track that this guitar could do the trick.
... its also a "regular" guitar. If it can stand on that alone, then the rest is gravy.
Incredible. Jaw dropping!
It's a great idea but it's just not there yet. I had one for a couple of months and found that the dynamics aren't quite right (couldn't put my finger on it but it just didn't react like a regular guitar). I also had a problem with false triggers on the D string. It went for repair but couldn't be sorted so i got a refund. Once they make them more reliable and sort out the dynamics I'll be happy to buy another.
This is a miracle guitar to me. I have so much invested already, but I Don't have a banjo. Or a sitar (guess I could buy a Regal.... not), or a 12-string. No one I know has that kinda cash. Wish I did. Until I hit the Power Ball lotto, I guess this variax is next best thing, huh?
Cool. Cool indeed.
I had one but gave up after a while because of the problems that come with electronics. Having to charge the battery, living with glitches, etc. The concept is great though and the advancements are impressive. But more refinement may be needed to make it a go-to workhorse.
To make technology work, it's like learning to play...You need to work at it; get in the set up and do the research. It's like modellers that come with less-than-spectacular presets. Once you put the effort in, the rewards come.
Personally, it's great that many guitarists are luddites because they sell their as-new guitars and modellers cheap on eBay and go back to the same-old same-old.
I put a lot of time in to learning the Digitech GNX4 (ancient but amazing). Read the reviews and many say it's crap 😂 I now have *six* of them for a total outlay of under $1,000 👍 The only things that fail are the power supply capacitors and the occasional switch....easy fixes. A little bit of effort can go a long way 😁
WOW this is awesome
@mfradell
Yep, that's probably it. The Variax is doing it's best to model the sound of heavier gauge strings wound in bronze (all the way up to the G-string) to lighter gauge electric steel strings (that don't have a wound G). As much as the sound of the models may be accurate, you're going to get more fret buzz and string noise if you try to play them with the same technique that you would use on actual acoustic strings.
A lighter touch will probably help it sound more authentic.
I called them It was a "typo" hack to regular price. I'm taking 2 gibsons, a schecter, a BC Rich and a Dean into GC for their trade in sale weekend on Saturday, I think I can get the Variax (they have 5 models within $200 0f each other) and they have a used Fender DeVille 410 that I think will sound great with this axe going into my mixing board or into my floor pod plus for the home studio.
Wow this is so old. The new variax guitars are phenomenal along with their giant foot pedal. Richie Castellano it's one of the most intelligent guy I know on the variax guitar. Two new one of his channels for an up-to-date review how he uses this wonderful instrument
If a band was playing live where they couldn't practically mic an acoustic, I'd much rather hear the acoustic sounds from a variax than that rubber band fart sound you get from a real acoustic with a piezo.
It does sound very realistic. The only thing I don't like is that the acoustic sounds all sound like they are being played on an acoustic with light gauge strings and very low action. You can hear the strings bottom out just after they are struck. Is there any way around this? Does it sound like this because of the light strings and low action of the Variax? It would be awesome if it could make your light strings sound like medium gauge acoustic strings.
this guitar sounds specially amazing im telling you!
It has piezo pickups for each string, so the computer chip can pitch shift each string individually.
@TheAlexkru I like the look but I agree on the head stock it looks out of place on that body to me I would have to make a custom pick guard too like pearloid I hate just white
DUDE, yes. I was wondering if you could go into capo mode and made a temp alt tuning and change models/pickups without changing the tuning back. This is great if you want a custom tuning on the fly.
@TheAlexkru maybe a future idea for Line 6, i think it would draw more attention to different customers and i am always looking for a studio piece to add to my collection, because i never know when im gonna need a certain piece of gear for certain sound
This is just one fucking awesome guitar.
in conjunction with the POD can you have acoustic models route through to the PA mixer rather than the guitar amp you're using?
Fantastic guitar. Can you blend piezo with magnetic? Also has it got separate outputs so i can run my magnetic pickups in my pedalboard and have lets say distortion and still run my piezo in a p.a. system ??
Carlo De Vivo MusiContent No and no.
Yes and yes if you have a POD pedal or probably a HELIX pedal. The HD 500 and 500x have duel effects chains which means you can use a different amp model on each chain. Pan them hard right and left, send the left side to your stage set up and the right side to the house mix. I don't know why you would do that, but yes you can.
The inherent problem with modeled alternate tuning (not just on this guitar, but on every modeled alternate tuning) is that there's a disconnect with the tactile feedback coming from your fingers and the body of the guitar that lets you feel the standard tuning. In addition, unless you have the modeled tuning set anywhere from medium to fairly high, you'll hear the acoustic sound of the standard tuning.
It's an odd disconnect. Again, not just on this guitar, but on any system.
Impressive !
Hi, can you program any tuning? Eg EbBbEbEbBbEb or DADFAD or EEEG#BE?
Thanks
Love it... can you use a footswitch to change models. So, say you're using an electric lead and you want a 12string acoustic, can you footswitch it?
dougieladd You can only change models via a Pod HD500/500X,other than that no you can not.
@@cast390 That is still (in 2022) a very good combination.
My main acoustic these days is a ESP Eclipse II/Variax 500 transplant.
yeah, i hear that,too! Sounds like .08s on an acoustic..and that IS a problem. At $1600 I would hope they would do better, Id gladly loose the sitar and Banjo for the improved Acoustic and electric sounds. Its obvious at times. I think line6 did a great job..but this is no time to stop improving it.
That is freaking amazing! How much does that puppy cost? Is it from Line 6?
sick!
i can only find korea manufactured models in Turkiye. Are there any major differences?
Hi!
Is it possible to by the Electronic stuff and put it in a real telecaster body with neck and Everything?
Unfortunately I dont like the look of the Variax body and neck shape. :-(
my only gripe is the model knob comes loose and is a pain to try to tighten as it's hard to access.
I always have to listen to this with my eyes closed. I see guitar...I hear banjo...I see guitar...I hear banjo...
@Bflatest i'm not that bug on conventional shapes, i like tele's and SGs because they are different yet classic looking, i think this guitar looks to much like a strat with a jacked up pickguard and half-assed ibanez headstock. im a big fan of my Schecter ultra III because it looks like someone took a tele and a firebird (2 of my favorite solid body guitars) and traced them onto a piece of paper and evened out the lines. I love the Concept i wish there was different body styles on this model.
Would the acoustic strumming stand up in a recording ?
how did it change tunings without the actual string moving?
What are you using here just the variax? or are you also using a pedal of some sort?
just the guitar through an amp...
What amp would you recommend for the best acoustic sound?
Fishman Loudbox....but these guitars play fine through a regular electric amp....if you were just gonna use the acoustic sounds I'd go with an acoustic amp that's voiced for that sound.
Is this JTV with a gold finish or a US model bronze?
gold
Thanks. I almost bought one of these last year, but when I saw it in the store it seemed to be too gold. I had been wishing it looked more bronze as it looks in your video!
zedxxx9 is definitely gold. I think there are other colors available
BloozeDaddy yup i have mine in sky blue:)
kubel83
any issues with the mode selector knob coming loose? I've had to tighten mine several times...gonna use some LokTite next time....hard as hell to get to it because it's buried between PC boards etc.
Amazing!. Y para Adrian. C: yo busco el sonido del sitar desde hace mucho, la verdad que no encuentro. Cada uno suena como quiere y hace la mùsica que quiere, y por ejemplo a mi me gustarìa tocar cosas con escalas indias y no tener que usar un enorme sitar.............
One problem: my dad has the Bedford Banjo Shop, and that model doesn't sound like a banjo haha. But that's okay, it can do everything else!
These are cool but I hear the guitar itself is kinda iffy? Anyone got some feedback?
I really have been thinking of just getting away from an amp. I don't play live so a studio setup would be more convenient. However budget is tight for me.
I've been using a Korean made JTV59 for over two years now and regularly gig it and I've never had a problem. It's perfect for a covers band as you can get all the tones out of one guitar. The new line in collaboration with Yamaha is out later this year.
+Matthew Short I've heard that criticism on Facebook. Even the Roland V-Guitar has been criticized on that basis, because I think that Roland uses Fender Stratocasters made in Mexico.
How much, and where can I get one?
I am working with a 300 model right now (recording, practicing with my band Holiday Road). The 300 doesnt blend easily. When I mix I find its in the mix but dissapears to easily. I can and should improve my technique of playing it, but STILL, I feel the modeling is good but not great. I can work my real guitars in songs far better. I think it will take alot of effort to get the variax to work as well. I am not sure the JT Variax is any better. Anybody out there know??????????????????????????
this guitar is just a studio guitar to me, i'm not a fan of the way it looks but it is sick as hell
Can you tell me acoustic sound from this guitar or from pedal? Please!
+Linh Nguyen It's from the guitar. One of the models that it comes with is accoustic.
All the strat fanatics bore me. I've played strats a plenty
Variax easily holds its own against Fender
Strats are a classic. Strats have their own reason for being so famous. It's such a genius guitar. But Variax has it's reason for being so famous, it's HD modeling tech.
Certainly holds its ow n better than th e original Variax.
I love my Strat, but this definitely rocks.
But will it blend?
is that the US model?
nice
It's like putting a scope with night vision, flir, thermal, range, wind, laser, auto calculation... on a rifle.
the vocal in this video is so much louder than the guitar. so when i crank up the guitar, dude starts talking and then i have to turn it down again. so frustrating.
@VIZZICKS Transplants FTW!
sweetwaters got a crazy deal on the JTV-89....$699!!! FML!!!!
Someone says that there is a bug by playing harmonics with the 12 strings simulator.
Is it true?
There is a video demo on youtube
watch?v=OhLSqN_g1NQ&feature=related
Nice playing but I don't think I will invest. The Gold Tone ES Banjiar sounds a better banjo option than this Demo.
¿Sonido sitar.sara qué?
Better sounds/impulses than the Acoustic Variax 700
I could palm mute on mine very well
Guitar Center sells these things for about $1,350.
Where is the sitar sound???
At 3.39, almost by accident, one can hear just one second of sitar. Bizarre but true.
+Sargent Pepperland 3:38 I guess.
Should have a custom body style rather than a Stratocaster copy!
I come from Guitarist and see virtually the same comments by the same people. Ok what are you selling
I can imagine totally hacking into this guitar and changing someones presets. Turning the banjo preset into an acoustic
modelling technology.
Gotta have that bottleneck for the Dobro sound. Banjo sound is nice, too. Blues and bluegrass in one instrument.
add flyod = ultimate axe
cool, nice demo! Not important at all..but..it's pronounced pi-e-zo
Sounds close enough to a banjo.
Pie-zo? It is pronounced pee-eh-zo.
Jeremy Santos Pee-nis
I've had 3, none kept for long, sounds are good but build quality is consistently poor (I tested 11 of them at PMT, 9 horrible, 1 OK, 1 passable for 3 weeks). I'm taking the guts out and having them built into a custom made guitar
Pie -zo? What?
Pee-ay-zo !!!!!
The set it up so id doesn't. it takes 15 minutes.
This comment is epic.
PIEZO, SPELLED PEEAZO
Piezo is pronounced Pee-ay-zo
It sounded better here, but still false, false, false. Other reviews have made it sound more like Pinky and Perky.
It sounds great, but it sounds like an electric guitar.
,,,
The variax guitar is a gimmick. Cant palm mute with one of these. Dont waste your money. Go to harmony central and check out the user reveiws for the variax.
Sounds plenty quacky to me...
that tuning knob is in an ugly place... shoulda been put on the side of the body
a pie-so?....really?