My initial Variax 600 impressions

[Jack Napalm]

Re: My initial Variax 600 impressions

Does anyone know the differences between the Variax models? The site has a few things about them but is their anything to know about getting a 500 or 300 as opposed to the 600 or 700?

[Newc]

Re: My initial Variax 600 impressions

KM - Haven't changed the strings yet, I'm content with what's on it.

Jack - I wondered that as well, but then I wondered why a piezo circuit would care if you were using plywood or mahogany [img]/images/graemlins/scratchhead.gif[/img]
I guess it's more about the neck than the body, though. Tim and a few others said the 300 neck was crap, but I like the one on the 600.

[hammer84]

Re: My initial Variax 600 impressions

[ QUOTE ]
Jack - I wondered that as well, but then I wondered why a piezo circuit would care if you were using plywood or mahogany

[/ QUOTE ]

Just FYI...
I have read several posts by GVW over at line 6 that the body wood does affect the models.

[Newc]

Re: My initial Variax 600 impressions

I would expect a Line 6 board (and this GVW person is a Line 6 rep I assume?) to say such a thing [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/poke.gif[/img]

[~K~]

Re: My initial Variax 600 impressions

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Jack - I wondered that as well, but then I wondered why a piezo circuit would care if you were using plywood or mahogany

[/ QUOTE ]

Just FYI...
I have read several posts by GVW over at line 6 that the body wood does affect the models.

[/ QUOTE ]


I noticed absolutely no tone difference from the Variax stock body to the Warmoth Body.

[Newc]

Re: My initial Variax 600 impressions

Interesting: The book says that since Acoustics don't really have Tone knobs, they set the Tone knob up to act like the mic is being moved to different areas of the acoustic body, and it really does work.

[hippietim]

Re: My initial Variax 600 impressions

in terms of the form factor, the 500 and 700 share the same electronics and the 300 and 600 share electronics - in fact, my 600 was identified as a 300 by the workbench software.

the pecking order in terms of quality of the guitar itself is 300, 500, 600, then the 700 on top.

the 700 has a carved top and is made in Japan whereas the others are flat tops and are made in Korea.

the 700 come as a hardtail or with a wilkinson whidlee bar. the 300 and 500 are hardtails. the 600 has the wilkinson whidlee bar.

each has a different range of finish options which is covered on the line 6 site.

all but the 300 come with a combination a/b switch and power supply - the 300 just has a power supply.

in terms of capabilities/features, all the models are the same.

in terms of tone they all sound the same as near as I could tell. the 300's i've played have been a bit lackluster in the sustain department so having basically decent quality woods matters as you would expect.

pesonally, I would steer clear of the 300 unless it is getting a neck swap given the deals that are to be had for 500's which are much nicer feeling instruments.

[hippietim]

Re: My initial Variax 600 impressions

kev, those clips demonstrate the detune features nicely. I haven't had a chance to play mine through any sort of bass rig/patch - that mp3 you posted was pretty darn convincing.

all i've done with mine since I got the workbench was create sone detuned frankenteles and plugged straight into my univalve.

have you tried any acoustic stuff with alternate tunings through a decent acoustic preamp setting?

which tone port did you get btw? and are you happy with it? i've been very curious about them.

[Twisteramps]

Re: My initial Variax 600 impressions

Stupid question - I'm thinking of getting one of these. However, I do not run my guitars straight through the XT, I use the XT for effects only with a tube amp. Could I use workbench and my XTL to 'program' the variax, and load my patches into the variax itself? Or would I need to be plugged into the XT?

If I can store them into the Variax, how many patches will it hold?

Dammit, line 6 may be pulling me under again... [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Pete

[hippietim]

Re: My initial Variax 600 impressions

pete, an xtl is not required at all - I don't have one - I have the little usb box they sell separately. iow, you could do what you want.

without having a variax in front of me I can't be 100% sure but the number of patches is going to equal the number model banks * 5 - so there's custom 1 & 2, tele, strat, lp, special, rockabilly, semi hollow, jazz, acoustic, resonator, and rick - so that's about 60 locations.

[gemini8026]

Re: My initial Variax 600 impressions

It was that bass patch that pissed me off that kev posted, because it sounds pretty darn realistic.

I sold my V'ax b4 workbench came out, but I still keep thinking about how convenient it would be to have a bass/acoustic/12 string elec/ 12 string acous/ reg elecs all at a fellow's disposal. Im in small living quarters, so my current 4 guitars take up a lot of space!

Ok fellows, NEWC in particular. Try and post some acoustic patches WITH processing or whatever u can, to see how good you can have them sounding. Im curious to see how the new revised Variax sounds, with a lil TLC from effects or whatever.

Best yet, how about an ALL variax clip with it acting as a bass/acoustic/whatever. You folks may be able to convince me to get back in the Variax market!

[Newc]

Re: My initial Variax 600 impressions

Here's a couple of mp3s of the Variax acoustic stuff straight into my normal recording rig (MP1-Digitech TSR12)

http://autumn-frost.com/jcf/mp3/variax-overthehills.mp3

http://autumn-frost.com/jcf/mp3/variax12.mp3

Here's the same patches (and some more) into the Zoom PS04's Acoustic Simulator patch without the ADA/TSR rig

http://autumn-frost.com/jcf/mp3/variax-ps04-acsim.mp3

http://autumn-frost.com/jcf/mp3/variax-ps04-acsim2.mp3

[~K~]

Re: My initial Variax 600 impressions

Tim,

I've not been happy with the tones of the acoustics detuned. I was trying to learn a bit of slide because it was something I've had interest in but never learned. I noticed the warble a bit more detuning the acoustics like that...

I bought the AX-2 off ebay the first week they came out and I'm extremely happy with it. It has guitar sims,bass sims and vocal preamps (not that I'll ever use the vocal pre-amps) I haven't upgraded to the additional patches yet but I plan to do so ..


Pete-

I'm not sure if the XTL will interface workbench yet but I do it through my Vetta and it works well. The nice thing about that is that you only need the digital interface plugged in instead of the USB AND the 1/4 jack

[Newc]

Re: My initial Variax 600 impressions

It's my understanding that you can use the workbench software with the XTL without the actual workbench USB thingy.

[BTB007]

Re: My initial Variax 600 impressions

Good reviews so far. Sorry I haven't had the time to review my new 500. But, I do actually like the 12 string Martin model. I can't use it for strumming chords, but I do like it.