Community: Message List

Re: JTV-59 vs JTV-59US - the instrument?

support@line6.com — Wed, 25 Jul 2012 20:29:08 GMT

Hey Nipp,

There's a pretty good thread already established on the subject if 59k vs. 59US. Just wanted to refer you to that. That might be a good place to pose any question you have on this:

http://line6.com/support/message/374810#374810

Best,

Re: USA James Tyler JTV Variax VS the Korean JTV

support@line6.com — Fri, 11 May 2012 23:01:42 GMT

Hey there Player 99:

I've seen this thread and I don't speak up much, but I'll try to help you on this one.....

We have three JTV-59s, one US and two Koreans. We tour all three of the 59s and all are reliable mechanically.

As for the difference I can tell you that it is "subtle" but significant. It's like a Mexican Strat vs. USA Custom Shop Strat - or an Epiphone Paul vs a Custom Shop Paul. It's that kind of difference. The Mex Strats and the Epi Pauls are nice, Gibson Asia and Fender Corona do great work. For the money (which is always a factor) you can't beat them. Same with the JTV 59s. I can say that sonically our two Koreans are identical, but the US59 is just plain "different" and definitely better - it's more alive and harmonic in a very pleasing way and it just plays better overall.

Yes, as noted above, the electronics in all three are identical. But, just because the electronics are the same, that doesn't mean the Koreans sound the same as the USA's. As one of my good friends at L6 put it to me a while back - just because the guitar "models" doesn't mean that it doesn't also react to and benefit from the more lively and resonate tone woods which the USA has. There is a difference.

But again, I will offer that - definitely - the differences are subtle. At a visual glance and a quick listen and a couple of seconds playing, you might not see/hear a difference. It's when you get "deeper" that the differences reveal themselves - stuff like how sweet and buttery the neck is on the USA vs. the Korean (which is also good, but tends to be "edgy" sometimes - especially at the ends of the fret wires), the quality of the rosewood fretboard is very different and much more supple and open on the USA - really holds up better (stays more playable) when we do outside venues in higher temperatures and humidities. The fit and finish on the USA is - in a word - perfect. The fit and finish on the Korean is - in a word - good.

I can say that the 59US is every-bit as well-made as any of our Gibsons, Fenders, Rics or Tom Andersons. I will also say that the Korean feels good too though, but more like what you get from a PRS-SE (World Musical makes them too). Again, the Koreans are good and we had two of them before we ever got the USA model. One of our Koreans is now a very high-mileage guitar for its age and is holding up really well.

I would say that, if you have any doubts about which to get and you're not sold completely on the JTV concept in general, definitely go with the Korean - because it is a really good value (IMHO) for everything it brings to the table. Plus, if you're playing pro, having two is pretty much a must anyway. Then, you can always opt into the USA later - or keep the Korean in good shape and sell it when you can get your USA. Or get another Korean in a different finish (which is what we did) as your backup. Most of the top USA online retailers offer a fairly liberal return policy, so that might give you an opportunity to pick up a Korean, play it a few days and see if it is "your" guitar and if not, maybe be able to return it without losing anything.

Hope I was of some help to you - good luck.

Blessings,

Bradley GT

Re: Nick_Mattocks...Gone but not forgotten

support@line6.com — Mon, 07 May 2012 19:06:06 GMT

A true gentleman in every sense of the word. Nick will be sorely missed.

Re: Weird HD500 Tuner Behavior using JTV-59 with VDI

support@line6.com — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 17:02:34 GMT

Phil,

Thanks - that does appear to be the case. Still, it seems curious that both chains would process the signal from beginning to end - except for the tuner...

Here's the challenge for us - I think we are going to start using VDI cables more going forward and we also use non-Variax guitars in the same sets, but plugged into the same HD500's.

Seems like to juggle guitars, we will also have to juggle input settings on the HD500 - when we change from a Variax (in the VDI) to a Non-Variax (in the 1/4 inch input).

Anyone else have any ideas here?

BGT

Weird HD500 Tuner Behavior using JTV-59 with VDI

support@line6.com — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 16:25:04 GMT

Does anyone know if the tuner in the HD500 hears ONLY input source 1 (even though the HD500 WILL correctly route the input signal from either input 1 OR 2 all the way to the outputs)?

Here's what is happening: Generally speaking we do not use a VDI on the HD500, but did so in a studio session last night. We were using a JTV-59. Our guitarist activated the tuner and showed me that it wasn't responding (no cursor).

We had the input settings as follows:

Input Source 1: Guitar

Input Source 2: Variax

We unplugged the VDI and plugged the JTV-59 into the Guitar 1 via 1/4" cable and the tuner worked properly.

BOTH of the inputs produced the correct output out of the XLR Outs. In other words, the HD500 sounded the same whether on the VDI or the 1/4 Guitar Input, but the tuner worked only on the 1/4 inch.

Then we reversed the above (in the HD500 input settings) and had opposite - tuner while using the VDI, but not the 1/4 inch. Seems bizarre that the HD500 can properly route the signal all the way from the input to the outputs, regardless of which input you use, but the tuner only appears to work on whichever is selected as input 1.

BTW, we tested this later last night on another HD500 and it did the same thing. To us that rules out a mechanical problem.

??? Are we missing something here - seems like a bug in the software and BTW we are running V 2.02 on the HD500's, Version 2.00 HD500 Edit, and the new 1.8 Firmware on the JTV-59.

Really do appreciate any insight here. Thanks everyone.

Bradley GT

Re: Discussion / Thoughts / Opinions on the new acoustic models.

support@line6.com — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 13:40:12 GMT

Nick,

Is there a detailed description of the update and its new capabilities somewhere here on the forum? We looked and didn't see anything. Maybe we didn't look in the right place.

Thanks in advance Nick,

Re: Thinking of changing jtv59 tuners/machine heads

support@line6.com — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 13:37:01 GMT

Gary:

Wow... What a journey - such a long wait. But they look great. Glad you are pleased.

Bradley

Re: Thinking of changing jtv59 tuners/machine heads

support@line6.com — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 21:43:57 GMT

Gary:

Did the tuners arrive and did you get them in successfully?

Bradley GT

Re: Thinking of changing jtv59 tuners/machine heads

support@line6.com — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 16:06:08 GMT

Gary,

Sorry you've had problems getting the tuners... Hopefully you will find that it was worth the wait... We are sure happy with ours.

Best,

Bradley

Re: Locking tuners for JTV-59

support@line6.com — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 03:01:27 GMT

Jealousblues:

See this thread below for how we retrofitted with Schaller locking tuners into our Korean JTV-59 - there are several images and a Schaller ordering source. It is a perfect fit, other than the the shaft on the paddles being a bit short (still works perfectly though....) Follow this link for the full detail:

http://line6.com/support/message/303701#303701

Bradley GT