Community: Message List - Expression of interest for left hand JTV Variax models

Re: Expression of interest for left hand JTV Variax models

support@line6.com — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 06:15:12 GMT

leftywantsline6 wrote:

i can think of quite a few reasons why the decision making process is severly flawed and why Line6 could make an impact in the lefty guitar market, lets see if any of these bullets are read by a non-zombie:

1. differentiation... if most companies 'dont' make lefties, then you SHOULD
2. profit margin... you can certainly put your RnD and MfG costs into the resale price of the units, left handed players are used to paying more
3. good-will... you can upsell other products by adding more exposure of your product
4. newness... most left-handed players do not want a used guitar, or at least want to 'play it first' if you place a pilot product in stores you'll get more touches than the riffraff
5. marketing... you can say publicly that you support alternative professionals and practicing musicians, its something you can use to sell the mainstream products
6. make-to-order... you certainly could just build them to order vs stocking them in stores (other than demos)... whereby you can create demand before being exposed to loss
7. LH sells LH... the reason why most left-handed players purchase fender or gibson isnt becuase of preference its supply side, its whats available in the store

I'm not a lefty, but I sympathize with you folks and agree with all the points so clearly outlined by leftywantsline6. Well thought out and presented!

A couple of minor responses...

leftywantsline6 wrote:

im willing to pay prime dollars for a guitar, and willing to pre-pay and wait 6mos for the unit... your RH clients would never do that, and they are probably disloyal, have dozens of other guitars at their disposal...

I put down a deposit for a JTV and waited 6 months before cancelling my order. It wasn't because I was disloyal. It was because I felt Line 6 was disloyal in continuing to prioritize US distribution channels and continually delaying the promised deliveries to Canada. So yes... I did spend my money on other guitars and decided to question my loyalties to Line 6. In fact, I decided I didn't have any at all.

leftywantsline6 wrote:

...you can create a real following if you just had the vision to do so and the will to take risks. from what i can see on the functionality of the website and market share in RH guitars, you need to do 'something' so why not? build 10units and see what happens i cant believe a market study gives you better results than trial-and-error, i dont believe it.

But you should probably also keep in mind that Line 6 *did* make a left-handed Variax, so they have gone down that road before and have obviously drawn some conclusions about whether or not it is worth it to them. So this is not trial-and-error, here. This is an executive decision, even though it is most probably not the smartest move for Line 6 to retain a good following. I think they have burned a lot of bridges over the past 3 years.

You're totally right though... they *should* be making the LH version of at least one model of JTV and making it available for special order, even if you have to wait half a year for it. It makes NO SENSE not to hire some employees and some guitar shop to make that happen. As long as they price it the way they need to price it, they will still get profits and all of you lefties will have access to a JTV.

It's pretty surprising that they have not gone there already. But their response to customers over the past 3 years has been thoroughly surprising and disappointing... not only to lefties.

I still want a JTV when I am ready for another guitar purchase. But at this point I am also prepared to skip it altogether if another option presents itself.

Re: Expression of interest for left hand JTV Variax models

support@line6.com — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 09:55:40 GMT

I've spent time reading through the posts with my b.... poor english ( french guy) to understand if we have chance to see line6 adding the left model in its catalog ... There is no evidence, even not a begining of answer ( wathever it is ) .

The "modeling guitar" market looks to be not mature. Don't even know if its growing. If line6 wants to grow this market , they need customers and "evengelists". The only think I can write is: I'm lefty, interesting to buy such a guitar ( JTV-59P ) and will not play a right one tuned to left (unfortunately, I'm not hendrix .... ) . Nevertheless, I'm a line6 customer ( amps and other staff ).

So , If there is no chance in the coming 2 months the buy a left model , I'll forget about Line6 modeling guitar technology AND I'll not reniew my amp with Line6, and will not support this brand anymore as it is not interested by me .... It"s a litle bit "square" but this is the only way to answer such a strategy. depending on the side, guitar is a passion or a business... As player, I wanted to stay on the passion track , as customer , I don't see another choice.

Marc

Re: Expression of interest for left hand JTV Variax models

support@line6.com — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 21:05:34 GMT

I agree completely. I bought a lefty Variax 500 the day it was available to order from Guitar Center. I still own and play it daily. Yes of all my guitars, it is played the most. I love choosing a model based on my mood and rocking out. I find the models do inspire me to play in styles of music that typically are used by a particular model. ie country licks on a tele.

I would just love a jtv59, but I would get whichever one they sold. I bought the 500 but I wanted the 700. I would even buy one the american ones as a special order if it was the only way to get one. They don't think like a guitar company. they think like an effects/amp company. The lefty 500 might not have done well as an off the shelf guitar, but it could have been a special order through the dealer. and so could the JTV.

Re: Expression of interest for left hand JTV Variax models

support@line6.com — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 22:17:15 GMT

dear leftywantsline6,

ok, I'm a non-zombie I guess. I read all your bullets, and quite frankly it reads like poetry to me. Everything you say puts succinctly in a nutshell what the few of us here have been saying for the last couple of years. If "they" don't respond credibly to all these arguments, forget 'em... I have, even though I'm still in the background as regards this thread.

Re: Expression of interest for left hand JTV Variax models

support@line6.com — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 20:23:17 GMT

i can think of quite a few reasons why the decision making process is severly flawed and why Line6 could make an impact in the lefty guitar market, lets see if any of these bullets are read by a non-zombie:

1. differentiation... if most companies 'dont' make lefties, then you SHOULD

2. profit margin... you can certainly put your RnD and MfG costs into the resale price of the units, left handed players are used to paying more

3. good-will... you can upsell other products by adding more exposure of your product

4. newness... most left-handed players do not want a used guitar, or at least want to 'play it first' if you place a pilot product in stores you'll get more touches than the riffraff

5. marketing... you can say publicly that you support alternative professionals and practicing musicians, its something you can use to sell the mainstream products

6. make-to-order... you certainly could just build them to order vs stocking them in stores (other than demos)... whereby you can create demand before being exposed to loss

7. LH sells LH... the reason why most left-handed players purchase fender or gibson isnt becuase of preference its supply side, its whats available in the store

i own or have owned, fender, gibson, yamaha LH guitars. I am not interested in a RH guitar where the body is shaped wrong and controls are in the wrong place, im way past restringing and not going back to being a novice. im willing to pay prime dollars for a guitar, and willing to pre-pay and wait 6mos for the unit... your RH clients would never do that, and they are probably disloyal, have dozens of other guitars at their disposal... you can create a real following if you just had the vision to do so and the will to take risks. from what i can see on the functionality of the website and market share in RH guitars, you need to do 'something' so why not? build 10units and see what happens i cant believe a market study gives you better results than trial-and-error, i dont believe it.

Re: Expression of interest for left hand JTV Variax models

support@line6.com — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 16:52:34 GMT

Sorry if this has been answered before - I have not been following the discussion too closely lately.

Did we ever get any specifics from line6 on what "a significant amount of interest from the L6 community" really means? Are they looking for some specific number requests somewhere (i.e. on a petition of some sort)?, or are they just blowing smoke?

Re: Expression of interest for left hand JTV Variax models

support@line6.com — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 14:13:59 GMT

Like gordii, I've moved on. We may be 10-15% of the population, but it's not like we're being refused service at the soda fountain counter. They've made an unwise business decision and that's up to them. I railed and railed before but life is short. The irony is I bought a DT-25 combo because for my needs it truly was the best amp for me, and I already had an HD500, also, in my opinion the best multi-effects board out there. Then yesterday I get an email from Line6 promoting the "Dream Rig". Yup, in my dreams!

Re: Expression of interest for left hand JTV Variax models

support@line6.com — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 10:33:41 GMT

If they don't realese LH models... it's time to go the Facebook (etc,etc) and start making some noise. And stop buying Line 6 products. The time is over, isn't it ?

By the way, I'm interested in any LH model.

Re: Expression of interest for left hand JTV Variax models

support@line6.com — Sun, 27 Jan 2013 08:36:09 GMT

I've bought almost everything you could think of from Line6...

The next step was a Variax and boom, a big clap in my face:

"You are a lefty, a customer not worth our efforts. You are not a viable resource of profits.".

Then you know what?

I've decided to stop buying Line6 products. And will be sure to say what I think about your products on blogs, twitter, facebook and friends.

Not having the numbers enough to show that ONE product will be profitable that you decide to not manufacture it is such a short minded view of the business that I even wonder how you can be IN the business(the ROI does not need to be on the product itself, you know that huh?)

You know, there are stuff you sell, won't get you enough money (or worst, not at all) but will please your customers and

convey them into buying your other products or will allow you to keep the customer loyalty rate at a good standard (you know, the one that sells the product for you on the internet, to their friends,on social medias,etc... I know who they are, how they think, I've been one of them).

I wonder what was the market study you've done when you launched your very FIRST product?

Was it based on statistics only?

Now that you are a well known, well branded company, you're like a huge paper manufactury where everything must be approved and signed based on numbers and just numbers.

where is your love for music?

where is your love for (and respect of) the customers?

So disappointed in you,Line6.

Re: Expression of interest for left hand JTV Variax models

support@line6.com — Sun, 27 Jan 2013 22:47:03 GMT

Thanks for your vision, shiriru, I personally have given up on Line6. I've written too often on this thread, spent too much time trying to convince this negatively thinking, right hand biased company of the error of their ways. My guitar playing skills have not improved enough over the last two years to justify spending any more money on Line6 products. Shame, because my insurance policy paid out last December, and I was prepared to let Line6 have at least SOME of the 27,000 if they had only met me half way on this. As it is, I'm better off financially and have also become the meanest anti-Line6 opponent there ever was!