Community: Message List - My new thoughts on the Old Variax vs JTV support situation.

Re: My new thoughts on the Old Variax vs JTV support situation.

support@line6.com — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 19:07:26 GMT

Actually you have a point. It wouldn't be ideal for live preformances.

Re: My new thoughts on the Old Variax vs JTV support situation.

support@line6.com — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 23:41:46 GMT

i'm not baffled... usb ports are far too delicate and the cables are not that durable... look up the many posts about the usb ports on the hd500

Re: My new thoughts on the Old Variax vs JTV support situation.

support@line6.com — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 22:50:13 GMT

I am kind of baffled to why Line6 doesn't use USB ports for the VDI. Perhaps it would need extra drivers, or maybe they want to sell cables.

Re: My new thoughts on the Old Variax vs JTV support situation.

support@line6.com — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 20:04:32 GMT

I can't imagine that the JTV main-board (as well as all the other integral parts that make it a variax) can't be used for old school Variax's. And with the number of people dying to use their Variax's, but can't due to failed parts - they should offer an "on-demand" parts replacement option. Or at least give us the true manufacturer and let us decide if the expense is worth replacing the part. I was directed to a company that has software for flash memory fixes, but since there's no USB input to the main-board, this option is moot. With all this technology, it's sad that we just have to junk a perfectly good guitar - or break out the router.

Re: My new thoughts on the Old Variax vs JTV support situation.

support@line6.com — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 14:29:33 GMT

I'm not saying that Line 6 stuff is disposable, at least not in the typical way that word is used. I think there's a large level of functionality between collectable and disposable, and really, that's where most consumer items fall. You could say there is some planned obsolescence at work, I suppose, but I think that with a technology driven company, there will always be motivation for customers to ditch the old so they can get the new. There are a lot of old processors from the 80's and 90's sitting in studios gathering dust not because they're bricks, but simply because something better came along that replicates and/or supercedes their functionality with more ease of use, better fidelity, more flexibilty, etc.

As far as Line 6 offering support for previous Variax guitars, I'm not sure what a reasonable expectation should be. I think it's like anything in the market. The availability of parts depends largely on how successful the item was in the first place. It also depends on how easy it is to keep manufacturing the parts. For traditional electrics, it's not so much of a big deal because all manufacturers are essentially drawing from the same box of parts, more or less.

I understand the hesitancy some people have in buying the guitar. I really do. I'm not trying to convince anyone. I just think for certain musicians, the Variax is an awesome investment even if they buy and it's essentially worth nothing in 10 years.

Re: My new thoughts on the Old Variax vs JTV support situation.

support@line6.com — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 08:06:56 GMT

I don't expect the Line 6 gear to become collectable either (was just pointing out a side benefit of other gear as it ages), but I do not expect it to be disposable. Phil, that seams to be your take. My point is that if Line 6 pushes the disposable gear thing, I believe they will lose more and more buyers as only those with enough disposable income to constantly replace their gear will be in the market.

Re: My new thoughts on the Old Variax vs JTV support situation.

support@line6.com — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 22:18:01 GMT

I can kind of understand Line 6's decision when thinking of the JTV as an address to V1 Variax's problems. People did keep pushing them to fix stuff about the original models, I guess this was a combination of both the answer to our questions as well as an attempt to rejevenate the Variax so they can push it in marketing, especially as something brand new.

The old Variaxes were cool, but I haven't heard about ANYTHING about Variax until just last year, and they've been out nearly exactly when I started playing guitar.

Like I said, I just wish they kept SOME effort to please old Variax users.

I admit it, The JTV stuff is an amazing update on the concept, but I've said that a lot of us can't afford it so we're clinging to the old ones for now.

I must also admit, that I probably wouldn't have a Variax at all if the JTVs weren't out, causing the V1's to have a major price drop in the market.

Re: My new thoughts on the Old Variax vs JTV support situation.

support@line6.com — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 14:54:03 GMT

Line 6 stuff is not meant to be a collector's piece. It's meant to be used and abused for a little while then replaced by something else. The stuff Line 6 makes is more on the utilitarian side of things, at least from a pragmatic standpoint. So I'd say if a major driver of a person's motivation for buying new guitar equipment is what the re-sale value will be down the road, investing in Line 6 stuff isn't probably the best bet.

That being said, I think my JTV69 is a very well-made guitar. Whether or not I'll keep it for 10 or 15 years, I don't know. I really only have two guitars that I've owned that long. I don't have any amp that's made it that long. It just depends on how people think about gear.

Re: My new thoughts on the Old Variax vs JTV support situation.

support@line6.com — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 12:54:21 GMT

Line 6 has the right to do whatever they want regarding the old Variax. ...just like they had the right to drop the Vetta with all the bugs intact after promising to fix them (along with numerous other "throw $hit against the wall" products like the Duoverb that they have dropped abruptly). I do not claim to know how much business they have lost because of these business decisions, but I can tell you that it has severely impacted my purchasing decisions over the many years since I got my 1st original POD. I still have some Line 6 products and even have an HD500 and JTV69. That being said, I have been in a position to buy a DT and another JTV (either a 59 or possibly the new 89) and have chosen to spend my money on products that I know will last as long as I WANT THEM TO LAST and am willing to make them last. Guitars and amps are not the same as computers and other electronics to me. I have been playing guitars and using computers for over 30 years in both cases and there is a clear difference whether folks want to acknowledge it or not. As for the economics/finance/accounting lessons... they are not on point IMO on either side of this argument. This argument to me is simply about potential buyers making a decision about the life expectancy of a product that is competing with the life expectancy of a product that not only does not become un-repairable but in most cases becomes more desirable with age.

Re: My new thoughts on the Old Variax vs JTV support situation.

support@line6.com — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 12:47:35 GMT

im sure you could buy the baggs pickups from lr baggs direct. but they only sell in sets to my knowledge.

as to why l 6 wont stock old parts .. theres a tax on stock.. every year my company had to pay tax on in house parts and materials... bad enough you have a bunch of stuff one person wants once in a while sitting around taking up space but then you have to pay tax on same parts year after year..