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726 Views 2 Replies Latest reply: Feb 10, 2010 9:30 AM by cuestix RSS
ro005fr Just Startin'
ro005fr
3 posts since
Feb 7, 2010
Currently Being Moderated

Feb 10, 2010 6:57 AM

Variax Acoustic 700 flash question

I just picked up a Variax Acoustic 700 used.  I purchased the guitar from the original owner who bought the guitar new in early 2004.  I did a soft reset on the guitar to remove the custom sounds from the previous owner.  I know the previous owner did not use Workbench with this guitar.  Is there any value in buying workbench?  Is there a flash update available for this guitar that would be of value.  Some of the patches do not sound too good and it appears so have some intermittent issues with the various factory patches. 

Tags: workbench, acoustic, 700
  • gmcgann Just Startin'
    gmcgann
    36 posts since
    Feb 1, 2008
    Currently Being Moderated
    Feb 10, 2010 8:59 AM (in response to ro005fr)
    Re: Variax Acoustic 700 flash question

    I got my Variax 700 used, and it wouldn't connect to workbench. A few months later I sent it in and it turned out someone had tried to plug a 1/4 inch cable in the ehternet jack and boogered up the pins. After the $50 repair it connects fine.

     

    During the time I used the guitar with the factory patches I found that I really liked playing it, but changing anything was a PITA. Trying to retune individual strings for an open tuning was a nightmare. Capo mode worked kind of okay, but onstage at a jam with other people noodling between songs made it almost impossible to hear what was happening. I found that while the Variax had guitar models I'd love to record with, there were only a few I'd ever play live.

     

    Then I started playing with Workbench and the guitar became my favorite axe and the only one I take to acoustic gigs. I have several different bundles for different gigs, and I've even taken my laptop and the interface to a gig and reloaded a new patch bundle between sets.

     

    Workbench let's you remove the models you don't use (who needs a Shamisen?) and replace them with copies of the ones you do. I have five copies of the Gibson Jumbo in my normal bundle, with different alternate tunings. Having a Variax without workbench is like having a Porsche with only first gear.

     

    Here is my primary bundle:

     

    Knob SettingOriginal GuitarCurrent GuitarAlternate TuningSong
    Parlor1941 Martin 5-17JumboDGCGCDRain Song
    Triple O1946 Martin 000-28Triple ODrop DVarious
    Dread1960 Martin D-21DreadDouble Drop DBlack Water
    Jumbo1954 Gibson J45JumboOpen GSouth City Midnight Lady, Tumblin' Dice
    C&W1951 Gibson SJ-200C&WB F# B F# B D#Open B, Rain(Creed)
    Gypsy1933 Selmer MaccaferriJumboBEADF#B (Baritone)The Space Between
    Jazz1951 D'Angelico New YorkerDreadEEEEBESuite Judy Blue Eyes
    Nylon1958 Manuel VelazquezDreadD# G# C# F# A# D#Half Step Down
    Folk 121973 Guild F412Folk 12FifthsSky (Original)
    Blues 121935 Stella AuditoriumFolk 12E and A Octave DownBlues
    RND Neck1939 National Reso-Phonic Style "O"SQR DobroOpen EBlues
    SQR Neck1937 Dobro Model 27SQR DobroOpen ABlues
    BanjoGibson MastertoneBangoSTDVarious
    MandolaMandolin FamilyJumboDADAAEName
    ShamisenJapanese ShamisenJumboOpen EShe Talks To Angels
    SitarIndian SitarSitarSTD

    Do It Again

  • cuestix Just Startin'
    cuestix
    15 posts since
    May 23, 2007
    Currently Being Moderated
    Feb 10, 2010 9:30 AM (in response to ro005fr)
    Re: Variax Acoustic 700 flash question

    I don't have a lot to add on the subject, but I'll second the opinion that Workbench is very worthwhile.  If you want to use any alternate tunings, it's indispensable.  I've setup all my custom positions on the Variax with alternate tunings for my favorite axes.  If you have the XT Live or X3 Live, you can use these with Workbench to automatically set the Variax to the right guitar and tuning in a live gig, once you've preset the Pod with the tones, guitars and tuning setup you want to use.  It takes a bit of pre-planning, but once its setup and you store the bundles to a laptop, you can reload and use them on the fly.   One word of advice though -- take lots of notes to track what each POD tone does on the Variax (guitar and tuning) and make sure to keep track of which bundle you've stored it in.

     

    I've been thinking about purchasing an X3 Live.  I have an XT Live now.  Does anyone know if the X3 display offers more info about the Variax setting?  Anyone have some good templates for tracking the settings?  I'm using paper, but would think that a simple database would really streamline this process, especially if there was some way to link it up with Gearbox.  If the software experts at Line 6 are reading this, I'd pay extra for a tone management system in Gearbox that allows us to setup and manage bundles of settings for gigs.  I'd want it to have fields that tell me the basic tone name and the Variax setting and tuning linked to it.  I suppose some facile way of calling these tones and Variax settings up quickly in Gearbox and forcing the settings through the XT/X3 live interface would be a fine alternate. Right now I have to leave Gearbox to call up Workbench even though both are connected through my POD XT Live.

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