Jul 10, 2012 6:10 AM
JTV 59 or 69 decision
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Soon I will be purchasing a new JTV but my decision comes down to the tremolo bar on the 69. Does it stay in tune when used occasionally or on a dive bomb? Right now I'm a variax 500 user and am used to the 5 way switch and the selector knob and no tremolo on it. So many users complain about how the 69 with the term doesn't stay on tune when used. Are there any 69 users that aren't having problems with it?
I don't have any problems with the trem, but I don't dive bomb on it.
I prefer to have the trem to be able to have that option that is part of many of the modelled guitars. the guitar stays in tune just as well as my Fender American Deluxe Strat. So I'm very happy with it. But, like it said I don't do any dive bombing on it or my Strat.
Cheers,
Crusty
So would you say that the term problem has been addressed and fixed? It has been a couple years since they released the JTV. Your answers will make this an easy decision. Anyone from line 6 care to comment? Thanks
they did change some of the trem details after release.. and the issues were greatly reduced... so i'd say they addressed it.
still not sure that any strat style trem is made for much "dive bombing" but coming from a 500 you have nothing to lose.... its a great upgrade.
I have both. No issues with the trem here. I did go to 9-42 strings and lubed up the nut to be sure the strings don't get caught up there. Also lubed up the pivot points of the bridge. I also did the check of the bridge wiring to be sure no issues are there binding up the bridge from returning back to start point (mine floats). I don't do Vai or EVH-isms, so the 69 works great for me. The 59 neck is quite a bit bigger than the 69, so the 69 gets more play from me.
Bbake, is your 69 fairly new? I had a Parker with a similar term(non locking) and it stayed in tune.
Both were bought earlier this year (March for the '69 then April for the '59) from Sweetwater. LPB '69 and CB '59.
Good luck, Bob
I'm also looking at the sunburst finish as opposed to the other 2 finishes. What are users opinions on that finish?
My 69 is tobacco sunburst and I think it looks great, the scratchplate is actually a pale green colour but it goes with the guitar great.
Mine was late 2011 manufacture and I did have a few trem problems, but nothing that can't be easily sorted:
1) the edges of the pivot points espically on the bass string side had burring (rough edges), and this caused it to consistently go flat after going down, but would reset with a slight pull up - taking the trem block out and filing the the burring down to give a rounded edge sorted that out; plus a bit of lubrication helps too
2) maximum dive is restricted by the cable tie that holds the peizo signal cable in place - the fix for this goes with 3 below.
3) the peizo signal cable from trem block into the processor did catch as it went through the body or rubbed against the pcb and I could feel it in the trem arm
2 and 3 together were sorted by re-routing the cable slightly similar to http://line6.com/support/message/323936#323936 but rather than the bastardised cable tie I made one myself using a bit of the strong plastic tape that you often find around (not stuck to) cardboard packaging - cut a small length and drill holes to match the trem retention screw. The reason why this helps with 2 is because the tie-wrap that originally held the cable has the lock part at the back of the block (see before picture on first post) and that takes 2 to 3 mm off the maximum movement of the block backwards; by removing it the trem will go down to where the bottom E is slack enough to be noticably pulled in by the pickups.
Due to headstock shape you can't get the top strings to go slack (locking nut needed), and then neck angle prevents the "perfect" trem raise (to exact intervals) as the trem plate hits the body too early - this can also be fixed by raising the trem up, but to keep the relatively low action the neck will need a small shim to tilt it back slightly.
Even with all this I am still slightly unhappy with the trem, and that is because it doesn't quite "bounce" right; whether it is due to block weight not being heavy enough, the damping foam in the springs, or the damping effect of the peizo cable I don't know, but if you flick the trem the warble isn't perfect to my taste.
On the plus side it work fine for traditional relatively conservative use and the electronics more than make up for it not being a floyd rose.
Do you like a Les Paul (59) or a Strat (69)?
The reason I went for the 69 was the trem and that's because some of the modelled guitars just wouldn't be the same if there wasn't a trem available - think of the Gretsch guitars.
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Cheers,
Crusty
The reason I went for the 69 was the trem and that's because some of the modelled guitars just wouldn't be the same if there wasn't a trem available - think of the Gretsch guitars.
Same here. Every time I fired up the 6120 on my old Variax 500, I kept thinking to myself, "yarrgghh! I need a trem!"
I haven't had a single issue with the trem on my JTV-69, but like others who have responded I don't dive bomb; I tend to just use it for smaller bends and vibrato, a la Jeff Beck.
Well I did it I got the 69 sunburst. Can't wait till it comes in!
Today I returned a jtv89 that I had bought on friday and got the jtv69 because it had a tremolo bar. Now I'm very happy. I was wondering if your tremolo is loose or not. Mine is very loose. i can work with that. I liked the neck on the jtv89 a little better because it was a little wider and narrower, but I had to have my trem.
So I got the guitar and it plays really nice but have 2 problems. The high E string slips off the fretboard and the magnetic pickups dont come on when I push on the model selector knob. Any suggestions?
Get a new neck under warranty, put something under the model knob so it doesn't go down so far.
I opened a ticket on it. Waiting for a reply from Line 6.
I have 3 59s and a 69. Two of the 59s have been xplanted and the 69 is new. I already have a warmoth neck for the 69. The neck seems cool, but both e strings tend to slip off the neck and I don't like the feel of pretty much bare wood. To me the neck isn't really satin feeling, it feels like bare wood. Others may love that though.
Also on my 2 xplants I have pretty much the same spec necks warmoth 25.5 inch scale, compound radius, standard slim, with 6105 stainless frets. If I pick up either the tel or explorer xplant the necks feel almost identical and comfortable, where as if I pick up the 59 or the 69, it takes a while to get comfortable with the neck.
I hardly ever use a trame, and am way more likely to do faux pedal steel or oblique bends that a trem can cause problmes with. Since I will have probably 4 JTVs without trem it did make sense to have one with trem for when I want to have a trem.
The finsihs on my LPB 69 looks better than any of the pics of the Korean modela. The 59s also looked better than the pics of korean 59s. Maybe they intentionally make the US guitars look better?
I am not crazy about the slight green tint on the pick guard, and will replace the pickguard as well as likely refinish the guitar. I may have time to play the 69 a bit today and will try the trem out a bit. The nut looks plastic but could swear they said it was tusq. The locking tuners are a nice touch but my replacement neck has planet waves locking autotrims which will be an upgrade.
Well i'm sending it back today to Line 6 for repair. I hope it doesn't take too long because I LOVE this guitar!! There is so much you can do with this thing and the pod hd 500 is like icing on the cake!
I cant get the tremolo arm out. Any suggestions?
Sorry to be overly obvious, but did you loosen the hex screw? I think it takes a 1.5mm wrench. I forget the exact size, but I know that L6 oddly didn't include one with the guitar.
Yes I did back off that set screw and I still could not get it out. I actually took the screw out to no avail. I had to send it back this way.
i got the guitar back today from repair and the high e string was broken and when I replaced it the string was still slipping off the neck. This took a month for them to send it back in the same condition. ******!!
I had GC confirm my findngs and ordered me another one. I hope it doesnt come like this last one. I took the last one to a repair shop and he said he could replace the nut but everything would be shifted toward the low E. the replacement should be here
Wednesday. Fingers crossed!!!
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