Community: Can the JTV-69 do the Fripp tuning (or the New Standard Tuning)?

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337 Views 8 Replies Latest reply: Jul 15, 2012 1:01 AM by Crusty_Old_Rocker

moonmusic

11 posts since
May 18, 2007

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Feb 15, 2012 1:46 PM

Can the JTV-69 do the Fripp tuning (or the New Standard Tuning)?

Hi,

I have a Pod HD500 and an old Variax 300 which is slowly dying. The sound is rubbery and the sound will drop out at times so I think it's time to get rid of it so I was thinking about buying a JTV-69 and one thing I'm partically interested in is the alternate tunings and whether it is possible to program in the tuning Robert Fripp uses (C-G-D-A-E-G) which he also refers to as the New Standard Tuning. I tried using Workbench to program this into the Variax 300 but it sounds so warbly and particularly crappy as you go up the neck. Has anyone tried this on the new, better breed of variaxs? I also have a Roland GR-55 where I tried to create this tuning and it sounds just as bad on it. I'd like to know this before buying a JTV-69 and if I was assured that it could do the tuning well, I'd probably go for it. Otherwise, I might wait to hear the Peavey or Parker Antares system guitars to see if they can do it. Anyone have any info on this?

Thanks,

Moonmusic

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moonmusic
11 posts since
May 18, 2007

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Feb 23, 2012 7:34 AM (in response to moonmusic)
Re: Can the JTV-69 do the Fripp tuning (or the New Standard Tuning)?

Well, I guess I'm replying to my own post. I talked to someone at Line 6 and told them the tuning and they tried it on a JTV-69 there and played it for me over the phone. Not a great sound source to determine but the tech told me that it sounded fine with no warbling so based on that I decided to order it. Fortunately Guitar Center has a 30-day return policy in case it doesn't work well with that tuning.

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TheRealZap
11,829 posts since
Dec 22, 2006

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Feb 23, 2012 7:42 AM (in response to moonmusic)
Re: Can the JTV-69 do the Fripp tuning (or the New Standard Tuning)?

the alt tuning works quite well...
but that tuning doesn't look too pleasant to me... and i'd hardly call it a new standard...
but it can be fun to sort some things out in different tunings... besides @45years as a guitar player, that guy will probably do anything to make it more interesting.

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- moonmusic
  11 posts since
  May 18, 2007
  
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  Feb 23, 2012 7:55 AM (in response to TheRealZap)
  Re: Can the JTV-69 do the Fripp tuning (or the New Standard Tuning)?
  
  Fripp's been using that tuning since 1985 so he might have been using it for more than half of his career by now. It works well in an ensemble group of all guitarists where you would have four parts for guitar in different ranges as it expands the bottom and high range of the guitar. It's actually closer to a classical string instrument tuning of 5ths rather than the standard guitar tuning of mostly 4ths. Anyway, the reason I wanted to know if the Variax could do it is so I didn't have to dedicate a guitar to that tuning but pull it up when needed. I ordered a JTV-69 and am looking forward to trying all sorts of tunings with it.
  
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  - rlincicum
    2 posts since
    Sep 10, 2008
    
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    Mar 2, 2012 12:25 PM (in response to moonmusic)
    Re: Can the JTV-69 do the Fripp tuning (or the New Standard Tuning)?
    
    Not familiar with the tuning, but I don't see much the JTV can't do. The tuning thing starts with the nut in the middle, so you can do up or down on either string-and set whatever tuning you want. Very nice interface with the workbench, as usual from line6.
    
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  - TheRealZap
    11,829 posts since
    Dec 22, 2006
    
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    Apr 10, 2012 10:42 AM (in response to moonmusic)
    Re: Can the JTV-69 do the Fripp tuning (or the New Standard Tuning)?
    
    did you ever get this, or give it a try? just wondered if it worked for you?
    
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    - moonmusic
      11 posts since
      May 18, 2007
      
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      Apr 10, 2012 11:55 AM (in response to TheRealZap)
      Re: Can the JTV-69 do the Fripp tuning (or the New Standard Tuning)?
      
      I finally did get my hands on a JTV-69 and, yes, you can use that tuning on it but there's sort of a catch. You have to crank the volume to your headphones or speakers as the sound of the guitar strings can blend with the altered tuning making it sound warbly and distorted. I tried recording and the recording only picks up the altered tuning sound so it works fine though disconerting to the ears when playing if the volume isn't loud enough. Also, not every guitar sound really works with this tuning especially as you move up the neck. Forget the 12 strings. The Les Pauls and some of the single string acoustics work pretty well.
      
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      - player99
        111 posts since
        Dec 13, 2007
        
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        Jul 14, 2012 10:44 PM (in response to moonmusic)
        Re: Can the JTV-69 do the Fripp tuning (or the New Standard Tuning)?
        
        You said you already had a variax so why the suprise about hearing the strings?
        
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- Crusty_Old_Rocker
  3,096 posts since
  Jan 24, 2007
  
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  Jul 15, 2012 1:01 AM (in response to TheRealZap)
  Re: Can the JTV-69 do the Fripp tuning (or the New Standard Tuning)?
  
  TheRealZap wrote:
  
  ... and i'd hardly call it a new standard...
  
  Yeah, I'd be careful about calling it the new standard tuning unless string gauges and intonation on all guitars are matched to it.
  
  I'd only use virtual tuning for it rather than the actual strings because that tuning is going to put a very different strain on the neck and it would be hard to predict what that will do to the neck over time.
  
  Cheers,
  
  Crusty
  
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Feb 15, 2012 1:46 PM

Can the JTV-69 do the Fripp tuning (or the New Standard Tuning)?

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