I've been using my 300 as my main guitar for the past 5 years in my band. (www.60sgroove.com) Only recently, have I satrted using a real 12 string & acoustic, because we're playing more corporate gigs and it's more of a "percieved value" kind of thing when the members are switching guitars.....

My JTV-69 is my main guitar.  I have two Variax 300's that were my main and backup before I got the JTV.  I actually have an SG that I use as my backup.  It rarely ever gets played (only if I break a string on my JTV at a gig).  I had a few strange things happen with my 300's that made me get a backup, but have been using the JTV for over a year (well over 100 gigs) and haven't had anything go wrong.  As for your question, honestly, I would only use a non-Variax for a special project.  This thing does it all and does it well. 

Even for my acoustic gigs, I leave the acoustics at home and just bring my Variax.  I get different models, 12 string and multiple tunings available at the turn of a knob.  It sounds amazing and with the new update coming soon should be even better (they announced they have updated the acoustic models). 

The great thing with the JTV over the original Variax, besides the quality of the modeling and instrument, is that if you had a problem with the modeling, you have a quality standard pickup guitar to play as a backup.  That's why I got the strat style even though I prefer a Les Paul sound.  With the HSS configuration you have plenty of flexibility in a pinch.  I have never had that be a problem, but it's nice to know.

Which JTV are you getting?

I use my JTV-69 as my main guitar. For the first gig, I brought my acoustic as a just in case backup, but I never used it. I am still working and adjusting sounds, but for most of our songs, I know the sound I am looking for so I have a specific setting I use.

Just last Sunday at a jam/practice, I used one of the acoustic12-string setting, the Jazzbox 3 setting, the banjo setting, one of the chime 12 string settings, etc. Lots and lots of fun. At a gig, I use the Special 3 setting and the Telecaster 3 setting a lot, but all of the settings have a place in different songs.

Steve

My main guitar is a cherry red 69 but there was no way I was gonna gig with it with the original neck so I swapped that out for a Warmoth neck within hours of it's arrival. I have gigged with it at least twice a week ever since. I use a really nice Washburn as a backup and only had to use it a couple of times when I broke strings. You can bet your ar$e the strings were replaced rather quickly so I could get going again. I would however, happily use my Variax 700 but that stays at home now and rarely gets used.

A couple of weeks ago I tried gigging with my Ibanez 2170 Prestige and whilst it plays beautifully, just isn't a patch on the 69 with the Warmoth neck.

Whether I am in the studio, live, jamming or in the garage, I take my 69 everywhere. I just love the thing.

Just as a side note, I use a DT50 head into 4x12 for gigging and jamming, I'm lucky I can leave 1 of my cabs at the jam venue all locked up from week to week. But, I have stopped using the HD500 and now use the M13 instead. Ok I've lost the one button does everything feature but what I get back in tone and feel is worth the trade. Using the 69 manually is no big deal and nor is stomping on a few switches, I've done it for years. I love the concept, just didn't work that well for me.

Hope you love your new JTV like I do. It'll change your life.

1. As a lead guitar player for a rock band, I used to use the (Dean baby V) and Ibanez RG and S models now I have the  JTV 89 Blood Red, for about a year now and I only now, and I use it exclusively for everything the rig setup is  JTV89br, PODHD500, Relay G90, spider valve 2, it is really the best setup there is, the JTV is perfect because  we use acoustic melodies and metal transitions in the same songs, and a the flip of a switch I’m there, also different songs have interesting tuning where you would need a different guitar, one song in particular switch from major to minor about three times in the song, and again at the flip of a switch, I could go on for a very long time like this, but for the sake of time, I have no backup guitar. And after seeing and feeling the be wonderment the other guitar player tossed his Ibanez prestige, and grabbed the JTV89 Black, and the pod x3 live, Line 6 for president loll>>

Hi all.

I use the JTV-69 as my main guitar now. Usually JTV > POD HD 500 > front of house. Occasionally JTV-69 > POD HD 500 > Spider IV HD150 half stack. I usually have to turn on the amp in "Test" mode, so as not to color the tone, but more recently I have just been  asking the sound person for 3 XLR, 2 for the POD and one for my MIC. I play in a rock band that re-does a lot of the 80's and 90's tunes, and the ability to switch from onboard mags, to a strat, to a les paul, to a 12 string acoustic, simply by pressing a button, including altrnate tunings, is a blessing.

My back up guitar differs with the gig.

Primarily I use a Schecter C1+ with duncan designed pickups and a coil tap.

For heavier shows I use my ESP EC1000FR with active 85 in the bridge, and active 60 in the neck.

But these guitars usually just sit there in-tune and looking good. The Variax does way to much to want to put it down.

I use the Variax mostly over VDI. For a gig that doesn't require on the fly tuning and or model changes, I tend to favor running it through a Line 6 Relay G30.
I have two different set lists for every show. One using Variax instructions, and the other relying on me manually setting up the guitar per song. Having this flexability is truely a wonderous thing.

In the near future I expect to complete my "Dream Rig" by aquiring a DT-25 or DT-50 head and running it into my Spider IV slant cabinet.

Best Regards, and Keep Playing.

Hi, I'm a new ower of a JTV-59 (Black). I bought the JTV as an alternative to bringing 4 different guitars to a tribute band gig that I'm working with. Bringing those 4 guitars, a keyboard, and a mandolin is something I won't miss by now only bringing the JTV, mando, and keyboard. Interesting thread here and it brings up something I didn't think of (DUH!) - If I'm using JTV-59 as my sole guitar, and the HD500- if I break a string and the song calls for an acoustic, I'm in trouble. Yikes. Might have to buy another JTV before long- the blue one sure is nice!  I'm actually in 3 bands and will only (at first anyway) use the JTV in the one with the most instruments. I'm running it through a Bose L1 II and so far, I'm getting really great results with it. Now, my Takamine 12 string acoustic, Epiphone 6 string acoustic, and whatever electric I normally bring (Tele, 1 of 2 Strats, Ric 620, or Les Paul) will most likely stay at home for the multi-instrument gig. Excited to use it live.