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266 Views 4 Replies Latest reply: Jan 19, 2013 2:18 PM by brywool RSS
brywool Just Startin'
brywool
11 posts since
Feb 13, 2009
Currently Being Moderated

Jan 18, 2013 7:14 PM

New Variax JTV 59- having a tough time, can someone help?

Hi, Just got a new JTV59 (black). I'm really excited to use this live, but when it comes to tunings, I'm super confused.

 

My understanding is that the HD500 CAN store the tuning in individual patches along with the guitar model, but the old Variaxes can't.

In my show, I use a bunch of different tunings with an acoustic and I'm hoping that I can store these into presets on the HD500.

I've got the HD500 setup to receive the JVT signals and have written a basic acoustic patch to a channel. Great!

I've create the necessary patches in Workbench with their tunings.

When I click on them from Workbench, the guitar changes to the alt. tuning. Again, Great!

 

Now, when I try to write a patch from the Variax to an open slot on the HD500, it doesn't seem to store the tuning.

I read a post where someone said "You have to store them on your Variax first". I selected them in Workbench and moved them from left to right and did a sync.

 

However the tunings don't seem to work.

My apologies if this is an old point. I have looked through the forum and am still unclear.

  • silverhead Expert Line 6 User
    silverhead
    9,592 posts since
    Apr 1, 2009
    Currently Being Moderated
    Jan 18, 2013 7:38 PM (in response to brywool)
    Re: New Variax JTV 59- having a tough time, can someone help?

    There are two basic ways to work with alternate tunings using the HD500 and the JTV.

     

    1) Use Workbench as you describe to load/store an alternate tuning in one of the model slots on the JTV guitar (e.g. Custom 1). Set the Tuning knob on the JTV to 'Model'. Now as you manually select the Custom 1 model on the JTV the alternate tuning will apply. Then save this JTV Model selection (Custom 1) to a patch/preset in the HD500. Now when you select the HD500 patch the Custom 1 preset will be selected on the JTV, and since its tuning knob is set to Model, the alternate tuning will apply.

     

    2) No need to use Workbench. Set the JTV tuning knob to Standard. In the HD500 patch, select the desired JTV Model and use the alternate tuning feature in the HD500. You will find it in the Mixer page of HD500 Edit, or on Page 8 of the Setup pages (hold down the VIEW button to access the Setup pages). After saving the HD500 patch with the JTV Model and alternate tuning set as desired, selecting that patch will simultaneously select the saved JTV model and apply the alternate tuning to the JTV, referenced from Standard tuning as per the tuning knob position.

     

    Personally, I prefer method #2 - no need for Workbench as long as you are using 6-string JTV models. I'm not very familiar with alternate tunings on 12-string models but it might be more complex than I've outlined here.

    • brywool Just Startin'
      brywool
      11 posts since
      Feb 13, 2009
      Currently Being Moderated
      Jan 18, 2013 10:53 PM (in response to silverhead)
      Re: New Variax JTV 59- having a tough time, can someone help?

      Silverhead, thanks for the reply.

      I was under the impression I could save the tunings and the model on the HD500 without having to worry about what position the tuning knob is in. That'd sure make things less complicated for shows.

      I haven't checked the Alternate tuning deal on the HD500 yet. I will have a look and see how I do. It sounds like the #2 method might be a good way to go. Yeah, I'll be using the 12 string and 6 string patches.

      • silverhead Expert Line 6 User
        silverhead
        9,592 posts since
        Apr 1, 2009
        Currently Being Moderated
        Jan 19, 2013 7:54 AM (in response to brywool)
        Re: New Variax JTV 59- having a tough time, can someone help?

        brywool wrote:

         

        ...

        I was under the impression I could save the tunings and the model on the HD500 without having to worry about what position the tuning knob is in. ..

        You may be right on this; I find the manual ambiguous on this point. And I've only ever used the HD500-based alt tunings with the JTV knob in Standard position. Please let us know if you find it works properly in any position.

  • brywool Just Startin'
    brywool
    11 posts since
    Feb 13, 2009
    Currently Being Moderated
    Jan 19, 2013 2:18 PM (in response to brywool)
    Re: New Variax JTV 59- having a tough time, can someone help?

    Okay, so I got all my tunings in and they all come up as they should. Thanks a ton Silverhead!

    I've not used this at a gig, just hope I can remember where everything is.

     

    Just to explain what I made/stored on the hd500:

    4 electric guitar clean patches- Gretsch, Epiphone Casino, 12 String, Strat with touch of overdrive on it.

    4 distorted patches (strat, LP, saturated LP, some over the top solo patch I downloaded, and a Stones sound for the heck of it)

    4 6 string acoustic patches, standard, step lower, step higher, 3 steps up

    4 12 string acoustic patches - standard, up 1, up 3, up 7

     

    Using the 12 string up 7 frets is a bit weird. I'm not sure if it's cuz I'm hearing what I'm playing or not. It does sound funky when you're playing it though.  I recorded it, and it sounds ok, but loses that acoustic feeling, which is a drag. It's also weird playing stuff I'd normally play up there with a capo, on the lower frets. Will take a bit of getting used to.

    Anybody notice that when you do harmonics on the 12 string setting, with a virtual capo going, it can kind of wig out the notes?

     

    Thanks again!

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