Community: Variax has been abandoned!

cuestix

15 posts since
May 23, 2007

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Oct 7, 2009 7:23 AM (in response to zirakzigal)

Re: Variax has been abandoned!

Yikes! As a fairly recent purchaser of a Variax 700 w/tremolo, I hope not. I've barely been able to put the Variax down since I first plugged it in, and I haven't even explored the combination of tones I can get with a POD XT Live, or what Workbench might do aside from custom tunings. (I really like playing this guitar -- not just the sounds it makes, but the axe itself is nice to play.)

What exactly do you mean by abandoned? Are you looking for more new products with Variax data ports, new tones, new Variax models, upgrades to Workbench? It seems from my experience that Line 6 has a pretty broad range of Variax guitars available and they do pretty much what they say they'll do, especially when I've played through my Pod XT Live.

What I'd like to see for the Variax is updated support for Workbench under Mac OS X Snow Leopard (it doesn't run at all) and more tone discussion in the community forum. If I could use my current laptop instead of an older G4 to connect and use Workbench and Gearbox, I'd join Guitarport and Line 6 would sell me even more stuff.

-Cue

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zirakzigal

4 posts since
Mar 2, 2007

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Oct 7, 2009 8:10 AM (in response to zirakzigal)

Re: Variax has been abandoned!

Let me clarify. This is purely my opinion. Spider Valve MkII, Spider IV, and M9; all out this year with no Variax support.

Line 6 makes guitars. Line 6 makes amps. New Line 6 amps have no Variax support.

Would it not make sense to have EVERY amp (about $300 maybe) with the Variax port and logo. New amp buyers would say "What is the Variax thing, maybe I should look into it. My Line 6 amp is awesome, the Line 6 guitar must be awesome as well." The Variax is hard thing for some people to wrap their head around at first. This would give them and "in" to the mind of the consumer.

Seems to me that they are not invested in the Variax anymore. Unless they view the Variax as a high end device for recording only, but that would be stupid. With an out of the box Mac you can make recordings that rival anything prior to the 2000's (with enough talent). I do not think Line 6 is stupid.

I love my Variax and PodXT Live, but I want an amp with the funtionality of the PodXT Live that does not cost $1700. And even my PodXT Live has features that the Vetta II does not. USB anyone?

Line 6 is a good company and has great customer service. I just do not think their heart is in the Variax line any longer, and it saddens me.

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es336td
154 posts since
Jan 29, 2007

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Oct 7, 2009 8:23 AM (in response to zirakzigal)
Re: Variax has been abandoned!

Just because you can't use the RJ45 connection doesn't mean it's been abandoned! The Variax is a very versatile instrument. I use it with my Line 6 AX2, a Boogie SOB, & a Fender Blues Jr. all the time with amazing results. I have gone from taking 6 or 8 guitars (tunings) to just bringing two; my Variax 600 and a GR-Ready guitar to use with my Roland GR-30... if I had a GK-2 or 13 pin interface on my Vax, I'd just bring the one! Yes, the RJ45 connection is great, but the Variax functions quite nicely with the TRS & Power supply connection, or just a plain guitar cord. Rich had a Future of the Variax thread here a while ago and got a bunch of great ideas. He said they're working on it and the Variax II will be out as soon as it's ready. That being said, it doesn't make sense to invest everything in the old Variax technology when the new one is in development. They have definitely learned a lot from the inital Variax, and I look forward to the new one. Abandoned? Try owning the former "flag ship" AX2 212... an amazing amp... could have done great things had the line continued, but the Vetta came along. To me, the Vetta, while a cool amp, doesn't meet my needs so I keep the AX2 going. I think it would be safe to say that the AX2 has been abandoned. True, the Variax II may prove to be an AX2 vs Vetta situation compared to the Variax I, but from what I gathered on Rich's thread, that is definitely not the case.

The sky is definitely not falling... a little patience goes a long way.

L

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- zirakzigal
  4 posts since
  Mar 2, 2007
  
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  Oct 7, 2009 2:19 PM (in response to es336td)
  Re: Variax has been abandoned!
  
  The "TRS cable, little box, power supply, and another cable" is a pain in the butt. I am talking about using "their" guitar with "their" amps.
  
  The new Variax will/should have an RJ45 as well. So why leave it out of the new products?
  
  The ability to step on one button and change everything (amp, effects, tuning, guitar type), is the whole point.
  
  I still have my doubts.
  
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  - es336td
    154 posts since
    Jan 29, 2007
    
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    Oct 7, 2009 2:30 PM (in response to zirakzigal)
    Re: Variax has been abandoned!
    
    I use their guitars (Variax 600) with their amps (AX2, Pocket POD) with no trouble. Yeah, RJ45 is convenient, but not necessary to get the job done. What are you using now?
    
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    - zirakzigal
      4 posts since
      Mar 2, 2007
      
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      Oct 7, 2009 4:50 PM (in response to es336td)
      Re: Variax has been abandoned!
      
      I have a Variax 700 and 300 and a PodXT Live. I run it through a Behringer Keyboard Amp/PA thing with a 15' Woofer and Tweeter. When recording I run out of the USB port on the PodXT Live to get digital signal to Logic on my Mac.
      
      This works well, but I got my daughter a Spider along with her first guitar, and it opened my eyes. I have so many options and menus full of stuff to go through with the PodXT Live when trying out new sounds. On the Spider it is quite easy to get new sounds and jam. I started looking into options and the new Spider Valve is very promising. But I have to pull out the old TRS cable, power supply, etc. to use it.
      
      That is what started this. The more I think about it the more I get mad. I should be able to plug a Line 6 guitar into a $899 Line 6 amp (Spider Valve MkII 212) with only one cable and have the computer in the amp also choose my Variax preset. Is that so freaking hard?
      
      So, here is how I see the future of Variax. Either it dies, or Variax 2 comes out at about $1500 and the Vetta 3 comes out with all the features for $1800. Either way Line 6 will lose my business. I am not dropping over 3 grand to get some better sounds and options.
      
      Again, I love what I can do with my Variax and PodXT Live. But when it comes to hope for the future and potential improvements, what will my options be?
      
      I am still bummed.
      
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      - Hey_Joe
        606 posts since
        Jan 24, 2007
        
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        Oct 7, 2009 10:20 PM (in response to zirakzigal)
        Re: Variax has been abandoned!
        
        Line6 are so good at most of what they do.
        I have totally been sucked into all of their equipment whether I need it or not .
        I have a Variax 300 (5years old) and a 600 (3 years old) and a XTL and a X3L and a couple of stomps an expression pedal...if I had the money I would have the M13 and a Spider Jam and a Vetta and the foot controllers...heck if they made headphones I would buy them. I love all of the free software and forum support and the online upgrades.
        An across the board integrations of Variax with ALL of their new amps (at least the soft/hardware to power the VDI with all of their amps = one cable no XPS, no batteries) and put the Rj45 on the bean while you are at it.
        Personally I still disagree with Line6 about not producing a series of a Line6 FR/FR version of Atomic/PA/Traynor power tube style keyboard Amps. IN my opinion they would sell incredibly well if they made some sort of reasonably priced hybrid of the most adequate alternatives that we seek for our Pods. ( so what who am I? just my opinion) Why look any further? buy the perfect mate for your modeler from the guys who designed the greatest sounding MFX units.
        My point being -- they get just so close to total customer satisfaction and then fall so darn short...the fact that the potential for these improvements and options are possible for a few retail dollars more is what is annoying to me.
        
        I agree with much of what you have said here, but...
        
        Again, I love what I can do with my Variax and PodXT Live. But when it comes to hope for the future and potential improvements, what will my options be?
        
        I am still bummed.
        I'm not giving up , I went through H e L L to get my X3L fully functional (to a point) and I'm still a fan. Based on the current world wide financial dilema -- I'm just afraid I won't have the bucks to get the latest next gen stuff when it hits. The next gen Variax will generate some serious G.A.S.
        I still have HOPE for the future of these guys.
        
        just my late night My 2¢
        
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        es336td
        154 posts since
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        Nov 4, 2009 12:01 PM (in response to Hey_Joe)
        Re: Variax has been abandoned!
        
        All good points, but Line 6 is a company... a business... there has to be ROI... how many Spider players will shell out the money for a Variax? I understand what you're saying, but adding the RJ45/VDI jack AND the software/hardware to make it work is expensive and would drive the price of the amps up... that could be a deal breaker for a bunch of potential buyers. I'm don't work for Line 6, but to me, that's the bottom line... it just doesn't make good financial sense.
        
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        Hey_Joe
        606 posts since
        Jan 24, 2007
        
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        Nov 4, 2009 4:32 PM (in response to es336td)
        Re: Variax has been abandoned!
        
        Well, I don't agree that it would be that big of an added expense at the manufacturing level.
        I base my idea on the difference between the PodXT/XTL & X3/X3L.
        Look at the difference in what you get for $100 on a retail level between the 2 units -- $100.
        You get a bigger frame and case, foot switches, Vol/Wah/Tweak pedal, more Ins and Outs (especially on the X3L), the ability to process more software(WorkBench), as well as the soft/hardware to power and operate a Variax and maybe a few more things that I can't bring to mind right now.
        Point being, how much money on the retail level would it raise the various amps to add Variax functionality if all of what I mentioned above is only $100 (if the Variax ability is but a small percentage of the difference)?
        Yes, the Variax Workbench stand alone complete with software, custom RJ-45 cable, USB cable and hardware interface by itself is $100.
        I realize it's a business and I have been running my own for over 30 years so I understand what you are saying/thinking about cost cutting to keep the amps rock bottom MSRP. But also think about the business sense of promoting Variax sales by adding compatibility.
        Louie, I just don't think that we would be looking at that much more money.
        
        AGAIN-just my opinion
        for what that's worth
        
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        xenomuse
        2 posts since
        Feb 6, 2007
        
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        Feb 9, 2010 4:52 PM (in response to Hey_Joe)
        Re: Variax has been abandoned!
        
        I agree that not adding a Vax digital interface to the Spider series shuts out alot of potential users. If manufacturing cost is a factor, maybe they could engineer in an expansion port so that user could add that functionality if they chose; that could be the best of both worlds if the price point of the module was $40 or so. I'm the VERY happy owner of a Vax 300 and X3L, so for me it's a non issue. The Spider line is very popular, and adding that connectivity could attract people to the Vax.
        
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        iainpwboyd
        53 posts since
        Jan 31, 2007
        
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        Feb 13, 2010 4:50 AM (in response to es336td)
        Re: Variax has been abandoned!
        
        I understand what you're saying, but adding the RJ45/VDI jack AND the software/hardware to make it work is expensive and would drive the price of the amps up
        
        By maybe $1. All you're looking at is a cheap socket that provides power to the Variax and receives audio into the amp. I strongly agree with the original poster in that there is great convenience and beauty in having just one cable to manage everything, in what is already a quite complicated enough situation.
        
        I do find it frustrating that Line6 - which can't be THAT big a company - often acts as if different departments never talk to each other. For example the Pod XTL, which does have a Variax socket fails to replicate the basic functionality of the A/B footswitch that comes as standard with the guitar. It's great that you can call up, with a single 'stomp', a specific guitar, an amp/speaker combination, and a configuration of pedals, but they lost the ability to send a 12-string sound to one output (e.g. the PA) and your Strat sound to another (your guitar amp). Would have been so easy.
        
        Is it possible (and easy?) on the X3? If it is, I might get one.
        
        As others have posted before, Line6 does a great job of nearly delivering 100%, but then fails to fully implement and satisfy. And don't get me started on their failure to rewrite their software in the latest versions of Java...
        
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        es336td
        154 posts since
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        Feb 17, 2010 11:01 AM (in response to iainpwboyd)
        Re: Variax has been abandoned!
        
        But adding that will change the way the circuit boards are designed and created. You can't just slap a connector on the board! While I agree that adding the feature to everything would be amazing, but if they're selling as is, why would they change for Variax users? Some sort of add on would be nice, but I don't see how they can do that. I wish someone from Line 6 would chime in here. The lack of response, does appear as if they don't really care.
        
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crackbaby

32 posts since
Oct 28, 2009

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Feb 9, 2010 11:32 AM (in response to zirakzigal)

Re: Variax has been abandoned!

Nice crying for the wolf .. i hope you get banned for that title. It's an excellent way of spreading false rumors.

Why would you want people to spend time and energy on your fantasyghosts? Isn't it better

if they use it for something that's real?

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thisone84

6 posts since
Aug 1, 2006

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Feb 13, 2010 10:29 PM (in response to zirakzigal)

Re: Variax has been abandoned!

I know that if the variax connection had been more fully implemented and supported on other line 6 products then i would own alot more line 6 products. not only would this attract non-variaxers to the variax but it would also attract, in my and seemingly many others' case, variax users to the rest of the line 6 product line. that said, i am not complaining about what i do have, i love my variax x3l combo, i was just curious to see that line 6 didn't make what i thought would have been the obvious choice: to support its product. i agree with this post overall but also remain hopeful in what the future holds.

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Now_and_Then

7 posts since
Jan 25, 2007

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Apr 23, 2010 11:12 PM (in response to zirakzigal)

Re: Variax has been abandoned!

In a certain sense, the Variax was abandoned when Dave Fruehling left Line 6. He was the guy who actually designed the Variax. I think that if there was any engineering capability at Line 6 to improve, refine, advance, the Variax, then we would have already seen an improved, refined, advanced version of it. I have seen a picture of a Variax 2, and the main improvement seems to be the addition of magnetic pickups, along with a faster DSP. (Oh, and it is significantly less ugly then the original Variax. In fact, I thought it looked pretty nice.) The addition of magnetic pickups take the Variax in a sharply different direction, but I am not sure how much the faster DSP changes it capabilities as compared to the original Variax.

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Kleine
7 posts since
Jan 26, 2007

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Apr 25, 2010 5:48 AM (in response to Now_and_Then)
Re: Variax has been abandoned!

I agree! I got Variax in Brazil, i payed 4 times more than the rest of the world thinking that line 6 would always update the firmware and with endless possibilities. A Variax 500 i payed U$2.500

One simple and that would make Variax users very happy would be ADD an EQ, could be just bass, middle and treble that would be amazing! Some models are too bassy.
This could be simple to line6, but no updates, no new features.
I like my Variax a lot, but they could "be there" for the customers that have now the "old Variax".
I will not buy the new one, i made a "transplant" and i have a hibrid guitar, but i dont see a reason to buy a new one if sometime in the future will be abandoned anyway.
I play in a well known Brazillian and i know at least 15 people that bought Variax because saw mine in action. Now i tell people that Variax rules, but dont expect any new features or up dates. This fine guitar is frozen in time and not for hadware limitations, is frozen cause line 6 does not care anymore.
Sorry for my english folks!

Regards from Brazil
Kleine

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- toasterdude
  712 posts since
  Oct 23, 2006
  
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  Dec 2, 2010 2:35 PM (in response to Kleine)
  Re: Variax has been abandoned!
  
  Kleine wrote:
  
  I agree! I got Variax in Brazil, i payed 4 times more than the rest of the world thinking that line 6 would always update the firmware and with endless possibilities. A Variax 500 i payed U$2.500
  
  One simple and that would make Variax users very happy would be ADD an EQ, could be just bass, middle and treble that would be amazing! Some models are too bassy.
  This could be simple to line6, but no updates, no new features.
  I like my Variax a lot, but they could "be there" for the customers that have now the "old Variax".
  I will not buy the new one, i made a "transplant" and i have a hibrid guitar, but i dont see a reason to buy a new one if sometime in the future will be abandoned anyway.
  I play in a well known Brazillian and i know at least 15 people that bought Variax because saw mine in action. Now i tell people that Variax rules, but dont expect any new features or up dates. This fine guitar is frozen in time and not for hadware limitations, is frozen cause line 6 does not care anymore.
  Sorry for my english folks!
  
  Regards from Brazil
  Kleine
  Nice transplant. Muito Legal. What brazilian band do you play with? I travel to Brazil maybe 6-7 times per year and am in sampa right now. I love checking out live music and if the band is using a variax. . .even more! I went to villa country back in august and the house band the guitar player had an X3L he was using with a nashville tele.
  
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Oct 7, 2009 6:47 AM

Variax has been abandoned!

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