Phil:

Thanks for the note, I'll keep you all posted as to what happens.I'm glad to hear that others, at least, have had better experience with Line 6 service. I have had lots of nice conversations too -- but nothing that has actually fixed the guitar, since March!

I am not happy that I will have not had the use of the guitar for 50% of its first year of ownership, the 12 month warranty period.  Now I'm reading on this board about dead 'piezos' and I'm thinking that I'll be finally getting this thing back and it will be out of warranty, and with the luck I've had with this guitar, that will be the next to go wrong. I have always had problems playing the thing with a battery, and I see a dozen others with the same problem. This guitar was sweet -- in the showroom.

At this point there is no way I would gig with this guitar, I would have to bring a backup  -- a real guitar that makes sounds reliably when one plucks the strings. I would never think about having to lug around a backup with any other guitar I've owned in over 30 years. I carry a spare set of *strings*, but not a spare *guitar*!!!  And as I read through the message boards, I'm not the only one who has had the thing stop playing in the middle of a song while I was on stage. Who ever heard of such a thing??? And now they can not supply replacement parts, even given 6 months.

The reason Fender, Gibson, Martin and Ovation have become world standards is that they make products that are investments, that last for years. Line 6 has a long way to go, in my opinion, to be mentioned in the same breath as those brands. Yet, the prices are comparable. I've never owned any of Line 6 amps or effects units, but I am not about to purchase any, not at this rate. I could have bought the top of the line Ovation Adamas for this money. I have a feeling that if I had, I would be playing that guitar at every gig, and not having to worry about it, and it comes with a lifetime warranty, if I'm not mistaken. See - that's an investment. This, so far has been a waste of a terribly lot of money for me. Anyone else who had waited for six months on a warranty repair would feel the same, I think

Apparently the variax is not for people who *play* the guitar, its for people who *play with* guitars.

UPDATE A FEW MONTHS LATER.....

I just had to update this post. Line6 did return my guitar, repaired, within about two weeks (including coast to coast travel time).

Now that the guitar is working, I LOVE IT. I play it exclusively in a classic rock band (rythm guitar), as a solo singer/songwriter, and an acoustic duo. No troubles, just great fun and playability, and AWESOME sounds.

I have found the presets to be amazingly useful:

• Square neck  - (Honky Tonk Women, Jenny Jenny, Crossroads)
• 12 string (Behind Blue Eyes, Nights in white Satin)
• Mandolin (Losing my religion), 12 string (Behind Blue Eyes, Nights in white Satin)
• Dreadnaught, C&W - general purpose 6 string
  
• Nylon (Something, Sweet Baby James)

I also find the neck to be pleasing, and I can play for hours without the discomfort I find on my Martin. Stays in tune. It's an attractive, well made guitar. Nothing not to love.

Just wish it had a built in tuner. And rechargable batteries.

THANKS LINE 6!