Skip navigation
422 Views 4 Replies Latest reply: Jun 16, 2012 4:36 PM by chouck RSS
chouck Just Startin' 9 posts since
Dec 8, 2009
Currently Being Moderated

Jun 16, 2012 3:45 PM

Variax 300 Piezo

I bought a used Variax 300 electric on Ebay about a year ago. Great deal & nice guitar for the bucks. Been very happy with it but have a high e string saddle issue. I researched the archives here & thanks to ALL those who have gone before me, managed to find a bazzilion posts, questions, answers, etc.

(btw, Great community of very knowlegable folks here). Followed all the typical check solder points, check ground issues, clean possible much from under, etc.So... Problem defined. Need to replace piezo saddle.

I go to purchase new part from Line 6.... uh oh.. looks completely different.... Line 6 support via the new ticket process (kudos for very quick response) tells me it probably has after market Graphtec Saddles on it.

OK. BUT... I just realized today the owner's manual has a drawing in the section for adjusting intonation that looks "very similar" to the ones on the guitar.

 

Questions are:

1. Does anyone know if Line 6 made a 300 with Graphtechs on it or were they just similar in appearance?

2. If they were not Graphtechs, what the heck are they?

3. Where does a tightwad such as myself buy (1) one without having to buy the whole set from Graphtech only to chop the plugs off to swap them out?

(For what its worth serial # is 04120331 Made in Indonesia)

Thanks in advance!

IMG-20120616-00558.jpg

IMG-20120616-00559.jpg

IMG-20120616-00560.jpg

  • amx05462 Power User 3,495 posts since
    Sep 1, 2008
    Currently Being Moderated
    Jun 16, 2012 3:59 PM (in response to chouck)
    Re: Variax 300 Piezo

    no question  those  are  graphtech  pickups.  first thing     loosen  the  screw  the  grounds  are   on  lift the   pcb and  make  sure  that  theres  some   electrical tape  or  something    that will insulate   the  back of the board   from the bridge  plate. if theres  nothing there  then  put  some  tape  on the  back of the pce.  those  wires  poke  through   the  back of thqat pcb and if they  touch the bridge  plate  they short out.  i just put my 300 in an epiphone  dot and   thats the first  thing i did  when installing  the   pickups.  insulate them  from  the bridge  plate.

     

      if that dont  do it  then check the  solder  oint  of the  bad  one. it  dont  look  that good  in the pic.  actually  none  of them do.

    if thats not it then   strip the plastic  off the  crimped   grounds  and   add  solder to  those  clips      .. on both ends  to ake sure   there  are  no loose  grounds.   i just did  all that  on mine  and it  works  just fine  with the  graphtech  pickups. also dont go by that   generic  drawing  ast to being   a sign of  graphtech pickups.    its a cartoon   version  of something they should  have took a  photo for.

     

    also     this person  did  do one thing  right,   they left  enough  wire  to redo the whole thing.

     

    so  if you want to  just test the  pickup to see if its  good. unsolder  the  positive from the  pcb and put an ohm meter  on it  from positive to ground. that should tell you something.

More Like This

  • Retrieving data ...

Bookmarked By (0)

Legend

  • Correct Answers - 5 points
  • Helpful Answers - 3 points