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Variax Standard model tones are improving on their own


amsdenj
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Now this is strange. My Variax Standard is less than a year old. When I first got it, it really needed some fret leveling and a good setup. Also the model string volumes were way off. Those things addressed it became a reasonably playable instrument, and the magnetic pickups were surprisingly nice. However, the models I used most were not that satisfying. I mostly use the Tele, Strat and Les Paul models. None off these models had the brightness, twang or spank of the real thing - I have all three. But by changing the body models, I could fix that pretty well.

 

But an issue remained. I was getting an odd resonance, like a banjo tone on these models, mostly on the G, B and high E strings. It was OK, but just didn't sound quite right. But I put some real hours in this guitar practicing at home and quite a fiew gigs. And you know what? That banjo resonance seems to be mostly gone!

 

What I think might be happening is that the piezo elements need to settle into the bridge pieces and make solid and consistent contact. When the guitar is new and hasn't been played much, maybe the pickups aren't quite seated properly or settled in. Play the guitar for a while and maybe they seat better providing more consistent and expected tone. What gave me this idea is the JVT theread on "piezo plank" where the fix in some instances was to reseat the piezo pickup.

 

Not sure, but I'm happy the guitar is sounding better.

 

By the way, I have a JVT-69S on the way, should be here Friday. I'm committed to Variax, and think it might be worth it to have a somewhat higher quality instrument. I'll let you know how it works out.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Are you using the firmware version 2.21 instead of 1.90? Mine was using V1.90 firmware from the factory for some reason. Yesterday I updated it to V2.21 and now I don't like the models' sound especially the strats. I tried to revert back the firmware version but Line6 monkey does not allow it for Variax Standard. I read the forum and this seems to be a known issues to Variax Standard users who prefer the older modelling algorithm. Apparently Line6 did not do a good job with their so called "HD Variax Modelling".

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  • 8 months later...

Are you using the firmware version 2.21 instead of 1.90? Mine was using V1.90 firmware from the factory for some reason. Yesterday I updated it to V2.21 and now I don't like the models' sound especially the strats. I tried to revert back the firmware version but Line6 monkey does not allow it for Variax Standard. I read the forum and this seems to be a known issues to Variax Standard users who prefer the older modelling algorithm. Apparently Line6 did not do a good job with their so called "HD Variax Modelling".

You can. Use Line6 Monkey. And older workbench :D

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  • 1 month later...

Im having this issue right now.  Those very models that you mentioned sound compressed or banjo like.  Its making me regret buying this guitar.  Is there anything that can be done besides playing it, like you said?  This is driving me nuts!!!!

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