Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility Jump to content

Putting 11's On Jtv 69


Recommended Posts

I have tried 11's 10's. 9's and now 8's. no issues with the nut slots. The 11's lasted a day though, too much tension to comfortably play. The JTV's should be like any guitar in regards to string gauge. Play what feels good to you, though some adjustment may be necessary. I'm currently using 8's on mine and will probably stay with that. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

It's fine...just put what you feel it's best for you! I use 0.11s myself, though on a 59...

 

You'll need some intonation adjustment once you change gauge, but then again, you would anyway with 0.10s, as the guitars hardly ever come intonated, and specially having a tremolo + the natural expansion/contraction of the wood with temperature/humidity/time, it's guaranteed you need to fiddle with intonation. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I just put Elixir 11s on my 69 having previously only used 10s.

 

I had to tighten the trem springs obviously to balance the trem position

 

Acoustically it is a lot louder, but it seems to have lost dynamics and when using models there is a sort of whaa sound when strumming which I really don't like.  

 

My suspicion is that with the heavier strings and much harder contact on the peizos that the signal level into the processor is higher and that there is some compression going on.  Has anybody else noticed this and did you manage to get back high dynamics, perhaps by setting the string volumes in workbench much lower? 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The piezo transducers on my JTV-69 are definitely not spring-loaded (that would take one hell of a spring and a provision for adjusting tension to allow for different guages).  Using heavier strings definitely increases the downward force vector.  Whether or not that affects the sound is a completely different question.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I do not think so.  The bridge supports the string tension and the piezo sticks up against the string.  That is how the old Variax piezo was and I thought that was how the JTV69 bridge works too.  I have not had mine apart so I could be wrong on that.  I know for sure that is now the original Variax bridges worked.  Piezo's were spring loaded up through the bridge against the strings.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yes - slightly.  Not all that obvious.  You could replace the elements without replacing the saddle.  They fit in underneath and were spring loaded.  Not that was on a 500 with a fixed bridge.  I never had a 600 with trem.  I think it was the same though because both could be fitted with the Ghost pickups.  I put them on my 500.  Those were not spring loaded.  The piezo was potted into the saddle itself.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

And it is worth checking the global string volume settings in Workbench HD as the heavier strings definitely generate a stronger signal in the piezo elements.  

 

This may be stronger than expected by the Variax processor which appears to have some sort of limiter/compression in place. Reducing the global string volumes down is required eliminate this effect and to get a dynamic response again - in my case I reduced some strings down to -7db (others a bit less) before I could notice any change in the output volume.  

 

I now have the more dynamic response back again

Link to comment
Share on other sites

It is very possible that some that do not like the sound of their JTV have the string volumes set too high.  If anything in the electronics saturates the modeling will be crap and it will sound terrible.  I experienced this on my old Variax 500 when I upgraded to Ghost pickups.  They had way too much output.  I had to reduce the string volumes to about 50% to get back to goodness.  I expected that so I did it right away.  It now sounds far better than it did with the original Piezos. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

In the Line6 Blog - http://blog.line6.com/  the post with Sean Haley acoustic videos on a JTV69 he states: So if you’re on the latest firmware for your James Tyler Variax, and you’re not able to get close to this sound with a blank patch in your POD HD, you’ve got some playing and setup work to do. Remember the three most important variables: I’m using size 11 strings, I’m using a sharp pick and my fingers at the same time, and I’m playing very lightly.

Just thought I'd through this in here.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I switched to 11's, made the physical adjustments,  and thought it made the acoustic models sound more natural, but they do lack dynamics (sound compressed).  I never gave increased piezo output a thought.  Kudos to Rewolf48 for bringing that up.  Firmware release 2.0 is reported to have lower output and more dynamics than 1.9.  Maybe it is a good match for 11's.  I haven't installed 2.0 because I save a preset for every song we do (lots of them), and I did not want to throw off their sustain and distortion characteristics.  Maybe it's time to give 2.0 a try.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hello-

my first time out here! i tried the JTV69,  and loved the sound, It was straight Guitar, no battery in it so I could try out the models, but i had read a lot of post about battery issues, charging not working, firmware glitches, blah blah blah. So I guess what I am asking is, have these issues been cleared up? Do anyone know or have an opinion on them? thanks

Link to comment
Share on other sites

You will have better luck getting your battery question answered if you start a separate thread.  The JTV generation of Variax has a much better battery system than the old Variax 300, 500, 700 versions.  That said, I don't use the battery at all.  I feel like my Line 6 HD-500 is the other half of a fine instrument.  It powers the guitar and lets you call up the guitar model, tone, volume, and tuning along with your effects presets with the touch of a footswitch.  I never use the guitar without the processor.  I don't think the PODxt Live controls the JTV Variax models, but it is a decent effects processor with a free USB based editor, that would at least power the guitar so you wouldn't have to worry about batteries, and you can find them used for about $150 now. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

 Share

×
×
  • Create New...