mdmayfield Posted August 28, 2014 Share Posted August 28, 2014 (edited) Edit: This seems to have been a big "jump to conclusions" on my part. After testing, I'm convinced that the whole issue was due to the Model Select push switch being stuck down, which prevented the JTV from booting properly, and may have had an intermittent connection during the firmware flash, thus powering down (or going into custom tuning mode, or who knows what) and throwing off the flash process. Hi all, I opened a support ticket on this, but I thought I'd check with you guys to see if there's anything I haven't tried. Although, if you look at the list, you'll see I've been quite thorough (I *really* would rather not have to take this in somewhere to be hardware-reflashed): - There was an error during firmware update from 1.9 to 2.1 - After this, JTV-69 will not start up (no modeled sound; no lights on model knob or tuning selector) - I hear the JTV power relay clicking when plugging in 1/4" cable with a battery installed, or VDI from my HD500, so the hardware seems to power up but software does not boot - It seems that the firmware update must have failed in the first of the 3 writing phases (write, reset, write, reset, write) which I assume is the core boot code used to load firmware updates - As best I can tell, the JTV is fine hardware-wise, but will no longer boot at all - Variax Workbench interface goes green on the Variax side when connected (and a 1/4" cable is plugged in to power on the JTV), but JTV not recognized by L6 Monkey - Have tried combinations of three different computers, USB cables, Workbench cables, HD500, two different Workbench USB interfaces. None recognize the JTV. - Model and tuning knobs do not light up when powered on - No audio goes through the VDI cable to the HD500, and the HD500 doesn't recognize it (no options on Variax setup screen) - Audio *from the magnetic pickups only* goes through the 1/4" cable - I assume that this means there is now no way to update via VDI MIDI, and its flash memory needs to be reflashed directly by special hardware at a service center. I'm so disappointed and frustrated... :( You'd think that in a device like this, they'd put a tiny bootloader in ROM that could always be used to re-load firmware into the flash memory no matter how many times (or where) it fails. Or am I misunderstanding something? Thanks, Matt Edited August 29, 2014 by mdmayfield Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
azur1964 Posted August 28, 2014 Share Posted August 28, 2014 Try it:Unplug all wire (USB and quoted variax)Installe Workbench (so that the driver tyler either re- installed.)VERY VERY IMPORTANT : - Unplug the battery of the JTV. You have to take the battery out so that the bad configuration be not stored at the time of every endeavor of updating - The battery has to be loaded entirely At The Time Of every updating of firmware. Ciao Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mdmayfield Posted August 28, 2014 Author Share Posted August 28, 2014 Azur, Thanks for the reply. I've tried that already, unfortunately. Before this serious "brick" situation, I was able to do a couple firmware flashes that got most of the way through but then failed. So there is not an issue with the Line 6 Monkey software installation on my computer. I also tried other computers, some of which I freshly installed L6 Monkey. At various times, I removed the battery and attempted to flash with the HD500 interface (powering the JTV via VDI) instead; no luck there either. I'm mainly trying to determine: 1) Is corrupted firmware the likely situation here (I think so) 2) Is it technically *possible* to brick the firmware? (I think so) Or is there some kind of "safe boot" in ROM after all? (If so I'll keep trying, but if it's possible to brick it I'm pretty sure it's bricked) 3) What exactly would a service center do - reflash with a special hardware flasher? Replace the flash storage, or the mainboard? Send it to Calabasas? How long does the process take? Thanks, Matt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mdmayfield Posted August 28, 2014 Author Share Posted August 28, 2014 I tried one more time tonight to reflash the JTV. For some reason, Line 6 Monkey recognized it and I was able to install firmware 2.10. It's completely a puzzle to me because I haven't changed anything since last night, when it refused to recognize it no matter what I did. Either way, it seems to be working now, though it makes me uneasy for the next update... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silverhead Posted August 28, 2014 Share Posted August 28, 2014 I suspect it has something to do with overall USB traffic on your computer at the time of update. If there are any other USB-based applications or processes active at the time it may affect the Variax update. Try to disconnect all other USB devices while updating. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mdmayfield Posted August 29, 2014 Author Share Posted August 29, 2014 I think I might have figured it out. While playing the JTV tonight, I turned the modeling on and off with the switch on the Model Select pot, and suddenly the guitar went into the "save" mode with flashing blue LEDs on the tuning and model knobs. I think that something is physically sticking in the switch on the Model Select pot, and when the Variax is powered on with the switch depressed/closed, it will not start up properly. After a time (minutes or seconds; it's not clear) the internal switch connection must pop up, and become open again. At that point the instrument behaves normally. I'll do a little more experimentation, but I'm pretty sure that's the problem. Do you know if there's a replacement pot/switch available? It looks like this might be it: http://www.fullcompass.com/product/450983.html I've done several Variax 300 transplants and am pretty confident in my repair skills, but would like to have the option to replace the actual part. Thanks, Matt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silverhead Posted August 29, 2014 Share Posted August 29, 2014 Congratulations - you may have found it. There may be a very simple fix. Try pulling off the model selector knob, placing a small bit of wadded paper inside the knob, and replacing the knob on the shaft. This has the effect of raising the knob on the shaft, which eliminates the 'sticking' that this knob has a tendency to do against the guitar body. This is a known tendency in some JTV models and is the cause of several anomalies in behaviour. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mdmayfield Posted August 29, 2014 Author Share Posted August 29, 2014 Congratulations - you may have found it. There may be a very simple fix. Try pulling off the model selector knob, placing a small bit of wadded paper inside the knob, and replacing the knob on the shaft. This has the effect of raising the knob on the shaft, which eliminates the 'sticking' that this knob has a tendency to do against the guitar body. This is a known tendency in some JTV models and is the cause of several anomalies in behaviour. :-) Thanks Silverhead. Actually I had done this when I first bought it a year and a half ago (it's one of the early JTV-69s). So now I'm trying to fine-tune the amount of paper in the knob, but am concerned that it might still be the actual electronic switch at fault, or a loose connection or something. Also, I'm now convinced that was the issue. I have another JTV-69 which has never had a problem, and tried plugging it into my HD500 while holding down the Model Select knob. Sure enough, the symptoms were identical. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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