clay-man

I know they use some type of technology to make algorithms through some type of convolution or impulse response type data for the main part of the modeling, but I know they use other effects to replicate other aspects of modeling. Some type of resonance or synthesis for the bigsby ring being emulated, strat springs, resonance/filter ADSR for the Sitar, volume ADSR for the banjo... Also, I stated that if Line 6 DID put reverb in, then they were doing something wrong, but this could be a problem with their guitar or setup, not the modeling technology, as in I'm not stating that it's a fact that they put in reverb in the guitar. There's a reason why I have a Variax myself, because I know they didn't just throw an EQ effect and then guessed through A/B comparison, I know these are real captures of the guitars through technology.

For hollowbodies, maybe, but it's still pretty instant, not super instant, but it sounds nothing like throwing on a reverb pedal at all. It will just be resonance if anything. Throwing in a reverb effect on the modeling is still ridiculous. If anything would need reverb it would be the acoustic models.

I honestly wish they would kind of use their workbench technology and maybe put it in the POD HD. I'm sure it could work if they tweak it. Load Variax workbench presets into the POD HD and be able to call them up through it? Would be amazing. Would be nice to have some live form of workbench, nothing that writes to the bank memory but temporarily replaces the current patch.

Yes but like you said, this is a whole nother beast from reverb. Adding reverb to "simulate" this is just insane. Besides, the vibrations should die off as fast as sound can travel and stop in the body, which is instantaneous.

There shouldn't be any reverb. Electrics have 0 reverb in a dry signal. If there's reverb in your signal from the guitar, then either something is wrong or Line 6 is high if they think they need to model reverb in an electric guitar, because like I said, electric guitars have no reverb. I've heard a complaint similar to this though, so maybe there's a problem with your guitar.

There is some latency with pitch shifting, but personally I don't feel it messing with the way I play. You'll just have to adapt to it. You'll ignore it once you get the feel of it.

Tune to your most used tuning, then base your alternate tunings on that. Dustin Kensrue tuned his Variax to D standard and had no problem. Thrice would play songs as low as B standard or Drop A, but it all sounded good still.

You're a champ dude.

JTV have a bit of improvement to the sound, even without the new HD firmware. But speaking of that, I suggest you do some research on the JTV and possibly try one out if you can. The JTV has a new firmware called the HD update which overhauled the modelling completely, using the advancement of present day technology to model the guitars as opposed to back from 2003. The result is having much more clear sounding models with more high end that is a bit lost in the previous modeling. It's also debatably more accurate in sound. Another thing to look forward to is the alt modeling knob. Alternative tunings can be completely independent from the model knob, which allows you to assign whatever tuning you want to whatever model you want.

The Variax is not a synthesizer, sampler, or midi guitar. It never has been, it never will be. Big, big misconception. The only thing that comes close, is the Variax Bass guitars having a built in synth patch. Everything else is signal based, and NOT synthesis or sampling. It's why it's called a modeling guitar, not a midi/synth guitar. That would be like calling the POD HD an amp synthesizer, because you assumed it read your guitar signal and then spat out a prerecording of a guitar that was recorded on that amp it's modeling. The Variax is is what you hear and play, from the strings all the way out of the output whether if be 1/4 or VDI. There are ways to get your guitar to do a synth, but this is done through other devices which can be applied to any guitar, not just a Variax. There's the Roland GR-55, the Fishman Tripleplay, Axon devices. The Roland and Axon require a GK pickup or a guitar with a 13 pin out. The Tripleplay is basically a clone of the GK pickup but it doesn't need a device to convert the signal into MIDI except your computer.

The missing piezos aren't that funky looking when you understand why they're not there. I think it's kind of cool. Besides, if you want to do something stupid, you could just print out fake pickup decals like I did with mine.

My friend, there are a few options. That volume problem is probably indeed a piezo problem like Palico stated earlier. This can be replaced at a very small cost. The piezo piece only costs 12-14 dollars. All you need to do is solder in the new piece by taking off the bridge and then detaching the plug that goes to the motherboard temporarily. It will work like a charm afterwards. Before you do that, I suggest rotating and maybe cleaning the piezo first. Take out the piezo carefully and turn it 180 degrees and see if that fixes it. For your fret problem. You could try getting a new neck. I love the neck and decals on my 600, but you might have to call it a day and swap it out. If you go for a JTV, I don't think the 59 is a metal-only guitar. I know what you mean though. If anything, the 89 is for metal. The 59 will be more of your humbucker les paul sound which is great for rock. Besides, it has the Variax guts in it, so you can play anything you'd like!

Very nice! I believe I saw some of your other videos earlier. Good work!

Tell us how it turns out!

There's nothing wrong with lugging all the gear you want. I just find it really awesome to get all those sounds and tunings out of one single guitar. It's mindblowing and liberating.

It's always possible to get a lemon. Don't let that discourage you from the Variax. Find a proper Variax and head off from there. I'm sure you'll enjoy one that works properly.

Yeah, for real. I'd kill for his guitar. Sunburst 69 with a maple, I'd buy that over the black 69s maple neck.

Basically the ring will be the line where the power is transferred. You can also power via VDA and a POD (X3 or HD500)

No way. 69s are the most expensive, like what, 1.4k? I've seen 59's under 1k

Plays better? I wish I could just get a sunburst 69 and swap a maple neck in place, but I'd rather not have to deal with action/leveling the neck/making sure the neck doesn't interfere with tuning stability. Also the annoying warranty thing where Line 6 yells at you for any customization or personalizing of your JTV.

Haha, the Variax side can do something the magnetics can't do?

Does warmoth still make Variax bodies or is that been long gone? You need skill when it comes to making a custom body for a Variax. There's routing involved, getting specs down for the guts to lay in. Even if you had a Variax body already made, you'd need to know how to disassemble and reassemble the guts. I bet I could do it, but I'm already queezy just opening up the pickguard on my Variax.

Nope. Do you want a Variax with JTV features? You might as well just buy a JTV. You want a Variax but can settle for the first gen Variax features? Get a 300. I BELIEVE the 300 and 600 have the same electronics, and then the 500 and 700 have the same electronics. They are very similar, but I think they're different. All the Variaxes with the hundred number names (300, 500, 600, 700) are first generation Variaxes. The JTV variaxes (JTV 59, JTV 59P, JTV 69, JTV 69s, JTV 89, JTV 89f) are all the 2nd generation Variaxes which are currently in production and have new features and firmware. The reason I say get an old Variax for a transplant is because since they are no longer in production and are being replaced with JTV variaxes, the prices are VERY cheap compared to what they used to be, and compared to the JTV series Variaxes. This will allow you to degut a cheap 300 for $100-$200 by buying a used one off ebay. Line 6 does not sell the guts on it's own, but, there has been companies that make bodies (warmoth guitars) as well as companies that made an external case for a Variax to use like a rack (rackvax). Good luck, hope this helped.

There is a kit, it's called a Variax 300 on ebay for 100-200 dollars if you look good enough.

Not sure how well that would work out with the modeling. I would think that'd need a bit of calibration if they did a 335 model.