clay-man

Wow, I'd be the maddest person in existence. Does everything still work ok?

I've seen a review of a 69s saying they had the problem. I want a 69s black & maple so this will be an issue. Does buying a used Variax void the warranty?

Strange as my Variax was a higher output than my humbucker SG and I had to turn down my output about -7db on all patches for it to not clip. You should be able to push your output just fine with patch editing the levels. IF you push them past the limit of the output they will clip. You must be doing something wrong. If you're running through VDI you should also be able to adjust the levels in your POD.

Fender maple neck <3

Good point. Pickup position also changes the tone. I'm not sure if it's specific enough to emulate an EMG but it is intensive editing.

Though I put the output high on my patch that is based on an EMG guitar, upping the output will not "emulate" an EMG. It will make it louder like one, but an EMG has a different frequency response than a passive humbucker.

I really appreciate it! I know it's a bit of a hassle to do what I asked, but I thought it was the best place to ask obviously. I've noticed I get better results on my 600 if a palm mute a little higher on the strings than other people normally do on their Variax. It makes it less compressed and more muted. I think the biggest problem is that the palm muting hand lies between the string vibrations and the pickups, so that robs a lot of frequencies and hears a lot different than say, the magnetic. Even the bridge magnetic pickup lies beyond the palm so it gets the frequencies better. The piezos end up having a lot of low but now enough highs when palm muting, so it sounds really smooth and weird unless you push it a bit with some EQing. The reason why they use piezos is because I believe they have the best frequency response and are better for modeling. About 0-30 seconds is a good explanation of why Line 6 would use piezos over magnetics: If we're emulating multiple pickups and bodies, it's not possible just using 1 regular magnetic pickup, because it'll chop off frequences. You can't just EQ them back or throw an algorithm because it has nothing to grab if you literally cut those frequencies out to begin with. You can't make a standard humbucker sound like a single coil through EQ or impulses. You can make it bright, but it'll never replicate the attack of a telecaster pickup or anything. I think the palm muting being a little bit different is fine though. I'm glad they at least improved it. The piezos are the whole reason it blows the VG strats out of the water.

Very awesome. I saw some black 69s maple guitars with a low price there. I really wish I had the money right now.

I'm going to try to get a JTV 69s in the future and I've read a review that the problem was on there too for a customer. Obviously when you're bending the notes you want to bend the strings away from closest edge of the neck, but this sounds like it happens regardless of bending.

Awesome! I use guitar rig a lot, as well as the 5150 model. Sounds like there's still a bit of flubbyness in the palm muting, but it sounds better I suppose. You can usually make it sound tighter by working with the EQ of your tone. I really appreciate the demo though. HD firmware, correct? I forgot to mention that in the title.

My 600 is made in Korea.

If it ever keeps happening again, take off the knob and put something in the hole to make a shim so it doesn't fall back down to the point where it does that again.

If they EVER do come up with a new bass, please do alternate tunings with it. I don't know how reliable down tuning on the old Variax basses were, but I know that tuning down significantly on a Variax makes it sound bad because lack of tension on the piezos. I'm not sure how much upping the gauge fixes that though. Has anyone physically tuned their Variax pretty low and got good sounds?

Good choice. Don't keep a dud. If you JUST bought it, even off ebay, there's no excuse to have problems the next day. It should be good. The only thing you have to consider is maintenance of the piezos if they die out, which is common with the old Variax, but having this problem right when you get the guitar is inexcusable. I regretted this myself a bit, but hey, it taught me how to solder.

Hey, I just wanted to know how different palm muting honestly became after they enhanced it and how it sounds on the HD upgrade. I can't find any good demonstration of the improvement. Does anyone mind showing me a good demo of palm muting?

Smart. A lot of people will buy an existing guitar, or a body, to make their transplant. It's rare that one will flat out make one, but sometimes they do. There was Warmoth that used to make guitars for Variax transplants but I'm not sure if they do that anymore.

That's kind of annoying since it can be hot on a stage/live show. Looks like you better keep your VDI close by on hot days.

Looks like a custom. This isn't uncommon, a lot of Variax uses have transplanted and/or made their own Variax guitar.

Totally understandable. Replacing piezos is something you have to consider when getting an old Variax. In fact, I hear my fat E string taking a lollipop on me now. Ugh. The JTVs have better piezos, but I believe they still ground the same way (LR Baggs, come on) The JTV is a huge improvement over the older Variaxes though. Alt tuning and the HD firmware option. There's just so much that kills the competition. The good thing about them is that you can order them off a good site and can replace any crap guitar you might get initially.

Try one out at a store someday and decide from there. You'll be amazed at how much better it is than a GR55 if you get a proper Variax. The workbench feature just honestly murders the competition.

I kind of regret not sending my 600 back on ebay when I discovered a lollipope piezo a few days later. No excuses, should send it back if it's not functioning correctly. I was hesitant because I thought it was a good deal because it came with a bag, VDI, dongle, and power supply unit.

Remember when I get a JTV to get it from somewhere that accepts returns, multiple of times at that.

"ring modulator" sounds really bad with no audio clip. Shouldn't sound anything like that. If it literally sounds like a ring modulator it sounds like the pitch shifting mechanism is failing in the hardware. I have a bit of warble on my g sting but it's ignoreable. Like the previous poster said, I'd return it if I were you, unless you can send it to Line 6 under warranty. Absolutely shouldn't put up with getting a guitar that damaged.

Funny because I used to be a rosewood person and when I got my 600 I fell in love with the finish maple fretboard so hard. Really smooth to play on, easier to clean than a rosewood fretboard. Looks awesome too, especially with the dark glossy finish.

Hah, if you're getting rid of your neck, I'd take it from you.