psarkissian

Also, it's a good idea to use a variable AC, set it for your area AC Mains volt level, when biasing your tubes. This applies to any tube amp, not just ours.

Thank you,... thought I caught that. Done, corrected. Thanks.

The video on biasing is pretty good. Check for other video tutorials. Bias is on the Knowledge Base,... 25mV +/-3mV. http://line6.com/support/page/kb/_/amplifiers/dt50dt25/dt50dt25-faq-r144 Never power up a tube amp without the correct output load on it.

Yes, well said,... for an end user, start from spec, then adjust from there to the climate of their area, whether action is adjusted to taste, how they like the tension on the tremolo,... etc. I've watched a couple GC guys and other companies local in my area, some of them are pretty good, others are newbies with potential. A couple of those stores have a full on guitar repair bay and know what they're doing,... they're pretty good.

Better,... though I don't know about all. "All" is a bit harsh, overstated perhaps. You always seem to have knowledge, maybe look into becoming a service center. Lets just say that,... the authorized ones will know more about how to deal with a Variax in ways that others won't. I know some good luthiers who don't know beans about electronics (they're the first to admit it), and there are those who are the opposite (know circuits, but don't know lutherie). Then there are those I know, who know both, and they are really good. For this post, it's intonation. An authorized service center will have access to service info, the guy at the corner shop that we don't know, make assumption about it being like a Fender or Gibson,... will guess at it. So back on point, intonation,.... changing string gauge changes string tension, and so affects the set-up, which includes intonation. Take it in for a check and adjustment at an authorized service center that will know what to do with our product.

Once again I'm incorrectly quoted, and it's been twisted into something that it's not. If all luthiers were awful, there would be no authorized service centers to do guitars for us. Therefore the incorrect characterization of what I said is inoperative.

"is if the guy was using, say, steel wool on your guitar"---- Odd that you should mention that one. One guy wanted to make his black 59 look like a 53 Les Paul and used steel wool on the finish. Poor solder job on the pick-ups and nicked two piezos with steel wool. I had to redo the solder job and replace two piezos. ---------- Another guy went to his corner luthier, because he didn't want to got the extra mile-and-a-half to the authorized service center. The so called luthier told him he had a twist in the neck so he saved the frets. Problem was there was no problem, the guy changed the gauge on his strings,... the set-up was off, the pick-ups were too close to the strings,so he got warbling when he used piezos and Alt Tune. He voided his warranty, had to get a new neck out of pocket,.... and all he originally need was an adjustment on his set-up. ----------- It might be the same song and dance, but the authorized service center knows the product, the guy on the corner, ... typically doesn't. It's for your own good. Got more horror stories if you like,... but I've got to get back to repairing guitars. I could write a book this stuff if I had the time.

guitarplaya2000,... When you change the gauge, you change the tension, when you change the tension, it has an affect on the set-up, the affect on the set-up affects the intonation. Take it to a Line 6 authorized service, that does guitars, and have the set-up checked and if needed, adjusted.

nathanbebo,... Two reasons,... 1) there is a threshold level where the volume engages. 2) if the tubes haven't been changed out in the last 18-20 months, then it's probably time to change them out. for Spider Valve, use 12AX7B pre-amps and 5881WXT matched pair power tubes. Go to an Line 6 authorized service center, they know the product. DO NOT do this yourself, the shock hazard risk is to great.

For the power stage, they have to be a matched pair. The differences can cause "non-linear distortions" in the the gain. And that's bad. Might sound fine now, but if you bring the gain too high for too long, non-linear distortions will stress it. Tube life can gets shortened. Un-matched pairs are problems, "close",... is more than likely not close enough. Or tubes wouldn't need to be sold in matched pairs to begin with. These are not the tube amps of old like in the 1960's and 70's. These amps are not as forgiving. If it's under warranty, get it done by an Line 6 authorized service center, and a matched pair of EH tubes. Been inside tube gear most of my my life.

I've had a couple of odd experiences with TS that didn't fit right, and the jack sleeve covered both contacts. It was a cheap cable. In one case it was zip-cord speaker cable. Incredible, what some people send me,... the stuff I've had come across my bench. Starting to see a couple of mal-fitted matings again the last two months. Scary. Yeah, shouldn't make a difference,... almost, all the time. Sometimes I just have to see it to believe it, such a mind blower when I do. Charlie's on the ball today,... good.

Use a TRS guitar cable (tip/ring/sleeve), instead of a TS (tip/sleeve).

The ones that come from Full Compass with specific model labels, are pre-programmed to the specific guitar as needed, before it goes to Full Compass, or anyone else. Old Variax boards are physically different from model to model, each with a program for that guitar. And so were not interchangeable between guitars. With JTV's and Standards, it's the program that is made to fit the guitar. Just need to make sure to get the correct program for the guitar you have.

"One doesn't have grey-hair without something in return for it, I assume you've grey-hair, since you got something in return for it" ---- Yes,... and btw, for those who know the forum poster Silverhead, on the forum,... there is a reason for that name. And yes, he and I have met, so that's how I know. It's something he an I have in common,... a couple of gray haired techs who've seen most of it, and then some. :)

Clay,... JTV boards are pre-programmed at the factory. There is also other programming that tells the board which guitar it is. The program has to match the guitar, or it won't act right with the switch selections.

Zen,... yes,... but I'm a very picky dude, so for me it's about quality not quantity. According to my peers, I seem to have both. Sorry for being immodest there. It's the reputation I seem to have earned among my peers. Besides, in my profession, you can't fake,... you don't get to stay in my profession, it if you're not good. They won't let you. :)

Yeah, seen a number of these, helped a number of authorized service techs with a few. JTV's in general, in all, serviced about (conservative estimate) 760 to 780 JTV guitars, .... and that's just JTV's I've done here at Line 6. Plus however many dozens I've done of guitars in general since the mid 1970's (in between all the other kinds of electronic and electro-mechanical audio and audio/visual gear I've worked on since then). Thank you Charlie.

Make certain this specific guitar is register in your account, then log a ticket with support,... it should probably be sent back to me. If the board got shorted, it may have damage or blown something on the VDI, or even the controls. I should probably have a look at it.

The hardware is the same, the programming are different. Only a board programmed as a 69 will work. They are matched for the switch configurations of each kind of guitar. I warn people about this all the time. Same goes for the 59, put a 59 board in a 69, and only three of the 5-way positions function, and you lose the second layer of Models. I warn people about this all the time too. Use an 89 board in a 69 guitar, and you selection will be different than the labels on your knobs. I warn people about this all the time as well. Chuskey,.. you have the Strat looking one??? Or the Les Paul looking one???

The magnetics are turned off. If you try using magnetics in standard tuning and Alt Tune while in modeling mode, it will sound really bad. "Are the pickups there only for purposes of using a Variax guitar as a regular guitar?"--- Yes. It can be played as a normal guitar, and in a passive state (no battery or VDI cable needed) like any other guitar, if you like. It's one at a time. Modeling or magnetic, not both simultaneously.

If it's under warranty, and you're not happy with local servicing in your area, log a ticket in the support system to get a return authorization, see if it can be arranged to have sent here,... then I could deal with. I'm the JTV guy here at Line 6.

When you find some, you will need to need to specify whether it's bridge (if 69S), middle or neck pick-up. They are different on the inside. Maybe Full Compass can special order them for you.

Also consider,... http://line6.com/fin...e_center/ to find a service center in your area, there is a search selector for guitar servicing.

Make sure your 89F is registered, then log a support ticket. http://line6.com/find/service_center/ to find a service center in your area, there is a search selector for guitar servicing.

"My previous SV-112 didn't do it at similar volumes and the feedback happens even if I move away from the amp"--- Different amps, different tubes (valves), different loop gains (aka- topology), different power levels, different sounds overall. As for the loudness, there is a "Low Volume Mode" switch in the back of the unit that acts as a volume pad.