psarkissian

A lot going on there, a great exercise in circuitry. Sounds like more than one issue. Time for a trip to a Line 6 authorized service center, so that each one can be dealt with.

1) I don't have them memorized, they're people here on the Forum and Facebook Variax page. 2) Two of them build these for themselves, and I don't know if they would do builds for others. One is in Canada, a tech who used to also was a Line 6 rep. I'll check my Linkedin and FB friends lists and ask him. Check with scottjennings here in the Forum.

Carefully pull up the knobs, make certain the retainer nuts underneath are snug. Loose nuts can result in an intermittent chassis ground connection.

Thanks, it looked odd, I almost missed the broken tab myself. "Sorry if I gave the impression I didn't know your major contributing role. " --- No problem. Wasn't certain how much you knew about my work here. Not everyone knows. Cheers.

" I had .010's on it and was getting weird transients. " --- Set-up has to be more spot on than normal passive electric guitars, due to interaction between magnetic pick-ups and piezos (warbling from pick-up height not adjusted, whistling howl from tuning or intonation not being spot on). Quirks to be aware of.

Thanks. I service all these guitars, know these parts well.

Just measure my hex for doing that, with calipers, yes, 7/64.

Stop tab was broken or cut off, saw part of it in the photo.

That is not for an 89F, and it does not have a stop tab. Looks like one from an older version Variax. It is the correct part number for the Variax Standard and not a JTV.

Cobalts are good strings.

What amdenj said. 9.5's work fine, just not the EB Slinkys, they stretch to easily. Great on Fender, not on piezos, they reach that 'dead string' point too soon.

Check computer OS compatibility on the Downloads page.

Don't do that, it was not designed to handle that. It would be an unsupported modification. If something gets damaged and it lands on my repair bench, I would have to send back untouched as a non repairable unit.

Ymel,... do not use that, aliexpress product does not the correct power specs. It would be an unsupported use and any damage from such products would not covered by warranty. Stick to the Line 6 power items.

About five very small dabs of Krazy Glue, put the top on, let it sit and set for an hour. Then put it back on the Alt Tune encoder shaft.

Tried Full Compass???

:)

"... there was a rev to the hardware along the way. " --- There was a revision around 2012, chip set update to be more compliant with today's data flow standards. Also v2.00 HD firmware to work better with the then current HD line of our products. JTV-89 board will not work well in an 89F, as one is fixed bridge and the other is a floating tremolo bridge. Using a fixed bridge program in a floating bridge board won't sound right, and the tremolo won't sound right,.... I know this from experience with 89F's that had 89 firmware in them. Don't do that, it sounds awful.

Failing, but not totally failed,... maybe getting old, maybe an oxidized solder point. Should be checked by an authorized tech with experience with this product. No, those older guitar piezos won't work, wrong frequency response curve. Check with Graph Tech, they might, might have something that would fit electronically and mechanically.

From the Facebook group earlier. Best bet would be your local guitar shop and have it fitted with one and see how it does. Need to maintain a 12-15 degree downward breaking from the string nut to the tuning post hole.

Yes, 10's and 11's give best performance regarding mechanical to electronics transfer (transduction) for a good signal. And what brue58ski said.

Yes, that's normal.

Sounds like you have the 500 Electric Variax.

Confirmed it with a radius gauge, 12".

It's either intermittent solder on the 3-way switch or an open coil on the pick-up.