brue58ski

I don't know if this will help at all but with the original Variax I remember that opening it up and just reseating the connectors often solved issues. It would be worth a shot although it probabaly nulify's the warranty. And +1 on the short shaft issue and solution. I had the same problem. Just took a small piece of plastic placed in the selector's hole for the shaft; essentially makes the shaft longer so the selector sit's higher and can therefore be pushed down further so it can engage.

I LIKE IT. I went to Michaels (an arts and crafts store around here) and got some ot their stickon type stuff to "uprgade" my JTV 69. An 89F is coming. I will definitely look into it. A big +1 about the headstock. I got some sticker paper at an office supply store and made a plain black one for my JTV 69. Much better.

I always wondered why they didn't/haven't modeled the MXR Distortion +. And do they still have that Budda amp they modeled for the XT series laying around? Why not model that? An old Mesa Boogie (Mark I or II) would be nice also.

I wish they would model a Vetta. I love that amp! :D :lol:

Oooooooo thank you. I will try that.

Well my experience has been different. I have found, especially in this classic speed/feel discussion, that people who say they don't feel anything for or don't like something, just don't. And it's not because they're jealous or anything else other than...wait for it...they don't feel anything for it or don't like it. Period. And my experience has been the classic, comeback to the "speed sucks" camp from the "speed is a legitmate form of expression" camp is "you're just jealous". So I'm curious how you obtained your experience. In your experience have you actually had people tell you "yes it's really because I'm jealous, you are right" or something to that effect? Or have you heard someone mutter under their breath "I actually wish I could play like that". You have actually heard someone admit that they are jealous? And several people I guess. Really? Maybe they've said something like "they don't deserve their accolades" and you have then ascertained from that comment that jealousy is a factor. Whatever it is, the only way, that I can see, you could know for sure that is what they are thinking is if they specifically tell you that. And given human nature, I sincerely doubt that has occurred with any frequency And if they haven't actually said they are jealous, anything else is speculation and arrogance. With a healthy dose of schoolyard name calling thrown in. Unless you actually can read minds. That would be amazing. Each side has it's merits. Just romping through scales and arpeggios as fast as you can can be emotionless and unfeeling. Often leaving listeners flat. BUT it can also have alot of emotion and feeling. Steve Morse being a good example of that, IMHO. Have I belabored this? :wub: You're right, I have. Never mind. But I'm still posting it. :P :D

I asked basically this question and Digital Igloo said yes. The XLR and 1/4" outputs will hve their own levels you can set. So, for example, you could have a mic level going to the PA from your XLR's whose level never alters and the 1/4' could be hooked up to your amp and the levels will be completely adjustable.

I agree about the "soul crap" but I have to disagree with your envy assesment. Fist of all, I think it's a bit arrogant to assume you know where anyone's opinion comes from. Especially in a forum where there's no way you could ascertain that. I think when you say that, it's essentially just schoolyard name calling. "You're just jealous" (said in a whiny chld's voice). Now when I first saw Yngwie, his playing left me flat. Fast, fluid and accurate..Yes. But I felt nothing. In no way did it do anything for me except "gee, golly, he sho're is fast". I wasn't jealous, didn't start with my nose in the air, expecting to feel no emotion. That's just what I felt (or didn't feel). Now Steve Morse. That would be different. The tastiest "faster" player I know. Steve Vai; the only song of his that did anything for me was Attitude Song. And I WANTED to like Vai. Bought three of his CD's based on the potential I heard in Atttude Song but nothing, and I mean NOTHING else he did touched me in any way other than " boy, he sho're can play fast". Technically he was VERY impressive but I don't throw on Steve Vai CD's very much at all. Just my opinion. Not a character flaw to think that, nor to think that he's the most emotional player on the planet. I love to play fast. And when I do, part of the reason I do, is because of what I'm feeling at the time so when I do play fast, I am playing with feeling and I can only assume the same is true for all of the aforementioned players. But if I were to play a recording of my noodlings would people feel the emotion I was feeling or just think "gee, golly he sho're plays fast". Unfortunately for my ego, I'm afraid it's probably the latter. Just food for thought. I mean no malice by this post.

I actually agree about the latest Strat model. Especially the neck middle out of phase position. Doesn't quite have that Mark Knopfler sound I love. But I have heard real Strats sound just as anemic. Usually older "vintage" Strats where I think the pickups just aren't as strong as other Strats. I often wonder if that's the kind of Strat that was modeled.

If you want better build quality, pony up the big bucks and get an American made JTV. You have to pay around $3000 more. But you'll (supposedly) get the quality you're looking for. As far as the quality of modeling. I kind of think this is it for at least a little wihle. I personally am happy with the modeling. It's definitely close enough for the needs it serves and besides. now that I have it, I have a different attitude towards it. It's not a guitar that simulates and sounds like such and such a guitar. It's a guitar that sounds like this...STRUM...when it's on this setting and this...STRUM...when I have it on this setiing. And then I have this really cool program that can change the sounds even more!!! When I had my SG it did not sound exactly like a Strat. I wanted that sound in my SG so I rewired, put in 6 throw 4 pole switches so each pickup could be single coil (either one) parallel, in or out of phase and in series, in or out of phase. Then those two pickups could be set 6 diffeent ways as well with another 6 throw 4 pole switch. 3, 6 throw 4 pole switches giving me (if my math is right) 216 possible combinations/sounds. Did it sound exactly like a strat? No. were all of the sounds good or even usable, no. But I got kind of close and alot of other sounds I liked. I think people get a little too wrapped up in it sounding exactly like the Gibson Explorer their friend has and since it doesn't it needs more processing power instead of just taking the sounds as they are and asking yourself not if it sounds exactly like my dad's '63 strat but just whether you like how it sounds or not. I mean even with my 216 different possible pickup wiring, I didn't have the versatility and sonic possibility's the Variax affords me. I'm not sure I articulated myself very well and kind of went off on a tangent. But I've already typed it so I'm posting it. I love my Variax and all the possibilities it affords me. Certainly exponentially more than the options I had in 1980. OK I've blathered enough.

Aren't those two of the guitars the Variax purports to emulate? And Line 6 doesn't sell Les Paul's or Strats. I don't recall any comments here like what you describe. And if there are any, I wonder if they know what the Variax does? Even so, the Variax should come close enough to give people an idea of what the Helix can do. Besides, like mbenigni said "A million different videos won't substitute 5 minutes with the thing in front of you." So why not use your "flagship" guitar with your "flagship" amp sim?

That's true. You'll never please everyone; EVER. But, I would say that, coming from a business, promotional, aspect; they shouldn't use any other guitar. Coming from a JTV owner aspect, I just want see it.

I really wish Line6 would use the Variax in it's demo's. If the JTV Variax is everything Line 6 says it is, then what do they need all those guitars for?

I just did this so I'm not sure it will work all the time in different patches but I don't see why it wouldn't. I put the boost comp at the end (in my case, near the end where I had a reverb at the end. Put the comp right before) of my patch and just set the level to 0. Keep the rest the same. That was just enough boost. Darn near perfect. Then just link it to one of the foot switches of you choice. At least this should be a good place to start.

I know this. I want an option, like how to convert the JTV-69 jackplate assembly to the 500. Did you read the thread or just the original post? I don't need a cable and I'm guessing you haven't read this whole thread. The option discussed in that has been mentioned in this thread.

It's gotta have the sound!!!! I'm so far iimpressed with it. The Univibe sim did sound gooey and some of the reverbs I've heard sound good so far to me also. I've always thought the effects were lacking. Especially the Chorus and Reverbs. If the effects have improved as much as it sounds like so far, I'm mostly in. But the amps gotta be good too. I've spent alot of money on Line 6 (happily) but I'm pretty much good to go right now. So the Helix has to be a large bit (whatever that is) better than the HD500 series. After that, I'll finally have everything I want!!!! (Yeah, right :rolleyes:)

Of course. Everything is what it is. It just would be a nice thing for Line 6 to do. Especially if there is a way to convert the JTV faceplate assembly to an original Variax faceplate assembly. And according to psarkissian it is possible, just difficult. How about a kit that makes it easy? Maybe I'll get a JTV faceplate asssembly and see what I can come up with. I have a little experience and it looks like to me the biggest problem would be finding the parts I would need. How about at least pointing people to where they can go to get them if that's the case. The door would not have saved me from my recent predicament at all.

It's my understanding that when matching power supplies the voltage always has to be the same and the current's amperage can be the same or higher. Never lower (I have seen this. Lower is bad)

I am aware of this particular faux pas as I have done it. It's easy to do and one reason why I think the CAT 5 connection is an Achilles heel in the Variax and therefore, it would be nice if Line 6 had some kind of alternative ready for current and future Variax owners. It's an awful lot of coin to drop on a guitar that this thing could potentially and easily happen to. That event is also where I learned all about the Jack plate assembly. At the time Line 6 actually sent me a whole assembly for free. In regard to what happened, I saw him drop the guitar so I know how it occued. And I'm pretty sure I pulled one of the copper connectors into the housing when I was soldering the broken connector. All is well though. Works fine. Which is good since I am considering selling it in the near future.

I'm pretty sure the POD bean concept is gone. The Helix isn't in the POD category, it's in the effects controller category. A big indication that there will be no Helix POD. The HD POD didn't sell very well. That's why it disappeared so fast. So I'm saying goodbye to the bean. It was fun while it lasted. I'm very sure we'll not see it again. At least not in the foreseeable future.

Thank you all for your advice. After soldering a broken connection I put it all back together and it still didn't work. I found that when I pushed the CAT5 cable I was using it would pop in. Looked inside the socket and found one of the CAT 5 contacts in the housing was somehow pushed (pulled is probably more accurate) in far enough that it wasn't connecting with the cable end. Got a tiny hook and pulled it back. It now works!!! I do think it would be nice if Line 6 would consider having more made or maybe have some kit or instructions on how to convert the JTV jack assembly to work in the older Variax's. The CAT5 output seems to be a big achilles heel for the Variax's and to have a good replacement supply would ensure Line 6's loyal customers (like me) could be using their Variax for the rest of their lives. Just like other "normal" $800 dollar guitars. $800 dollars in my case anyway.

Well after years of being very careful, I let the wrong person handle my Variax 500. He (albeit slowly) Dropped it so it landed on the VDI cable that was attached. The VDI now doesn't work and there are NO replacements available. Anyone have one laying around or any suggestions? I've called and spoke to both Line 6 and Full Compass Parts.

Found this in another forum. Thought folks might be interested. Don't know where he got the info...... Not that you can hear them yet, but here are the Helix Amp models in 1.0: WhoWatt 100 Soup Pro Stone Age 185 Tweed Blues Nrm Tweed Blues Brt US Small Tweed US Deluxe Nrm US Deluxe Vib US Double Nrm US Double Vib Mail Order Twin Divided Duo Interstate Zed Jazz Rivet 120 Essex A-15 Essex A-30 A-30 Fawn Nrm A-30 Fawn Brt Mandarin 80 Brit J-45 Nrm Brit J-45 Brt Brit Plexi Nrm Brit Plexi Brt Brit Plexi Jump Brit P-75 Nrm Brit P-75 Brt Brit J-800 German Mahadeva German Ubersonic Cali Rectifire ANGL Meteor Solo Lead Clean Solo Lead Crunch Solo Lead OD PV Panama Line 6 Elektrik Line 6 Doom Line 6 Epic Tuck n' Go SV Beast Nrm SV Beast Brt Cali Bass Cali 400 Ch1 Cali 400 Ch2 G Cougar 800

I see a Variax bass in there. I love mine.