brue58ski

It does sound like microphonic feedback to me. i.e it's the pickup coils vibrating that's causing it. You'll have to find the frequency and notch it out somehow.

Like the HD500, they did they same with the XT. They called it the X3 and it was two XT's parrallel to each other in one unit.

i do like that flux control idea. I wish it could be implemented on the Helix.

Yeah. i wouldn't really care if the bug was fixed but I would use the tone knob on all of the acoustic models. But I can't. So I don't. I also keep the Helix controlling the tuning. Again the manual says "When set to “Don’t Force,” Helix respects the Variax guitar’s current tuning." It does not. I do use tunings a bit and, unlike the tone/vol knob issue, it will change the Varaix tuning to the current patches tuning and not stay on the previous patches tuning if it is controlling it. So, because of this, all of my patches are never on Don't Force. They are set to control the tuning and the tuning I mostly have it set it on is EADGBE (haha). The Helix doesn't have the respect for the Variax's settings that it claims to have. I suspect it's because if it is on Don't Force, it tells the Variax nothing, where it should tell it to go to it's own setting. Just an uninformed theory. I do wish I did not have to use workarounds to use Line 6's flagship product.

You will hear nothing concrete about that. Line 6 says nothing until they are really close. No matter what it is for several reasons. It's been said that the current Helix has AT LEAST 1 more year in it. And they just put out a new pedal that is still using the current effects models. So even if a new one were to come out, the change would probably be more about haveing more DSP and maybe an amp capture type thing. But I think any new Helix (it has been already been stated the next iteration would not be have the word Helix in it's name) will probably still use the current amp/cab models maybe tweaked a little.

The Helix manual says this Variax Volume Knob Remotely sets the Variax volume knob setting. When set to “Don’t Force,” Helix respects the current Variax volume knob position. Variax Tone Knob Remotely sets the Variax tone knob setting. When set to “Don’t Force,” Helix respects the current Variax tone knob position. I take the statement in bold to mean where the knob is currently set on the Variax itself. Not what the Helix had set it to before. And that's part of the point. When you switch to another patch, it neither switches to the parameter you may have the new patch set to, nor, as you pointed out, if set to Don't Force, it does does not respect the current Variax volume/tone knob position. I leaves it in the previous patches position. That's how it's supposed to act. That's not how it acts now. It acts the way you stated. Again, that is not how it is supposed to act.

I hadn't thought of that. That's interesting. I was using them to control the Helix. Not have the Helix control them. That opens up a possibility or two.

Yes, the tone or volume knob can act like an expression pedal when assigned to a parameter. The bug is basically this. If you set one patch to a certain tone or volume parameter, when you switch to the next patch, it will keep the old tone/vol parameter. If you press the footswitch for the new patch again it will then switch to to the tone parameter on the new patch. I believe it's also supposed to reflect what the tone knob is on the Variax if the Helix is set to "do not control" or what ever it is called but it doesn't do that either unless that's been fixed. I haven't checked that out in a very long time. It, again, maintains what the parameter was set at on the first patch. I haven't checked to see if it will reflect what's on the Variax if you hit the footswitch again. I admit I do not know what will happen when you switch patches if the tone or volume knobs are being used for controlling something on the first patch. It's a good question. I'm prety busy so I have no idea when I would be able to check all of my questions out.

Don't know if this has been mentioned but my way is to have the top row for patches and the bottom row for snapshots. I can go to pedal mode if I want more control.

First of all, the Helix is supposed to be able to control the vol and tone knobs on the Variax but there is a bug. So that ability cannot be used. And the Variax cannot switch to different presets as far as I know. HOWEVER, the tone and volume knobs on the Variax can be set to control various parameters like an expression pedal. The way I use it is to simulate Tom Scholz's Space Echo. I control the delay time with the Expression pedal and the feedback with the Variax tone knob. I haven't practiced with it enough to be good at it but it does what Tom Scholz's pedal does. He has an Echoplex and he built an expression pedal that rocks up and down and also moves right and left. He hooked it up physically to the Echoplex so the one way controls the delay time (or the heads?) and the other the feedback time. There's other things going on but this is a start to this. Anyway the bottom line is it is possible to control parameters from the Helix with the volume and tone knob but not change patches (as far as I know). You could set up two sounds on each path on the Helix and use the volume or tone knob to control the outputs of each of them. Just setup up the expression pedal to control one output in the reverse of the other so as you bring one output up the other goes down. That's the only way I can see to do that.

No

Not being sure exactly what your patch looks like. You could control both the delay time and the feedback or the mix parameter at the same time with the expression pedal. Just set the min and max amounts you want for each parameter. This is assuming you have an expression pedal of course. You may have an HX Stomp. Of course, that means it won't do it automatically. The Helix does not have anything that would control that, like an LFO kind of thing. It's been requested but currently not.

Here's a procedure that I copied awhile ago. It's rolling back from version 2.0 but I believe it's still the correct procedure. I am not sure if the links are still accurate. Hope this helps. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- If you have already installed HD 2.0 FW , Dont use monkey to "roll back" to FW1.82, or FW1.90 - many reports of problems on the Line6 Forums. Use the step by step procedure below for a reliable / trouble free FX 1.90 installation on your Tyler Variax. Its best to revert all the way back to FW 1.71 VXF file - BEFORE you install the FX 1.90 VXF. Also be sure the Volume knob is turned up - and Not at "0" during any FW update procedure, as this enables auto power off on Tyler Variax guitars and WILL corrupt the firmware update process. Be sure you are following these Variax firmware update procedure instructions exactly Tyler Variax Firmware 1.90 Revert Procedure. 1) Use the Workbench software to back up your guitar presets before updating if you would like to keep them. 2) Download Tyler Variax FW 1.71 VXF Flash file, http://line6.com/software/readeula.html?rid=4195 3) Use the Line 6 MD5 Checksum utility to verify your FW1.71 VXF file is good. http://line6.com/software/?os=Windows+XP&submit_form=Show&name=MD5%20Checksum%20Utility 4) Use latest Line6 Monkey (must be at least Monkey version 1.62) to install FW 1.71 VXF 5) Follow Variax firmware install procedure instructions here. During the update, select 'NO' when asked if you would like to keep the presets on the guitar. http://line6.com/support/page/kb/_/guitars/james-tyler-variax-guitars/variax-reflash-and-software-update-instructions-r103?st=0#comment_0 6) Verify the guitar works, then download Tyler Variax FW 1.90 VXF http://line6.com/software/readeula.html?rid=5418 7) Use the Line 6 MD5 Checksum utility to verify your FW 1.90 VXF file is good. http://line6.com/software/?os=Windows+XP&submit_form=Show&name=MD5%20Checksum%20Utility 8 ) Use Line6 Monkey and install FW1.90 VXF Flash file, During the update, select 'NO' when asked if you would like to keep the presets on the guitar. Flash Memory 1.90 Filesize: 456.13 KB MD5: cc7757ed4a0a075eb2ccf651e443a2b5 If your download does not start, click here NOTE: Line 6 Monkey 1.62 is required in order to install this firmware update. The v1.9 firmware update for James Tyler(r) Variax(r) features enhanced palm muting for a more natural response to muted guitar parts and aggressive playing styles. It also provides faster updates with additional error checking. For JTV-89 Customers Only: In addition to the 28 electric, acoustic and eclectic instruments, you also get five high-gain models exclusive to JTV-89 loaded into custom bank 1. Each model is based on a different pickup position, and delivers high-gain guitar tone while allowing you to access drop tunings, custom Dream Rig configurations and more. The five high-gain models come with a couple caveats: 1. For the time being, they are not editable in Workbench, nor will you be able to mix and match the body or pickup models. 2. For the time being, the High Gain Model is hard-wired into the Custom 1 bank. You will not be able to overwrite the Custom 1 bank from the guitar or from Workbench. NOTE: (when updating from 1.71): If you've loaded your guitar with custom models and would like to retain your current custom banks and/or custom models, please sync with Variax Workbench and save your custom model set. You will be able to re-load your models from Workbench after you've completed the update. NOTE: an MD5 Checksum is a file validating algorithm which we use so that you can verify that files you download from this site are not corrupted during the download process. If you have problems downloading or installing the file on this page, make a note of the MD5 checksum posted above, then click HERE to download the Line 6 MD5 Checksum utility. Instructions for using this utility are on the page it is downloaded from. http://line6.com/support/page/kb/_/guitars/james-tyler-variax-guitars/variax-reflash-and-software-update-instructions-r103?st=0#comment_0 http://line6.com/support/topic/2128-jtv-20-try-this-jtv-flash-update-update-2ed/

I looked at the manual and on page 12 it says this on the second "note" *NOTE: If you don’t want the Preset footswitches to disappear after selecting one, set the “Global Settings > Footswitches” > Preset Mode parameter to “Latch.” In this case, HX Stomp XL stays in Preset footswitch mode until you press MODE (Edit/Exit). I believe this is the opposite of what you want but there's several pages that talk about the modes and I only skimmed through them. I do not own an HX Stomp or HX Stomp XL. So start on page 12 of the manual and see if there's more info. Again, I don't own one so I can't give you any more info.

I did not think it was an amp/cab modeler. Of course it's not. If it was, it would already have some amp/cab models in it. Of course it would. There are "regular" size pedals that do IR's out there. I thought it would be a no brainer to include the ability to load and use an IR if it was an easy thing to implement. Since I have no idea how easy or not easy it is, I was just pondering things.

i know guys that have pedal boards and I think this would come in handy in that case. If the modeling is acceptable to someone, it could replace several pedals you often only use once in a signal path. Like a delay.

One effect at a time. I can see why some people would use it, Not me. Interesting choice. I didn't notice, does it handle IR's if you want it to?

You would need to include a copy of your preset for this to be answered accurately. Or a detailed signal path.

The current Variax has been described as a labor of love for Line 6. I take this to mean the popularity of the Variax is not what was hoped but it's till part of the Line 6 universe. I'm pretty sure that there will be no new upgrades to the current JTV Variax's and I doubt that a new one is in the works. I think a big part of the problem is people want to use their own ax's. Maybe if they came up with something that would allow you to use your own guitar. Big guess. It would be too bad if they have. I have two JTV Variax's and love them with the Helix.

I wonder if the JTV-69 Cat 5 assembly would fit? I can't find a picture with a good shot of what the JTV-59's looks like. Here's a link to the JTV-69 assembly. https://www.fullcompass.com/prod/215554-line-6-50-04-0079-1-jack-plate-assembly-for-variax-jtv-69

Ah, Another use for Grolsch beer washers. They also make excellent strap locks. Buy a Grolsch, get a free strap lock/footswitch disabler!!!!

I do know better. I'm like you actually, I got it for what it was when I got it and would be happy with it the way it is. (except for that nagging Variax tone/volume knob bug. Have I told you guys about the Var.....Oh nevemind.)

I have no direct info to give you but you could try Line 6's CusomTone website fo the Stomp and search Bass. It's definitely hit and miss over there but you might get lucky. https://line6.com/customtone/search/?submitted=1&family=hx_stomp&search_term=bass

This ^^^. Here's one post that addresses this. I just looked quickly. Just go to the Helix Native forum (where the link comes from) and do a search for level. Lots of info.

Maybe the new update is coming...Yeah I know. But we can still dream.