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mrbuggo

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  1. Thanks for your quick response, Mr Psarkissian. Indeed, I see from the list you linked that the local authorized repairman - Coupe Communications, Ambler, PA - is where I'd planned to take it to. On behalf of others in the forum, thank you for your highly valued advice and comments. Best regards.
  2. To Mr. Psarkisian: you mention in this thread, and elsewhere, that in due course a Variax should visit your shop for an overall general maintenance procedure. If I may ask, in that my 2012 JTV69s is planned for a trip to the local line 6 authorized repair location for replacement of a faulty input jack assembly, would they also be equally capable of performing the general maintenance you refer to, or should the JTV be shipped to you at line 6 for this job? Also, are you referring to a focus chiefly on electronics, or the physical aspects of the JTV too, as I am in good shape with all other typical adjustments. With thanks in advance for your reply.
  3. Hello, I'm attempting to make the best pickup height adjustments on my JTV-69s with stock pickups as I find them to be reasonably good-sounding as is. I'm aware that height differences are often simply a matter of personal preference, but I want to avoid the risk of impacting the Piezo pickups sensitivity if the pickups are set poorly. Accordingly, can anyone tell me something about the stock 69s pickups, such as: are the magnets AlNiCo (II, V, or other?) or Ceramic? what is the average output impedance (I believe they may be in the 6.5k range). any ideal height measurement found to be ideal. anything else that might be useful to know. With kind thanks in advance for your reply.
  4. I, too, have been plagued by this problem for several years now. That being the scratching noise when rotating the volume control when on Modeling mode, not in Mag-pickup mode. I have removed the pickguard and placed a small drop of proper Electronics Contact Cleaner down the shaft of the Volume Control and worked it back and forth. Also, the Volume Pot has a tab that fits in to a slot in the plastic housing underneath the the pickguard that mounts the Volume and Tone Pots. I assume the aforementioned tab makes contact with the shielding on the pickguard to secure a ground. As such, the ground should be sufficiently connected when tightening the cleaned Volume Pot and retaining nut. Unfortunately, this procedure did not eliminate the scratching noise - which will temporarily drop off when rotating the Volume knob vigorously for about 20 seconds - then the noise returns as before. Mr. Psarkissian, from your comment : "Another reason would be if there were an intermittent contact or solder point on the jack plate of the guitar or the power wedge" I will assume from this point it may be necessary for me to replace the entire jack plate assembly as I also have been troubled by an erratic connection there when using a TRS 1/4" cable. If so, is the black connector from the PC board on the jack assembly (i.e. Line 6 part no. 50-04-0079-1) simply plugged into the appropriate location on the main board, or must it be soldered in place? Nevertheless, If there is more expertise required of this procedure than a simple "remove & replace", then fortunately for me there is an Authorized Line 6 Repair Technician within a short drive of where I live. I am very grateful for any advise and guidance you can offer regarding the above. Thank you.
  5. Pardon me - and no offense intended - but the argument seems borderline ridiculous. Avoid buying a Variax because it might depreciate or become obsolete? Consider how much a new car depreciates (far more costly than a Variax). I bought my JTV69s 6 years ago new for $987. So far, that "investment" ( or, "expense" more properly) has cost about $165/year and the guitar is still going strong. Ask yourself what you pay for endless commercials delivered via cable TV - PER MONTH ! True, Line6 has not materially changed the Variax modelling technology in years. Been no problem for me. Don't know what the current re-sale value of a JTV69s is - and don't care. Still performs a valuable function. Same as when new. Just like my 1973 model acoustic guitar.
  6. Greetings, I've owned a 2012 JV-69s for 5+ years. Lately began using a quality Planet Waves Custom Series TRS 1/4" cable with compression springs hoping to get an optimal connection. A longtime problem plaguing me is 1/4" cables not connecting well with the jack and causing a weak or lost connection. Solution's been to wiggle the plug until guitar sounds proper, but this condition forces me to shy away from gigging my temperamental JTV. When it works, it works well, but the connection can fail anytime and usually does if the cable plug gets touched. Done my own repairs for decades. Can anyone please advise if the 1/4" jack is in someway fixable - and if so, only by Line 6? - or might it really call for a jack replacement as the only reliable remedy? Also, the volume knob has always made a scratching sound when turned quickly in Modeling. I've tried all the approaches suggested in other threads, such as, correct-type contact cleaner on the pot shaft, etc.- but with no success. Doesn't seem to be the typical problem with a dirty potentiometer because it makes no scratching noise when turning it in Mag mode. Here again, is replacement by Line 6 my only workable option? Please let me know what you think. Many thanks in advance for your helpful reply.
  7. Hello Mr. Psarkission, Hoping you wouldn't mind sharing some advice and commentary, please. I removed the volume knob, nut and washer, then sprayed 2-3 shots of Electronics Cleaner (plastic-safe, non-lubricating) down along the pot shaft on both sides. All back together, rotated pot shaft 10-12 times, same noise only a little less. Removed knob , etc. again and gave 2-3 shots of Electronics Duster in same location. Same noise problem. Seems like the scratchy noise is eliminated briefly, then will return. If done very carefully, would removing the pickguard just enough to examine the Volume pot and repeating the previously-mentioned process be more effective, or are there any other suggestions I may consider at this point? Many thanks for your valuable input.
  8. David, Thanks for describing you thoughtful approach. Not sure I understand exactly what you meant regarding certain parts mentioned. I listed them below, and hope you wouldn't mind clarifying. - In Workbench HD match the volume of the preset with the magnetic pickups ONE STRING AT A TIME, take notes about the preset volume (for example +3.2dB vs -1.2dB) for each string. >> did you mean the Model or the Preset Volume? and, do you first set the Model String levels to 100%, then tailor the Magnetic string volume to the Model string volume +/- to match by ear using th Preset Volume? - "Normalize" the highest (in volume) offset to -0.5dB or -1dB. This way you will have some headroom for the next, finer, adjustments. Apply the result values to your global string levels. For example, if at the previous step you got -6, -5.2, -3.3, 0, 1.2, 4.0 >>> did you mean from the Preset Volume results?..............you should input -11, -10.2, -8.3, -5, -3.8, -1 as your global string volumes. - Now that your global levels are set, match the volume of the preset model (or, just: Model?) to the volume of your weakest string. The high e in the example above. - Once everything matches, it is up to you to choose if you want to raise the volume of all the strings by the same amount to get to the maximum possible volume. For example, from -6 -7 -5 -2 -1.5 -1 to -5 -6 -4 -1 -0.5 0. >>> understood, as this would apply to all Models using the Global String Levels. Following the above, I suppose each individual Model's Preset Volume should be adjusted to match the Magnetic's output so that the volume - to one's ear - will approximately match? Many thanks for your feedback !
  9. That's right cbrillow. FWIW, even if the 2012 JTV69s I bought for $987 in 2013 depreciates to $0.00 salvage value someday, it's still a whole lot less money than I would have spent on all those guitars the Variax can sound like.
  10. I'm with you Silverhead. I sold my Epiphone Casino, Epiphone Emperor Jazz guitar and Gretsch 6120 after buying my JTV69s. I figured - that with sufficient tweaking and EQ-ing - the Variax could come as close as I needed it to be to the actual models. Still have the LP, Tele, Strat, & 335, though. If I'm still alive when the JTV becomes totally obsolete or the circuitry fails, I'll just buy whatever is the state-of-the-art replacement, if that time comes.
  11. Gentlemen, I am grateful for your input. Specracer : I play at low-to-moderate volume at home, and in a rehearsal or gig environment just loud enough to be heard above the drummer. Overall mostly clean tones are used. I didn't save my settings before the recent change so wouldn't be able to provide comparisons. cruisinon2: I agree, it is much a matter of what the ear communicates. I will experiment with what I hear playing at a normal volume level. amsdenj: I use .11-.50 Gauge nickel wound strings. I set the action as low as possible short of getting a buzz anywhere on the fretboard, and each string is very close to equal in distance from the string bottom to the top of the 12th fret. I set the bottom side of the JTV69s Piezo bridge saddles parallel to the bridge plate (i.e. never tilted) and the bridge plate is parallel to the body on all sides. Accordingly, the only variable I can think of - in terms of pressure on the Piezo saddle - is whatever each string might apply. I guess one can say that the Piezo pickups may possess idiosyncracies from one Piezo to another, and we must therefore attempt to adapt to them individually to get uniform volume. I will experiment with your DAW suggestion. Thanks
  12. This topic has been addressed in part in the past but I 'm hoping to get the Forum Member's latest thinking gathered if you'll indulge me. Background: I've owned a 2012 JTV69s since August 2013 and with it have striven to achieve the maximum authentic re-creation of the modeled guitars. I am aware of course that identical model guitars will have varying characteristics, and there is no single ultimate example. I have owned most of the modeled guitars over the years and am familiar with how they should basically sound. My JTV69s came nicely setup from the Dealer and after a few months Line6 introduced the Workbench HD upgrade which I installed with it's various default settings. My approach to setting up a Model on Workbench has been the stock-configuration of a Model's pickup, placement on the body, and stock pots/caps values. Seldom do I alter any of the aforementioned unless to enhance a muddy or thin tone. I make all settings using a clean-sounding, stock, vintage 1968 Fender Pro Reverb - no effects - with tone/volume settings as would be used with my various "real" guitars. Until recently I always found the models to be lacking in Bite, Clarity, Presence, Sharp attack and too Compressed-sounding. The default settings on Workbench HD were with String Volume levels at 100%. I tried to overcome these faults with various changes to pickup levels, pot/cap values,etc. but gained no real improvement. I recently discovered - and this is where I hope Forum Members may share their experience and perspective - that if the String Volume levels are reduced significantly (e.g. 30-60%), while increasing the Preset Volume to match the Magnetic pickup's output level, then the Variax sound really comes alive. I've found in making these Model settings modifications that the previously-mentioned drawbacks are heavily reduced, resulting in good Presence, Bite, Attack, etc. It seems that in Workbench HD, the String Volume & Preset Volume - if set near the maximum - cause the signal to be too strong thus resulting in a compressed sound that hampers the Model's brightness qualities. Now, I just need to find a way to reliably measure the individual String volume output for each model. I normally find the bass strings to be too boomy relative to the treble strings. To address this, I usually set the bass strings volume settings about 6-10% below the treble levels. Anyone know of a device or method to gauge the string output volume with reasonable precision? Many thanks in advance for your valuable input!
  13. Friends, my 2012 JTV69s has the scratchy volume pot problem when in modeling mode only, and when using a 1/4" cable (haven't checked to see if it happens when using Workbench HD and the VDI cable). No scratching noise when in the magnetic pickup mode. When the Volume knob is rotated vigorously back and forth about 8 times, it will go away - but only for a moment - then the scratching sound quickly returns. I also have a faulty input Jack (1/4") causing poor signal that's correctable if the Jack plug is wiggled around several times. This annoyance occurs with any Cable used. The condition is very bothersome, forcing me to sadly avoid relying on the JTV69s for gigging. I dislike the thought of spending $40+ to get a replacement Jack, and running the risk of worsening the guitar if I re-install the Jack incorrectly somehow. The nearest listed Line6 Authorized repairman is in North Jersey - a 3 hour drive from me, and I would prefer to avoid shipping the guitar due to risk. I've replaced many guitar electronics over the years and a Jack replacement shouldn't be too difficult, however, the Variax is a more sophisticated animal. I removed and inspected the JTV69s's input Jack to bend the pin in closer to the jack probe, but it really didn't solve the problem. Any suggestions you can offer to remedy the above problems I'm having would be greatly appreciated. With thanks in advance for your reply.
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