magnusf27

I see it's a rather old post, but I'll answer anyhow. I have never had any issues with my Variax basses apart from now when I tried to update the firmware on my 3rd Variax bass (please don't ask about the other 2 lol and I fixed the firmware issue by using the USB interface instead of the Helix). They are rock solid imo and the other small issue I have had was when I was drunk and I didn't see I plugged the TRS cable in the output rather than the input on the DI and hence thought it was broken (blush). I tried it the day after and then it worked and the I concluded that must have been the case.

I bought an used Variax 700 bass recently and found out that the firmware was not updated. Tried 2 times through my helix using the cat5 cable, same error -> code 8000900C. Tried a PC restart as well, new update trial, same error. Then I remembered I still have my USB interface from when I had a Variax 500 guitar. Plugged it in and to my surprise it worked like a clock even though I run on win 10 64 bits. Happy days! (I don't know if the C at the end indicates another type of error though. You have to remember to power your Variax and if you are using batteries (I used fresh ones), just use a regular jack cable to 'ignite' the variax.

So I was too late for this one but have another one at hand which I believe is dated from April 2012? It has the S/N W1204XXXX. Does this have the 3rd or the 2nd generation bridge ?

Great input this thanks a lot. Especially the tremolo bar point would for sure never have asked about it if not for this :)

Thanks a lot for the input I suspected something like this as well and I don't think I'll buy the a new Variax or whatever a future similar guitar will be called, as it's really a bit to splash out, even for an used one, for a concept you already own and only for the luxury of being able to use the Workbench and slightly better acoustic sounds which after will you will not be able to hear the difference in a mix. Of course the playability also favours the JTV slightly though as far as I can figure out.

Are there any difference between the first JTV Variaxes vs those last ones in terms of quality and firmware (I guess the latter shouldn't be an issue as you should be able to upgrade all the way)? I have come across a used JTV-69 from 2010 so think I will go ahead if it's no issues buying those first batches. I have already a 700 but can't use Workbench now as the old Workbench is not compatible with Win 10 and I think the acoustic sounds are slightly better on the JTV as well (+ look of course). Other considerations?

So I encountered a weird issue on a gig yesterday. My Variax bass (700) have been working flawlessly, but all of a sudden the bass did not power up using Line 6 the DI-box with stereo-jack - the lights didn't turn green as well (and obviously it then didn't produce any sound). We checked the jack-cable and that worked and we did quick check for any loose cables inside the bass but couldn't see any. Upon testing with the Cat-5 cable the bass came alive as luckily the guitarists use Line 6 gear as well. Find it so weird as I would have understood it more if none of the connecting methods didn't work. Any others who have experienced the same issue?

Thanks a lot bjnette :) I've decided for the Pro HD then, as I mainly will use it for standard cover. After all I shouldn't be a problem selling it again if they come up with a new Pro product, or another HD board in some way, that is a bit more powerful than some 20% more as the Pro X is.

I agree too. I've never understood the pricing policy from Line 6 in terms of features and such. E.g The HD 300 with 50 effects and 8 amps, and further on the HD 400 75 effects and 12 amps and in the end HD 500 with 100 effects and 16 amps, will have underlined more the difference in price. The same goes on and on in the Line 6 history. E.g When the Vetta came I never understood the difference between the simulation v the pod and that alone wouldn't explain the price as it's the same really. However it's great products and it's ridiculous the amount of stick Line 6 have got considering what you actually got. As long as you know how to handle it you can get great result for little money. Will definitive try the set-up if I buy the Pod Hd pro (Well in some time I will have one either way). I hope though they'll release an upgraded shortboard as well with the same buttons as the pod X. And not to mention a new longboard. That's also one thing i don't understand, how that they didn't invest more time with the longboard. It could have been one of the best board out there with e.g added midi features and instrument input. Would have been a killer to use with other "non-Line6-gear".

Thanks a lot. Yes I've been thinking it doesn't actually has to be just as necessary in the pod hd line-up, as the X3, as imo most of the one amp signal path in the X3 Live is thin sounding. After all it's a good deal and I've have the M9 also so I could use some of the reverbs and delays from that unit (I see most of the people post issues when adding reverbs and delays in the HD) Btw do you know any people controlling the HD or other pro models with the M-series? (MIDI) Cheers :)

Got an offer for an used HD pro. I currently have the X3 Live and I think it's good when you do the dual amp feature. However it has become a bit unreliable in live situations and I need to upgrade as well (However it will cost me nearly 3 times to buy a new HD pro X) Will I get any DSP problems when running Dual amp and I normally use only one signal chain for 1-3 effects (in rare circumstances I use dist on both channels)? Or is it also dependable of which amps you choose?