Charlie_Watt

IMO every serious guitar player should learn how to do a guitar setup. There are many good books out there with plenty of step by step instructions on how to do it. I don't buy that a Variax is so special that you have to send it to Line6 for a setup.

I just leave my USB cable always plugged into my Pod. I unplug it from my laptop at that end when I'm not using the USB. My pod is down on the floor under my desk so it's a PIA to get down there to plug in the USB anyway. It's blind plugging that breaks the USB connector. It seems to be more fragile than most.

No but make sure you are not getting fret buzz. Play it with no electronics and listen for buzz everywhere on the fretboard. Fret buzz will really mess up the modeling.

What you play it into is a big deal for good acoustic sounds. I use a powered PA speaker and it sounds great - no amp sims just effects and some eq.

Cool! That's a good deal. I would have thought you would have to pay more than that! Enjoy!

Very nice job! Did you have any issues with fitting the neck?

The TRS goes between the box and the guitar. You then need a regular guitar cable between the box and your amp or Pod.

Remember that you need a TRS cable to use that power source with the Variax. (Stereo cable with 1/4 inch jacks)

The supply used is rated 9V AC. I forget the mA rating.

I would not recommend it. If anything goes wrong, it could damage the battery. That battery will hold a charge for months.

I think pickup height only gets real complicated if it's high enough to magnetically affect the strings. (Bad) Most of the pickup height is stronger signal as they get closer to the strings. Pickup position is interesting because it sees different harmonics of the string vibration differently which is what we hear as a big tone change between neck, middle, bridge pickup positions.

I've had my 69S for over a year now and I am still impressed with the build quality.

No way would I spend the extra $$ for a US model of the JTV. The neck makes a guitar so if you don't like the stock one, you should get a custom neck from Warmouth and make your $900 guitar custom.

It probably could be done but you would have to modify the guitar body to make it fit. It won't drop in.

Guitar necks are a personal choice - everyone's hands are different. I happen to like my 69S neck better than the necks on any of my other guitars because it fits my small hands better. One size fits all just doesn't work and the only solution is to pick a guitar that has a neck that you prefer or better yet swap out the neck for the one that is a perfect fit for your playing style and hand size.

Sounds like he got his original back.

Not the same! Variax is not a synth! Variax takes the actual string vibrations and applies models to them to change their sound. Nylon strings eliminate much of the higher harmonics. It's possible to apply a model (Filter) to the steel string vibrations to remove the higher harmonics to emulate nylon. Also, nylon tends to have less sustain. Again, a model can reduce the sustain. I have an Acoustic 700 and the nylon model sounds like a nylon string guitar. I just don't happen to like that sound much so I have rarely used it. I like the sharp high frequency harmonics that a steel string acoustic generated.

Factory setups are usually very conservative with the action too high. I think it is almost expected that a new guitar will need a setup. That's why I learned how to do it myself.

Nylon model on the Acoustic700 sounds pretty good. That being said, not too many Variax owners are looking for that sound I bet.

If you are on Studio Direct, try one of the other modes if you are going into a guitar amp.

If it's overloading, try turning the string volume down. You have to turn it way down with Ghost pickups. (mine on my 500 are now at 50%) It's more likely something mechanical if it's the standard piezo. They should not overload.

You need either a Pod that supports the Variax VDI to USB or the Variax USB adapter to connect to a PC. There is no other way.

The strings in those pix look fine to me. Nicely centered. I have not noticed any string slippage problems with the neck on my 69S. Yes - the neck is on the thin side which is the way I like it. I have smaller than average hands and short fingers.

I would stay away from used Variax guitars. You want a full warranty for something with all of the electronics that a JTV has. Sweetwater is a safe bet with a very good return policy and extra warranty.

Sure you can. It will work best of both amps are plugged into the same AC power. (to avoid ground loops)