I have the SR250 and the JTV-59. Both are good. I use them for modeling plugged into my Helix, so I can't comment on the magnetic pickups. I can say they are different styles and play very differently. I haven't plugged them into a different amp/system than the Helix, but I am reasonably certain you can save the pickup configuration directly to the Variax so even with the SR250, you could model a bridge pick-up when plugged into a non-helix amp.