phil_m

Well, at least at the Variax end... The cable that comes with the JTV is only protected at one end.

The problem could be the interface or the USB cable, but I'd be more suspicious of the Cat5 cable... This is just me speculating, but I believe the data being sent from the Workbench interface when updating and using Workbench is essentially MIDI sysex data, or something very much like it. When you're using the Variax with a POD, the data is more like MIDI PC and CC commands. Sysex data is more like a data stream and the MIDI commands are more like bursts of data being repeated. Sending commands is more forgiving than sending sysex. So I think it's likely that a bad cable could show up when using Workbench and not with the POD.

It could be a bad VDI cable... Are you using the cable that came with the Workbench interface or are you using the longer VDI cable?

For whatever reason, Line 6 never implemented Monkey support for the M13. You have to install updates with a third party sysex player. 2.04 is the latest firmware version, though, so you shouldn't have to worry about doing anything at the present time.

Another thing to consider is that if you're using the Variax with one of POD HDs with the VDI input, you can save any tuning you want with the preset. It is a bit different in practice than having the tunings immediately available with the alt tuning knob, but it gives you a lot of flexibility in having immediate access to alternate tunings.

That's true, but it's still pretty limited, because you're still stuck with using the same EQ, drive, and other settings with each voicing unless you change those settings with MIDI, too. It's not really the same as having 8 different presets available on the amp. Using the HD500 with L6 Link is a lot more versatile.

I personally would be kind of surprised to see Line 6 go down that road. It's probably feasible, but right now Line 6 isn't recognizing the absolute pitch with its algorithms. It's shifting based on relative pitch. So it would mean re-writing that whole bit. Adding it would undoubtedly in latency a little bit, and it seems that Line 6 wouldn't want to sacrifice feel for this feature. Perhaps it's something they'll do in the future with faster processors, but I'd not hold my breath for it now.

Nope... I have both actually, and since I've gotten the HD500, I've hardly touched the X3 Live. For playing live, the HD500 is better in nearly every way I can think of.

If you just want a shimmer, you could try the Octo Verb effect, but the Edge is also using delay in these songs. The problem is that the M5 can only do one effect at a time. This is where the flexibility of the M9 or M13 is nice because they allow to easily combine different effects.

Line 6 does give the sizes of the wrenches, although, it's still a bit confusing because not all Variaxes come with the sizes listed here: http://line6.com/support/page/kb/_/guitars/james-tyler-variax-guitars/accessories-included-with-james-tyler-variax-gu-r152 But I believe the wrench needed for the intonation screws is the 1.5mm. All the others listed seem like they'd be too big to me.

I would think the hard part with doing a transplant in one of those guitars is going to be dealing with the bridge and saddle. I don't really know of any acoustic guitar that uses has separate saddle for each string like the Variax Acoustic did. I was thinking something like the Epiphone Chet Atkins could be a good candidate for a transplant because it's actually a solid body, and the body could be routed pretty easily. Other than that, there are thin-body acoustics - the Fender Stratacoustic and Teleacoustic come to mind... But again, I don't know if doing a transplant in one of those is even feasible. You'd probably have more luck trying to find a used Variax Acoustic.

The DT50 doesn't have this relay... So running it without a speaker load connected could and eventually will damage the output transformer.

Well, there's voltage across the heater elements for the tubes, but the full voltage isn't being applied to the power tubes... That's kind of the whole point of standby. I'm actually not trying to argue with you. I'm kind of genuinely interested as well if you could use the DT25's XLR out without a cab attached and not in standby. The thing is the XLR out is supposedly tapped off the transformer, so if the relay is disconnecting the transformer, I don't know how it would work. It's entirely possible I'm not understanding everything, though.

What's conjecture? If the amp is in standby, there's no voltage being applied across the power tubes, hence no current going to the transformer... That's not really conjecture. That's just the way the circuit would work. The question would be whether or not is would be safe to use the XLR output with the amp not in standby with no speaker load attached.

Good to know... But... If the relay takes the transformer out of the circuit, how exactly would this tap work? I don't think the XLR out is actually getting a signal that's being affected by the power tubes then. In fact, if the amp's in standby, there's no way it could. I just think the XLR out is giving you a purely modeled signal at this point.

All I'm saying is the relay was put there to provide protection for the output transformer under a no-load condition. I don't believe it's there to give you the ability to use the amp long term without a cab attached. After all, it really doesn't get you anything, anyway.

The only physical difference are the backlit switches and the LCD screen is a bit brighter. As far "more amp modeling", that's probably not the best terminology to use. The amp models are the same between the two units. The HD500X offers a bit more processing power so you can add a bit more to your signal chain. Yes. Tones made in the 500 will work in the 500X. You have to change the file extensions to use them in the HD500X Edit software. For individual patches, change the extension from .h5e to .5xe For bundles, change the file extension from .h5b to .5xb For setlists, change the file extension from .h5s to .5xs Or dragging and dropping .h5e into the HD500X Edit programs works as well.

If I remember correctly, the DT25 has this, but the DT50 doesn't. But it's a safety feature than something that was meant be used all the time. I wouldn't go running the DT25 without a speaker connected. I don't remember for sure, but I think you may be able to run the DT25 silently by using the XLR output with the amp on standby in low volume mode... I don't remember, really. But Zap is right, this isn't functionally any different than using the HD500. The amp models are the same.

This concert has one of my favorite examples of the Variax Acoustic in action. Actually, both guitarists use Variaxes at different point in this concert. I believe the other guitarist uses a 500 for a few songs. I also think Sarah McLachlan's bass player was using a Variax Bass, although I don't know if he uses it during this show. Bass players don't usually get a lot of camera time. :) Check out at around 35:44 to see a cool solo with a slide on the 700 Acoustic. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3RknWWswLVA

The short answer is no... There are ways you may be able to get it to work, but usually there's pretty significant latency. It's much easier to not try to use your computer's soundcard, imo.

It shows up as a soundcard, basically. So you can use it both as an input and output device. Most computers default to only letting you use one soundcard at a time, so in order to hear the POD, you have to hook speakers up to its outputs or use headphones with it.

I don't think the EX-1 deserves the reputation it gets... I've had two that I've used for over 10 years, and they both still work fine. They are plastic, so that bothers some people. If you want something more heavy duty, I'd recommend the Mission Engineering EP1-L6. It's designed specifically for Line 6 products, and it's an all-metal housing. I believe the Boss FV-500L will work. I think its polarity is reversed from the EX-1, though. That's not a big deal, really, because you can set the heel and toe values to be whatever you want them to be in the effects in your scenes. It's just that if you would hook up another expression pedal, they would be reversed from what you set them up as.

You could try going to a coated string like the Elixirs. Other than that, I think it is a limitation of the piezo pickups. Line 6 has dealt with the issue of piezo quack quite a bit since the original Variax, but in some instances, it seems it still has the potential to show up. I think a technique that makes the string vibrate more perpendicular to the saddle is going to be the worst case scenario.

All the JTVs come strung with D'Addario 10-46 from the factory. I believe they are the EXL110 set, if you want to get specific about it.