jerseyboy

At the right price point I'd buy one.

Not HD, only original (legacy) Workbench can be used with 300, 500, 600, 700 Variax.

Ok...

2S (2qty cells wired in series) JTV battery pack discharge voltage curve is in the neighborhood of 8.4V-6V. Legacy 500 6qty Akaline sled can begin around 9.9V and in my testing and experience with Vax 500 reaches LVC (low voltage cutoff) somewhere around 7V. While it’s possible to operate 500 on 2S 18650 lithium ion/poly battery pack it will likely cut-off somewhere short of the full available capacity of 2S lithium ion/poly pack. But as long as proper VDC polarity's observed there's not much risk of harm running legacy Variax on 2S lithium pack. It's just that it probably won't be able to use all the capacity of the 2S lithium pack.

Can you elaborate a bit more please? I discovered the rotary tuning switch loose and intermittent on "new to me" 59. Fairly obvious the switch nut was merely loose and after lifting the small PCB off the switch assembly tightened the shaft nut using a socket. Working fine with no issues, subtle or otherwise, that I can tell. The similar "model selector" rotary switch seemed to be tight so I left it alone. Can you tell us if there's been a component revision or something else that should be done? Serial number indicates 2013 JTV59....

Yes it does and that's why we keep a small chunk of Scotch Brite in the case or gig bag.

Found some Ultra Fine Scotch Brite...

I'm not a high-gain player so my POV and application will surely be very different. Probably not the issue but at this point a different Vax may be the only sensible thing left to try?

Solid average, freaky hot, crazy, sensible, etc. At this point in life I won't kick any of 'em out of bed... JTV 59 mag pups sound pretty darn good and can see preferring them over similar models. But much like HWBP (hard wire bypass) pedals, in the heat of battle (stage mix) it can be very difficult to hear much practical difference between a transistor or copper signal path. Sure, A/B in studio environment most of us can "hear" it. But I always come back to "practical differences" and it becomes a very minor thing in the overall scheme of my work environment. Since we're off into the really weird stuff - stories of a young Elvis visiting numerous young ladies in hotel rooms following shows. At times going door to door for an entire hotel floor. One of his buddies finally asked how he could handle so many women in one night? His reply: "they're all different"

Sorry, 'didn't realize this was your thread. I was reading more recent posts made in other topics and here with no mention of model. Personally, I would provide the model in every post regarding this problem so there's no confusion what model you need help. Good luck getting it sorted out...

I'm running legacy WB on Yosemite but it needs some runtime "environment stuff" and never shuts down correctly. Always must force quit but it will save everything so no real harm.

3 posts about this issue yet no indication what model JTV you're working with? This is important particularly for switching issues. Personally, I'd try re-flashing firmware again... Sometimes they glitch and re-flash can solve some issues.

What guitar do you have? This thread is for JTV59 the other thread you posted the same quote is for JTV69. They use somewhat different switching schemes for the (2-4) model selections. JTV59 tuning switch (toggles 2-4 positions) uses a push-push switch. Mine became intermittent due to the switch shaft assembly loosening and merely needed to be lifted out of the body cavity and get to the shaft nut. Once re-tightened the function works perfectly again. I dunno the JTV69 personally but check for any switches that appear to exhibit excessive play. If you find play, dig further find out why and correct it.

Oops, I see it's actually called Scotch Brite. I go back/forth between red (coarse) and green (not so coarse) - http://www.homedepot.com/p/Scotch-Brite-Extreme-Scrub-Scour-Pad-2-Pack-77222/205910382 They also sell varieties in the plumbing dept for cleaning/soldering copper pipe. Just a small 2-3" chunk will be all you need. In a pinch coarse steel wool will work too but best keep that away from mag pups. EDIT - no uploading photos just links, right?

Naw, it is black but 'don't care about looks. I never liked the feel of thick glossy finished necks. Small amount of moisture my hand sticks to glossy finish moving around the neck. Small chunk of Scotch pad is what pool players use to "satin" glossy cue sticks. I've done it to every guitar with a glossy finish neck for as long as I can remember. I did it so much on an old black Dot inlay 335, it was down to bare wood. Oh man, it feels nice! Warm and woody... JTV-59 uses a particularly thick and glossy neck finish but it's a very nice shaped neck for my hands. 'Don't go anywhere near the piezos, just the backside of the neck. Quick rub with the Scotch pad, ready to rock!

Got hold of 2013 vintage JVT-59 (Asian) and I'm very impressed. Build quality seems excellent - very fine axe and holds tuning well. The neck isn't as FAT as I feared either. It's quite comfortable in fact after I knocked the thick gloss finish off with some Scotch Pad abrasive. I can barely imagine how much better USA build might be? Note to self "keep an eye out for one of those...." This specimen suffered from a loose tuner selector switch and was behaving poorly in that department but once I pulled it out and re-tightened the shaft nut it's now working perfectly. Very nice body cavities and good electronic components. Artistically routed wiring, clean, clean clean... Oh, the stock PUPs sound nice! I'm a little late to the JTV-59 party but nice job L6!

In a perfect world sure bring on the RF... $1000? It better work FLAWLESSLY in RF dense environments.

Well now, if discussing the acoustic models I fully agree with FRFR rig to accurately reproduce the models. Trouble is, I was replying to a described method of someone comparing "electric guitar" models to mag electric guitars using FRFR. If that's the "tone" someone wants for an electric guitar then by all means enjoy the comparison. I'm quite happy with many Variax electric models when used with a decent electric guitar amp setup. I just find little if any value judging a guitar sound in an environment I'll never use it.

Myself and probably many users find good guitar model sounds which “work†for us at various times/places. Electric guitars have been “lo-fi†for as long as I’ve been playing them so I fail to see much relevance in plugging into a full range sound system for comparison? I compare while running into good guitar amp. Amp modeling is great but I find a juicy swirling tube rig still delivers more goodness to my soul. Add the usual pedals with this setup I find very little to complain about Variax guitar modeling. In fact, the lack of hum/noise and wide range of guitar model convenience almost always outweighs any “perceived†loss of tonal quality compared to mag based rigs.

Long time user new poster. I've always enjoyed Vax acoustic models but they're only gonna sound "right" if you use full range amplification. A guitar amp/speaker colors the acoustic sound too much and simply doesn't sound good in most cases. I sometimes do gigs where I only have a guitar amp backline and for those situations it would be better to have modeled piezo bridge pickup acoustic samples available. In other words, like Fishman/Baggs pickups modeled for an acoustic patch or two? Those systems tend to sound like the industry accepted sound through guitar amps unlike the microphone modeled tones of the Vax.

Luckily, I’ve got elite FF (frequent flyer) status and usually have no issues stuffing acoustic guitar semi-hard case (sometimes electric/variax gig bag) in overhead or vertical closet with FA (flight attendant) permission. More often, Variax rides in Pelican ATA roller case checked in cargo hold. Main question: "is that a firearm?" LOL... BUT remember to remove any battery packs and that includes legacy Variax with Alkaline bricks or JVT’s with Lithium pack. I even printed a page slipped under strings for TSA which reads “NO BATTERIESâ€, please latch case carefully… I also do this for my pedal board which doesn’t normally carry batteries installed in most pedals but every once in a while I forget a 9V or something that got left in a pedal while testing, etc. I don’t think TSA’s too hard core about small Alkaline cells but I don’t give them any reason to tear into my gear when checked through to destinations. All my battery packs including Alkaline travel as carry on inside an RC Lipo fire-resistant charging bag. Tape or plugs over any bare metal contacts. At most airports best to take them out of your carry on bag and place them in a tub for Xray screening. TSA allows unlimited number of Lithium chemistry in carry on luggage IF each pack is less than 100Wh. Multiply V x Ah to determine Wh.

I have both Optek and Variax guitars but not combined. This is cool and very well done....

1st post but whenever this happens on Variax or similar bridge guitars, two words: "paper clip"