tomb68

I can't speak to the scratch and dents but I got my JTV-89 when Sweetwater was blowing them out at $699.00, but in my opinion that seems like a good price, 1K seems like a fair price and the regular prices seem high. Had the blowout not occurred I wouldn't have one right now, though a scratch and dent might stuff tempt me. Honestly though had the blowout not occurred I would have probably tried the Peavey AT-200 instead. Just my 2 cents but I think they are a smidge over priced and yes I'm taking into consideration the "it's really 29 guitars" argument because who wants 29 guitars with QC issues? At 1.5K for a JTV 59 the quality needs to be on par with a US standard fender or US Gibson that's not a faded (SG standard anyone?) and I don't think that's unreasonable. QC shouldn't be dependent on origin of manufacture, but on employee training. I paid $699.00 for a Japanese Jackson it is was flawless and came with pricey electronics as well (2 duncans and a sustainiac). I can't complain about my JTV-89 even though it could use a pro setup, simply because for what I paid I am very satisfied.

2.0 here - I wouldn't have even noticed if someone hadn't pointed it out.

Yeah. Scratchy when the modeling is on, but I don't use workbench too often, maybe twice a week. I did hear the zippering when I connected WB last night, which I hadn't noticed before because I never had played with the volume control while connected to it. can you always hear the zippering when connected over vdi? That would get on my nerves in headphones, but live I probably wouldn't notice.

It's only 2 months old. Probably need to open a support ticket.

I notice more on the cleans. My usual patch is the blackface dbl normal on my HD-300 either clean or just breaking up. I will check again tonight but it didn't sound like digital zippering, although it definitely could be that. If it is digital zippering why does it stop after I exercise the pot? It sounds more like a microphone in a very windy environment.

My JTV-89 has a scratchy volume pot, but only when then the modeling is engaged. I thought I recalled someone stating the volume pot works differently when the modeling is engaged but couldn't locate any threads. Exercising the pot helps but it always comes back. Are the pots in JTV's standard pots?

I will hold off then and hope that future flash/firmware improvements address the piezo overloads. I don't expect miracles from software dealing with mechanical issue though. Will continue to adjust technique and try some different strings to ease the symptoms. I am considering sticking a nice ultra high impedance buffer preamp in front of everything. It works wonders on my other piezo equipped gear(basses) so it couldn't hurt.

Anyone trying this? I really want to, but need a confirmed "it works" before spending the $$$.

I think it is a legitimate question. If the variax can transpose on the fly already why not have it intonate as well? It seems like one of the biggest markets for this technology is session guitarist or pit musicians and time is money for both of those groups. If are playing guitar in a live situation (theatre for instance), a guitar that can digitally correct it's pitch on demand is a huge asset, plus the audience isn't impressed that you can tune your own guitar, they came to see a show.

FYI - I'm using a JTV89 but I play 9's on all my guitars, Lesters included.

I'm using 009's. Have tried 11's as well, but prefer 9's. I really don't hear any difference. I'm using DR Pure Blues strings. 11's are a little too stiff on the 25.5 scale for my liking.

I suspect the "licensed by" haters are more cork sniffers than basing their knowledge on actual experience. That's just my opinion.

I'll be honest, even though I'm a bassist first, I don't pull the strings off a guitar when I play. I typically play with a light touch unless I'm doing something that requires a little more emphasis. Even on my basses I use lighter strings (Thomastik infeld jazz bass- awesome but pricey). By playing with a pick and playing close attention to hand position I can play without the noise from piezos occuring(which I think are clipping from saddle movement). When I finger pick there is more lateral pressure (I'm guessing here) and perhaps it wasn't designed with that in mind. It's just frustrating because I really like the feel of the guitar, and even like it when I use the mags in humbucking mode. If the ghost loaded wrap around bridge would solve my particular problem I would spend the $$$ to swap but no one at line6 or graphtech knows if it will fit, or wants to tell if they do. As someone that works with technology for a living I understand that supporting too many hardware and software combinations isn't practical, but I also don't have a budget that allows me to have instruments that aren't useful both live and recording.

Yeah, about that... I'm not suggesting it's a fix for everyone, just a specific issue I have. I wouldn't want to completely obscure the bridge so much as not letting you lay your hand directly on the saddles. You could still mute, but would be forward of the saddles maybe a half inch. Also, you can always go Motown old school and throw a piece of foam under the strings. :P I'm just looking for options. I do think it is a mechanical problem. I suspect the spikes from the improved piezos were always there and now the increased resolution/latencey reduction in the 2.0 HD models more accurately passes them along. You can always use anti-static dryer sheets if you are concerned about static discharge. Lowering the global string volume helps some, but creates other problems. For all we know there could have been a 1-2 ms delay in the 1.9 firware that is gone now. The would be enough to effectively gate a piezo spike from being processed at all.

My experience is it is caused by both to varying degrees, especially if you are one who tends to rest/anchor your right hand on the bridge. A cover would reduce the overall occurrence.

You know, I was thinking. What might solve a lot of problems would be a low profile bridge cover. a la 50's P-bass, but less obtrusive. Something just big enough to keep any contact off the saddles.

This seems to be a real issue with those of us that play with our fingers instead of a pick. Playing near the bridge seems to make it worse. The clipping/clicking/quacking has come up in several posts lately. I really like my JTV-89 but need some better solution than completely changing my playing style. Seems like the JTV's with the wraparound bridge are the most susceptible. http://line6.com/support/topic/2926-clipping-and-my-crappy-andor-unorthodox-technique/ http://line6.com/support/topic/2496-yo-johnnyayyy-bigsby-questions/

I agree, I have figured out some hand placement solutions that accommodate picking with a pick, but finger picking, especially more aggressively is impossible. This sucks because the JTV-89 has the widest string spacing of all my guitars and is really comfortable for that sort of thing. I saw the Graphtech wraparound bridges on their site that have the ghost pickups already installed but I don't think anyone has put one on a JTV yet. Looks like a good possible option though.

Bump... I am also interested in this.

I thought it was just me. I really notice it since I play with my fingers and not a pick.

Weird, someone posted it was probably me being heavy handed and now it's gone. At Any rate that probably is the cause. The static wiped had no impact.

Interesting, the Tele problem in reverse. I will see if a dryer sheet helps.

I have a JTV-89 (korean - stoptail) running 2.0 firmware. Strung with DR Pure blues 9's. I don't play metal so this isn't the classic palm muting scenario, but I just have a habit of resting my hand across the bridge saddles when I play (pick or fingers). This results in the occasional pop and click at random when the modelling is turned on. I am not actively putting pressure on the saddles, it's just a comfortable place to rest hand that developed over years of sitting on a couch with a les paul. The further away I keep my right hand from the bridge the less it happens but it's still annoying. I have tried lowering the global string volume to -3db and -6db but neither made the problem go away. Are the piezos that sensitive to direct downward pressure? Any info would be helpful. Problem number 2: I'm a bass player. Problem number 3: I like to occasionally slap/pop on a guitar as if I would on a bass. The modeling system REALLY doesn't work with this technique. The mags work fine. Again, I suspect it is an issue of the direction of the force. All the modelling seems to pick up are the harmonics, very little fundemental and no attack. It is an interesting phenomenon to me because I have an NS CR4 electric upright wich also uses a piezo system but has a variable control for how the system deals with attack (bowed or pizz). Since guitars largely aren't designed for this sort of anything perhaps there should be no expectation that in the future this would be a consideration but I wouldn't complain as I like using bass techiques on guitar from time to time.