Hello I just sold off my Variax 600 and got the JTV-69, had to sell to fund the purchase and now really feel like I made a bad move. I knew what I was getting into as far as the playability and small nut spacing but what I did not know is a few quirky things that I am experiencing that never happened in the 4 years I owned my 600.
1) When VDI is connected to HD500 and I try and tune it will not registar at all. Using HD500 Edit software I ensured Variax was selected as input but still no dice. When I plug in the 1/4" and either select Guitar or Guitar/Variax it works fine, through the 1/4".
2) When running Variax to HD500 to Workbench HD and decide to experiment with pickups I get a horrendous squealing digital noise as a result. I move the model selector knob and it loads up a different model, no more noise.
3) I downgraded to Firmware 1.9 and while I can tell that the models were similar to my old 600 it was able to highlight some really nice complexities in the sounds, plus the palm muting was handy(more processing power). I think the new 2.10 models are good but not really better. You don't hear much ghost tracking noise I use to get, these overtoned notes, hard to describe but always drove me nuts when playing. But the above issues were present on the old firmware as well.
4) It seems like you have to have the action pretty high in order to get the piezos to work right. The old Variax 600 I had was the lowest action I was ever able to get, great neck on those things.
So at this point I really miss my 600, dated as it may have been it was solid through and through. Anyone else have these issues?