thorneven

I tried for the last hour to connect to Monkey and it wont go through/connect.  I connected my guitar via the cables it came with and the USB box was not recognized.  This process is not intuitive.  Very frustrated.  Maybe I will just live with the models it came with.  Sad that I do not have the option to even try.  Im not an idiot, and my internet is fine, so something is wrong with Line 6, my guitar, or something on your end.  I updated when I 1st got the guitar and it all went well after the complicated figuring out learning curve happened (like not being explicit about having the guitar connected AND the amp jack plugged in at the same time.

If you let us know the exact steps you took, we can help you better.

Seems like attempt 12 was the charm. Tried all this before, but this time this sequence worked. Everything seems to be working as it should. Steps were:

 

- Downgraded to 1.90, then 1.82.

- Re-installed to 2.0 with Variax usb box and 1/4 jack. Volume 0 and magnetic pickups selected.

 

Big difference in sound! Adjusted most presets with 3db to get on magnetic level (Lester 1 was already very louder than rest). Thanks to all the suggestions. 

I'm pretty sure volume = 0 is the wrong way to do it as it puts the guitar in sleep mode when powered by the battery.

Hans, thank you. This is the best chart I've seen - very good.

...Except that all the guitars are upside down ;)

But that chart doesn't have the correct Tele mods.

Oh yea I already did phil... Of course,  I cant see for the life of me why you might own a digital guitar like the JTV without a digital platform (like the Pod) to play it thru... But I guess there's some out there...  :P

There are many of us who don't use PODs.  I plug my JTV directly into my Vetta2 and call up presets using a Behringer FCB1010 MIDI pedal, and based on the Vetta forums, there are many other people who use this setup.  I don't like any PODs and Line6 foot pedals because they only give me 4 or 5 presets per bank and I like having 10 presets per bank.

I'd say that on my 69, the level of the single coils is pretty close to the Strat model and the humbucker seems to be similar to the bridge of the Les Paul model. But again, it's not really anything I've felt has been a struggle dealing with.

Ah. good point.  I tend to use the single coil models (Strat) and 12-string models (Rick) more than others so maybe it is just those models whose output is less which may also be true if I were to switch between those actual guitars.

Phil - My biggest issue is that I've had to create an entire new bank of 12 presets (whose volumes are significantly louder than those I use with the magnetic pickups) just for using JTV59 guitar models.  Even with the piezo volumes at max levels, they are not as loud as with the magnetic pickups.  I don't want to lower physically the mag pickups because then I lose that gritty sound I like with the screws as close to the strings as possible.  Sorry to steal the thread, but I agree that gigging with the models has created performance issues I wish I didn't have.

Sanity check... The setup is thus:  Variax USB box connected to USB on computer, other side of USB box connected to Variax via VDI cable, 1/4" guitar plug plugged into Variax, a charged battery in Variax, and the correct Java version (1.6 and 1.7 should work - I use 1.6 update 20 and 1.7 update 25) required by Workbench.  When connected correctly you will have a green light on the Variax side of the Variax USB box.  In Workbench ensure you can select the Variax USB interface.  if it's not selectable, something is wrong with your connections.  Could be a bad USB cable, bad VDI cable, a damaged Variax USB box, or even bad Windows USB drivers or USB port.  Also it seems your best off by having version 1.9 of the Variax firmware installed.

I have a similar issue.  I wouldn't call it a "dull" string.  I would say the G string's volume is simply not as loud as the other strings.  Since all the string volumes are at max in my case (and which is the default), it's probably a good idea to achieve unity gain (all volumes the same) which means lowering the volume on the other strings to match the volume of the G string when the G string is at max volume.

Then again, maybe your problem is indeed a dull sound which may be a faulty piezo pickup.

I always have my amp turned off when I connect the guitar via VDI or 1/4" cable.  That procedure is standard for connecting to powered amp equipment so as not to cause pops, squeals or whatever that could potentially blow speakers and damage amp circuitry.

Now I understand !  Thanks.

I thought I heard you say you want an alternate tuning (Open E) for a 12-string where the virtual "pairs" of strings are doing what you'd expect on a real 12-string, i.e. 3,4,5,6 string in octaves and 1,2 in unision?  For example, the JTV 59 has a built in alternate tuning  for "Open D".  If you select one of the 12-string models and dial the alternate tuning to "Open D", are you not getting all 12-strings cooperating in that tuning?   If so, then it should be possible to put the guitar into its internal "learn" mode (documented in the manual) and define an Open E.  Once locked in, that will apply to 12-string models along with everything else.

 

If I'm getting this wrong, can you please explain again - string by string - what you would like to do and why the solution I'm describing isn't accomplishing it?   Not trying to be dense, but there's something I'm not grasping.

I haven't had a chance to work on this issue. What I can tell you is that I could not create the tuning using Variax Workbench.  I didn't try doing it manually using the guitar only so maybe that's the trick.  I just figured if Workbench can't do it, it couldn't be done.  The tuning I'm trying to create is E1/E2, B1/B2, E2/E3, B2/B3, E3/E3, G#3/G#3.  I don't recall on which model I was trying.  Probably the Rick 12-string, bridge pickup.

I believe you that workbench will not support this, since it predates the Tyler Variax electronics.  But, have you tried using the JTV's built-in function for "learning" alternate tunings?  Granted I have not tried open-E on the twelve string, but I was easily able to model a 12-string with a capo at the third fret.  That sort of suggests that it is possible to offset all 12 strings.  This can also be done through the HD500 in a more robust manner (the "learn" feature can be a bit fussy and sometimes requires a couple of tries).

"Offset", which is what Virtual Capo provides, is not what I want.  I need the capability to tweak the pitch of all strings in a 12-string model.  I spent an hour trying to make it work and could find no solution.  I simply could not alter the pitch on 6 of the 12 strings.

In workbench, I could change the secondary string's pitch on the model preset. I'm not sure if you can do that on a JTV though.

Exactly. I can change 6 of the 12 strings in Workbench but not all 12. Hence I cannot get the alternate tuning I want.

thats only true on the original variax, you can alt tune/capo the 12's on the JTV's

Then please tell me how because I tried creating an alternate tuning (open E tuning: E1/E1octave B1/B1octave E2/E2octave B2/B2octave E3/E3 G/G)  on my JTV59 for a 12-string preset and couldn't do it.  The 12-string *INCLUDES* an alternate tuning already which is for 6 of the 12 strings.

Oh yeah, the problem with 12-string is that you cannot do an alternate tuning because the 12-string is already an alternate tuning so you cannot have 2 alternate tunings.

It is normal. On any "standard-tuned" 12-string you play in a retail store, you'll hear that the two B strings play the same pitch and the two high E strings play the same pitch.

When I update the entire set of models and alternative tunings it takes about 1-2 minutes.  Updating single presets are very fast.  I'm fine with it as I'm happy to have the capability.

For $99 you can buy the Line6 power kit that powers the guitar without the battery.  Search recent threads. There is a kit number in one of them or search Line6's store.  Or you can use a VDI cable plugged into a Line6 device (Vetta amp equipped with digital insert, Pod, etc.).

No, it is not normal for the battery to drain overnight.  Not sure why that would happen if you didn't leave the 1/4" jack plugged in to the guitar.

Here's a suggestion - use this forum and just put "DREAM RIG" in the thread title.

As already said, all the JTV Variax models come out of the box with alternate tunings and you can create your own. Just be aware that when you select an alternate tuning, you have to turn off the magnetic pickups (which occurs by default when you select an alternate tuning but wanted to mention in case you run both VDI and 1/4" outputs) or you'll get some very funky results... which maybe you'd like !

Had my first "real" performance with the forumless Dream Rig last night. All in all it it was a success. We rocked a sold out house for 3 hours! I have some Dream Rig specific findings that I would love to share on a dedicated Dream Rig forum. But that ain't happening...yet! What I will say is that sound check would have been so much easier if I had HD Edit and Variax Workbench in a single program on my iPad. It would be incredibly helpful during performance as well. For example, I found that the room was a bit boomy during sound check. I had a great tone through the HD 500 and the DT50 and when I roll back the bass, I lost the quality of the tone. I pretty much use various modified spank models on my JTV69. So what I did was hook up my laptop, opened workbench and slid the pickups toward the bridge a scosh. Bam! Booming gone tone compromised very little. During the performance, how cool would it be to be able to teak the gain of your tube screamer or roll up some bottom on your eq or change out a pickup without having to bust out your laptop! Just mount the iPad on the mic stand and there go!

 

 

I'll tell you more when our forum is up and running!

A perfect example of something from which all Variax users can benefit, not just DR users.  If you guys get your forum, I'll just have to bookmark two Line6 forums.

Line 6...are you listening?

Yes they are listening. Don't you read their posts?

White on the model selector means you've entered model mode (as opposed to magnetic pickup mode).  Green (I thought it was blue) on the model selector means you have also pressed the alternate tuning knob so that you can select an alternate tuning as well.

Dude - RealZap is telling you to forget about the year thing.  There are lemon guitars in every year.  It's not like Line6 is trying to make bad guitars.  Guitars have been mass-produced now for years and because of that the quality that was there when they were hand-made is no longer financially feasible.  It's not just Line6.  Have you tried a Gibson or Rickenbacker lately?  Many of them suck.  Post the details of your problem and let the Line6 support team do their thing to help you.  Leave out the attitude and stick to the facts.  Problems get solved much more efficiently that way.  Sorry to bring the hammer down, but I've been reading your posts and slamming Line6 is not the way to get their help.

I agree with phil_m.  Splitting off into another forum might mean we in this forum miss out on questions about individual components from which we might benefit.  I follow so many forums already that I prefer not to add another one. I'm fine with reading about DR questions in this forum.