Palico

I love my 89F. It's just when you visit forums you will often find ppl who come here for trying to fix a problem of find a solution to something. And as mentioned a Variax is a very different guitar. And it does take some dialing in to get it where you want it. For me there was 2 things that I had to to be happy with it. First was to go back firmware 1.9. I really did not like the 2.0 and up firmware. I think it they sound way to thin and not anywhere close on most of the models to magnetic pickup. Others a very happy with the new versions and maybe it's the guitar piezos themselves. But that worked for me. The second was the alternate tuning. Like everyone else I noticed ghost notes right off the bat. But then something interesting happened. I took the guitar by my local luither for standard setup, something I do on all my guitars. He fou2 high frets and fixed those and some minor setup stuff, which I've found is actually pretty normal to find on a lot of of the self guitars. But to test it, I hooked up to small amp he had and was showing him the alternate tuning options and there was no Ghost notes at all. The acoustic thing really makes a huge difference depending on the volume level you playing at. At bedroom volumes I can hear it but at rehearsal volumes it pretty much disappears. And on that there is NO other guitar that can even change turnings with the flick of switch. Maybe the Gibson E-tune come close butt they are not as fast as since they actually move the knob string gauge etc... all come into play on those unlike the Variax.

I did that one for a while and found on the amps it would not turn off all the way sometimes. Just seemed inconsistent. Because of feedback on some patches (Feedback is on purpose on some patches) I need to be able to kill the amp entirely when I'm at a stop. The volume knob just would not do that entirely. So back to the volume pedal. But if you wanted to setup like you mentioned from 60% to a 100% or something that would work.

New go to video for people asking about the 4 cable method! Well done as usual. Just reviewed video 2 as well again, it seems your way of working on the POD itself for the parametric EQ seems actually easier than the HD Edit version of the same effect.

I do it a couple different ways depending on exactly what I want on given song/solo. 1. Old School way. I roll down the volume knob on the guitar for Rhythm tone and bring it up to solo. This ups the gain and volume as I come up. 2. On most patches I have a volume pedal set post amp. This ups the volume alone without changing the tone, just have to remember to leave some room to go up. 3. Another boost or Distortion pedal that is turned on for solos. I like the boost comp (post or pre) sometimes for a bit of comp along with a boost or maybe something like a dirt pedal with the drive down pretty low and the output up. I think on some of the stuff I want cleaner boost I used a Studio EQ and just turn up the volume on it without really moving the EQ knobs. 4. I have several patches setup just for lead. I usually setup the board so I have Clean, Crunch, Heavy and Lead of very similar amps tones setup in a row for the ABCD buttons. So going to lead just a single button. These usually have a bit more compression and sometimes more delay etc... dialed to those patches. As for volume level, I've found my ear is much better at telling me how much rather than an exact measurement but I would guess it's around 3 to 6db more on the leads.

Using the wall power supply and still getting and problem would seems to eliminate the batteries as the problem. In fact on my old 500 (just sold it) you can remove the battery pack entirely if you plugged into the wall, I did this as a test to the setup right before I sold my 500. You check the chord and for using the wall power are you seeing the red light on the XPS light up? Also you might try a different chord. When I was test I plugged a TRS cord into the XPS and the red light even lit up. The guitar would cut in and out. But the chord I was using was long chord and thinner variety (headphone type) so I dropped by GC and picked up a good quality TRS chord (Live wire, I would swear by them). After that it was perfect so the chord itself has to have enough pipe to deliver the current.

1. You might want to post in the JTV section. 2. I thought in Workbench HD (Firmware 2.0 and up) there was a way to global adjust sensitivity, since I think FW 2.0 is thin and generally horrid, I stay on 1.9 so I'm not for certain on that.

Will not be upgrading. At least not until the L6 Link can run the DT series amps correctly handling switch of the topology, class etc.... or Line 6 comes out with a DT Series replacement that works in similar fashion. I would love to upgrade to the Helix, so far to my ears the Helix has bit smoother but I can certainly continue with the my current HD rig just fine.

If your getting an arc shock across a mic, the venue had dangerous polarity and/or ground problem in the wiring. One of the plugs might be wired backwards. Hard to tell if that would affect your DT or not but if you plan on playing the venue again it would be worth bring up to FOH (if they have one) or using a meter to find the bad plug and not use it.

Oh that new one is beauty too!

I assume by now you have adjusted to the new hand position. The stop tail bar with 2 pick up tends to lend itself to your wrist laying on the bar. But if you used to a tremolo guitar it feels truly strange.

Might not work but where you have the boost but for something close to real Effect loop make sure you place the Pod loop post-amp. If you want to put the EP boost in front (would be the location I would use but turned on then it drive the amp maybe touch of distortion used that way) then maybe try putting the boost in front of the POD entirely.

Only option left, buy a used Variax 500 for parts.

Just noticed your Tag... Is that legit? Never really thought about why the name "Line 6"?

I actually started music on Trumpet. My brother wanted to take up guitar and my band teacher was the one giving the private lessons. He offer my parents to tech both of us at the same time for the cost of just one student. I guess he saw something in me with music from band class. I was top of the class on Trumpet. My brother still plays guitar as well, althought he play more for personal enjoyment than playing out.

:)

1. Build and tweak the patch on the equipment you intend to use live. The POD is great unit but each power, amp cab etc... is going to add it's own charistics to the tone. And FRFR system, like going straight to your PA takes some of this out of the equation but only if you are FRFR when you setup the patch as well. You can expermient with going straignt into the power amp, typcially this is "closer to original" tone but there are not rules. If the Input works for you and the patches work, then by all means go for it. 2. Build those patch at or close to Stage volume. I know this is tricky to get done but it really helps if you can find a way. For home practice you may want to keep a different set of patches for low level. But those will not always scale up in volume well, espcially if using different equpiment to amplifiy it. Even with the same ones often the volume jump requires EQ changes. 3. Leave some headroom in the patches for volume matching. This is still a constant strugle for me. The only way I found to get this right is on the fly changes at rehersals to the overall volume and then not changing that later after saving the patch. 4. Realized you might have to change the patch to fit into live band. When practicing at home what sounds good with only a single guitar can sound bad when you put it in the context of full live band. 5. Room to Room will sound different. This is what the Global EQ was added to the POD to accomidate. So you may need it sometimes to adjust the overall changes from one venue to the next. Personally I just deal with it and don't worry too much about it. I think live we as musicans worry much more about tone than needed. But it's there if you need it.

Pic if anyone is intrested.

On stage. HD500x on the floor, Playing Variax 89f and the DT25 combo on the floor behind me mic'ed up.

Sunburst Made in Korea model. Frets recently level and crowned. Comes with XPS pedal & power supply, and Line 6 gig bag I got with my JTV. The 500 fits it fine. Upgraded Dunlop dual action strap locks. Asking $400. Offers considered. Hate to let it got but I don't need 2 Variaxs. Would rather get my old LP back in better playing order.

Had this happen to me before. For me it was a knob sticking on the DT25. To fix on mine, I took each knob on channel one on the DT and rolled it up and all the way up and all the way back down a couple of times, putting them back in the 12'oclock position when done. Then switch patch and back to reset the EQ to the patch. I think on mine it was the treble knob being all the way up it seem to stick on.

Yep that's why I'm working up one. I have Shred type one I build with the Solonado amp and TS overdrive. But I was just thinking about something different. Rarely would I use it live, althought might for "Going Down", I do that one is Shred type of setup, but very little else.

+1. I use it after the amp more often but sometimes before. Just depends on what sound I'm after.

I'm been playing around with setting up a Joe Satriani type of patch. Reivewing the amps and such he has reported used over the years, I settled on a either Marshal Plexi or the new Marshall 800 (2204) model running fairly clean then relying the Tube Dist to created the main distrotion tone. For Cab is seems he favors 4x12 Greenbax 25. Then I decided to may be incorporate some Steve Via type of setup in it since both their setups are pretty similar. Seems over the years he has used Greenbax 25 and Vintage 30 cabs. However; on the POD there seems to be quite a differrence in tone on the Greenbax and Vintage 30 (and couple options on the 30). So question (for those that like Shred tones), which POD model for that Shred type of tone do you favor? Also which mic? They make big difference in tone as well.

Thanks for the IdeaScale link! Voted up. Unless the L6 comes out with a DT type of amp (tubes with the configuration) the for the Helix, it might just be time to move on if my dream rig developes a problem or I get to point it doesn't fit my needs (hard to see that point). The Helix looks outstanding but that FRFR system just lack something the tubes add to it, to my ears anyway.

Sorry dude, I work as a developer for a software company. We get paid quite well. Never known absousltly anyone to work for free. Really I'm going to go an pay for college to get my degree and then work for free? Nope not happening. Work too many hours Oh yea.... that can be the norm if you let it.