spmartin

Thanks for that link. Not an answer to my question, but interesting. I find it strange that the allen wrenches are a mix of SAE and metric. You'd think they would all be metric given that all the stuff is probably sourced overseas. I looked for a set of metric precision ball hex drivers with handles. Tough to find. I found one set on Amazon (http://amzn.to/18Wigx4) which I may spring for.

Since we're talking about setting up these guitars, I have a question. I am not a big fan of the intonation screws on the JTV-69. They have to be adjusted with an allen wrench rather than ALL my other guitars which are small philips head screws. Does anyone know the size (length - thread count) of the screws? I could take one out and measure, but if someone knows, I will order replacements. These are the kinds of details that are hard to wrench out of Line 6. Thanks in advance!

I have also just purchased a JTV-69s from Sweetwater. Mine needed some adjusting, but just for personal preference. I would call your sales rep at Sweetwater and tell them your issue. They will probably put you on the phone with a tech who can walk you through testing to see if you have a high fret wire. For now, just get a nice thick metal straight edge and lay it over the frets. If you have a high one, the straight edge will rock on both sides of it. It sounds like you know how to check the neck relief. I keep mine at about .008 at the 8th fret. If your guitar does have a fret that needs adjusting, I would be very surprised. I have found that Sweetwater does really go over these guitars before shipping them to their customers.

Well, in my case, I made sure that all those settings in Workbench were turned off. The tech at Sweetwater was pretty convinced it was a hardware problem. I've asked him to keep me informed when he actually fixes one to his satisfaction.

Here is an update on my JTV-69 ghost note problem. I opted to send the guitar back to Sweetwater for replacement with an identical (but working) guitar. They have a stellar tech department there, and their head tech had a look at the guitar I sent back. Here is what he had to say regarding the problem. "I have your guitar on the bench. This is what I have found. I hear the issue you are having. The problems is that the bridge magnetic pickup is bleeding through with the saddle pickups, so you are hearing two notes at once. I am going to try replacing one or more of the pc boards." Sweetwater agreed to replace my guitar with another JTV-69. The same tech tested an identical guitar to mine that they had in stock before sending it out to me. That second new guitar had the same problem. Today, September 25th, he has 3 other JTV-69s guitars he is going to test. Hopefully one of them will work correctly and will be winging its way back to me. I find it interesting that the tech at Sweetwater acknowledged the problem and had a good idea what was causing it. The support tech at Line 6, still communicated to me like the "ghost notes" were still a mystery internally at Line 6. Secondly, the fact that a second guitar exhibited the same problem indicates that maybe there was a bad batch of pc cards installed in a number of guitars. I will keep you all updated as this proceeds. If you have the same problem with your guitar, I suggest you swap it out with either your retailer if possible, or tell Line 6 that you want a replacement that works. In regards to Line 6, and maybe in conflict to their stated warranty policy, I think they should offer to swap out guitars for owners that have this problem - instead of them offering to fix it. Hell, I have a fairly inexpensive HP copier that offers to overnight a new one to me if I have a problem that requires me to send mine to them. Fixing the guitar still puts the owner in a position of being without the guitar for a number of weeks just because Line 6's quality control did not catch the problem. IMHO, this QC problem should not cause owners, who paid lots of money for a product they expected to work well, to be required to pack up the guitar, use their gas/time to make a trip to the FedEx store, not have the guitar for weeks. It would be excellent P.R. for Line 6 to step up and exceed our expectations when they are at fault. (Like Sweetwater always does.) By them not doing this, it makes me very, very hesitant to purchase any of their other products in the future.

One thing that swayed me toward the JTV-69 was the fact that if I did not like the profile of the neck - I could change it!! Some players on this forum have changed the neck and been very happy. (Available at www.warmoth.com). The 59 looks beautiful and the neck through body has advantages. Just another thing to keep in mind.

I have a sneaking suspicion that sometimes a manufacturer allows a percentage of their perfectly fine guitars to be sold as "Scratch & Dent" to increase their sales, i.e. cash flow. This allows them to get more sales without discounting the entire line by the same amount. I have also purchased a Sweetwater JTV-69 "Scratch & Dent". It's perfect. And, you certainly don't hear me complaining!!

I am so glad I started this discussion about less expensive battery alternatives. It is so interesting!! I love forums with smart people as members.

donmr, Not sure if you have checked out this thread about my problem with Ghost Notes in Alt. Tuning mode. Quite a good thread, and it may give you some insight into your problem. Luckily I am on my first JTV-69, and yesterday I sent it back to the retailer I purchased it from. My tech support person at Line 6, Hugo, determined that mine was a hardware problem. Rest assured - the techs at Line 6 know about the problem. From reading your posts, I suspect yours is related to the problem I was having. Do not keep a guitar that is not perfect. After 4 guitars, Line 6 should fly to to Los Angeles and let you pick out any guitar you want (maybe an American built Variax!). And, they should make sure it's perfect before you fly home with it. Here is the link to the thread: http://line6.com/support/topic/2382-variax-ghost-notes/

Maybe you could if you had a P.O. Box in the States and a credit card issued by a U.S. Bank. Then just have everything delivered to your Canadian address! I'm just rambling. Not sure if this is possible or not, but I have heard of folks doing it for Amazon in the United Kingdom so they could buy music and products that were not offered here.

I have a JTV-69s. I have played many, many guitars - both single coil and humbucker style. The pickups on this guitar are, IMHO, very, very good. Nice broad range of sounds and strengths and pretty darn quiet. This is coming from someone who swapped out my Deluxe Strat pickups for Lace Sensors. I am not motivated in the least to change these in the Variax. Nice job, James Tyler.

Hey, I just noticed, you're right below me geographically. I'm in Lexington, VA.

For me, the reps I have spoken to have always been friendly and knowledgeable. Hard combination to beat. Add to that their FREE 1 year extension on original warranties - well, that's hard to top. I wish I could become a "Prime" member like I am with Amazon! Then I could get free two day shipping!!

Because of the time it will take for Line 6 to receive, diagnose, fix and return the guitar to me - I will probably just send mine back to Sweetwater and have them replace it. My Sweetwater rep has been stellar to work with. I can't see myself ever shopping anywhere else for new gear.

Jayson, It is my understanding that we really don't know how or why the ghost notes are appearing. We are in the stage where a lot of folks are sharing their experiences, but there has not been a conclusive cause discovered yet. As an update on my particular solution, today tech support from Line 6 said that upon reviewing my particular information and recordings, they felt that I had a hardware problem. They suggested that I send my guitar to a service center to be examined and fixed. I know some folks on the forum have suggested it might be a software problem, and for some it may be. We'll just have to wait and see how it shakes out after Line 6 has had a chance to review a number of units that are displaying pretty much the same phenomenon. It would be interesting to know if other guitars (by other manufacturers, i.e. Parker, PRS, Gibson, Music Man, Godin etc.) with the same or different piezo pickups experience the same problem in a percentage of their guitars. That should be fairly easy information to gather.

Thanks for the suggestion. I have a good rep at Sweetwater who assured me that the 30 day return window was flexible. Nice support!

Thank you all for your valuable feedback! It really helps. It is very good to hear that most of you have had working models. I am leaning very much with keeping this guitar and having faith that Line 6 will come up with a solution - and I can only hope that it is a software update! I bought mine from Sweetwater also, and their support and commitment to making this right has been extraordinary.

I have a JTV-69 that I purchased from Sweetwater on 8/18/13. I have another thread where I have described problems I am having with ghost notes in alternate tunings. I have to decide in the next few day whether or not I am going to: 1. Return the guitar - get a refund. 2. Swap out my guitar for another JTV. 3. Keep current guitar and wait for Line 6 to come up with a fix. Here is my question. Who out there has a JTV that they feel works perfectly? (both the models and especially the alternate tunings) Your feedback will help me with my decision. Also, if you want to chime in pro/con with your experiences with Line 6 support, that would be helpful - especially if I choose option #3. Thanks again! Steve

I got this case for my JTV-69. Fits like a glove, and a great case! SKB-66PRO http://goo.gl/XfbGHx

Just to give you an update on ghost notes. I spoke for the second time today with Hugo at Line 6. He has listened to recordings I have provided to him that are done directly into Garageband using a digital interface (Apogee MiC). I played in order: 1. six strings with magnetic pickups (sounds fine) 2. six strings with piezo pickup in Standard tuning (sounds fine) 3. six strings with piezo pickup in DADGAD (3 ghost notes) 4 six strings with piezo pickup in Blues G (2 ghost notes, High B, E) He acknowledged that he and his team are aware of the issue, i.e. it is REAL. He said he is meeting with his product specialist team on Thursday, where they will discuss this issue. I will reconnect with him on Friday, and see what they have discussed and maybe get some potential remedies. Cross your fingers! BTW, I just remembered. Hugo said that he and his team read the forum and gather good information about problems like ours. So, just know that the posts on here are helpful to them in their quest to solve problems.

Just to give you an update on ghost notes. I spoke for the second time today with Hugo at Line 6. He has listened to recordings I have provided to him that are done directly into Garageband using a digital interface (Apogee MiC). I played in order: 1. six strings with magnetic pickups 2. six strings with piezo pickup in Standard tuning 3. six strings with piezo pickup in DADGAD 4 six strings with piezo pickup in Blues G He acknowledged that he and his team are aware of the issue, i.e. it is REAL. He said he is meeting with his product specialist team on Thursday, where they will discuss this issue. I will reconnect with him on Friday, and see what they have discussed and maybe get some potential remedies. Cross your fingers!

I don't know if you're up for it, but documenting what you find as you go through the various models and alt. tunings might be helpful to forum members and Line6.

Or, we could encourage Line 6 to drop the price so they make just a reasonable markup. They could price them at $20 and still make a profit. I hate companies that nickel and dime you to death after you've purchased their product!

Good luck Guitarno. I bought mine from Sweetwater, who has the same 30 day return policy. I have been in touch with my rep. I've had it about 10 days. I think Line 6 will step up and make sure we have guitars that work - whether that means swapping out parts, or providing a new guitar. I just hope they do it soon! An update. My guitar sound much, much better, but I still hear some faint ghost notes in some tunings on the high B & E strings. But, it is very minor and I could probably live with it. The concern I have is that the system (software or hardware) is flaky, and what is going to happen during the next firmware update??

Geekydaddy, You're right that the undercarriage is different, but I do not see anything on the charger that would prevent it sliding in. I may have to bite the bullet and experiment with one!!