davidb7170

Quick note -- I've not messed with this yet, but I know the latest version of the JTV Workbench software says it has the ability to mix models & mags on the JTV's -- if your models and mags are being in that state of operation, you may be able to work with the software to stop it. Has anybody on the forum messed with this feature?? Might be worth a look... I'm thinking that your JTV being new would likely have the newest firmware? Just a random thought... I haven't really seen anyone on the forum talking about this feature. Dave

I see no 59P's on sweetwater, last I looked, but they're still in the products listed on this L6 site... I wouldn't want one myself -- I have the 59 and a 69S. I've gotten too used to the relative silence of humbuckers, but have been a Fender guy for 40+ years. My Tele Deluxe I bought in 1973 has Humbuckers, but my late 70's Strat doesn't and I just put up with the hum for years with it. When I got my 69S 2012, I had the hum back on the mag pu's, and took just for a few months, then replaced them with DeMarzio noisless strat pu's -- love 'em. A while back I picked up an fairly inexpensive Epi LP special with P-90's, mainly to see how those sounded. They sound killer, but a lot of hum... I use my JTV's about 80 - 90% of the time with their mag pups, so couldn't really see myself going for the P-90 version... It is a bummer for those who dig 'em, but don't know if their sales were good enough to continue offering them. P-90's do have a good bite, but I just can't get past the hum. I'm really spoiled at this point. I'm going to replace my Strat's with noiseless when I get around to it.... My 2 cents. Dave

When I moved from my XTL to the X3L, because of a power jack failure, I was able to directly convert the XTL patches to the X3L via the software from my patch set files on my PC and the X3L software. The X3L technology had advanced from the XTL, but was still close in structure, so they could convert settings into the new modeling of the X3L hardware. Your sounds were "similar" but not exact, so a lot of tweaking was needed in that case, but at least your amps and FX's were in the same frame work. The HD version of the PODs is so different that this is not possible. When I went from the X3L to the HD500 to get better control of the JTV-59 than the X3L offered, I was disappointed that I could not convert the files from X3L to HD500, so I did what hurghanico suggests above, basically. I knew the amps and FX I used in the X3L and tried to duplicate as close as possible, tweaking all along the way. Also forced me to change this and that along the way, but it's not a short or easy process. I am very happy with the final product and greater control it offers. Lots of stuff under the hood, here. Dave

I also use the Crown XLS 1000 for my HD500X and FRFR stage monitor -- I run the XLS 1000 in Bridged/Highpass, but anyway it definitely needs line level input, so check your 1/4" level switch - should be in Line position. I sometimes jam with friends and we run into a sound board and I have to set my 500X back to instrument level out, not to overpower the board. I sometimes forget to set the switch back at the end of the jam, so when I gig with the Crown Amp, I have the same tone, but less than half volume.... The I remember the Line level switch... In your case, maybe you didn't specifically set it out of the Line setting, but it could have been jostled out in set-up or possibly left in an "in between" position, and it went to the low level setting. Check that out -- I usually look for the simplest problems first.... I also periodically switch the level switch (and other physical switches) back & forth a couple of times to keep the contacts clean. If it's not that, then continue to dig deeper.... Just a thought. Dave

Yeah -- my bad -- I thought he was talking about 2 physical amps, not 2 modeled amps... I had 2 speakers out of phase once, and all it sounded like was crappy & thin. I switched the polarity on one of them and it came to life... Dave

Sounds like your two amps are out of phase with each other. One's speaker is moving backwards while the other's moving forward. If they each sound good by themselves, but crappy when both are going, this is the most likely issue. If they are combo's and you can get to the speaker wiring, flip the +/- leads on the speaker (one if single speaker in the cab, or all if multi speakers) -- but only one of the 2 amps. Choose the easiest one to get at if it doesn't help and you want to flip it back. Dave

Quick note -- I think you will find, like the vast majority of 500(X) users, that the example patches in the Best Of, etc. setlists pretty much don't give you what you need (they suck in other words), and you will end up creating your own for your style, preferences, and equipment, because everybody's tastes, amps, and guitars are different. I only found a couple in those setlists that were anywhere close to anything I'd use, so I moved those into my own setlist and tweeked it to my liking - including how I wanted my JTV's to be set. When I first got my 500, my reaction to the included set lists was Ugh... I gotta say the same for my prior X3Live, and XTLive units. It was really rare to find an included patch that I liked from the git go.... I'm thinking that you probably have it set in the global stuff so it cannot force JTV model selection, otherwise, the Son of Plexi, would select the appropriate guitar model, not the last one you used. I can't recall if its chosen guitar model was the LP or a strat, but I think it is the LP for that one. At least that was how my 500, and now 500X units do it -- as I have them set. Good luck. Dave

I actually like it to "remember" the mag or model, because I make use of it in all my patches. It keeps the state of the JTV mags or models for each patch at the time you create and save it. I switch between say the 12 string patch and mag electric patches multiple times in the course of one song, so I position those 2 patches side by side in my set list bank. Hit one patch and I'm playing the 12 string acoustic, then hit the other and do an electric solo on the mags, done with the solo, hit the other patch and I'm back to the 12 string. I also set up special patches for models in altenate tunings, such as drop Db for one song we do. Don't have to remember to push the knob and rotate the alt tune knob -- hit the foot switch for the special patch for the song, then go to the next patch for the next song, and I'm back to my mags in standard tuning. Very handy really... Each to their own... Dave

Stevekc -- Hey man, thanks for the link! I just ordered the 3-way switch to have on hand, plus model selector knobs for my 59 & 69S. Haven't had them break, but I'm an engineer, and like to plan for contingencies!! Those are reasonable prices for some specialty items! Dave

The Guitar Center here (Davenport, IA) has had 69's and 59's, but usually only one at a time. this has just been in the past couple of years. I got both my 58 TSB and 69S - Shoreline Gold at Sweetwater. The 59 in May 2011 (ordered in Oct 2010), and then the 69S when it first came out in Oct 2012, they had it in stock -- ordered it on a Saturday, had it on the following Tuesday. I felt well treated by Sweetwater. I got my first Variax, a 300 red solid body in 2005 from a little shop in Galesburg, IL about 45 minutes away. GC & Musician's Friend (related) had the JTV's in their catalogs long before they showed up in the GC store here, or any GC's that I went to when I was in the area (Minneapolis, Kansas City, etc.). You see them now, but not in the quantities or variations you see of the Fenders & Gibsons, etc. Most salespeople you have in GC's don't know them enough to sell them, so I'd guess most who've bought them have done a lot of research, reading on the internet in forums like this, like you're doing. I also wanted to try one before I bought it, but swallowed hard and took a chance... On the forums like this, you tend to hear mostly the problems that crop up, and only a few -- "holy cow this is cool!!" type of posts, so don't get thrown too much by that. My 59 had the 2nd 3 way switch issue, that was a replacement of the initial 3-way switch, but they had so many to do, that they had soldering problems. I sent mine back in and they corrected it. You don't like to have that happen, but in a start-up of a new product, you do run into glitches, and this was a wide-spread one, like some of the neck issues on the 69 models. My 69S has had none of those issues, but it was when they hit their stride in manufacturing the JTV's. I think the issue with GC's not carrying very many may be partly that they've been reading about all the problems, and also that this is a specialty or "niche" kind of guitar that won't sell to tons and tons of people. You have the beginners that are looking for their first guitar, and just want to get something that looks cool and maybe they'll learn how to play. Then there are those are more advanced and want a certain style or brand of guitar -- their holy grail. GC's make their money by selling volume at decent pricing, so they keep a lot of guitars on hand that they sell a lot of, and a few "niche" types. A lot of Strats, and Teles, and LP's, etc of various levels (US, Squires, Gibsons & Epi's, and other imports), but lot more mid-range than the very expensive units, because they wouldn't sell tons of those, either. I look at the JTV's as the "Swiss Army knife" of guitars. I have my Strat & Tele Deluxe, and an Epi LP (very good guitar, btw), and also have a '66 Gretsch Country Gent, but I gig with my JTV's. I'm a weekender, so don't have the luxury of a guitar tech to hand me my guitar for the next song.... ;o) I do about 30 to 50 weekend gigs a year, and the JTV's have been great for that. It's handy as hell in gigging live. I honestly like the tones of the mag pickups on both my 59 & 69S so much that I use those probably 85 - 90% of the time, but love that I can use a very good acoustic 6 or 12 string guitar or banjo sound, and do drop D, or drop Db, or down a full step tuning by the combo of the HD500 or 500X presets - hit a foot switch and I'm there. I have multiple songs where I switch back and forth between acoustic & mag pickups in the midst of the song several times. Don't have to switch guitars or take time to retune for a song in an odd tuning. I bought the 69S when I realized if I broke a string on my 59, and had to use my standard spare guitar, there were quite a few songs we'd have to skip in the set, or wait on me to change the string... My 2 cents... Dave

I second cruisonon2's post. I don't change my strings as often a he does, but doubt I get more than a month or 2 out of mine. I change 'em when they start to go "dead" on me. Also when they get worn out, the intonation goes to pot, as well. Usually depends on how much I'm gigging, though sometimes when I'm particularly busy, they get left on longer than I'd like, like right now, I think I have a couple week break, so will do guitar maintenance in the next week or so. Change the strings, oil the fingerboards, and give 'em a good cleaning & shine... One other thing, I have the 59 and the 69S. The 69S has locking tuners on it, mostly for tremolo stability, but it also does a good job of preventing string slip at the tuning post. I don't use the tremolo much -- don't leave the arm on, usually. I use both my 69S & 59 out gigging -- one backs the other one up for broken strings etc., though I haven't had much of a problem with these two breaking their strings... My 59, and every other guitar I have without the locking tuners, had the tuning instability until I learned the correct way to attach the strings at the tuner end, so it locks in on itself. There are many instructions & illustrations of this on the web, and I'm sure videos on YouTube as well. Usually the first thing I do when I get a new guitar is put my favorite brand and gauge on it, then set the action and intonation like I want. When I buy a guitar off the wall at a music store, or online, I never know how long those strings have been on the instrument, and if they aren't the size I usually use, or the feel annoys me, I change them right away. I think I left the originals on my 59 & 69S for maybe a week or so before I changed them out. they weren't bad, but I have other favorites that I string all my electrics with. Nothing like the sound of a new set of strings... Ahhh... and a good cup of coffee in the morning... YMMV Dave

Try unregistering it in Line 6, then re-registering it. I remember having to do that once -- been a while ago, can't recall the circumstances, though... Dave

Wow -- completely opposite experience. My 2010 59 has way more mag pu output and the model ouput levels for everything except the strats compared to my 2012 69S that I eventually changed to slightly hotter output DeMarzio Noiseless single-coils. Even so, I had to set up a separate setlist for my 69S that I took my original 59 based patches and raised the the incoming levels to the chain from the 69S with (typically) a tube compresser with out put gain at about halfway. I liked the it so remodeled my 59 patches with the tube compresser, but at a much lower output.... Also once they finally got the WB HD software to work directly through the 500(X) with the VDI-connected JTV's, I worked to even out my models, so I typically lowered the Lester settings and raised the weak ones like strat & tele, etc. I know it might not be "historically right" for the models, but I just want the ability to freely switch between guitar models without having to compensate in some way with the amp settings... My 2 cents. Dave

I've seen the spider capos, and they look like a nightmare to me... I have seen people get really interesting and cool sounds using them, but I've not really ever considered them for my use... I use the JTV alternate tunings for tones below standard and some other drop such and such (and set up patches in my 500X to force those), but when I need to raise from standard pitch for our singer or such, I just use a standard capo. For those used to using the spider capos, I'd say keep using them on the JTV set to the standard EADGBE or whatever you use with them (which you can set with the JTV forced tunings). You can also use the JTV tuning feature to move up or down to different base keys with your spiders in place. I think the spiders would require some special techniques, and that if the spider capos were not actually in place would screw up the person used to using them and have to change their technique. On some of the songs I use a standard capo with, If I used JTV forced alternate up-tuning, I would be screwed up, as my points of reference would be shifted. Just my 2 cents.... Dave

Got signal on all the correct pickups for the correct switch positions? If not, definitely get her to a Line 6 Repair tech, then. A standard replacement strat 5-way switch won't do, as part of the switch switches the mags, while the other part switches the models, as I recall. Dual row of contacts, I believe. Dave

You can verify that you only have middle PU on switch positions 2 3 4 by tapping the bridge PU on position 2 with the tip of a screwdriver, and the same with the neck PU on position 4. If you hear it through your amp, you have signal from them. If not, then ditto psarkissian, it'll need some shop time.... Dave

I have the JTV-69S, and it has all 5 switch positions on mags. If you look at the 69 schematic with the HB, basically the wiring is the same, just with the 2 leads of the bridge PU being the single-coil bridge PU. I know, because I swapped out my 3 stock single coils with noiseless DiMarzios, and used the 69 schematic as a reference. That schematic came out before the 69S was made. Dave

I replaced all three of the stock pickups on my 69S with the DiMarzio Paul Gilbert noiseless pickup set about 2 years ago. I liked the sound of the stock single coils, but not the hum of the SC's compared to my hum bucker guitars, including my 59. I've played Strats for years -- love the sound -- hate the hum. I chose noiseless single coils over traditional hum buckers in the strat form factor like rails, etc. to keep closer to the SC sound. I had the 69S for a couple months by that point, and had re-experienced the SC hum with bar-gig neon lights -- ugh... Man have I been spoiled. These noiseless SC's are as or more quiet than my other hum bucker-equipped guitars. Anyway, space is tight, but I was able to flip the faceplate over with only disconnecting the ground wire(s) from the faceplate to the body cavity ground point - 1 screw with about 4 wires attached... Once inside, I traced the white & black wires from the pickups to the switch, but decided against trying to solder to the switch itself, as it is a double row for the pickup position and the model switching. I decided to be safe and clip the wires from the pickups and solder the new pickup wires to the existing wires, the leads to the switch. Mind your polarities -- find the pickup wiring diagram here on the forum or the tech section, I forget -- someone else chime in with that, please. Strat form factor pickups work fine. Forget any coil spliting, unless you mount some sort of additional switch somewhere, I suppose, but I wasn't into re-introducing the hum in. Besides noiseless SC's don't have 4 wires out like split-coil HB's. The set I chose was hotter than the stock 69S SC's, but not as hot as full-out HB's. Different sound, though. You'll put in your favorite for your sound. Since I have both the 59 & the 69S, they have very different output levels, so I needed to create a duplicate set list in my 500X -- one for each the 59 & 69S, then I adjusted the levels up on all the patches I had developed for my 59 to accomodate the 69S - usually by increasing the input drive or adding a tube preamp or tube compressor FX at the front of the chain... Anyway, my 2 cents. Dave

Easy mistake to make, as up to the HD500, the XTL and X3L procedure was to push in on that rotary knob to save. Now pushing on the knob brings up the Set List menu. They moved the Save function to its own button, and I was glad of it, as the rotary knob was a bit too easy to mistakenly save something you maybe didn't want to... My 2 cents.... Dave

I have a 59 and a 69S. I was playing my 69S last night, and it had a new behavior -- at the end of playing, I rolled the volume knob all the way down as I always do, and could still hear the guitar out the amp. I was connected to my HD500X via the VDI input and cable. I was on the mags, as I am, probably 90% of the time when gigging. I switched to the models and rolled the volume up and down and the output went to zero as it should all the way down. I switched back to the mags and it still would not go to zero output. It was very low, not off. I unplugged the VDI from the guitar and then plugged it back in to let the 69S reinitialize, but it still had the same result. I rebooted the 500X, but no change. The guitar works fine, but this was new. When I'm gigging (as I will be this weekend) my normal thing to do during breaks is roll the guitar volume off and the 500X pedal (I always use for volume) off (heel position), so this will not affect the use of the guitar (I hope), but is still a bit troubling.... I was thinking it could be some control voltage from the 500X & VDI not being right or it could be something up with the 69S... Tonight when working with the guitar, it did not go immediately to zero volume when I rolled it off, but decayed to zero shortly after the volume was rolled off. Again the models go right to zero volume, no time lag. I plugged in my 59, and it rolled right to zero with no lag on both the mags and models, so I'm pretty sure it's not an issue with the 500X or VDI cable, so must be with the 69S.... I've had my 59 since May 2011, and my 69S since October 2012. I've had no issues with my 69S, this is my first odd behavior with it. Anybody else have this happen? Weird... Thanks, Dave

It could also be the tremolo springs ringing through the tremolo block. There should be some shrink tubing over the springs and foam inside, but if either of those came off or out, they could ring more. Strats have the same issues sometimes... One way to check quickly if this is the culprit would be to unscrew the trem spring compartment cover -- inspect to see if that stuff is in place, but also strum the offending notes and mute the trem springs with your hand. See if that quiets the ringing -- if so, find some way to stop them from vibrating sympathetically with the notes. Others here in the forums may have some tips for that.... If it's not the springs, again, maybe some here has some other ideas. It's worth a shot. Though if it is that, I would expect it to also ring in the models.... Hmmm... Dave

I wouldn't be surprised - I'm guessing the 89 could be discontinued because the 89F (with the Floyd Rose trem) was so wanted, the regular 89 with the hard tail didn't really sell after the new one came out... When the JTV's first came out - I got my 59, but remember all the clamor in the forum about the 89 not having a trem - especially the Floyd... The reaction was "really?" The concept of that model pretty much demanded the Floyd. It took L6 a couple of years, but they did it. I picked up the 69S when it was issued, as I like the strat with single coils (SSS), not HSS. Personal preferences.... I don't really know what a new JTV style would be. Tele? Semi? Gretsch? Seems to me that anything but a sold body would be problematic, as the semi's body resonances would really color the tones of the guitar to the peizo's. Just thinking out loud... Dave

Been a Heinlein fan a long time. Read all of his books. No -- sorry -- it doesn't ring a bell... Got the nickname in college (Iowa State). My initials (DB) and that I'm 6' 6" had something to do with it.... ;) Dave

The tone of the DiMarzio noiseless single coil pup's are not a hum bucker sound, definitely single coil. They have an auxiliary coil beneath the main coil that cancels the noise. I believe that the other brands are similar in design. They all also offer hum buckers in the form factor of single coils, so I would expect those to have a more hum bucker sound - more dark than SC's. They offer different flavors of single coil windings, as well. I got the version that was wound somewhat hotter. I've been very happy with mine. Dave p.s. I like your signature - my old nickname was Dancing Bear! Go figure...

+1 to toasterdude I set my tone on my 69S about halfway for the bridge mag pup, and make the models with their tone "locked" (saved with the models) -- it's a checkbox in HD Workbench. I run my tone up full on my 59 mags, but still lock the models' tones on that one as well. When I switch to a model manually, the tone that I set in WB comes with it. When I choose an HD500X patch that activates a JTV model, the tone comes with it that was saved with the 500X patch. The only caveat is when you mess with the mag tone while playing, it is changing the selected model tone at the same time even though you don't hear it, so I just flick the 3 way (59) or 5 way (69S) switch once and back when I have made my tone adjustment to the mags, and it brings the model tone back to it's saved state. It doesn't matter if you use the 500(X) patch to set your JTV model patch, like I said the tone position is saved with the 500X patch. Been doing that for several years now, so it's just habit. I have most 500X patches set with the mags active, but some with specific models for a specific sound or tuning and just hit the 500X patch for it when needed. By the way -- I changed the 69S's single coils for the DiMarzio Paul Gilbert noiseless set -- not due to the tonality of the 69S's pups, but due to the hum of single coils in general. The noiseless pups really are noiseless - I was shocked by how quiet they are. The Paul Gilbert set has a hotter bridge pup than stock strat SC's. So yes, you can do it but you gotta keep your head on straight when you do it. There is a wiring diagram for the JTV pups somewhere here in the forums or on the knowledge base. Instead of soldering on the switch itself, I clipped the pickup wires and soldered the new pups to the wires from the switch. I know, it's better to go to the switch, but I went with what seemed to me to be a safer way, and it works fine. YMMV... I did not mod the tone circuit, and would not recommend it in general, as the tone pots have a lot more going on than regular guitar tone pots, as one part of it is passive electronics for the mags, and one part is a digital controller for the models' tone logic algorithms both on one shaft. I didn't even consider messing with that... Dave