davidb7170

Just tried cleaning the chrome cache & browser history - didn't help. Opened the incognito chrome browser and here I am, signed in, so I could post this. Weird. When signed in normally, choosing the Helix forum bounces me back to the L6 home page. None of the other forums do that.... Works fine on my pc, though... Win 8.1 & IE (whatever the latest is). Think it's fine on my Win 10 & Edge browser. Dave

Me too. I'm on my phone chrome incognito settings and got here finally. Dunno what's up. Tried my phone's other browser and from my pc and it works, but not the normal chrome on my phone. Keeps dumping me back to the L6 home page, though not on the other forums... Weird... Dave

The 300/500/600 all have the "coffin" box that shields the electtonics and unitized the construction so that all electronics were connected to the face plate. A reported issue with those models was a internal signal or conterol wire would contact the grounded coffin case. When they moved or insulated those wires from the coffin, the guitar would work again. As fas as I recall, it did not kill their guitar. The 700 did not have this issue as the construction put the volume/tone/model selector/ and 5 position selector on the body, with the PC Boards in body compartments. The JTV's use the same construction technique. The 69 has the controls and pickups on the face plate, but not in a "coffin" as the 300/500/600 did. I changed my 69S's pickups to DiMarzio noiseless single coils and was inside the guitar to do it, I thought the construction and wiring was quite well done when looking around. The original single coils were good sounding, but were subject to the same hum that my Strat is, and I'm going to swap out my Strat's pickups with the same set I put in my 69S. My 59's HB's are fine as they are. Grounding issues with the 300/500/600 also caused a spurious issue with the models switching randomly on their own reported by some on the L6 forums. My 300 has never had this issue in the 11 years of owning it. Seems like a similar issue has been mentioned a couple of times on the L6 forums on the JTV's. Can't recall which model(s), seems like it might have been the 69(S). Again, once they corrected their contact issue, their guitars were reported to function properly again. And again, these were not guitar killers. I honestly have not seen the high failure rate you seem to be seeing. My 59 switch issue, I saw as a initial release problem, but not a total failure. L6 paid for shipping both ways, and got it back to me in less than a business week after they received it. It was experienced when I received the 59, and so of course it was corrected under warranty all on their dime. All of my Variaxes are out of warranty now (11, 5, and 4 years old). Not saying Variaxes are perfect, but 2 out of my 3 have had no issues whatsoever. The issues I had were not total failures, and as of now, all are perfectly functional. My models are fine to use, and I had had compliments from sound men on my acoustic 6 and 12 patches via my Helix. I find these guitars extremely versatile, for alternate tunings, of which I use the models most. Dave

I don't recall a Variax 200. I had the lowest model of the Variax - the 300. The next in that line was the 500, then the 600, and the 700 that was originally just the Variax. Then they had the 2 models (I belive there were only 2 acoustic Variax). They also had at least 1 bass model, or possibly 2 with a 4 & 5 string version. They also had a couple of left-handed versions, all prior to the JTV line and the latest, the Standard. I am not aware of a huge amount of all out failures being experienced. My 300 is still functional, bought in 2005. It, being the lowest model, was not as well constructed as the upper models, especially the 700, which still has loyal users, that have been fairly vocal on these forums trying to get the the Helix team to support it and other first gen Variaxes better in that device. Apparently not all of that generation Variaxes have failed. The build quality of my 300 was mostly an entry level guitar, and when the JTV's were introduced I purchased the JTV-59. It had an issue with the toggle switch (different than the 5 position, strat style switches on the first gen and JTV 69's & 89's). It was a initial release issue, and they fixed mine in a very timely manner under warranty. I then had an issue with the piezo/bridge on the unit which they sent me a replacement bridge assembly that I installed myself after convincing them I had the technical ability to do so. I have had no issues with that guitar since the initial problems in 2011, that they learned from and corrected their materials and methods for subsequent runs of the the JTV's I believe. In 2012, they released several variations of the 59, 69, and added the Floyd Rose trem to the 89. I bought the 69S in 2012, and have had zero issues in my 4 years with it. I gig about 30 - 40 jobs a year as a weekender, and use the 69S & 59 exclusively. I have some nice guitars besides my JTV's, but find the JTV's to be quite reliable and versatile, so I use the JTV's. Now, I do know that numerous issues are reported with their guitars, but have not seen a large number of completely failed units. In the cases reported here on the forums, most that I have read about have been resolved to the owners' satisfaction. Another thing to keep in mind is that user forums are places where people bring their issues for help and advice, so problems seem more prominent than not, which would be normal. I have not found many other sources of information on the Variax line other than here in these forums. I can't say I've observed a systematic product breakdown. I have also bought parts from Full Compass. I replaced the faceplate on my 69S with a pearloid one - nice, though kind of think that wouldn't be a high failure part that they need to keep on hand. The big reason they (thankfully) have replacement parts is that they are one of the regional authorized service centers for the Line 6 line of products, including the JTV's. Somebody's always going to drop their guitar on it's jackplate, break knobs, etc. I periodically scan through their available parts for things for the JTV's I have, and I have bought some parts to have on hand just in case.... Nothing is problem free -- Full Compass also has replacement parts for Fenders & Gibsons. I believe they are a general music company and carry and work on many brands. Dave

Yup, covered that caveat, said would not work on my first generation 300. I'm guessing when they get WB working with the Helix, it'll be the hd version, not the version for the first generation Variax. I was disappointed with that when they finally got it going on the HD500X. The HD500 works with either, which is why I still have the 500 & the 500X. Don't like it, but there it is. My Variax 300 sits. The JTV's are so much better, though so it's not a big deal to me. The 300 was my entry point to the Variax world, and I was buying regular guitars again, until the JTV came out. I have the 59 & the 69S, gig with them all the time. Was only trying to point out another possibility. Don't recall what the op had. Just checked and he didn't specify first generation, JTV, or standard. Dave

You can change the string pitch parameters of the JTV's per helix preset. I have several set up for drop D, drop Db, half step and full step down. It's not necessary to set up a special custom tuning model with Work Bench, unless you have a first generation Variax like my 300. I want Line 6 to get off the dime and get Work Bench going with the Helix, but in this case, you would not need WB for pitch change. Just set it up in a Helix preset. Dave

You'd need such an E field that your teslacles would fall off...😋

At higher volume you're not hearing the physical strings at their nonshifted tuning, at low volume you are, so your hear the disonance. Try it with headphones from your Helix at higher and lower volumes. If they isolate you from hearing your physical strings, you should only hear the shifted notes. If you still hear the actual tuning, check your mix settings on the pitch block and make sure it's at 100%. Also make sure you don't have some parallel path that carries the nonshifted signal mixed into the shifted signal. It's an issue that us Variax users deal with when using alternate tunings. Dave

I changed out my 69S stock pu's with DiMarzio noiseless SC's mainly for the noiseless part, but they are somewhat hotter than stock SC's and hotter than the models, so I upped the volume on the models a bit to even them up. I also have a 59, and it's stock HB pickups are hotter than the noiseless SC's in my 69S. I copied my 69S presets in my Helix and in my HD500X before it, and reduced the input gain for the 59, so I can swap guitars. On the Helix, I put a gain block first and take it down -8 dB or so... Works fine. Dave

Sort of wish the pad and the impedance would work with the VDI for the Variax, too. I have a JTV 69S and a 59, and the HB's of the 59 are hotter than the single coils of this 69S. I basically set my tones up with the 69S, then copy them and add a gain block at the start of the patch for the 59 set -6 to -8 dB. Luckily with snapshots, I use fewer presets than I did with the HD500X, so I can keep them in the same set list. If I'd set up the preset with the 59, then I'd need to do a 6 to 8 dB gain boost for my 69S... With my regular guitars in the guitar input, I like being able to do a little tone molding to take the edge off and warm those guitars up a bit with the impedance adjustment... Dave

Unless something else is going on, this is not a bug, but expected behavior. If you save the patch with the JTV model ON, it will recall the model ON when you choose that patch the next time. If you save it with the models OFF (the pickups ON), it will recall the patch with the models OFF / PU's ON. I use this all the time. The Helix does this, the POD HD500(X) does this, and I recall correctly, my X3Live did this. I use the PU's a lot with a handful of models for acoustic patches and key-shifted patches. When I choose those, the models are on, when I choose another that I've saved with the PU's on, the PU's come on. To me it's a valuable feature, you're not stuck with ALL models or ALL PU's on your patches. Just gotta keep your head on when you're saving the patches is all... Dave

Try pushing the model knob so the models are off and then save the preset. When you recall that preset, the Variax will be recalled with the pickups on. I use my JTV's with the pickups on (models off) in nearly all my Helix presets. It recalls the state of the guitar at the last save of the preset. Also set the Helix to "per preset".

Well, I'd definitely contact customer support on this. They've been doing an excellent job with others' issues. I've been using mine out gigging since shortly after I got it last November, over 30 some shows, and have been really happy with it. Hardware problems usually show up early if they're going to. You could also try working with your vendor for an exchange - if you've only had it for this short time, it's within your warranty period. Dave

All presets? Could be a bad jack on the Helix. If not look for a phase inversion on your blocks that could cancel most of the signal when summing to mono is one thing that could kill volume... Just a thought...

Physics. Materials expand when warmed, and contract when cooled.

Once it's not assigned, it puts out full volume, however you have it set, line or mic (instrument) level. I don't use 4cm, so I set my 1/4" out to line level with the volume control for my stage amp, and XLR to mic level without the volume knob so any volume adjustment only affects the stage and doesn't mess with the sound man's mix Dave

You can swap and copy snapshots with touch and hold procedure (at least on the floor Helix). It's in the manual, I believe. I've done it many times. Dave

I'd rather they focus on getting "infrastructure" stuff working like Workbench and L6 link for DT amps and the speakers first. And then more amps & FX.... Dave

Yes -- When you choose the headphone source, you're "listening" to the output mode of that source. I use global EQ on my 1/4" line-level outs to my stage amp, and not on the XLR mic level out to the sound man. I set my headphone to monitor my XLR out, so I am hearing what the sound man gets. Dave

If you leave the expression pedal selected in your preset, it already displays the current position on the main display. Doubt it's much smaller than trying to fit it on a scribble strip... Just sayin' Dave

The Leslie speakers I remember from a couple of bands I was in didn't have speed adjustment other than fast or slow. I'd say adjust to what sounds good to you. Maybe listening to some classic examples would help you. I always loved the sound of it winding up and down.... Dave

Seems you'd lose 1 switch for stomp/snapshot use, or 2 if you'd set it up for forward/back use. Most people are requesting more foot switches... Just something to consider.... Dave

Haven't noticed it being particularly loose, but I don't leave it plugged in. Only use it updates and backups, and the occasional use of the editor. I had the 500(X), and heard many reports of breaking usb jacks, so became very careful with it. Carried over to my Helix. I got in the habit of editing directly on my 500(X), and find the Helix so easy in that respect. Luckily, have not heard reports of usb jack breakage on the Helix, so far, and that's a good thing. Old habits die hard. I also get a ground loop when hooked up usb with my amp (on a different circuit) , so i built a little 1:1 isolation transformer between the Helix and the amp for when I do use the editor. So most of the time, I just avoid hooking up to my pc... Dave

I often start mine with the amp on, and it's pretty quiet. I can tell when it's ready to go because sound changes when it brings up the preset after booting. Just saw yours is a rack. Mine is a floor unit... Dave

Back at the beginning of the JTV's in 2011, there were several folks who did it, but took some doing iirc. The stock LP pick guard doesn't fit the pickup rings or spacing, so some had some specially made or made them themselves. I have an epi LP that came with one not installed and held it to my 59, and it didn't fit. The switch plate fits, but the 59 toggle switch is recessed, so they had to work with that. I saw their pictures, and they looked good - both of the pick guard and the switch plate. Unfortunately, the forum has been redone since then and those posts are long gone. Maybe someone who did it still comes here and can post those pictures... Myself, I like the LP without the pick guard. Would have liked to do the switch plate, but wasn't a big enough deal to me to actually get around to it. Just my 2 cents worth... Dave