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This is purely a curiosity post, so remove if it is not thought to be relevant. I was wondering out of all the Variax users here, what the main genres of music are that you use your Variax for? Most of what you see online is either blues or metal, but are there others that are well represented? Also what playing levels are Variax users at? I myself would classify the music I make as Chillout or Ambient depending on the track, think Tangerine Dream or similar. I am by no means a guitarist, and can play enough to fit in with my musical style and needs. The Variax is a perfect solution for me as I can get a wide variety of tones that make up for the lack of playing ability.

Hi guys I am really interessted in getting a JTV 59. The only reason i havent bought one yet is that i play through a very cheap setup. I am not sure if it will sound halfway decent enough to justify a buy. I have a Blackstar HT-1R, unfortunately not enough money to upgrade the amp. Now my questions is, will the accoustic modelling sound good through this amp? Doses anybody has experience palying a Variax throug a small cheap amp? Thanks

I assume the Variax modeling pickup is a piezo style on the bridge like a midi guitar right ? that being said , is there any of Variax models thats comes with a vintage string spread at the bridge(2/732) or the widest 2 1/4 ? if there is which one ?

Hi! I'm new to all this and recently got a Shuriken Variax and a Firehawk FX (no, I didn't go for the Helix as my bank account didn't allow it). ;) I have a couple of questions around the full functionality of the Firehawk utilising the Shuriken via VDI. 1. Is there a way to specifically control the individual string settings (other than the tuning)? e.g. volume levels of each string? The reason I ask this is that some of the default pre-sets I go to seem to only have the specific strings enabled. For example, on the "01C. American Clean" patch: - <position> = <String enabled> - Position 1 = Only top E string - Position 2 = All strings ok - Position 3 = E B G D A not working but bottom E working - Position 4 = Bottom E and A ok rest seems soft - Position 5 = All ok but soft when compared to position 2 2. Somewhat relates to 1 but via the Firehawk iOS app, when in Variax mode, it only looks like you can control the tuning on each string. Any way of configuring each string settings or do I need to go into the Workbench? Pretty sure I'll have more questions depending on the responses I get! Look forward to it and thanks in advance! Nigel

I sent a detailed description of the issue and all the cables plus step by step on how to test it. I got back the variax and of course none of the cables were even undone and the Variax is NOT seen by Workbench hd...(via helix) no matter what. I did get from Line 6 a new version of the VDI USB and that does work reliably (thank you) but still a drag not to be able to connect helix and variax and workbench all via one CABLE

Hi everyone, Newbie here. I just received a brand new Variax Standard today, and I frustratingly can't seem to get it connected in Workbench HD. It just says "Not connected." I am connecting the Variax to my Macbook (running MacOS Sierra) by the VDI (RJ-45 type) cable, plugged into the USB interface, with a fully charged battery and audio jack plugged in. The volume is turned all the way up, tuning set to standard, and the model selection knob disengaged. Line 6 Monkey seems to recognise the Variax is plugged in, and tells me the device firmware and all applications are up to date (screen shot attached). The guitar has been registered. The lights on the USB interface are both solid green (at the USB and Variax in ends), and I have tried a standard Ethernet cable that I know works, in case the VDI cable was faulty, but no go. I have no other USB drives etc. attached. Any help here would be much appreciated

I'm thinking of swapping out my JTV-59's standard pup's with Bareknuckle mules but have a concern over the resistance. I read on another forum post that the resistance should be between 6-8 - the Bareknuckle website quotes the following for the Mules. Position: Bridge, DC Resistance: 8.4 kΩ, Magnet: Alnico 4 Position: Neck, DC Resistance: 7.3 kΩ, Magnet: Alnico 4 I'm confident enough with the wiring, have the diagrams, know how to solder etc. BUt am i going to hit troubles with the rest of the JTV's electronics if i go ahead? Or will it be ok? Also, anyone got any experience of Bareknuckles in a JTV? Or good news storied about swapping out pups on their JTV? Thanks.

Had a fun time comparing a buddy of mine's AX8 today to my Helix! We've each only had our respective units for a very short amount of time so there are things about each we're still learning. However I've been a LONG TIME Line 6 user and he's been an Axe FX user for several years. So not completely new territory. Spoiler alert: If you can't get a good tone out of either one of these units, it's your fault. Plain and simple. It's not that your ears are that discerning, you just don't know what you're doing. Sorry, maybe guitar playing isn't your calling. With that out of the way let me move on. The signal path was Crate Powerblock into Friedman 2x12 with one Vintage 30 and one Creamback. It produced about as much "amp in the room" sound as you could ask for. All tones done on each unit were amp only with no speaker modelling. As a side note, also in the room was a Friedman Dirty Shirley with matching 1x12 cabinet, so there was a high end tube amp there for reference. Admittedly I felt like bringing a Line 6 product into a room with a Fractal product for a comparission put me as the underdog. From everything I've read online the Helix has the competition beat on features, but what about pure amp tone? I'm here to say that the Helix held it's own and then some. At no point did I feel like the Helix was a step behind the AX8. Just dialed up an amp and it sounded amazing right out of the gate. Something Line 6 has MASSIVELY struggled with in the past. I've owned literally every incarnation of Line 6's product line and this is the first time they've produced a product that doesn't demand a ton of tweaking to find the magic sweet spot. This opinion was echoed by my friend who is a long time Fractal user. So not just my opinion in a vacuum. As a Helix user I feel compelled to point out the positives of it in this comparison, so that's exactly what I'm going to do. Not to take anything away from the AX8, but this is where I'm coming from. I'll leave room for AX8 users, or my friend with the AX8, to chime in here. Here are the pluses for Helix: The UI: on the Helix it is far and away more advanced than on the AX8. I'm speaking in terms of the on unit UI and not the PC editor. The Helix Editor isn't out yet so no way to compare that. But for using each unit stand alone the Helix UI is hands down the winner. Everything is faster, easier, and more intuative. Assigning pedals and controllers, using pedal edit mode, etc. Not a knock on the AX8, just showing how much design effort went into the Helix UI. Flexibility and routing: Again, this is another area that Helix shines. If you can dream it up, you can route it in Helix. And do so very easily thanks to a very intuative UI. Want a signal path with 4 drives, 6 delays, and 3 reverbs? No problem with Helix. Plus the 4 physical send/receives give you loads of flexibility to incorporating outboard gear. Need to route your dry guitar signal one place, your wet guitar signal another, and the looper another? No problem. Ease of creating tones: I was surprised that my vote for this would go to Helix. As a long time Line 6 user I'm used to spending hours dialing in the perfect tone. With Helix things just work. We found that amps, and especially effects, were very quick on the Helix. Everything was more or less in place and ready to go. You just had to add it to the signal chain and make adjustments to suit your taste. Ease of use: When using this as a live unit I have to give the nod to Helix here. The scribble strips, with customize-able text, were gold. I know exactly what function each pedal is performing. Something that was a challenge on the HD500(X). Along with the very large color screen showing exactly what's going on it's a breeze to use this thing live. The AX8 takes a more basic approach, and is very workable, but not on the same level as Helix. Built in expression pedal: Having a built in expression pedal, with a toe switch, is a big deal. At least to me. With an external pedal I'm left to choose one function of the expression pedal instead of two. Overall tone: I felt like this could go either way. On this day I think our Helix presets were pretty rockin', but either unit can be tailored to do EXACTLY what you want. They both sound awesome. I can say with all honesty though that the Helix didn't give up an inch tone wise. Which surprised the both of us. BTW, the Friedman Dirty Shirley model on the AX8 was spot on and we both felt like bringing the "real" dirty shirley into the equation was pointless. The AX8 simply sounded as good or better than the real deal. Sorry tube snobs, but facts are facts Pluses for the AX8: It did sound really good! There's no denying that, nor any reason to. It's an awesome unit. Amp models: In terms of sheer number of amp models there isn't a contest between these two units. The AX8 far outpaces the Helix by a mile. However the question is how many amp models do you need? Maybe I'm playing devil's advocate here, but I don't find that I have trouble covering all the ground I need with Helix's selection. Totally a matter of opinion though. Much respect for the sheer amount of work Cliff has put into modelling this number of amps. If the amount of amp models is most important to you then there is no comparison. Form factor: This could go either way. Overall I'll take the Helix because of the built in expression pedal and increased number of ins/outs. But I do like the compactness of the AX8. The Helix is big and heavy. I'm a Helix owner so obviously you can tell that I am going to lean towards the Helix. Having said that I can say with COMPLETE honesty that the Helix really shined today when comparing the two. All things being equal I take the Helix all day long and don't regret the purchase for a minute. My buddy was even joking about buying one once he sold off some of his other gear Most importantly though is that fact that there are two INCREDIBLE units on the market for, given what they do, not a lot of money. It is an amazing time to be a guitar player. I've been playing way long enough to remember when it wasn't so. I remember playing through a Crate solid state amp.....wow how times have changed!! So as a community let's be thankful for the tools at our disposal. We live in a great time to be a musician and let's truly appreciate these miracle boxes that can be had for less than the cost of a Marshall half stack "back in the day". Or this day for that matter. Cheers!

Hello All!, first session of 2018! Using Variax and Helix listen to SuMo *(SuperMassiveMomentum) perform live over the internet from California, Colorado and Canada ..all in real time!. SuMo is three veteran musicians playing unscripted improvised progressive music...heavy, grooving, shredding...its all here!. Listen the the master at 96k!. Comments welcome. Tech: I used some of the new reverb's in this recording (spotlight my favorite) Follow us on our adventure https://www.facebook.com/SupermassiveMomentum/ https://hearthis.at/joejeffries/sumo-2018-3-16/

OK, here's something that just started to happen out of the blue for no apparent reason. When I turn on the processing effects on my Variax, the whole setup (Dream Rig) goes mute. It doesn't matter if I turn them off again, there's no sound. It'll remain like so until the POD off and back on. It doesn't matter if I turn the effects using the guitar knob or the POD settings. In both cases the system goes mute. What could possibly be the issue? I don't even know if this is a problem with the guitar or the POD.

My Helix seems to be sending MIDI PC messages out on USB (to my iPad ) whenever my variax is connected via VDI and I change guitar models via the knob on my JTV. How can I stop this from happening ? I Need to send MIDI over SB via footswitches set up in control Center so cannot just turn the "MIDI Over USB" option off. But the option to send out MIDI PC messages is turned off as shown in the photo ) but yet HELIX is still sending out PC when models are changed. Is there a way to prevent this?. Judging by how the settings are set in this picture I would have expected that MIDI PC should be filtered out - 3 of the 4 options - all to do with PC - are off.

I have just bought a factory refurb JT variax with floyd rose. I like it alot and have started trying the different tunings. I have it run through a helix floor model and like lots of overdrive and distortion. The standard and drop d tunings are right on the money and sound great with all the different guitar models. But as soon as i switch to 1/2 step down, it sounds awful. I play with plenty of volume so i am not hearing the strings in the true e tuning ringing out as per instruction manual. Anyone else have issues? I like the guitar and don't want to send back but this is a deal breaker if it cant be fixed. I have done a firmware reset using the line 6 monkey.

Just wondering if anyone knows how to use the 2 together. I plug the Shuriken in to the Variax port on the HD500 (not the +, this is the first version) and I get the guitar to power on the Variax mode but I can't figure out how to bypass the settings on the HD500 to hear just the sounds being produced by the Shuriken. Does anyone know what I need to do? Any help is much appreciated ESPECIALLY since the battery on my Shuriken isn't powering the guitar so I have no choice but to use the HD500 to power the guitar right now.

I've been using my XT live with a fender deville as a 'traditional' effects unit and am pretty happy with the results. Juts bought a variax standard and am experimenting with running the xt live through the aux in of a fishman loudbox 100, as I'm guessing I will get a wider frequency range with this than the fender. All of the acoustic models and clean patches are great. I'm having a bit of ugly distortion when using some of the more gainy amps and stomp boxes, compared to how they sound with my fender. Anyone have any tips how to get a good driven sound but without the (bad!) distortion?

Hey! First post here. Been using a Helix for my full live rig for about 6 months. I run it Danelectro > Helix > EHX mag 44 > 2 x 12 cab. (As well as running it as a vocal comp and preamp) That being said, I’d love to get more out of the variax side of the Helix. It’s obvious to me that i can’t convert the dano in to variax which has led me into seriously considering picking up a JT variax. My question is, if there was a point that i wanted to convert the JT to a baritone using a Warmoth 28†inch neck, would that effect or even possibly damage the digital components of the variax system. Thanks again, Zane

Well recently in another discussion I ran across an Idea to help eleviate some of the sympathetic resonance that occurs with the variax guitar.Link here http://line6.com/support/message/485558#485558 (quite amplified do to the Full Range of the Variax and HD500 capability's). I expanded on his Idea and chose to add vibration relief on the Bridge also. (there are pictures showing what I did on the other discussion). I wanted to express my extreme satisfaction in the results I am getting. Over the last few days of practice I am amazed at the sound quality of the modeling. (greatly improved I think from the lack of sound artifacts being modeled along with what I was playing). Also the quality of the alternative tunings I used to never use the 12 string models cause I thought they sounded terrible at times especially tuned down. Now they sound phenomenal no warble sounds, just true to what I was playing. I am not kidding I sat for about an hour going through the different models and tunings amazed at how great they sounded. ( the last time I was ever impressed by a piece of gear was about 16 years ago I bought a 5150 combo and fell in love with tube distortion, just loved the sound of it.) made me enjoy playing. I am hoping that others try this technique and have the same results (Truely I do).. Thanks for Others in these forums that have always been helpful for me...

Hi All Ok So i am losing my mind trying to get Helix and Variax JTV 69 working. I installed a brand new Windows 10 install and no matter what always get 'The connected Variax is not compatible with Workbench HD. You must use a James Tylers Variax version 2.0 or higher' so I go and disconnect the Variax completely and get the exact same error so it appears that really the message is bogus. I have the supplied VDI cable and have tried several CAT 5 and Cat 5 E cables still always get the same error. Does any know exactly why this doesnt work? Does having Line 6 POD HD 500 installed as well as helix cause this? I did not try uninstalling Line 6 monkey but did disconnect the line 6 POD 500. I just cant figure out how this doesnt work and why my system only FYI Line 6 Support says they have no idea and it 'should work;! Here is my Black Friday recording with 2.30 firmware https://hearthis.at/joejeffries/supermassivemomentum-live-11-24-2017/ help help

Is Variax being discontinued? There are heavy discounts on the JVT-69s at Musician Friends and they say that model is going away. Does any one know if Variax is dead, being revised, or if something new is coming?

Recorded Live on Jamkazam.com Recorded using Helix 2.30 and Variax Last session for 2017!. Hear this epic session..it rocks from beginning to end, non stop action, Hear it in 96k! SuperMassiveMomentum is a live performance improvisational group that plays live over the internet from 2000 miles apart. Hear how three musicians come together to create an epic adventure in Guitar, Bass and Drum progressive coolness! https://hearthis.at/joejeffries/supermassivemomentum-live-12-8-2017/ Session: Three Players Distance 2000 miles apart Latency Reported 29 mS Streaming at 512 kbps (stereo) Frame size 1 mS using experimental settings in jamkazam Mastered at 96k

After upgrading to Helix 2.30, Workbench will not recognize my JTV-89.

Hiya, Can we hope having at some point Variax collaborations with some other guitar brands ? or some kind of custom shop line6 to adapt existing guitars with variax system. I would buy a real fender "variaxed" or a Chapman one for exemple... The actual range of variax choice isn't attracting to me yet. The variax sounds and concept though , I really like. cheers Olivier

Hello all, I am tweaking patches for a church gig today, and find one of them needs the volume lowered to be leveled with the other songs in the set. I am using my HD500 through a DT25, with a JTV 69. On the HD500, I move the volume control to the level I want, noting that the "notch" on the LED shows the old position. I click "Save" twice to save the settings. I then can see that the notch has moved to the correct place. super. However, when I switch to another patch, then back, the notch (and volume level) have moved back to the original location. Why can't I save over the patch? Any ideas/suggestions? Anyone else having this trouble? Dave

SOLVED ! Greetings, I have a jtv 89f 2.22 updated and plugged with a variax cable in a HELIX 2.21 updated, just when I plugged it, the sound apear to be realy low and increase slowly by it self ... the only solution to fix the volume is to block it in the helix ... does any one have this problem ? See the video â–ºhttps://www.facebook.com/samtouchevraiment/videos/1866046883413443/

HELP!!! I have a Variax 700 bass with VDI cable, it does not work with HD500x pod or pod XT live bass. Connecting to the XT Live pod freezes the screen. Until the cable is unplugged, it will restart. With the HD500x pod, I connect a regular RJ45 cable and work for a while but then the HD500X pod restarts. The VDI cable works well with JTV59 variax Can anybody help me?

I love the ability to let the preset change the Variax Model. But once you've stepped on this path, there is no turning back. Meaning: To get to know all the guitars I play all for some time with all my presets; turning the knob on the guitar itself. When I now force a preset to use Lester-1, I cannot go back to the guitar where the knob is currently on, unless I explicitly tell other presets to force the one I'm currently on, or turn the knob back and forth again. I get that "Don't force" shouldn't change a thing on the guitar. The wording is clear here. "Don't touch it at all, no matter what" Though, (at least my) general expectation is "Don't force = go back to the position where the knob is". Once a guitar model is forced, there is no going back; Search brought me only one other thread with a similar issue, but I still don't understand how this all works. How do you guys deal with this? And if there is no way to achieve "only force the model in this one preset, all other presets force back to the model where the knob is": What do you guys think about a new parameter value named "Force to Knob" / "Back to Knob". Thanks