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Showing results for tags 'variax 500'.
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Hi everyone! Player from Berlin, Germany here. Just bought a Variax 500 on Ebay from a shop. By the serial number I guess it´s 20 y old but it looks absolutely brand new, even the protective foil was still on the backplate. There´s not a scratch or mark on it. All electronics - after spending about an hour with it - work perfectly. Except ... there´s no sound from the 3rd (GH-) string. The shop says it was fully functional when shipped (Shop is here in Germany) and it even went to a guitar technician a few months ago for inspection. I´ve already read some similar posts on this forum and I had a good luck at the saddles, but there´s is no visible dust or dirt on the bridge. Also the tiny black wire on the 3rd saddle seems exactly like the other ones. I noticed the saddles cannot be height-adjusted, so I just moved it a bit to see if there is a contact issue. Nope. But still no sound there. So I´m asking how do get a support ticket and/or tips on where it can be repaired? -
Hi, Hope someone can help... I recently bought a variax 500 - no problems with the guitar, powers fine by battery. The problem is that the A/B box does not supply power to the guitar. I suspect its because I have the wrong adapter - can anyone please confirm if its likely that? Symptoms: Plug in and the 1/4" and XLR lights operate fine Power lamp on the right does not illuminate. Plug in the guitar - no signal through to amp. Plug in guitar with battery - signal is fine. The adapter I got with the guitar: INPUT 230v ~/ 50hz/ 100ma and OUTPUT 5.2v=/ 1200ma I have seen that the line 6 power supply has a higher rated output - INPUT of 230z ~/ 50hz / 150mz and OUTPUT 9v=/ 2000ma 18va So, am I correct in thinking that the power supply I have is, at 7v output, just not hot enough and I need to buy an appropriate replacement? Many thanks! Craig
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Variax 500 piezo on G string issues
gnostiquette posted a topic in Variax Guitars / Bass / Workbench
I'm having a very specific problem with the G-string piezoelectric pickup on my Variax 500. Much of the time, the signal goes dead; there is no sound coming from it. However, after pressing down on it, for a few seconds to a few minutes the sound will return, but it will then get fuzzy and fade out to nothing again. This started a week or two ago. Is this a grounding issue, a signal wire issue, or something entirely different? And how can it be fixed? Thanks! -
I hadn't used my Variax 500 for a month or two so I put new Duracell AA batteries in it and plugged it into my Focusrite Solo USB interface the same as normal, but I noticed that I now have background hiss that I never noticed before. Has anyone else had this issue and know what the cause is? I tried a different set of batteries, connecting via 1/4" jack on the Focusrite, going via a DI box into the XLR on the Focusrite but it still has the hiss. Do you think using an XPS would fix this issue or potentially make it worse? The hiss is the same no matter what model I am using so I don't think it is related to the model's gain settings. I have also tried with multiple cables and the result is the same. Does it sound the the Variax is starting to fail?
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For anyone who is unsure of whether you can use the legacy Variax guitars under Windows 10, I can confirm that you can. I went to the download section and just selected Windows 8 as the OS and downloaded Line 6 Monkey and Workbench (non HD version), ran the installers, hooked up my Variax USB Interface and Variax 500 and everything worked perfectly first time. I had no issues with Java or the installation on the drivers. This statement is valid as of April 2018- 10 replies
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Is there a way to adjust the tone of the acoustic models on the Variax 500? I have noticed they all sound dull and lifeless compared to the results I have had using a piezo transducer on my other guitars. Workbench doesn't seem to have any control over the sound. Am I missing something? Does someone have a raw sample of the acoustics from their Variax 500? Maybe the issue is with mine alone. I am listening with no amp or effects, just direct into my DAW via a Focusrite Solo so the problem isn't from playing through a regular guitar amp.
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While doing a search online for information on the Variax 500 I came across this link. It is a .pdf that shows all the default models on the Variax 500 complete with photos of the modeled guitars. https://freeshell.de/~luis/guitars/Variax 500.pdf Thanks to the original poster
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Another newbie question so I know what to expect when I get Workbench for my Variax 500. I know that you can visually create a custom guitar using Workbench, which leads me to believe that when selecting a model/pickup selector combination to edit, it shows some form of preset guitar. Is this preset always a default blank canvas, or is it based on what is currently in that position either from the guitar itself, or the factory default? The reason I am asking is that my 500 has a couple of models that are different than the stated defaults and I am wondering how to get the settings back to the factory defaults without having to flash the guitar. I have been reading though the forums and have seen a few threads about failures when updating. I don't want this to happen to me obviously, so I was thinking I may be able to just tweak the few I need to. One of the ones that needs changing is the Sitar as it is not on my guitar, it sounds like it is another copy of the Danelectro. So if I launch Workbench and select the correct position, will the Workbench UI show the settings for the Sitar, the duplicate Danelectro, or a default blank patch? If it is not the Sitar, then my secondary question is to ask if anyone can post screengrabs of the settings for the Sitar so I can manually set it without flashing the guitar? Does that make sense at all? I feel like I am rambling and not clear. TIA Colin
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Hi All, I have just purchased a used Variax 500 and none of the extras came with it. I have done a quick bit of research and found out that I need the original Workbench software, not the HD version. I tracked that down OK in the downloads. I have an old laptop running Windows 7 so it will install OK. I also downloaded Line 6 Monkey. My question is this. Is there an alternate way to connect the Variax to my laptop other than me trying to find the USB interface online? Would a USB/Ethernet dongle also work with a standard Cat5 cable to do the same thing? So far I am loving the Variax, but the previous owner had made some changes to the stored models and I would like to be able to reset them to factory. For example the Sitar is a different guitar model, and the Spank models have been changed to be much louder than any other models. There was some confusion at the store I bought it from, as to what should have been with the guitar, as it had been sold as used online, and returned to a different store with no extras. The original store in Arizona is trying to find out what was originally with it and if it was sent out to the original online purchaser or not, so I have no idea if I will be able to get the interface etc. or not. TIA Colin PS. If you happen to recognize this guitar as potentially one you sold, I wanted to say that you really looked after your guitar, it still looks like new. :)
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I cant register my Variax 500 When I choose the sunburst model it presets ‘21MSR125’ But my documentation says 21MSR250.... So I cannot register my gear I tried some other models if I would be mistaken and nothing works So, is it another model? How can I learn more about the guitar, production date i.e How do I solve the registration issue? Christer Härdelin Sweden
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My Variax 500 stopped working the p10 jack. It only works on VDI.
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can I run the variax 500 straight to my spider III combo amp and a roland gk-3 to a boss gp-10 pedal also going into the amp? Is it possible to do this using a variax power supply pedal and not have to use batteries?
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Hi all. I've just got my son a Variax 500 off eBay for his birthday. One of the reasons for getting it was the ability to easily use altered tuning. I didn't realize it needed to be attached to a computer to do this. I understand that there's a little interface that Line 6 make but they are around £100! I could pick up a used Pod XT live for less than that. Firstly would a XT live work as an interface between the Variax 500 and a computer. Secondly can I still get a version of Workbench that will work and lastly can I get the required cables? Sorry for all the questions and thanks in advance.
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hi I have a Variax 500 and it worked well with XPS-AB until now: XLR thru PA - 1/4" trhu a Marshall Amp. Recently, if I switch XLR to PA, it works well and the 1/4" signal is mute; but when I switch to 1/4" the sound thru the amp is good, but at the same time in the XLR signal (that goes thru the PA) there is a noise and not mute. Help! Frank
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If you are interested it's black and has locking Sperzel style tuners from Guitar Fetish. Send me a private message.
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Hi All, The proud owner of a JTV 89, I recently acquired a Variax 500 as well and have decided to paint the guitar. My question is thus: How do I remove the rotary push pull guitar model selector switch? Everything else seems pretty straight forward on this guitar, but I'm not sure how to remove that switch. The knob doesn't seem to lift off like "normal" control knobs do and the knurled top of the control knob seems too solid to just unscrew, thereby allowing me to remove the labeled part of the control knob and subsequently, being able to access the jam nuts for removal of the push/pull rotary pot from the body. Any help is appreciated. I've looked high and low on this topic and can't seem to find any information on how to remove these bad boys. Thanks so much. -
I have a Variax 500. A while ago, the G string dropped out, entirely. I bought a new transducer, but before getting down to actually changing it, I checked to verify that I was still having the problem. I had been using a really raggedy CAT5 cable, but had since bought a nice, shiny new Variax cable. When I plugged it all in, everything worked fine, so I figured the power being supplied by the cable had been dodgey. But 2 weeks ago, setting up for rehearsal, the G string was intermittently gone again, and I was getting crackles (like digital overdrive) on adjacent strings, intermittently. The G string was acting a lot like it had a somewhat high–threshold noise gate on it. But, within minutes, all was fine again. At rehearsal 3 days later, I was noticing that if I played a little louder, a few of the strings were responding a lot louder. At one point, I shifted position, and the ‘chirp’ of moving along the D string was so loud, the other guitar player turned to me with a “What was that?†expression. The chirp, by itself, was about 20% louder than I had been playing. (It’s a 0.026" string.) So now I'm not using the guitar, as it is not trustworthy; but I need it... (I am using three alternate tunings for each performance.) Is this a typical symptom? Is it more likely the bridge, or the interface to the digital electronics? Is there an easy way to diagnose what it is, other than willy-nilly replacing parts, in the hope that I’ll eventually replace the problem child?
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I cannot get my pod X3 Live and variax 500 to connect to workbench to edit the variax 500 .X3L connects to monkey and gear box and is autherized but cannot autherize the Variax. When i start workbench an icon of a usb connector and a question mark appears. X3L is all up to date,I have tried two computers multiple usb ports and cat5 wires as well as a brand new VDI cable.
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Can anyone tell me that why do i keep getting this annoying DSP-overload every time i try to connect my Variax 500 to Workbench? Cables are ok, every software is up to date, and sound comes out throught the cat-cable. I use Pod X3 Pro connect my Variax to computer. I'm just afraid that my Variax might be broken or something, can anyone help me?
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Hi, First, let me apologize if this has been addressed elsewhere. I searched the forum for an answer to this question, but couldn't find one...hence this topic. Basically, I'm wondering if a variax 500 can be upgraded to a rechargeable lithium ion battery like the JTVs. I own a JTV 89, which I love. However, I also have an opportunity to purchase a like new variax 500 for a song. I'm thinking the current battery situation with these old variaxes are an issue. Therefore, I won't purchase this guitar unless I can ascertain whether or not the current battery set up can be converted to the new rechargeable lithium power source as with the JTVs. If this is feasible, please post any documentation, tips, tutorials, etc. Thanks so much!
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Hello fellow musicians, for some reason the first string of my variax 500 goes mute on me when connected. The problem happens after playing a bit. Seems to happen when I change between models. Ive opdated the flash memory through my workbench and it solved the problem for 6 months. I had the same problem again and refreshed and this time it solved the problem for 2 weeks but again it happened. Ive read about the subject in this forum and some people say its might be the piezo(really hope not since it would be a pain to get it down to Chile and Line 6 doesnt ship down here either), but since it gets solved momentarily (when I update flash memory) Im hoping it might be a software problem. Also in my country (Chile,S.america) there are no qualified repair Techs on the Variax who could solve the problem. Can you please help me! -
Hello fellow musicians, for some reason the first string of my variax 500 goes almost mute on me when connected. It sounds really low.The problem happens after playing a bit. Seems to happen when I change between models. Ive opdated the flash memory through my workbench and it solved the problem for 6 months. I had the same problem again and refreshed and this time it solved the problem for 2 weeks but again it happened. Ive read about the subject in this forum and some people say its might be the piezo(really hope not since it would be a pain to get it down to Chile and Line 6 doesnt ship down here either), but since it gets solved momentarily (when I update flash memory) Im hoping it might be a software problem. Also in my country (Chile,S.america) there are no qualified repair Techs on the Variax who could solve the problem. Can you please help me!
