Palico Posted January 9, 2015 Share Posted January 9, 2015 Right now I have a old Variax 500 which I really love. It's one of the first ones and plays and sounds really good. I also have HD500x and DT25 combo. When I upgraded to the HD500x and DT25 that was a good bit better sound quality improvment to me. I was using a X3 and Atomic previously. Lately been thinking about if I should go ahead and get the JTV. I've heard a lot of clips etc.. using it and played one at GC a while back, althought I didn't plug it in. I get that the guitar itself is much better build and the mag pickups do add extra layer of capability. But I'm wondering if the modelling is better or is the same modelling in a better built instrument? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevekc Posted January 9, 2015 Share Posted January 9, 2015 Compared to my Variax 500, I say the JTV has around a 20% improvement in dynamic response when playing the DSP Guitar models Compared to my Variax 500, I notice a bit more "lag" on JTV when moving the 5 -way on my JTV-69 -Model change is a bit slower. and for me the HD version 1.7 era Acoustics work best - with declining results with latest JTV firmware. Today I have used them all - and not to start any arguments but in 2015 I rank DSP Guitar Modeling Technology like this ( best to worst) 1) Antares ATG-1 ( or latest internal Luthier kit) ( will be released in a month) http://www.autotuneforguitar.com/ Ipad Control app 2) Boss GP-10 ( when used with 2014 Godin LGX-SA ( with latest RMC Piezo PUs ) http://www.rolandus.com/blog/2014/03/14/gp-10-guitar-processor/ 3) 2007 Roland VG-99 4) 2011 Line6-JTV-59 Variax with HD-2.1 Firmware ( except use FW 1.7 for the best Acoustic models) 5) 2011 Roland GR-55 6) 2004 Variax 700/500/600/300 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Palico Posted January 9, 2015 Author Share Posted January 9, 2015 Follow up question. With my band we tune down 1/2 step on everything. I assume the drop tuning would just adjust down the extra 1/2 as the adjust for where the guitar is actually setup for? So if I manally tune the entire guitar 1/2 flat and then swtich DADGAD it would actually go do DbAbDbGbAbDb? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevekc Posted January 9, 2015 Share Posted January 9, 2015 So if I manually tune the entire guitar 1/2 flat and then swtich DADGAD it would actually go do DbAbDbGbAbDb? Correct! All Variax DSP Alt tuning changes are relative to the "real" pitch of your guitar strings Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColonelForbin Posted January 9, 2015 Share Posted January 9, 2015 Follow up question. With my band we tune down 1/2 step on everything. I assume the drop tuning would just adjust down the extra 1/2 as the adjust for where the guitar is actually setup for? So if I manally tune the entire guitar 1/2 flat and then swtich DADGAD it would actually go do DbAbDbGbAbDb? I have read that for the modeling / pitch tracking to work optimally, it wants the guitar itself tuned to standard pitch. Perhaps something to do with the tension of the string as it pertains to the piezo saddles? I think you can just make custom alt tuning banks if you want open Db, or any other 1/2 step down alternate tuning. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Palico Posted January 9, 2015 Author Share Posted January 9, 2015 I have read that for the modeling / pitch tracking to work optimally, it wants the guitar itself tuned to standard pitch. Perhaps something to do with the tension of the string as it pertains to the piezo saddles? I think you can just make custom alt tuning banks if you want open Db, or any other 1/2 step down alternate tuning. So it seems that works the same as the old Variax. And yea the pitch stuff on it is the same, doesn't work quite as well but it does work and I rarely need it. I think I might upgrade to an JTF 89F in the near future but I think I'll wait until after Winter NAMM to see if L6 comes out with anything new in this market then. Wish they made the 89F in another color besides Black or Red. I love Sunburst and could deal with the 69 but I want the locking tremolo. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevekc Posted January 9, 2015 Share Posted January 9, 2015 My Variax "trick for slide" ( and my main interest for DSP Alt Tuning - regardless if GR-55. VG-99 or Tyler Variax) is Tune the real guitar strings to an Open tuning - for George Harrison that would typically be Open G - And i would kick on a Compressor for Slide Solos. This allows me to play Open Tuned Slide guitar parts with much sustain - but when the Slide solo is over, I use the DSP Alt tuning to convert my Guitar's Natural String's Open G tuning back to a DSP generated "Standard EADGBe Tuning" - which allows me to play Rhythm Guitar in standard tuning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brue58ski Posted January 10, 2015 Share Posted January 10, 2015 It would be nice if they made guitars with only the piezo bridge and an output cable attached only to that. That would then go to a "black box" that had all the guitar modelling in it. Then when new Variax technology came along, I would just have to get a new box, not a whole new guitar. It could even be incorperated into any FX unit they come up with in the future. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevekc Posted January 10, 2015 Share Posted January 10, 2015 You just described what I've been doing for 20 years with a Godin 13 pin guitar and Roland VG-8, VG-88,VG-99, Boss GP-10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clay-man Posted January 10, 2015 Share Posted January 10, 2015 You just described what I've been doing for 20 years with a Godin 13 pin guitar and Roland VG-8, VG-88,VG-99, Boss GP-10 Honestly I don't know how you could say those are better. It's obvious that Line 6 is better in the tone department with it's piezo bridge and sensor techniques. It's pretty much Guitar Profiling more than modeling. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevekc Posted January 10, 2015 Share Posted January 10, 2015 I'm happy we have so many options for the source of our DSP Guitar Modeling/Profiling tools. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arislaf Posted January 11, 2015 Share Posted January 11, 2015 To the OP, if you like I can record at soundcloud a clip of the JTV and the variax 700 (with graphteck). 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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