Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility Jump to content

What to check when it arrives?


Recommended Posts

Just ordered me a JTV-89F in black from Sweetwater. I'm a long time Variax 500 user so I'm familar with the toolset. But based on your experience what do I need to check for when it arrives? This one is a demo so I know it will have some scratches etc....  Also seem a lot of people Checking for "plinkly" noise on the low E?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Well for a demo, blood stains and weird smells would be the first things I'd look for...who knows where it's been, and how many of The Great Unwashed have had their mitts on it? ;)

 

On the 89's, I've seen more complaints about the "plinky" low E string than anything else

Link to comment
Share on other sites

It should be pretty good since you bought it from Sweetwater. I've bought 2 from them and they arrived with perfect setups and we're almost in tune right out of the box.

 

I always check:

 

- signs of damage...paint, cracks (especially where the neck joins the body, bent hardware

- loose knobs, tuners, pickups, etc...

- sharp fret edges or uneven frets

- Missing accessories or documentation

- Test the electronics and the mag pickups in every setting

- String buzz while playing every note on each string

- Saddle groove spacing and depth of the cuts

- Neck bow

- String height

- Intonation

  • Upvote 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

E string plinkage. Make sure the E string sounds consistent with the other strings and doesn't have a harsher plinky sounding attack when palm muting or playing normally.

 

Make sure the modelling actually works as well of course. Pretty much all of Darrel's points.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The low E string "plink" sound is much, much improved on the JTV compared to the original Variax. I have a JTV-69. I think I still hear a tiny bit of plink, but even on the magnetic pickups and on my non-Variax guitars, there's a touch of the sound in there too - since it's there unplugged/acoustically on any guitar, if you listen for it.

 

It's something to do with "inharmonicity" and string thickness vs. length; piano tuners deal with this kind of thing a lot. Magnetic pickups minimize that sound and piezos pick it up clearly, but in the JTV, they've filtered out most of it from the models.

 

It's a big enough difference where on the original Variax, it bugged me (though I kept using it in spite of the plink); while on the JTV, it's just a tiny hint of something that I barely notice and doesn't bother me.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The low E string "plink" sound is much, much improved on the JTV compared to the original Variax. I have a JTV-69. I think I still hear a tiny bit of plink, but even on the magnetic pickups and on my non-Variax guitars, there's a touch of the sound in there too - since it's there unplugged/acoustically on any guitar, if you listen for it.

 

It's something to do with "inharmonicity" and string thickness vs. length; piano tuners deal with this kind of thing a lot. Magnetic pickups minimize that sound and piezos pick it up clearly, but in the JTV, they've filtered out most of it from the models.

 

It's a big enough difference where on the original Variax, it bugged me (though I kept using it in spite of the plink); while on the JTV, it's just a tiny hint of something that I barely notice and doesn't bother me.

 

I don't think it's just that, as many of us have had a Variax without the plink issue. 

 

I'm sure that the E string is more prone to getting this problem because of it's gauge, but obviously if this was normal, Line 6 would of worked around this in the first place in the modeling engine. 

 

If you have plinking in your Variax, you HAVE a problem. 

 

My first Variax had 0 plinking, NONE. It sounded like heaven. 

 

Obviously they need to hunt down what causes this and stop it from being such a common problem. 

I'm 99% sure it has to do with the piezo sensitivity, and they need to make their piezos more consistent.

  • Upvote 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

It arrived just a couple hours ago. What a beast these things are. Love the neck profile.  Everything checked out and except for the fact the box was resealed you would have never knew this was a demo. No plink to speak of.  I know why people compalin about the tunings thought. With Distortion it's fine but some of those setting where it a more than a tone to semi-tone of the real tuning without distortion the ghost notes are real obvious.  Nothing really differnet than old variaxs in that aspect. The Mags are really nice though, and some of the models seems better too. Haven't had the time to check the flash level and download update/workbench for it yet.  That will be later tonight.

 

And dang yea Sweetwater, I took the guitar outta the box and played it and it was actually very close to in tune. I'm gonna get it my guy to do a setup when my Backstop for it comes later this week. But the setup Sweetwater had on it isn't bad a all. No buzz but I think the neck might need a small adjustment to better string height.

11069489_966846196668029_876719773704025

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yep it was all up to date. And I'm falling in love with this thing more everyday. The string spacing (quite wide compared to my 500 and other guitars) and neck were just made for my hands. Oddly enough I find I'm favoring the Mag way more than I thought I would.

  • Upvote 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

No awkward sounds with the modeling? You should check, I believe, custom 2 bank with the magnetics. The high gain models on the 89 are literally modeled after the pickups on the guitar, so referencing between that and the magnetics would be good.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

No awkward sounds with the modeling? You should check, I believe, custom 2 bank with the magnetics. The high gain models on the 89 are literally modeled after the pickups on the guitar, so referencing between that and the magnetics would be good.

 

Okay finally got around to this. According to what I could find I could not find any high gain models other than the mags, althought I could very well be wrong on that I will try again soon.  However; I did a comparison as best I could. The model sounds thinner than the mags and less output. Now I haven't played with work bench much to attempt adjust for that.

 

But I installed  new strings this morning and installed a Backbox after testing Friday and setup the tuning for Eb (what my band always plays in).  I was just playing around this afternoon when I noticed the "D" string is a bit plinky, but only in on the Semi and only when paired with certian amps. For me that isn't a big deal, I will avoid those.  Maybe it's the string of the setup since tuning half flat on Floyd changes quite a lot of stuff. I got the bridge right and I plan on taking to my luither friend for setup after next weekend (I have show I would like to use this guitar on). Maybe the Variax side is sensitive to some strings? Also I know the Variax don't like to be out of standard tuning, my old 500 would bark at that sometimes too.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I might have figured out what I heard this morning on mine. After rehersing with the guitar, I noted it the G string was a bit loud on the LP patch.  Then I also noted key positions on the E string, didn't sound good. Those position I was getting a bit of fret rattle. Not enough to hear via the mags, but I think that is what is coming over the other strings, espcially since I was sure it didn't have it when I first got the guitar.  But I changed the string and tuning, the setup is quite different now. I'll have to get out to my luither to reset the neck, etc.. for the 1/2 flat tuning.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

 Share

×
×
  • Create New...