Model differences between Variax, JTV and Standard?

[mgroves]

HI,

 

Considering picking up a Variax, but haven't been able to find a good list of the software/DSP differences between the original Variax line, the JTV's and the Standard? Do they have different models? Are there differences in the Workbench support? Or is the variation all in the hardware and build quality?

 

Cheers

Malcolm

[phil_m]

The modeling was updated from the original Variax line to the JTV line, but prior to the 2.0 update (1.7 for the acoustic models), the models on the JTV were based on the same guitars as the original Variax. A few years ago, Line 6 released the HD update for the JTV line with the 2.0 firmware. This was all new modeling and with that came a new version of Workbench - Workbench HD. The Variax Standard comes with the HD firmware installed, so from a software perspective, the Standard is the same as the JTV.

[mgroves]

Thanks Phil, that's exactly what I needed.

 

Cheers

Malcolm

[janwvdk]

Hi,

 

I have a related question.

 

I own a Variax 700 and recently I purchased a Variax Standard.

I like some of the models from the Variax 700 better.

Is it possible to put models from the Variax 700 on the Variax Standard (by using Workbench)?

Are they compatible?

 

Cheers,

Jan Willem

[TheRealZap]

No.

you cannot even use the old firmware on the standards.

(taking all the old models...)

new models only....

 

Hi,

 

I have a related question.

 

I own a Variax 700 and recently I purchased a Variax Standard.

I like some of the models from the Variax 700 better.

Is it possible to put models from the Variax 700 on the Variax Standard (by using Workbench)?

Are they compatible?

 

Cheers,

Jan Willem

[janwvdk]

Thanks a lot for your fast reaction!

 

I just found out what out what the real problem was: 

 

The tone pot was not on 10, so all the models sounded to dark :-)

 

I was a bit too fast to put this question on the forum.

 

Cheers,

Jan Willem

[FlexToneHD]

Hi Gents,

 

Without wishing to hijack the this thread, where do the model 600's fit into all this?

 

I really like the vintage white models with the maple necks and maple boards but what software are they limited to and how good are they compared to current models?

 

Please advise me because i am really thinking about buying one or two of them and mating it with a Firehawk 1500 after income tax next year and in a few months buying a 2x12 Flextone III combo. I have a 1X12 combo right now and I love it.

 

Any advise appreciated.

 

Best regards,

 

FlexToneHD

[amsdenj]

I believe only the JVT and Variax Standard guitars can be updated to the new HD guitar models, and use Workbench HD. That's not to say the older Variax guitars aren't sill useful and reasonable instruments. Some of the old models sound quite a bit different than the newer HD models. They're both useful, and it's a matter of taste which one you might like better in different situations, just like any other guitar or amp. I'd suggest that if you like the way a guitar plays, feels, and sounds, don't worry to much about not being able to update the models.

[ColonelForbin]

A side note to all that; for some reason Sweetwater has a bunch of 'newly arrived' 'dent and scratch' variax standards for around $650/ea.

The 'dent and scratch' thing has me hesitant, but curious to ask my sales rep what's up!

 

four sunburst:

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/VaxSTVSDnS

 

four black:

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/VaxSTBlkDnS

 

one white:

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/VaxSTWHDnS

[psarkissian]

You could go through Models Gallery in the Online Pilot's Handbooks

and compare the models.

 

Legacy models are not loadable to JTV or Standard, and vice versa.

In JTV (and Standard), v2.00 and after is "HD", so using Workbench has

to be the "HD' version.

 

JTV and and Standard are not cross compatible, contrary to other postings.

The switch configurations and Alt Tune layouts are different.

 

There may be the same Models across the JTV body types, but each body

type has its own individual switch configuration and Alt Tune selection. So

except for the Models themselves, the JTV body types do not have cross

compatible programs. 

[DarrellM5]

A side note to all that; for some reason Sweetwater has a bunch of 'newly arrived' 'dent and scratch' variax standards for around $650/ea.

The 'dent and scratch' thing has me hesitant, but curious to ask my sales rep what's up!

 

four sunburst:

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/VaxSTVSDnS

 

four black:

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/VaxSTBlkDnS

 

one white:

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/VaxSTWHDnS

 

The gallery is very useful for making sure you get one that looks good.  I've purchased a couple of 'dent and scratch' guitars from Sweetwater.  I never did figure out what they thought the flaws were but I can't find anything wrong with either of them.

[ColonelForbin]

The gallery is very useful for making sure you get one that looks good.  I've purchased a couple of 'dent and scratch' guitars from Sweetwater.  I never did figure out what they thought the flaws were but I can't find anything wrong with either of them.

 

Exactly! Those 'dent and scratch' photos all look flawless..

By comparison, this one is $70 more ($720), and looks like it took serious abuse in multiple locations!

 

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/VariaxStdBurstd2

[stevecu]

I realize this is a very old thread, but since nobody seems to have actually answered the original poster’s question, I’ll add my 2 cents.

 

I own a Variax 600, and am waiting for a recently ordered JTV-69s. I’ve been reviewing the the Pilot’s Handbook / Pilot’s Guide as well as the Workbench HD Pilot’s Guide to understand the differences. They are more significant than I realized. There are some Guitar Body and pickup deletions and additions, as well as some streamlining of the 5 position switch.

 

1. In the T-Model position - The the Thinline tele is gone (it’s also gone from Workbench HD). The selector switch now makes sense -  positions 1-3-5 are now; bridge, both, neck, and positions 2-4 are Widerange Humbuckers (which I don’t think existed in the old Workbench).
2. In the Lester position - The 58 LP Standard on 1-3-5 is now a 59 and the Goldtop and Custom on 2-4 have been replaced  with P90s for the 59 Standard.
3. In the Special position - The Jr. is gone and the selector switch now makes sense - 1-3-5 are bridge, both, and neck on the 55 LP Special, and 2-4 are the 76 Firebird.
4. In the R-Billy position - The 56 Silver Jet has been replaced with a 59 Duo Jet. I think the only difference is color so …?
5. In the Chime position - The 68 Rickenbacker 360 and 66 360-12 have been replace with 66 370 and 370-12. The selector switch still kind of makes sense with 1-3-5 as bridge, both, neck for the 370 and 2-4 for the 12 string. Without going into Workbench the new middle pickup is not selectable, so … weird choice to change models.
6. In the Semi position - The 67 Casino has been replaced with a 64 (different P90s, I think).
7. In the Jazzbox position - the 57 ES-175 (with Humbuckers) has been replaced with a 54 with P90s.   

These are the things that stood out to me. Maybe some have changed with updates.