AeroUSA Posted April 29, 2016 Share Posted April 29, 2016 Just got mine! It looks to be brand new and all working well. Neck seemed cheap at first but now I quite like it. The Mags sound good too. My only problem is that obviously different modeled pickups Cary in volume when I'm creating a custom patch. Is the only way to fix that to go into the workbench app and adjust the levels of the pickups? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HonestOpinion Posted April 29, 2016 Share Posted April 29, 2016 No, you're not imagining it...that's precisely what I had said earlier. The nut is as narrow as it gets. You'd have a hard time trying to find one narrower. Damn, was really hoping that was my imagination or the power of suggestion from reading others' including your post. Went to band practice yesterday with the Variax and did not seem to present any problems but time will tell as I spend more time and cover more tunes on the Variax. Regardless, I have not broken out a ruler yet and can't offer any empirical data but from all appearances the neck is definitely not an ideal design, however, I think I can live with it or if it is enough of an issue, replace it. The capabilities the Variax offers right now are outweighing any issues I have with the neck but future models can definitely do better. Looking forward to a True Temperment Variax model with a superior neck design. That is some intriguing technology :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AeroUSA Posted April 29, 2016 Share Posted April 29, 2016 Can you talk about how you have the Variax set and how you are using it. My initial feeing is that it does a lot of things well but my PRS P22 does a few things much better... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruisinon2 Posted April 29, 2016 Share Posted April 29, 2016 Can you talk about how you have the Variax set and how you are using it. My initial feeing is that it does a lot of things well but my PRS P22 does a few things much better... It's not really a worthwhile comparison. They're each a different tool, not designed to do what the other one does....the P22 may have piezos, but it's not a modeler. It might give you some great acoustic tones, but it's not designed to impersonate a LP, Tele, Strat, dobro, or banjo. I've got a jet-ski, and a 12 gauge shotgun. Both useful items, but hardly interchangeable...;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HonestOpinion Posted April 29, 2016 Share Posted April 29, 2016 Can you talk about how you have the Variax set and how you are using it. My initial feeing is that it does a lot of things well but my PRS P22 does a few things much better... Having just received it I have only started to dive in. Not sure exactly what info you are looking for but here's a quick look at how I am using it. I have it plugged into the Helix which is powering it with just a VDI cable, I don't even have the battery in the Variax. I have not upgraded the firmware yet although I will do that in short order. I tend to use my PRS with humbuckers as my primary guitar so I intentionally got the "Strat" version of the Variax to have single coil mags available when I switch off. I have to admit though I was really enjoying moving through the Variax models though and barely used the mags. I use the Variax alternate tunings for songs that require them. I set up and named one of my Helix setlists "Variax", copied over a bunch of my existing presets, and have configured them there so the input block is set to "Variax" (in short order thanks to the Helix Editor). You can also set the input block for "Multi" but I prefer it to be specific to the guitar being used in my setup configuration. There is also a "Variax Mags" input setting on the Helix but I am using the VDI connection and don't appear to need it at the moment. I am starting to fiddle with controlling the Helix parameters from the Variax tone/volume controls but don't have anything significant set up there yet. I think you will really enjoy yours but it looks like the first order of business will be to get a proper ethercon (VDI) cable, luckily I already had one. I suppose you can CAREFULLY use the one provided that is intended for the USB adaptor until you get a proper cable. You would not want the supplied cable to break off during a jam. There are probably some other more experienced Variax/Helix users on the forum who could shed much more light on best practices. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HonestOpinion Posted April 29, 2016 Share Posted April 29, 2016 Question for you more experienced Helix/Variax users. Is there a way to use the modeling (piezo) and magnetic pickups at the same time? I read somewhere that it is not advisable to plug in the 1/4 and VDI outputs simultaneously. Is the "Variax Magnetics" input block setting solely intended for when you are going to use a 1/4 guitar cable from the Variax and only use the magnetics output? Not quite sure of the intended utility of these two Helix input settings for the Variax. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HonestOpinion Posted April 29, 2016 Share Posted April 29, 2016 Chuckle, I am silently cursing those who called the JTV neck a "baseball bat". Now, despite the fact that I find the neck ok if not fantastic I can't look at it without seeing a half of a "Lousville Slugger" that has been shaped, sanded down and finished. The maple neck and its grain has a disturbing similarity to the aforementioned sporting equipment. My perception may now be permanently warped for any maple neck, much as I love 'em. Composing a neo-classical version of "Take Me Out To The Ballgame, Etude For Variax" as we speak. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amsdenj Posted April 29, 2016 Share Posted April 29, 2016 Question for you more experienced Helix/Variax users. Is there a way to use the modeling (piezo) and magnetic pickups at the same time? I read somewhere that it is not advisable to use the 1/4 and VDI outputs simultaneously. Is the "Variax Magnetics" input block setting solely intended for when you are going to use a 1/4 guitar cable from the Variax and only use the magnetics output? Not quite sure of the intended utility of these two Helix input settings for the Variax. There wouldn't be much need to use the 1/4" and VDI outputs at the same time in something like Helix or HD500X as the VDI cable can carry the analog and digital tones. The 1/4" would be redundant in this case. Note that using Workbench HD you can also blend the magnetic and modeling tones. Use this to add a little sparkle to the model tones. the 1/4" variax output can be just the magnetic pickups if there's no battery in the guitar. This is a great feature because it means if the battery goes dead, the guitar still works like a regular electric guitar. When the battery is in and charged, you can press the modeling button and use the models from the 1/4" output. The digital to analog converters are in the guitar in this case. This is a very flexible design and could work quite well. Unfortunately my Variax Standard will not power up the models through the 1/4" jack. Have to send it back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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