Stuartpa Posted August 16, 2013 Share Posted August 16, 2013 What an update, took me a few mins to sort out getting JT recognized by Workbench HD, but that with the new updated models is like getting a super Christmas gift really early. With the quality of the JT and these new models, i am beginning to see dust forming on my Axe collection. No doubt about it, the JTV 89 USA has become my guitar of choice, I ma going to have to get the other model with the Tremolo arm as well though. :mellow: ;) :lol: :) :) :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spikey Posted August 16, 2013 Share Posted August 16, 2013 Think of it this way - everyone who has a JTV has the Workbench interface. Not everyone has a POD. Hence the priority to the Workbench interface. Oh yea I already did phil... Of course, I cant see for the life of me why you might own a digital guitar like the JTV without a digital platform (like the Pod) to play it thru... But I guess there's some out there... :P Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silverhead Posted August 16, 2013 Share Posted August 16, 2013 I would think there are actually lots out there. Anyone who prefers the sound and simplicity of analog pedals would still get a lot of value from a Variax - meaning they only have to carry one guitar instead of several. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
diggerbarnz Posted August 16, 2013 Share Posted August 16, 2013 Wow...didn't think I'd have an issue but WTF Batman....now interface flashing red on gutar side - cant download workbench in ANY manor or platform (IE firefox - chrome - just get a page not found error) & the tyler flash memory says unsucessful yet shows 2.0 Yes I KNOW to use A 1/4 PLUG.....so disheartening 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phil_m Posted August 16, 2013 Author Share Posted August 16, 2013 I actually play my Variax apart from my HD500 more than I play it with. The things that's nice about the Variax is that's it's pretty easy navigate through the different models and tunings just on the guitar itself. With the lithium ion batteries (I have two) I don't really ever have to worry about not having enough charge to get through rehearsal or gigs, so I just use much like I would any other guitar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
biofilm Posted August 16, 2013 Share Posted August 16, 2013 I'm using POD HD500 and after I upgraded my JTV to the lastest firmware I hear crackling noise everytime I switch presets; even when I'm not using POD Edit. Is this happening to anyone else? Do you know how this can be solved? I re-installed the upgrade on my guitar and also the POD drivers but the issue remains the same... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vjclaus Posted August 16, 2013 Share Posted August 16, 2013 Important: never change a winning system!!! i´ve tried the 1.9 and now the 2.0 there are no hudge difference in sound for me to change them. i personaly prefer the acoustic sounds of the 1.7, so i always go back to this version Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
diggerbarnz Posted August 16, 2013 Share Posted August 16, 2013 yup. . .no matter WHAT I cant download workbench - although this computer doesnt SUGGEST that I don't have 2.0 flash on my 59 - Technology is like animals....it poo's alot! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silverhead Posted August 16, 2013 Share Posted August 16, 2013 yup. . .no matter WHAT I cant download workbench - although this computer doesnt SUGGEST that I don't have 2.0 flash on my 59 - Technology is like animals....it poo's alot! Can you confirm that you have successfully downloaded firmware v2.0 to your JTV? If so, did you use the Variax USB/Workbench interface or did you use a Pod with VDI connection? That info may help in debugging your issue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Line6Hugo Posted August 17, 2013 Share Posted August 17, 2013 Hello all, Here are the links to the current knowledge base articles which should cover many of the questions asked here: Variax HD Firmware Update FAQ Variax Workbench HD Release Notes To install the JTV-89 Bank, here is the link to download the 89 Bank file directly: http://line6.com/getrelease?rid=5634 To load the bank, connect the JTV to the Workbench HD software, click on the Custom 1 bank to highlight the bank, then go up to the File>Open Bank option to load the bank into the Custom 1 bank. Once that is done, click on the 'Upload to Variax' button to store the changes into the JTV guitar. We will have a separate knowledge base article for uploading the 89 bank shortly. If you have issues with this update that are not resolved by re-installing the firmware following the suggestions in the documents above, you can contact support by creating a support ticket: http://line6.com/support/tickets/ Regards, Line6Hugo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
diggerbarnz Posted August 17, 2013 Share Posted August 17, 2013 Can you confirm that you have successfully downloaded firmware v2.0 to your JTV? If so, did you use the Variax USB/Workbench interface or did you use a Pod with VDI connection? That info may help in debugging your issue. not sure how I "confirm" that lol - sorry - I just somehow got the hd work becnch which shows 60 ?marks in place of models - the page 4 workbench download itself results in a 404 page not found error every time in any browser--As for method I'm using the interface 9 all green lit now w/vdi & a 1/4\ Thanks for responding....I'll have another caesar & relax :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spikey Posted August 17, 2013 Share Posted August 17, 2013 Silver, phil - Well different strokes I guess. But I can see your side, I just like um together. :) Also- Nice to see Hugo is monitoring the pages... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
diggerbarnz Posted August 17, 2013 Share Posted August 17, 2013 ok - now I know things r screwed - my spicy Caesars aren't spicey! |Still...I plugged in variax to interface & monkey says I'm missing the workbench but still results in download page the 404 not found AFTER download link - maybe it was the 2 beer What I HAVE now is worknench HD - VAriax workbench is "yellow cautioned" - tomorrow hopefully will grace me time to play w/things Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guitar4u Posted August 17, 2013 Share Posted August 17, 2013 Can anyone comment on whether or not new models are in the works (modern guitars, SG, etc.) or is this going to be it, for a while? Seems like a wasted opportunity NOT to create new models, right? Soooo many possibilities! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silverhead Posted August 17, 2013 Share Posted August 17, 2013 Silver, phil - Well different strokes I guess. But I can see your side, I just like um together. :) Also- Nice to see Hugo is monitoring the pages... Oh, I like them together too. In fact I have almost never used a Variax without a Pod. But if I didn't like digital amp/FX modelers I would still like and use the Variax. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spikey Posted August 17, 2013 Share Posted August 17, 2013 in retrospect I wouldn't have even considered the JTV without a pod to hook it to. Under my rock we play two kinds of music here, country AND western.... :P Fact is the pod gave me another excuse to buy another guitar. Im glad it worked out that way hehehe... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
McLenison Posted August 17, 2013 Share Posted August 17, 2013 If you move the volume to 0 it will go to sleep after a few minutes. RTFM ;-) I took your advice, but there is no sleep mode for the JTV-89 with this update. Battery is now dead. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guitar4u Posted August 17, 2013 Share Posted August 17, 2013 I took your advice, but there is no sleep mode for the JTV-89 with this update. Battery is now dead. In my experience, this feature has never worked, as advertised. Turning it down to 0 will preserve the battery life (only) a little bit longer; I get much better results by just unplugging it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lindsayward Posted August 17, 2013 Share Posted August 17, 2013 You can easily put a humbucker on either of the jazzbox bodies in Workbench. That's actually quite obvious, but had escaped me until you suggested it and guitar4u pointed out the pickup difference.Good idea. Which humbucker should it be? There's semi and mini, neck and bridge... is it mini neck? I have to agree, on this one. The new jazz models (both now have P-90s instead of the earlier humbucker model) have less vibe, a more generic sound, and the 400 lacks that smokey, woody, tone. Hmm, too bad. :unsure: ... Where are people getting info on the new models (like this one having P-90s)? Is it from looking at them in workbench, or is it posted somewhere? The Line 6 website still has details for the old models (e.g. "The neck pickup position of this model, like the original, has a very “deep†sound and the tone control is bypassed."). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guitar4u Posted August 17, 2013 Share Posted August 17, 2013 The only place I've been getting information on the new models is within workbench HD itself Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spikey Posted August 17, 2013 Share Posted August 17, 2013 Probably the positions I use most on my Variax, honestly, and I love 'em. Sounds much more authentic to my ears now than before. I have five other Strats currently, and I've done A/B comparisons - pretty darn close now. agreed. My JTV sounded muddy on 2&4 before. After the patch I couldn't help but like it. Sounds like a strat to my ears now and I didn't want to stop playin thru my fender blackface pod patch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChristianArnold Posted August 17, 2013 Share Posted August 17, 2013 I am almost done editing my video on the comparison between the Variax and Variax HD models. Just a side note, I did not compare EVERY model on the guitar. That would've taken forever. BUt the video should be up tomorrow! Keep your eyes peeled. I'm loving this update! Can't wait to play more with it tomorrow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wolbai Posted August 17, 2013 Share Posted August 17, 2013 SERIOUS PROBLEM ENCOUNTERED: ------------------------------------------------ Since I have uploaded the new FW, my battery is DEAD on my JTV89F. I initially assumed that this was due to the very low battery level. So I recharged it over night. I did this with my other JTVs also. The other JTVs where I have also installed the new FW shows green lights with the new battery load. The JTV89F does nothing. Connecting to the USB-interface shipped with the JTV and the 1/4" inch cable / VDI cable connected, I cannot connect to workbench HD to upload the OLD 89 PU-models to my JTV89F back again. The light is red on VARIAX-IN. Any thoughts? EDIT: I have opened a support ticket for that issue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boblaw Posted August 17, 2013 Share Posted August 17, 2013 Yum! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wanabee Posted August 17, 2013 Share Posted August 17, 2013 I took your advice, but there is no sleep mode for the JTV-89 with this update. Battery is now dead.Sorry that i gave bad advice. There used to be a power save mode though. This is from the flash update instruction in the old forum:"On a James Tyler Variax guitar, ensure that the Volume knob on the guitar is NOT set to the '0' position as it will put the guitar into Power Save Mode. Make sure that the Volume knob is set higher than 0 when updating or editing the JTV guitar." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tscoolberth Posted August 17, 2013 Share Posted August 17, 2013 Where are people posting their concoctions as far as custom presets ? Is there something going on somewhere else. I just made a strat on steroids. Previously I downloaded a gibby SG and some PRSs .. now I can't remember where the heack that was happening. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arislaf Posted August 17, 2013 Share Posted August 17, 2013 OMG... I am ordering a JTV today!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
azur1964 Posted August 17, 2013 Share Posted August 17, 2013 I'm using POD HD500 and after I upgraded my JTV to the lastest firmware I hear crackling noise everytime I switch presets; even when I'm not using POD Edit. Is this happening to anyone else? Do you know how this can be solved? I re-installed the upgrade on my guitar and also the POD drivers but the issue remains the same... I also had this problem to. AND even during the update, there was a noise like switching relays .... I expected a lot from this update in particular sounds telecaster. I went back to version 1.9. I'll wait a little more complete version. greetings 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wolbai Posted August 17, 2013 Share Posted August 17, 2013 Quick feedback from some testing in the rehearsal room today on guitar models I am using (not very detailed and A/B-like honestly): ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - the Strat-models are VERY different. They seem not to break up that early to distortion as the old models. They have more brightness to me. The position 2 sounds better to me in the old version. I honestly cannot say up to now that this model is an enhancement to my ears. At least I have to invest considerable tweaking time on my presets. I cannot just use this model with the existing presets. Not really sure the strings are ringing in the same way. High E and B string is seems to have lower volume than the other strings. - The ES335 position 1 sounds very thin to me now. It does not break up / distort as the former version. The other positions sounds more ES335 like now. But again: postion1 needs tweaking of my presets. I cannot use this model instantly. - The Les Paul-model are an improvement in my opinion. Instantly good. No tweaking. Great. - The Teles are different and more to a real Tele. As with the Strat model, I am not sure whether the strings are ringing on the same level. - The Chime 12-strings are improved; sounds way better to me than before. - I haven't checked the Acoustics so far. All-in-all: I need to make more tests to decide whether to go for the FW 2.0 or not. For now I stick to version 1.9. Honestly speaking it is not a no-brainer to me. But ears are different as always ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
McLenison Posted August 17, 2013 Share Posted August 17, 2013 Sorry that i gave bad advice. There used to be a power save mode though. This is from the flash update instruction in the old forum: "On a James Tyler Variax guitar, ensure that the Volume knob on the guitar is NOT set to the '0' position as it will put the guitar into Power Save Mode. Make sure that the Volume knob is set higher than 0 when updating or editing the JTV guitar." Why they didn't include a sleep mode or kill switch for the JTV-89 baffles me since this functionality is standard on the other James Tyler guitars. Hopefully we'll see another update with this feature. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arislaf Posted August 17, 2013 Share Posted August 17, 2013 Just a moment...If the JTV 69S is similar with the stratocaster, the 59 with the les paul, the 89 is with witch one? The pickups 89 are there but whitvh body to use? And the pickup of the 69 the humbucker witch one is the modeled one? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phil_m Posted August 17, 2013 Author Share Posted August 17, 2013 And the pickup of the 69 the humbucker witch one is the modeled one? They didn't model the 59 or 69 pickups, just the 89. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guitar4u Posted August 17, 2013 Share Posted August 17, 2013 I am almost done editing my video on the comparison between the Variax and Variax HD models. Just a side note, I did not compare EVERY model on the guitar. That would've taken forever. BUt the video should be up tomorrow! Keep your eyes peeled. I'm loving this update! Can't wait to play more with it tomorrow. Awesome, thank you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LarryLion Posted August 17, 2013 Share Posted August 17, 2013 I managed to get decent Spank sounds in 2 & 4 by blending in some mag pickups on my JTV-69 via WB. Not sure if that will work for a JTV-59 or -89, but the -69 mags are somewhat strat-like to start with. Try the "blend" feature in WB. It has a lot of potential to modify the stock HD models. The stock Spank models (especially positions 2 & 4) are not as good as the old models, but the blending can mostly overcome that! Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wolbai Posted August 17, 2013 Share Posted August 17, 2013 Hi LarryLion, thanks for the tip. Will give this a try. For the moment the start model is worse compared to the older one to me. But why should I now try to: - tweak the string volume on the high E and B-string on the strat model (they are noticeable lower volume than the others) - blend magnetic Pus with modeled just to get the old FW 1.9 sound ??? Or just to give the new WB HD its real justification ??? I need more time to test and A/B the new FW to go for it ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spikey Posted August 17, 2013 Share Posted August 17, 2013 The stock Spank models (especially positions 2 & 4) are not as good as the old models, but the blending can mostly overcome that! Cheers Well different strokes. I actually LIKE the newer spank models better. Less mud to these old ears... Of course the Pod patch we run it thru can make alot of difference too. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fremen Posted August 17, 2013 Share Posted August 17, 2013 (edited) Not a fan of Spank 2 and 4 either, not enough "Knopfler like" to my taste I kept the pickups and changed the body. Not an authentic Strat anymore, but I prefer that sound. I uploaded a quick demo here, with stock and custom models, and custom tunings : Edited August 17, 2013 by fremen 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jefflynyrd Posted August 17, 2013 Share Posted August 17, 2013 jeez this is weird... yesterday everything worked spectacularly... This morning tho, after reading the advanced editor functions, I figured that I was ready to dive deep into the WB editor functions (changing resistor and caps). Well, after double checking w the monkey to make sure I was on V2, I started WB and I can not change the strings tunings. And it (WB) doesn't recognisize (: any of the alternate tuning that are already in my variax... Anyone have this issue? Thanks. p.s. I love my JTV59 and while I know its not perfect, I think there is NOTHING that even comes close to the versatility AND downright QUALITY of this guitar! I've been playing for 40 years and I have an American deluxe strat that while the tones are great and the build quality is as well, my JTV59 is better. Not just b/c all the different guitars built in, but the quality of workmanship is... well... BETTER. p.p.s. Some ppl are gonna bit@h if you hang 'em with a new rope! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Junis Posted August 17, 2013 Share Posted August 17, 2013 I wonder if it would be possible, technologically speaking, line 6 give us the option of having the firmware we want, for example, join a model of a firmware with another, because it was really, really cool company would give us this option . I would love to have again strat of past firmware Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Junis Posted August 17, 2013 Share Posted August 17, 2013 Nice acustics , can you share the patch of 1 acústic? Thanks U Not a fan of Spank 2 and 4 either, not enough "Knopfler like" to my taste I kept the pickups and changed the body. Not an authentic Strat anymore, but I prefer that sound. I uploaded a quick demo here, with stock and custom models, and custom tunings : Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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