Update jtv-59 From 1.90 to 2.33? Monkey Won't Connect Or Login?

[player99]

I have a mint JTV 59 with the 1.90 firmware, I need to get to the latest 2.33, but Monkey won't connect or even let me log in. When I go to workbench HD it won't work with the guitar because it needs 2.0 or greater firmware.

 

Any help here?

[silverhead]

Have you tried using Line 6 Central instead of Monkey?

[player99]

On 1/24/2025 at 7:39 AM, silverhead said:

Have you tried using Line 6 Central instead of Monkey?

Thanks. I think I found my issue. I bought the JTV-59 recently used and it didn't come with the interface box. I have one, but it's for the older 300 series. It would see the 59 as the guitar has the older software. But I couldn't do anything. So I searched and read I could update the driver etc. So I did that without knowing I had the wrong box. Now my computer won't see any guitars as the driver is for the newer box I think. I tried to roll it back and I can't seem to accomplish that by installing the 300 interface driver. So now I don't have the ability to use any Variax interfaces. I feel like such a chump. The JTV-59 interface is not available anywhere.

[silverhead]

On 1/24/2025 at 8:06 AM, player99 said:

…. The JTV-59 interface is not available anywhere.

Yes, they are scarce and hence valuable as a resale item on their own. They do come with the guitar when originally purchased. but it seems some people try to sell just the guitar, keeping the box for another sale. I would contact the seller and try to shame him into giving you the box that should have been included in the sale.

[player99]

On 1/24/2025 at 8:11 AM, silverhead said:

Yes, they are scarce and hence valuable as a resale item on their own. They do come with the guitar when originally purchased. but it seems some people try to sell just the guitar, keeping the box for another sale. I would contact the seller and try to shame him into giving you the box that should have been included in the sale.

I tried before he sold it to me... it's gone...

[psarkissian]

Check the Downloads page on the Line 6 site and see what the computer OS compatibility is for Monkey.

 

[player99]

On 1/24/2025 at 10:50 AM, psarkissian said:

Check the Downloads page on the Line 6 site and see what the computer OS compatibility is for Monkey.

 

I need the new interface. The guitar didn't come with one. Monkey works but L6 had a server issue that made you stop supporting monkey. But there is a way to do it manually from a file, which I did. I have the older interface though. It is not comparable with the Workbench HD or lets me take the JTV's firmware over 2.0. I need one of the interface boxes.

 

I would like to know how to roll back the interface driver. I updated it on my computer thinking that would help. But what it did is make my interface not work at all. Since I don't have the new interface and I still have an old 300 Variax, I would like the ability to at least run that. The old interface also saw my JTV. So it would probably work in the regular workbench until I figure out how to get an interface.

 

So how do I roll back the interface driver?

[player99]

What pedal or device will give me access to Monkey to update the Variax JTV and then also allow me to use Workbench HD? Preferably the oldest and cheapest...

[hurghanico]

There is a workaround to make Monkey app still working (hope it's still valid)..

 

---> Line 6 Monkey Pending Retirement

 

Text of the linked above post by Line6Tony copied and pasted here:

 

Line6ers,

 

We've come to the point where Line 6 Monkey will no longer be available. There's a server issue that has rendered it unusable. Additionally, making it work for products that we no longer make or support is no longer feasible. Until we completely remove Monkey from our Downloads page in January 2025, we have a workaround that will allow you to use Monkey:

 

1. Download and install Line 6 Monkey (Windows) from line6.com/software.
2. Download the firmware you want to install from line6.com/software.
3. Download your device's drivers from line6.com/software and install them.
4. Launch Monkey.
5. Click on the Monkey icon in the upper left and select "Diagnostics…".
6. Click OK to the window that opens.
7. In the Explorer window that appears (C:\Users\yourname\AppData\Roaming\Line 6\Line 6 Monkey), remove any .cfg file that may be present.
8. Copy the attached "default.cfg" file into the above location.
9. Quit Monkey then relaunch Monkey. You'll know this change worked if you can see a full list of devices to update.

 

You should now be able to connect your device to Monkey and perform an “offline” firmware installation. When you click on "Firmware", then the "Update Selection" button, point Monkey to the location on your computer where you downloaded your device's firmware, such as your Downloads folder or your Desktop. If you run into trouble, you can always reach our support team at www.Line6.com/company/contact.

 

We expect the workaround to work on macOS 10.14 and earlier, since that was the last one to support 32-bit apps such as Monkey.

"Diagnostics" is in the Line 6 Monkey menu.

 

default.cfg

 

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

All about POD HD500/X

help and useful tips

 

 

[player99]

On 1/25/2025 at 7:18 AM, hurghanico said:

There is a workaround to make Monkey app still working (hope it's still valid)..

 

---> Line 6 Monkey Pending Retirement

 

Text of the linked above post by Line6Tony copied and pasted here:

 

Line6ers,

 

We've come to the point where Line 6 Monkey will no longer be available. There's a server issue that has rendered it unusable. Additionally, making it work for products that we no longer make or support is no longer feasible. Until we completely remove Monkey from our Downloads page in January 2025, we have a workaround that will allow you to use Monkey:

 

1. Download and install Line 6 Monkey (Windows) from line6.com/software.
2. Download the firmware you want to install from line6.com/software.
3. Download your device's drivers from line6.com/software and install them.
4. Launch Monkey.
5. Click on the Monkey icon in the upper left and select "Diagnostics…".
6. Click OK to the window that opens.
7. In the Explorer window that appears (C:\Users\yourname\AppData\Roaming\Line 6\Line 6 Monkey), remove any .cfg file that may be present.
8. Copy the attached "default.cfg" file into the above location.
9. Quit Monkey then relaunch Monkey. You'll know this change worked if you can see a full list of devices to update.

 

You should now be able to connect your device to Monkey and perform an “offline” firmware installation. When you click on "Firmware", then the "Update Selection" button, point Monkey to the location on your computer where you downloaded your device's firmware, such as your Downloads folder or your Desktop. If you run into trouble, you can always reach our support team at www.Line6.com/company/contact.

 

We expect the workaround to work on macOS 10.14 and earlier, since that was the last one to support 32-bit apps such as Monkey.

"Diagnostics" is in the Line 6 Monkey menu.

 

default.cfg 1.08 MB · 1,224 downloads

 

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

All about POD HD500/X

 

help and useful tips

 

 

Thanks I did that. But without the JTV USB interface it won't work on Variax guitars with less than 2.0 firmware. Mine is at 1.93. So I updated the interface firmware and now I can't use the old interface. It used to see the JTV but now Monkey only sees the interface.

[hurghanico]

Maybe you can find someone to lend you a POD HD500X to use as an interface between your computer and Variax to update the JTV's firmware..

 

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

All about POD HD500/X

help and useful tips

[player99]

On 1/25/2025 at 12:12 PM, hurghanico said:

Maybe you can find someone to lend you a POD HD500X to use as an interface between your computer and Variax to update the JTV's firmware..

 

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

All about POD HD500/X

 

help and useful tips

What pedals will work to connect to monkey and Workbench HD other than the POD HD500X?

[hurghanico]

On 1/25/2025 at 11:27 PM, player99 said:

What pedals will work to connect to monkey and Workbench HD other than the POD HD500X?

 

...only to Workbench HD: Helix LT, Helix Floor and Helix Rack

 

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

All about POD HD500/X

help and useful tips

[player99]

On 1/25/2025 at 6:00 PM, hurghanico said:

 

...only to Workbench HD: Helix LT, Helix Floor and Helix Rack

 

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

All about POD HD500/X

help and useful tips

So the POD HD500X won't do the Workbench HD?

[player99]

Did anyone reverse engineer the interface for a DIY hack to interface with Workbench and Monkey?

 

[hurghanico]

On 1/26/2025 at 4:37 AM, player99 said:

So the POD HD500X won't do the Workbench HD?

 

Previously you asked which pedals can connect to Monkey and Workbench HD other than the POD HD500X and I gave you an answer with the list of those that only connect to the Workbench HD (but not to the Monkey), the POD HD500X connects to both the Monkey (via the workaround described above) and the Workbench HD.

 

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

All about POD HD500/X

help and useful tips

[player99]

So here is the summary and conclusion.

 

I had a Variax 300 and the old interface that was also same exact interface for the JTV-59 when mine was sold. The software on the Variax JTV-59 was designed to run on the same version of Workbench (not Workbench HD). When I plugged the JTV-59 into the USB connector Monkey saw the Connector and the JTV-59. Line 6 instructions were to immediately update the guitar to the newest version before doing anything else. But mine wouldn't. I followed instructions to  Monkey was telling me to update my computer firmware. I did update the firmware and my USB connector and basically my computer were bricked. The USB device won't work anymore and the neither my JTV-59 or my Variax 300 are able to connect to my computer ever again.

 

Does anyone have the computer driver for the older USB connectors? The version I was at was something like 1.0.3, the update took it to 1.0.7.2. I need to roll my computer back to 1.0.3.

 

 

[player99]

In case someone else has this happen, here's a few fun facts:

 

The older JTV's used the same USB connector as the 300's did.

 

If you want to use Monkey to update something but you can't sign in, you can download the firmware you want and manually upload it offline. There are instructions on how to do that available.

 

If you can, try to use Line 6 Central instead of Monkey.

 

Pod HD500X pedalboard can hook your JTV up to Monkey and Workbench HD.

 

Old USB Interface for The older 1st gen Variax but works with JTV:

 

 

 

Newer USB interface:

 

[psarkissian]

We don't dump any software. It's still there on the Downloads page.

To connect to Workbench HD, updating firmware to v2.00 or higher is required.

 

--When you connect the JTV-59 to Monkey, does the JTV icon come up on the Monkey display?

--And does the Flash version come up on the display?

--How are you connecting it?

 

[silverhead]

You've been really persistent with troubleshooting and acquiring detailed information about this. Kudos to you and thanks for sharing the information.

 

However, I feel I need to correct some misinformation here.

 

I am running Windows 10 with a JTV Variax. I usually use my Helix Rack as the USB interface for my JTV. I have just tested my setup using the old USB interface as pictured above. Here are my findings:

 

- I can run Line 6 Monkey v1.77 successfully. It recognizes that I have a JTV connected. It shows driver v1.0.7.2 installed. It also shows Device USB firmware v1.03 installed on the guitar. It shows JTV firmware v2.10 installed with the latest v2.23 available. It seems it will support my updating to v2.23 though I choose not to do so since all later updates beyond v2.10 apply to Variax Standard and Shuriken. Hence your statement above that "The older USB connector cannot update your JTV to 2.0 and beyond." seems to be incorrect. Note that the Variax USB interface does not provide power to the guitar. You need to have a charged battery installed and also a 1/4' cable inserted into the guitar. This cable is the battery's on/off switch.

 

- I can run Workbench HD successfully, connected to my JTV running v2.10. Data transfer between the guitar and Workbench HD is working as expected. Your statement above that "The old USB connector will only hook up to the original Workbench, not Workbench HD." seems to be incorrect. Apparently there are 2 usb pieces required: a USB driver on the computer (v1.0.7.2) and usb firmware on the guitar (v1.03). Monkey shows that I have the Variax usb driver v1.03 installed but it seems it is embedded in the guitar firmware and is not a general computer usb driver. I don't think I will be able to extract it from the firmware but I I will attempt to find it somewhere on my computer. If I can isolate it I will post it here for you.

[player99]

On 1/29/2025 at 10:43 AM, psarkissian said:

We don't dump any software. It's still there on the Downloads page.

To connect to Workbench HD, updating firmware to v2.00 or higher is required.

 

--When you connect the JTV-59 to Monkey, does the JTV icon come up on the Monkey display?

--And does the Flash version come up on the display?

--How are you connecting it?

 

You don't have the USB driver for my interface.

 

It used to show up in Monkey.. But not anymore.  Now the led is red on the interface.

 

Which flash version? The interface shows up and it's version is 1.0.3. The usb driver shows as 1.0.7.2.

There is a picture of the USB interface on the left side of Monkey. No Variax.

 

I am connecting it: Variax --> Old USB interface --> PC

 

[player99]

UPDATE: I'm very exited! As I was told, the charged battery and a cable in the guitar gave me back the green lights on my interface, as well as Monkey sees the guitar again!

 

I have no time right now, but I will be trying to update the guitar soon.

 

I have read some folks don't like to take the updates to the latest, that they think the models don't sound as good.

 

Should I go to the latest 1.23?

[silverhead]

I would update to the latest version. Everyth8ng beyond v1.20 is irrelevant to the JTV series, but it won’t do any harm either.

 

Before updating, if you can get any version of Workbench to connect with your JTV, make a backup of all the models currently installed in your JTV. After updating, save all the new models using Workbench HD. Then you can experiment with both series of models and choose the ones you want.

[player99]

On 1/29/2025 at 9:20 PM, silverhead said:

I would update to the latest version. Everyth8ng beyond v1.20 is irrelevant to the JTV series, but it won’t do any harm either.

 

Before updating, if you can get any version of Workbench to connect with your JTV, make a backup of all the models currently installed in your JTV. After updating, save all the new models using Workbench HD. Then you can experiment with both series of models and choose the ones you want.

This guitar has never been connected to Workbench, so it's completely stock.

 

Do you know how to save the whole thing to a folder on my PC?

[player99]

On 1/29/2025 at 11:04 AM, silverhead said:

You've been really persistent with troubleshooting and acquiring detailed information about this. Kudos to you and thanks for sharing the information.

 

However, I feel I need to correct some misinformation here.

 

I am running Windows 10 with a JTV Variax. I usually use my Helix Rack as the USB interface for my JTV. I have just tested my setup using the old USB interface as pictured above. Here are my findings:

 

- I can run Line 6 Monkey v1.77 successfully. It recognizes that I have a JTV connected. It shows driver v1.0.7.2 installed. It also shows Device USB firmware v1.03 installed on the guitar. It shows JTV firmware v2.10 installed with the latest v2.23 available. It seems it will support my updating to v2.23 though I choose not to do so since all later updates beyond v2.10 apply to Variax Standard and Shuriken. Hence your statement above that "The older USB connector cannot update your JTV to 2.0 and beyond." seems to be incorrect. Note that the Variax USB interface does not provide power to the guitar. You need to have a charged battery installed and also a 1/4' cable inserted into the guitar. This cable is the battery's on/off switch.

 

- I can run Workbench HD successfully, connected to my JTV running v2.10. Data transfer between the guitar and Workbench HD is working as expected. Your statement above that "The old USB connector will only hook up to the original Workbench, not Workbench HD." seems to be incorrect. Apparently there are 2 usb pieces required: a USB driver on the computer (v1.0.7.2) and usb firmware on the guitar (v1.03). Monkey shows that I have the Variax usb driver v1.03 installed but it seems it is embedded in the guitar firmware and is not a general computer usb driver. I don't think I will be able to extract it from the firmware but I I will attempt to find it somewhere on my computer. If I can isolate it I will post it here for you.

I edited the post with the pics. Is it correct now? (I pretty much gutted it lol)

 

Where are you in Ontario? I'm near Ottawa.

[silverhead]

On 1/29/2025 at 9:28 PM, player99 said:

I edited the post with the pics. Is it correct now? (I pretty much gutted it lol)

Yes, everything you state in your updated post is accurate.

 

For anyone following this thread, the post I made earlier about correcting misinformation is now out of context since it related to now-deleted content. 

[player99]

More good news for me. My Variax 300 is also working with a cable plugged in to it.

[player99]

Anyone know how to get the old Workbench to work in Windows 10?

[psarkissian]

"You don't have the USB driver for my interface. ",... if it is out of date for your computer OS selected, it might not show up in the Downloads list.

 

"Anyone know how to get the old Workbench to work in Windows 10? ",... use one of those apps that will sit on Win 10, but runs functions from previous

OS' of the past. Seems to be the only way at this time.

 

Thumbs up on it all.

"Ontari-ari-o ..." as the Trent Severn song goes.