Line 6 Variaxe guitar?

[sparrow]

Hi guys
I'm new here. I've been reading the blurb on the Variaxe guitar. Anybody have any first hand knowledge of these things? Do they sound OK? Do they Play OK? Do they RECORD OK?

[Rockerbob]

I have a Variax 700 electric guitar. I like it a lot. It feels OK and it has a great variety of sounds. In particular I like the Gretsch and Rick sounds, but all are pretty good. I have demos of mine posted here:

http://www.rockerbob.com/VariaxDemo/

[A GUY NAMED JON]

I played the acoustic variax. I though it was a great peice of gear, with a lot of neat tricks such as alternate tuning, mic position, and of course guitar modeling, all with the switch of a button. It sounded real good, but it also sounded a bit synth like at times. I wouldn't recommend this for an acoustic player but more for electric guitar players that want to have it all with only spending once. Or if you don't want to lug around a whole bunch of guitars for a live show it wouldn't be a bad thing to have handy.

[JR#97]

I have a Variax 700 electric guitar. I like it a lot. It feels OK and it has a great variety of sounds. In particular I like the Gretsch and Rick sounds, but all are pretty good. I have demos of mine posted here:

http://www.rockerbob.com/VariaxDemo/

Dude.. you freaking kick ass on the geetar. Just had to let you know.

[Rockerbob]

Dude.. you freaking kick ass on the geetar. Just had to let you know.

Thanks! I appreciate the kind words!

[red_riviera]

I have a Variax 500 and a Acoustic 700. The're well built, I have found them to be totally reliable. Incredibly versatile, with these 2 I really don't need any other sort of guitar for recording. Oh, they're also very quiet, no hum from the single-coil (Strat) models or feedback on the acoustics.

However... they just don't look the part or feel particularly inspirational. I find it difficult to write songs / riffs on them, even though it's easy to come up with new sounds. Prefer my Garison acoustic / Strat / Rickenbacker to work out the song ideas, then use the V-axes for convenience of recording.

Anyway the 500s are so cheap now (£429 if you shop around) you can't go wrong.

[Neil Ogilvie]

I don't know if it's any help, but the guy from the Mars Volta plays a Variax and he gets some weird/nice sounds.

[gusfinley]

Variax = EVIL!!!

I understand the concept and all but why "model" something when you can have, or borrow the real thing? I'd mush rather have the real thing. I guess to me a guitar isn't just a sound- it has a history, and its also a piece of art. Nothing can model those to attributes..........

[Beltrom]

Yes, yes and yes.

I've got a Variax 500. I've got a few other guitars but this is my main workhorse nowadays.

About recording, it's real nice not to be bothered by hum from monitors and so, this guitar is real quiet. The included splitbox is a nice addition also. I use one way for when recording acoustics or using software, the other way for electric guitars with effects and/or amp.

[sparrow]

Variax = EVIL!!!

I understand the concept and all but why "model" something when you can have, or borrow the real thing? I'd mush rather have the real thing. I guess to me a guitar isn't just a sound- it has a history, and its also a piece of art. Nothing can model those to attributes..........

Yeah well, Im sure everybody here would love to have the real thing! But we're not all Rockerfella! I think there's too much bullshit spoken about guitars anyway! I bought a brand new tele way back. It was the most expensive piece of firewood I ever bought! So I swapped it for a Les Paul Copy! I've had it for 27 years and it was second hand then! It has served me well and I would never dream of getting rid of it. Now I have finished gigging and am concentrating on recording, I find I want a more varied palette! I have seen the Variaxe for sale at around £450, You can't even buy a good Strat for that! Never mind all the other models it... models...? I think, judging from the general feedback here, I may have to make a visit to my local music store and check it out!
Thanks to all for replies...