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]

Originally Posted by 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/

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

[Rockerbob]

Originally Posted by JR#97

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]

Originally Posted by 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..........

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...

[jfrog]

Originally Posted by 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..........

I've got a keyboard that emulates: piano, organ, electric piano, flutes, trumpets, oboes, violins, and...well you get the picture. It just happened to be more expediant for me to spend $200 - $500 on a keyboard than to buy a piano, organ, electric piano, flutes, trumpets, oboes, violins, etc. Is a modeling guitar different?

While I'm not particularly a Variax proponent (I played one once at the store) I can understand why a guitarist would be interested in widening his or her musical palette without spending thousands of dollars to amass individual instruments.

[sparrow]

Hey Rockerbob.
Thanks for posting those samples! I found this more usefull than anything else. Some interesting sounds there.
Nice playing too...

[Beltrom]

If it's samples you want, check this guy out also.

http://www.guitaristjeffmiller.com/audio.htm

I guess you've been to the Line6-site?

[philboyd studge]

Just demo'd the acoustic version today through one of those new Bose systems. It's pretty close for some instruments, and for some it's not so good. Overall feel and the neck felt pretty good for being Asian and if I could get it into the tunings I'd want I may well get one for stage use. Sure would beat hauling a bunch of instruments around.

[Rockerbob]

Originally Posted by sparrow

Hey Rockerbob.
Thanks for posting those samples! I found this more usefull than anything else. Some interesting sounds there.
Nice playing too...

Thanks!

I also like the Jeff Miller samples. I think most of the stuff at line6's site don't really show off the sounds very well.

[Aaron Cheney]

Originally Posted by philboyd studge

...and if I could get it into the tunings I'd want I may well get one for stage use. Sure would beat hauling a bunch of instruments around.

I've always found the "altered tuning" modes too discombobulating. It might sound like DADGAD, but it doens't feel like DADGAD, and if the amplified signal isn't loud enough to mask the acoustic sound of the strings...well... let's just say it makes my head spin.

On the other hand, I could really dig having all the sounds right there handy in certain circumstances. In the end nothing beats the real thing. I guess if I'm camping I'd take a Swiss Army Knife, but when I'm at the Alamo fighting for my life I want a real Jim Bowie and nothing else will do.

A

[iwanarock]

I have a Variax 500 and have to say I think it is the single best investment I have ever made of guitar technology for the price. I was one of the fortunately who jumped on it when Guitar Centers started selling the 500 for $499 a while back. I have a Gibson Les Paul, Fender Strat, Ovation acc/elec 6-string, Fender acc/elec 12-string, Casio Midi Guitar just to name a few. Do I like the Variax better then my others noted above ....well I don't know if I would say better ....I would say it is far more versatile then any one of them and absolutely shines with clean tones. Does the Les Paul model sound like my Les Paul ....No .....But it is not the same model/year and I for one am glad it does not ...but it does provide Les Paul tones that I like and use depending on the song and tone I am looking for. The acoustics 6-string models are really cool ....I am not as big on the 12 string acoustic models ....The Reso give me tones and sounds I have never had before and feel in love with. The Semi and Jazzbox are great for Blues tones ...The Tele Models are really nice with clean tones ...I like my real Fender Strat for distorted tones better the Strats modeled, but like the strats models with clean tones better then my real Strat. This Guitar is the coolest piece of technology I have ever played with ....The Guitar may not have the best neck or best wood body or look the coolest, but I didn't buy it for that. I bought it for the technology and the chip/e-prom inside the thing that bring out unbelievable tonal possibilities from a relatively small investment. You just can't go wrong.

[philboyd studge]

Originally Posted by Aaron Cheney

I've always found the "altered tuning" modes too discombobulating. It might sound like DADGAD, but it doens't feel like DADGAD, and if the amplified signal isn't loud enough to mask the acoustic sound of the strings...well... let's just say it makes my head spin.

On the other hand, I could really dig having all the sounds right there handy in certain circumstances. In the end nothing beats the real thing. I guess if I'm camping I'd take a Swiss Army Knife, but when I'm at the Alamo fighting for my life I want a real Jim Bowie and nothing else will do.

A

I like the wierd tunings but hate to make those changes in a live situation so I never use them. Because I play dobro, Weissenborn, steel, banjo, mandolin family and other instruments it would be great to have just one incorporate some of those sounds. Somebody at the GC I demo'd it at had monkied with the jumbo patch to convert the E and A strings down an octave for bass and the the top four to fifths. That was fun.

The one thing that put me off was the nylon strings sounds....only one sounded ok and only on the bottom four strings, the B and E had a different texture.

[lbanks]

Originally Posted by JR#97

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

Excellent playing!

[Rockerbob]

Originally Posted by lbanks

Excellent playing!

Thanks much!

[RickW]

Originally Posted by Rockerbob

Thanks!

I also like the Jeff Miller samples. I think most of the stuff at line6's site don't really show off the sounds very well.

I have to agree with the others, Rockerbob, you're a great player! Does LIne 6 know about your site? You'd make them more money than their site would! Your sounds convinced me to get one. I wonder though, is there any sound differences between the 500 and the 700? The 700 definitely looks better, but for the price difference, if they sound the same, then...

Thanks for the insight!

[Rockerbob]

Originally Posted by RickW

I have to agree with the others, Rockerbob, you're a great player! Does LIne 6 know about your site? You'd make them more money than their site would! Your sounds convinced me to get one. I wonder though, is there any sound differences between the 500 and the 700? The 700 definitely looks better, but for the price difference, if they sound the same, then...

Thanks for the insight!

Thanks! I talked to a guy in Line6 tech support who liked my samples, but I'm not famous enough I guess.

There is a different in feel between the 500 and 700. The neck on the 700 feels better. The sounds should be about the same, but the guitar part of the 500 was disappointing.

Anyway, I do like the sounds. It's lots of fun and inspiring to have those tones available.

[ahuimanu]

Originally Posted by JR#97

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

Please allow me to second that... very tasty.

[mishagolin]

i tried the acoustic one and was not impressed at all. not only did it sound bad, it played bad. the guitar has no feel. i would much rather be limited in my tones to only "good" tones than to be able to get a ton of crappy ones.

i won't be buying one of these. i'd rather save up for good sounding acoustic guitars one at a time. they will always sound better. once again i'd much rather have one guitar that sounds beautifully, like it should, than a guitar that does a poor job of emulating a bunch of other guitars.

[turnitdown]

You can now buy replacement bodies for the Variaxe... That's the key... I hate the original bodies... but in a nice Strat shape, with a slimmer neck??? SSSWWEEEEEEETTT!!! (My buddy just did this... NOW it's nice!)