kcearl
I see deaf people
im gonna buy a Variax after reading this...thanks guys
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stevieb
Just another guy, really.
At the time Ovations were a gret(sic) choice for live acoustic work. Not so much any more. I wouldn't place any value on their studio value...
I refer you again to the OP's original question and my response.. Please try taking a closer look at that before you make any further value judgments.
What "value judgement?" You totally missed the point, I am afraid. Reading between the lines, in this and other, similar threads, one can see that some devices- modeling amps, Variax- seem to have better acceptance on stage than in the studio. I was aware the OP asked about using the Variax for recording. Lt. Bob reported that he found one to surprise him, in what was essentially a live setting, whereas you made the point that, in a studio, one would probably get better results finding and playing the "real things." Really, I don't know where you got the idea my post was making any comment about anyone's ear, but I assure you, that was not even a remote part of my point.
You quote Acidrock's comment about Ovations- at first, you seem to agree with me, then you accuse me of making value judgements. Really, you are confusing.
As for a Variax turning up in the rack at a gig and it's presence offending you- aren't you being much too touchy about the whole thing? Ever gig I ever played, I brought my own guitar(s), and as talented and experienced as you may be, I don't think you are in the "green M&M" class.
If I were to see something I deemed unplayable, I'd just figure it was there for some reason, which had nothing to do with me. No point in getting offended by the thing!
Lt. Bob
Spread the Daf!
I play what I want.
I basically don't give a crap about anyones' opinion but my own.
Muttley does get riled easily but that's just part of his charm.
he doesn't mean anything by it ...... he's just passionate about his positions and that's really a good thing.
I basically don't give a crap about anyones' opinion but my own.
Muttley does get riled easily but that's just part of his charm.
he doesn't mean anything by it ...... he's just passionate about his positions and that's really a good thing.
muttley600
Banned
I never get riled at all. All I've pointing out is that I'm the only one who seems to be answering the OP's question here and look at the responses it seems to generate..
muttley600
Banned
Richie2708
Dis Member
OP here 
...
Well, unfortunately when it comes to guitars I don't have the ear to differentiate between the real thing and the samples I've heard from the Variax. Maybe I could tell the difference in an A/B comparison. Now I can tell it in the acoustic models, and would never use the 12 string model. But at present I have one cheap electric guitar and guitar rig, so its a step up for me.
If one comes up at the right price again, I will be buying it.
Thx everyone for their posts, and thank you Muttley, I do value your opinion, and it has helped me make a decision knowing the cons, and thank you Acidrock for debating the other side to the argument effectively. Thx all really. This thread has fully informed me of what to expect if I purchase a Variax.
Job well done
...Well, unfortunately when it comes to guitars I don't have the ear to differentiate between the real thing and the samples I've heard from the Variax. Maybe I could tell the difference in an A/B comparison. Now I can tell it in the acoustic models, and would never use the 12 string model. But at present I have one cheap electric guitar and guitar rig, so its a step up for me.
If one comes up at the right price again, I will be buying it
. Thx everyone for their posts, and thank you Muttley, I do value your opinion, and it has helped me make a decision knowing the cons, and thank you Acidrock for debating the other side to the argument effectively. Thx all really. This thread has fully informed me of what to expect if I purchase a Variax.
Job well done
kcearl
I see deaf people
S
stevieb
Just another guy, really.
Lt. Bob
Spread the Daf!
well sorta ....... he asked how it would compare to the real thing. Saying it wouldn't sound amazingly like the real thing would have been a correct answer.I never get riled at all. All I've pointing out is that I'm the only one who seems to be answering the OP's question here and look at the responses it seems to generate..
Saying it's a POS and you'd rather spend the money on a roll of toilet paper starts to be a personal opinion and not a response to the question.
That's purely your personal opinion and it's a professional level opinion which you have formed because of your skills at hearing fine details.
I think sometimes you fail to recognise that very many players will NEVER have your level of hearing acuity and some of your objections to things might therefore not really be applicable to them.
For a newb with a 1000 dollar project studio the Variax absolutely will provide colors and additional voices that they wouldn't have access to AT ALL without it.
For many ..... saying you'd rather save up and get the real things would be the same thing as saying you'd rather only record stuff that only needs whatever gear you have now with no additional colors or sounds because they would never save up to get the real things.
I think that's not really realistic for a lotta newbs with very limited budgets or needs that don't include those instruments.
For example ....... I don't record much acoustic type stuff at all ....... just not too interested in it. But it would be cool to have say, a mando-sounding thing in one of my songs or a dobro or whatever. I'll never buy those things because I don't want them. I actually don't give a shit about acoustic instruments.
So obviously for me a cheap Variax would simply be an additional color ...... for many people, either because they don't desire those instruments or can never afford them, the same situation exists.
It's like Mr Q who used to go off on people for buying Behringer or other cheap gear. In his mind it would be better to just wait 5 or 10 or 15 years to start recording when you've saved up enough for good gear.
To me though, that's 5 or 10 or 15 years wasted that you could have been having fun and learning.
I think that sometimes because of your business where you have amazing instruments in your hands all the time, that it's easy to forget that many people will never have the wherewithall to ever even HOLD one of those instruments.
Look at it a different way ....... for 105 bucks .....a newbie could very easily have a Variax ........ start to really like having those additional sounds .... but recognise that they don't sound quite right and decide they want the real thing and start saving for it when they never would have otherwise.
A Variax is kinda beginner step towards lusting after instruments you didn't care about before as long as it's nice and cheap.
muttley600
Banned
OK point out where I stated they are a POS and I'd rather spend the money on a roll of toilet paper? Once again I responded to the OP question.
I have stated that I'd sooner buy a decent mic, a set of upright bass strings, anything useful, I'll grant you that. I also stated that ultimately a Variax will disappoint and frustrate partly because of the over promise that it can provide all those sounds. It can't, it's a 100 trick pony. I have also ststed that if they could many working musicians would be queuing round the block to get one. They aren't. It kind of speaks for itself.
One more reason why the OP would be better off finding a half decent stock guitar instead is that he states that he is predominantly a keys man. Surely all those "nearly" sounds would be more easily accessible to him via a mid interface and a keyboard?
It has nothing to do with being a high end gear snob, some of my favorite gear is fairly low price, low tech functional stuff. It has more to do with the fact with the predominance of modeling kit these days people are beginning to forget what the real thing sounds and feels like. Much the same way as mp3 has all but killed off high fidelity in the mass music market. People are happy to settle for the compromise right off the bat. At the end of the day I really don't give a shit. My advice remains the same, a Variax will NOT provide what it promises.
To finish have a go at answering the specific OP question yourself without reference to compromise or stage work, or low budget. That is solely where I have been coming from.
I have stated that I'd sooner buy a decent mic, a set of upright bass strings, anything useful, I'll grant you that. I also stated that ultimately a Variax will disappoint and frustrate partly because of the over promise that it can provide all those sounds. It can't, it's a 100 trick pony. I have also ststed that if they could many working musicians would be queuing round the block to get one. They aren't. It kind of speaks for itself.
One more reason why the OP would be better off finding a half decent stock guitar instead is that he states that he is predominantly a keys man. Surely all those "nearly" sounds would be more easily accessible to him via a mid interface and a keyboard?
It has nothing to do with being a high end gear snob, some of my favorite gear is fairly low price, low tech functional stuff. It has more to do with the fact with the predominance of modeling kit these days people are beginning to forget what the real thing sounds and feels like. Much the same way as mp3 has all but killed off high fidelity in the mass music market. People are happy to settle for the compromise right off the bat. At the end of the day I really don't give a shit. My advice remains the same, a Variax will NOT provide what it promises.
To finish have a go at answering the specific OP question yourself without reference to compromise or stage work, or low budget. That is solely where I have been coming from.
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stevieb
Just another guy, really.
Ummm, I think Lt. Bob was just engaging is a little hyperbole...
Maybe to make a point? I dunno...
Lt. Bob
Spread the Daf!
good lord ...... I'm NOT getting into an argument here. I tried to give a carefully reasoned response as to why I don't totally agree with you here and I made a point to be respectful of your knowledge and opinion.
And I made a joke (hyperbole is a good description) and you wanna get bothered because you didn't say those exact words.
Good grief!
And I did answer the OPs' question ....... I DO think a Variax is a useful addition to a poject studio and I said so.
You don't agree and that's fine.
muttley600
Banned
If you ain't getting into an argument stop telling me what I said and didn't say...good lord ...... I'm NOT getting into an argument here. I tried to give a carefully reasoned response as to why I don't totally agree with you here and I made a point to be respectful of your knowledge and opinion.
And I made a joke (hyperbole is a good description) and you wanna get bothered because you didn't say those exact words.
Good grief!
And I did answer the OPs' question ....... I DO think a Variax is a useful addition to a poject studio and I said so.
You don't agree and that's fine.
Now who's getting riled
Richie2708
Dis Member
I feel responsible for this 
Its like clash of the Titans. Eeeerm (note to self, don't say Variax again )
I jest, but seriously you guys I appreciate both your responses and have taken them both on board.
Its like clash of the Titans. Eeeerm (note to self, don't say Variax again
)I jest, but seriously you guys I appreciate both your responses and have taken them both on board.
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stevieb
Just another guy, really.
Maybe I stirred the pot a bit, too- but I swear, it was unintentional. The thing about hyperbole was intended to calm things down.
Typed messages, like in forums and emails, do not enable us to tune into things like facial expression or vocal inflections. Emoticons help, but are still lacking. Lots of consternation ensues.
I know, from this forum, that Lt. Bob is one of the more reasonable people here, and that Mutt is one of the more knowledgeable. (Lt. Bob is quite knowledgeable, and Mutt is not unreasonable, too.) I don't think anyone intended offense, and perhaps no one took it- but it can be hard to be sure on the internet.
Friends again, right?
Typed messages, like in forums and emails, do not enable us to tune into things like facial expression or vocal inflections. Emoticons help, but are still lacking. Lots of consternation ensues.
I know, from this forum, that Lt. Bob is one of the more reasonable people here, and that Mutt is one of the more knowledgeable. (Lt. Bob is quite knowledgeable, and Mutt is not unreasonable, too.) I don't think anyone intended offense, and perhaps no one took it- but it can be hard to be sure on the internet.
Friends again, right?
X
Xdrummer
New member
I have a Variaxe 300, which I bought new for $300 when they were clearing out for the next generation (this was maybe 5 years back)
While I already had some decent guitars (a Strat, a Tele, an SG and a few other) - the Variax had some simulations of guitars I would likely never buy (Rickenbacher, Gretch and Les Paul).
I bought it solely for studio application (I would not want to depend on the Variax technology in a gig situation). Since I have never owned the guitars the Variax simulates, I can't attest to how well they cover those sounds - although I have had some qualified guitarists (who have owned many of the simulated guitars) listen to and play the guitar and most are pleasantly surprised.
No doubt the build and feel of the guitar is not ideal (and I would not want to play it all night because of those factors) however - it gives me a very large pallete of sounds (some of which I simply could not achieve with the "real" guitars I own). Each of the simulations I use sound effective in a mix.
Like any instrument - the way it is tuned, played, amplified, etc. all affect the end result - but for $300 the Variax provides more than enough value - and I'm very satisfied with the purchase. If I could buy another for $150 I would do so in the blink of an eye.
While I already had some decent guitars (a Strat, a Tele, an SG and a few other) - the Variax had some simulations of guitars I would likely never buy (Rickenbacher, Gretch and Les Paul).
I bought it solely for studio application (I would not want to depend on the Variax technology in a gig situation). Since I have never owned the guitars the Variax simulates, I can't attest to how well they cover those sounds - although I have had some qualified guitarists (who have owned many of the simulated guitars) listen to and play the guitar and most are pleasantly surprised.
No doubt the build and feel of the guitar is not ideal (and I would not want to play it all night because of those factors) however - it gives me a very large pallete of sounds (some of which I simply could not achieve with the "real" guitars I own). Each of the simulations I use sound effective in a mix.
Like any instrument - the way it is tuned, played, amplified, etc. all affect the end result - but for $300 the Variax provides more than enough value - and I'm very satisfied with the purchase. If I could buy another for $150 I would do so in the blink of an eye.
Lt. Bob
Spread the Daf!
mutt and I are fine ...... didn't you see the smiley in his last post?
He doesn't mind someone disagreeing with him and crossing swords a bit as long as they don't get personal and neither of us did.
And we're not really that much in disagreement here really.
I don't tend to like modelers either.
We just disagree on what price point becomes a bar low enough to be worth buying one.
I'm gonna guess he'd put that much lower than me ....
So thanks for the concern but I'd be surprised, shocked even if it turned out that he's actually mad at me.
He doesn't mind someone disagreeing with him and crossing swords a bit as long as they don't get personal and neither of us did.
And we're not really that much in disagreement here really.
I don't tend to like modelers either.
We just disagree on what price point becomes a bar low enough to be worth buying one.
I'm gonna guess he'd put that much lower than me ....
So thanks for the concern but I'd be surprised, shocked even if it turned out that he's actually mad at me.
muttley600
Banned
How can I be mad at any one who's nickname is "boob"..
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stevieb
Just another guy, really.
That's spelled "b(.)(.)b"
muttley600
Banned
what? Like "n00b" but with nipples?