Line 6 - Modeling Guitar

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mikeh

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Has anyone tried the Line 6 Variax?

They claim it not only models several 6 & 12 string electics - but it also models accoustics, resonators, banjos and sitars. They also claim the single coil pick-up sounds are "noise free".

Now I've never found an accoustic guitar simulation that was any good - and we all know the eternal debate about guitar amps - vs. amp sims, but damn, if this this does half of what it claims (and if it actually plays well and responds like a "real guitar") it would be worth the $1,000 asking price.

I have not seen one in a store in my area (am I the only one who kinda misses Mars????) and I'd love some feed back from anyone.
 
I was at Guitar Center on Sunday. I asked if they had one...

......Nope........

One of the sales guys said he found it strange behavior by Line 6. He also said recently the store had not one, but two POD XT's stolen, as if this was a reason. Further mystery is they didn't have any in stock either (variax). Of course, "you could order one and if you didn't like it when it came in, it could would be refunded." Salesman had a good point( for a change).

So, if you have the money, you know what to do.

This must be new to their site, because they did not have samples before. Ahhh, sound clips.
http://www.line6.com/Variax/studio.html

Sorry to ramble.....

I want some Yorkvilles or BX8 monitors first though.
[:D]
 
I've heard some sound clips that sound great.

What would be great is if they used a separate system from their own guitar. Like the Roland VG-88. That way you could use their system on a guitar that is set up how you like it. I.e., fretboard radius, scale, body, etc.
 
I played one.........piece of shit. Doesn't sound like the real things, doesn't sound good at all. Plus, $1000 (almost) for a korean guitar? Please.
 
Yeah, I played one the other day. It's a cool novelty guitar, but that's about it. I wouldn't pay $1000 for it (maybe $250). The coolest thing was the sitar effect. It was one of the best fake sitar sounds I've heard.
 
You'd think for that kind of money they'd look better too.
 
I don't know....

I can't think of any "does-it-all" piece of gear I've ever been willing to give up my Strat for. To me, a guitar signal should just be "low tech": tubes, magnets, wire, and springs.

Anything else is just an approximation.

If I need a banjo I'd rather own a real banjo or find a friend that plays one. Ditto acoustic guitar, bass, and sitar.

Aaron
http://www.voodoovibe.com
 
Thanks for the replys. It would appear that The one thing does everything guitar is not quite here yet.

I agree that a guitar should be a low tech thing - and I also agree that I could buy a banjo, etc. to get that particular sound.

However, I already have a Strat (for a Strat sound) and a Tele (for a Tele sound) and an SG (for that "Gibson" sound) and a DOT (for that "Hollow Body" sound).

I really don't want to but a banjo, sitar, resonator, lap steel and sitar - to get "those sounds" (not to mention the learning curve on playing technique).

I've gooten pretty good and getting reasonablyt close sounds out of a keyboard - but even with decent keyboard chops it is hard to reproduce the subtle playing techniques of a string instrument.

I thought a $1,000 Line 6 axe would still be cheaper than buying a banjo, sitar, etc etc etc
 
Ya, I know where you're comin' from. I own a Pod for the same reasons.
About 3 months ago I needed a banjo part for a jingle. For some reason I decided to forgo my trusty XP30 banjo sound. I called up an old bluegrass acquaintance and invited him to play on it.

It was enlightening.

Nothing beats the real thing.

Aaron
http://www.voodoovibe.com
 
I don't woory about friends with boats (I wouldn't have the time to go out on it) - but I keep in close touch with my friend who is an electrician - and the friend who is a plumber ------- that has more value to me then an annual fishing trip may:D
 
I would imagine there will be a price drop. Maybe at a $500 price point they will get more bites. Like the original POD, from $400 to $249 with the latest XT introduction.

We'll keep an eye out for a used one. Plus, with this guitar acquisition, sounds like I could expect to get new friends -
Priceless

#25
[:D]
 
Aaron Cheney said:
I don't know....

I can't think of any "does-it-all" piece of gear I've ever been willing to give up my Strat for. To me, a guitar signal should just be "low tech": tubes, magnets, wire, and springs.

Anything else is just an approximation.

If I need a banjo I'd rather own a real banjo or find a friend that plays one. Ditto acoustic guitar, bass, and sitar.

Aaron
http://www.voodoovibe.com
Click to expand...
amen
 
there will never be one guitar that can do everything.the one thing that cant be modeled is feel .each guitar has its own.
my main guit is a tele.i like the feel of it.feel is everything.i
couldnt do what i do on a les paul and have it sound the same.
dont get me wrong,i love to here someone throw down on a paul,
billy gibbons,al dimiola,robert fripp,have all proven it to be a great guitar.the strat and the tele have made a mark in music as well.
you can bet yer last dollar that in the year 2050,any of the afore
-mentioned is gonna be more popular than a line six guitar.
at $1000,man that ugly m.f. better know how to give a blow job!
sheppard
 
Ya know, I'd still like one, depending on its playability.

Especially at a gig where I'd like to switch between acoustic and electric. I usually don't bring an acoustic because of the inconvenience. I know, I know, nothing will replace the sound of a good acoustic. However, my best (only) acoustic is a $400 Yamaha. The Variax may do enough to replace that.

Also, electric is greatly affected by the tone of your amp. Thus, the Variax may be good enough to gig with for electric.

Be that as it may, I like to switch tones quickly without mic'ing and amp hassles for different tones. If it has good playability, the Variax may serve my purposes.
 
I read the User Review's on Harmony Central. On a whole the comments were very favorable - other than to say the 12 String sounds were lacking.

Now normally, I take the Harmony Central comments with a grain of salt - it seems the only people who write comments are the ones who absolutely love or absolutely hate a piece of gear. And it seems with the guita gear it's always people who have been playing one year.

However, most of the people who commented on the Variaxe claimed to be serious gigging musicains with anywhere from 15 years to 30 years of playing under thier belts.

So it seems I'm gonna have to at least try one of these out in a music store. I tracked one down about 1/2 hour drive away - so I'll probably check this out tomorrow.

I'm thinking much like Lopp, the ability to go from an accoustic, to a banjo, to a dobro (I do a lot of country production) without swapping axes, mic'ing, etc. may be worth the price. It may lower my billing hours, but also lower my headaches!!!
 
I played it yesterday through Line 6's duoverb. It's gimmicky but cool. I mean, imagine playing rhythm guitar live and switching to banjo for a badass chik'n pickin solo!

stone
 
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