Variax 300 Acoustic

[chrisharris]

Hey gang...I did a search and didn't (immediately) see a thread about this instrument, but if I missed 1 or 20, forgive me.

I'm wanting to know if anybody has actually used the Line 6 Variax 300 Steel Acoustic guitar live. I'm in two bands where all I play is an acoustic guitar, and no matter what I use, it always sounds a bit heavy on the piezo sound...reading about this guitar, it SEEMS like a perfect solution. Well, it's not so much a guitar as it is a computer in a guitar shaped container, but if it sounds decent, I don't care.

Anybody?

 

[philboyd studge]

That's news to me, I didn't know they made a 300 version. Still, I think a 700 acoustic is a lot more versitile. The nylon however would be nice cause there's things you just can't play on steel strings.

Looks like a $600 street price...not bad.

 

[chrisharris]

That's news to me, I didn't know they made a 300 version. Still, I think a 700 acoustic is a lot more versitile.

Yeah, I think the 300's are pretty new...like this month, but I'm not sure.

So you have one of the 700's? I'd be very interested to know how/if you like it for live applications.

I keep seeing the marketing stuff about how fantastic these acoustic modelling guitars are for recording, and I shudder just a bit, because I don't think I'll be plugging an acoustic straight into anything and recording it anytime soon, but for live stuff...I want this to work.

Oh well, being impatient (and 200 miles away from being able to try one out in a store) I ordered one. If it sounds like ass on a stick, I'll post back.

 

[slidey]

I'm more of an electric player when it comes to live BUT my variax 700 has wicked acoustic sounds

albeit I've never tried the acoustic models, but if the electric acoustic mods are anything to go by then I'd say buy buy buy

bye

 

[guitar junkie]

you're getting this for Jaimee right?

so she can ditch that ugly thing she plays now....

right chris?

 

[SHEPPARDB.]

Wait for the 350.It has a casio keyboard built into the lower bout,and plays
itself.LOLOL.
But seriously,I played one of the line 6 acoustics at the shop,and it was much like a "Toys are us" experience.Every setting on it from sitar to alt
tuned sounded like ass.

 

[philboyd studge]

Yeah, I think the 300's are pretty new...like this month, but I'm not sure.

So you have one of the 700's? I'd be very interested to know how/if you like it for live applications.

I keep seeing the marketing stuff about how fantastic these acoustic modelling guitars are for recording, and I shudder just a bit, because I don't think I'll be plugging an acoustic straight into anything and recording it anytime soon, but for live stuff...I want this to work.

Oh well, being impatient (and 200 miles away from being able to try one out in a store) I ordered one. If it sounds like ass on a stick, I'll post back.

Generally for live I use it in a supplimental role but have done gigs just using the Variax. They have a huge advantage over acoustic/electrics in volume headroom and tend to sit in the mix a lot better. If your comfortable in the transition to a solid body then it should work great.

On the 700 the instruments vary in usefullness but most are very good. Generally negative comments come from those who've tried 'em and don't have many hours with them. The acoustic requires good amplification (I use a Bose PAS) and a good understanding its compression and mic placement controls to get the models correct. Also, remember the final sound is that of a miced instrument and not something plugged in. Some things like the virtual capo and open tunings you create aren't very good IMO, but the default open tunings are very handy.

Though I bought mine mainly for live work, it has become a regular tool in recording and the time saved by not having to pull out and tune a 12 string for instance and just plugging in is great.

I dressed the frets, put on gold tuners and use Elixer nano extra light bronze (11's).

 

[guitar junkie]

the electric ones had a kit from warmoth to create a new guitar build around them i think....

so you could have a line6 that looks like a ES335 which would be cool to me!

 

[chrisharris]

you're getting this for Jaimee right?

so she can ditch that ugly thing she plays now....

right chris?

Actually, it's for me. I got her a new guitar last month...it's a Takamine with maple back and sides and sounds as good as an acoustic can sound from an output jack. Basically, I'm getting this because her guitar sounds better than mine right now, and we just cannot have that!!!

But seriously,I played one of the line 6 acoustics at the shop,and it was much like a "Toys are us" experience.Every setting on it from sitar to alt
tuned sounded like ass.

I appreciate the real world experience. What you have to understand, Shep, is that I won't be using any sitar settings or alternate tunings for live stuff...I just want it to sound better than the guitar I have, and I guess I won't know the answer to that until I try it. For my full band, the solidbody makes a ton of sense, because our stage volume is pretty loud, and I'm always on the edge of feeding back with an acoustic. The other advantage I'm hoping to achieve is some level of consistency from show to show...I'm assuming that even if it's a sound that I'm not crazy about, it'll be THE SAME sound that I'm not crazy about. Anyway, thanks for sharing man.

Generally for live I use it in a supplimental role but have done gigs just using the Variax. They have a huge advantage over acoustic/electrics in volume headroom and tend to sit in the mix a lot better. If your comfortable in the transition to a solid body then it should work great. ......


Though I bought mine mainly for live work, it has become a regular tool in recording and the time saved by not having to pull out and tune a 12 string for instance and just plugging in is great.

I dressed the frets, put on gold tuners and use Elixer nano extra light bronze (11's).

Thanks a lot for the insight. I'm actually looking forward to switching to a solidbody...I don't play "for fun" like I used to, so pounding on an acoustic with higher action for 4 hours in a live setting actually hurts, LOL.

I'll let you guys know...I hope to get it before our two shows this weekend.

 

[SHEPPARDB.]

Actually, it's for me. I got her a new guitar last month...it's a Takamine with maple back and sides and sounds as good as an acoustic can sound from an output jack. Basically, I'm getting this because her guitar sounds better than mine right now, and we just cannot have that!!!



I appreciate the real world experience. What you have to understand, Shep, is that I won't be using any sitar settings or alternate tunings for live stuff...I just want it to sound better than the guitar I have, and I guess I won't know the answer to that until I try it. For my full band, the solidbody makes a ton of sense, because our stage volume is pretty loud, and I'm always on the edge of feeding back with an acoustic. The other advantage I'm hoping to achieve is some level of consistency from show to show...I'm assuming that even if it's a sound that I'm not crazy about, it'll be THE SAME sound that I'm not crazy about. Anyway, thanks for sharing man.




Thanks a lot for the insight. I'm actually looking forward to switching to a solidbody...I don't play "for fun" like I used to, so pounding on an acoustic with higher action for 4 hours in a live setting actually hurts, LOL.

I'll let you guys know...I hope to get it before our two shows this weekend.

Get a sound man or what ever you need to do.Live acoustic guitar is a very
difficult thing to tame,but dumbing down your performance with gadgetry is not the answer.
I've listened to quite a few of your songs with the band,and with your dau- ghter.If I ever get the chance to see you guys live,I hope that you will be
playing real acoustic instuments.Anything else would be insulting.
My 2.

 

[Chris Shaeffer]

My solution was a Gibson Chet Atkins. Holy crap that thing sounds and plays great and its not one of the top-of-the-line-mega-pricey ones. As far as I'm concerned it the perfect stage "acoustic" with no feedback problems and excellent on-board active electroncs to put all the control you need right there on the instrument.

Good luck with that variax. I fall into the category of those who say bad things without having much time with it, but my main complaint wasn't the sounds (which I sorta liked) but that the instrument didn't feel all that polished- "Toys are Us" indeed. I've been playing an LP custom for almost 20 years, though, so maybe I'm just spolied. Dunno, I played an applause acoustic for almost as long and did fine with that, too...

Let us know how it goes.
Chris (Shaeffer)

 

[slidey]

but dumbing down your performance with gadgetry is not the answer..

variaxe is far from dumbing down...................it is an exceptional tool & is awesome for live & recording work, especially if feedback is an issue

the thought of going back to (in my case) noisy strat single coils turns me right off

 

[philboyd studge]

variaxe is far from dumbing down...................it is an exceptional tool & is awesome for live & recording work, especially if feedback is an issue

the thought of going back to (in my case) noisy strat single coils turns me right off

Yeah it's nice to look at those VU meters and see them at absolute zero when idleing.

I just look at it as a tool that allows me to do things quicker and with less hassle. It hasn't replaced any of my acoustics but it's certainly one of the group for live and recording. If stolen I would certainly get another....though probably a 700 series electric, for it has the acoustic models I tend to use.

 

[SHEPPARDB.]

variaxe is far from dumbing down...................it is an exceptional tool & is awesome for live & recording work, especially if feedback is an issue

the thought of going back to (in my case) noisy strat single coils turns me right off

Like I said,"my 2."You call it a tool,I call it a toy.I have yet to hear anything
from Line 6 that I would make part of my sound.

 

[chrisharris]

Ok, I figured I'd post back in case anybody does a search for this guitar on this BBS. Got the guitar yesterday. So here's my half-assed review based on about 6 hours of use.

I was actually set up fine, but I'm going to have a little bit of bridgework done....probably, but it's not critical. The guitar is definitely playable (no buzzing, no huge relief in the neck), but it definitely doesn't play like a nice acoustic. It has the feel of something more like a baby Taylor or one of those Martin back-packer guitars.

CONS:
1. Feel - it's just not something that MAKES you want to play it;

2. Tuner/Output signal - The tuner is useless on mine...The output signal is really really weak for some reason, and that may have something to do with it, because I can't really get it to tune through external tuners either. I had to really crank up the gain on the board.

3. Presets - It's got 10 banks, which is plenty for me, and actually, the presets that were programmed in were pretty tasteful, but you can only go through them one way. Like if you go from 1 to 2, you have to hit the button 9 times to get back to 1 again, which is not good for live stuff.

4. Look - I knew the guitar was ugly when I bought it...because of the tiny body, it looks funny on a fat guy like me, lol.

PROS:
1. Sound - I initially plugged it into my acoustic amp, and it was "ok," but it wasn't knocking my socks off or anything. Then I set a PA up and plugged it in direct. OH MY FUCKING GOD. Suffice it to say that any shortcomings the guitar has are FAR OUTWEIGHED by the way it sounds. Hands down, the best live acoustic guitar tone I've ever heard. It took me some hours to dial it in, but when I plugged in other acoustics that I KNOW sound good through that PA, they all sounded like ass in comparison.

This is hard to review, because if you take in all the elements, the guitar would probably only get like a 6 out of 10, but to me, the sound of the guitar is 100x more important than anything else as long as it's playable, so I would have to HIGHLY, HIGHLY recommend this thing for live sound.

I'm stoked.

 

[guitar junkie]

how fresh are the batteries in that thing Chris?

that could have something to do with the low output....

sounds great! of course i play shows where a pick up is sort of a useless toy so.... it will be a while till i need one but at least it is coming out and will be perfected when i am ready.

 

[chrisharris]

how fresh are the batteries in that thing Chris?

I'm not using batteries...You can put 6 AA batteries in it every 12 hours, or you can run it from the power supply, which is what I'll do. I use power supplies for everything because I hate buying batteries...same reason I've never gone wireless.

I HAVE to believe it's a flaw with just my guitar, but it's not off to a good start, eh?

Need to fill out that warranty card now