Variax 700

  • Thread starter Thread starter Sterling30
  • Start date Start date
S

Sterling30

New member
Curious who else is using them and your inpressions of this unique guitar..
 
I REALLY wanted to like this guitar. It played OK, and I thought it would be great to have around for recording. The problem was that the patches while OK, didn't really capture the real sounds of the insturments they were trying to emulate. I own a few high end guitars, so I wasn't looking for the Les Paul emulation, or the Tele twang, or the auditorium size acoustic. The emulations I was looking for, 12 string and nylon string just didn't do it for me. So I ended up buying a nice nylon string guitar, and I'm still looking for the right 12 string. I figure that if I need another insturment like a banjo or sitar for a recording, I'll take advantage of GC's 30 day return policy ;)
 
I have a Variax 700 acoustic. How much time have you got?

Basically, keep in mind it's a modeling guitar and it isn't perfect. Most complaints are from people that putz with the controls for ten minutes and don't like the sound. It takes time.

That said, they have amazing potential.
 
I too am wondering whether this guitar might save me some time and trouble(and lots of money). For instance, I wouldn't use it as a primary guitar, but for adding color, it seems like it could be nice - especially the parlor guitars, banjo, and 12 string stuff. The line 6 website has great samples, and I've heard the Jeff Miller stuff - is there any other nice samples out there? I would like to know how it sits in the mix with natural guitars.

Anybody know what the next step in the Variax line might be?
 
It nails the Tele & Strat sounds from my experiance so far, the LPs are good, the ric 12 string doesn't make it, the 360 6 isn't bad..
 
Supercreep said:
I too am wondering whether this guitar might save me some time and trouble(and lots of money). For instance, I wouldn't use it as a primary guitar, but for adding color, it seems like it could be nice - especially the parlor guitars, banjo, and 12 string stuff. The line 6 website has great samples, and I've heard the Jeff Miller stuff - is there any other nice samples out there? I would like to know how it sits in the mix with natural guitars.

Anybody know what the next step in the Variax line might be?
Click to expand...

Yeah, the workbench software. That'll allow me to take off a few instruments I don't need and put on a tele, strat, and jazzer. Then take the existing instruments and customize tone, especially the 12 string.

The nylon string is basically hopeless (same for the banjo) but for an occasional song but it's due more to being a steel string guitar.

Don't expect instant gratification, 'mic location' and compression both relative to volume take time, plus on the acoustic, when you change to alternate tunings, everything changes.

The alternate tunings are a great tool though on the acoustic....you've lots of open ones; G, E, A, and D, plus DADGAD and drop D. Parlor guitar drops everything an octave, giving you a six string bass. The one I use most though is the dropped tuning on the Jumbo, which if you wanted to play a song in C, you'd use G positions.....a low and very cool sound.
 
Another thing to remember about the Variax 700, the guitar body & neck is made by Warmouth of Japan, they do a nice job on this unit and though some of the guitars its modeled after may never sound right it probably will give the best Tele tones you'll ever find and I was amazed how realistic a few of the hollowbody versions sounded, especially the Gibson Super 400.. Now $1499 is pretty steep but the market is softening a bit on them, $945 got me a brand new one off ebay.., for that it looks like a keeper to me.
 
I've had a Vax 700 for about 6 months now and I love it.

BUT if you want a 58 Les Paul Standard sound then you'll need a 58 Les Paul Standard.

What I want is a range of different sounds without needing a range of different guitars. I don't care if it doesn't sound exactly like the guitars it's modelling just as long as every song I write has a sound that suits it.

I've just been checking out the new PodXT Live, which gives all the functionality of a Pod in a floorboard with the ability to do very cool things when connected to a Variax via a Cat5 (ethernet) cable.

The world will be my oyster!

PS The Vax bass has something that the 6-string seriously lacks - a little indicator light that shines onto the model selector pot to you can see what you're doing on stage.
 
Yeah, I saw the workbench stuff, and it seems cool. I'm hoping for the next iteration (900 maybe?) of the electric to have some improvement to the 12-string sounds and perhaps some sheiding for the wires to the piezo elements exposed under the bridge. Maybe a tune-o-matic that dosen't fall off. They seem pretty delicate to me. Perhaps a nylon string sound.... What's up with the "virtual capo" and alternate tunings only being available(without the workbench) on the acoustic? It seems like playing quietly enough to hear the strings would create serious problems. Most people I read reviews from like to put better tuners on it, too.


I wish Line 6 would get together with Fender and release a guitar with both standard pups and the variax thing. I mean, they've got a Roland ready strat - same idea. I'd pay plenty for a nice teleax. (I know, Warmouth. I'm not the biggest hippie in the world, but eviscerating a guitar and throwing away the husk is just a waste.) Plus, if the electronics go out, you've got the single coil brick shithouse.
 
Supercreep said:
Yeah, I saw the workbench stuff, and it seems cool. I'm hoping for the next iteration (900 maybe?) of the electric to have some improvement to the 12-string sounds and perhaps some sheiding for the wires to the piezo elements exposed under the bridge. Maybe a tune-o-matic that dosen't fall off. They seem pretty delicate to me. Perhaps a nylon string sound.... What's up with the "virtual capo" and alternate tunings only being available(without the workbench) on the acoustic? It seems like playing quietly enough to hear the strings would create serious problems. Most people I read reviews from like to put better tuners on it, too.


I wish Line 6 would get together with Fender and release a guitar with both standard pups and the variax thing. I mean, they've got a Roland ready strat - same idea. I'd pay plenty for a nice teleax. (I know, Warmouth. I'm not the biggest hippie in the world, but eviscerating a guitar and throwing away the husk is just a waste.) Plus, if the electronics go out, you've got the single coil brick shithouse.
Click to expand...

Far as I know the workbench software isn't out yet. The 12 string has it's limitations and I plan to change the octave relationships among other things whenever it's available.

Virtual capo isn't that great either.....it's pretty solid if you capo to a harmonic fret (5 or 7 for instance) but otherwise it can get lost in the inharmonic overtones.
 
The '59 Gretsch 6120 is right on the money too, for the cost of one damn sweet guitar you are definitely getting at least 6 that are right on the money and most of the rest are still very good for what they do. In the worst case scenario mentioned I do believe a few modified versions are out there.., I'd search out a great luthier before thinking much about it though. It would be nice if the electronics were sold seperately, they're doing well in at least a few strats at the moment.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top