Variax - what do you honestly think?

[hueseph]

A few good reasons to have a variax and a pod:

1-you live in an apartment and turning it up to 11 is not such a great Idea.
2-You have a family and turning it up to 11 is not such a great Idea.
3-You have an eclectic songlist and want to record it without having to spend thousands of dollars on gear.
4-You have clients that require certain sounds and you want to get them done without spending a whole lot of time setting up and striking for each different sound.
5-You can tell people that you have a whole bunch of different gear and they would be none the wiser because these tools are so damn convincing.

 

[acidrock]

Actually, I think ibanezrocks' point was that you can get a pretty nice guitar and tube amp for about the same price as a Variax and a POD.

As I do,but the Variax and Pod are a viable alternative.

As I've stated I don't have either,but I completely understand the usefulness of these new tools that are available to us.

If someone says thats just not the way they like doing things I can understand,but to just bash Variax is in my view is closeminded and reeks of elitism.

 

[acidrock]

Different strokes for different folks, though. I don't exactly understand the "I need a million different sounds" thing, but it seems that a lot of people agree with you

Well I can't seem to get my Strat to sound like a twelve string,nor can I get my six string to sound like a Coral Sitar guitar.
I have single coil,humbucker,p-90,lipstick and piezo pickups,each one brings something different to the table.I also like many different types of music,not just metal or country or disco or whatever.

 

[ibanezrocks]

I'm not bashing the variax, all I'm saying is that it is not the only option for people on a budget. I'm not saying some shit like my guitar sound is incredibly versatile, because I get more than enough range in sounds just with the eq on my amp and 2 channels for my own personal use. So is the variax a good deal for someone who hasn't yet found their own sound, or does covers, or who records for other people that request different sounds? absolutely. But is it a good deal for everyone, even those who don't think its all that ugly (I personally like the look of it) and that think its a good idea? No because I would rather have one good sound, than a lot of decent ones.

I play hard rock, and I just don't find it necessary to go through a bunch of different sounds. I'm not trying to push my beliefs on anyone, I'm just stating the fact that the variax, as good of a deal as it is, still costs more than a beginner would spend on a guitar, and isnt necessary for everyone.

P.S. Sorry if I came off sounding like an elitist about tube equipment and gibsons, that was never my intention, I still own my first guitar; a cheap acoustic, I still own an Ibanez, and I still own a Crate amp. I don't think you need a tube amp to sound good, but I do think it sounds better.

 

[nkjanssen]

P.S. Sorry if I came off sounding like an elitist about tube equipment and gibsons, that was never my intention

Don't apologize. "Elitist" is just a catch-all perjorative that a lot of people on these boards like to throw at anyone who disagrees with them. It's an attempt to invalidate your opinion and bolster someone elses - i.e. "Your opinion doesn't count because you're elitist; mine carries more weight because I'm not."

 

[tonyoci]

Well having owned my Variax 500 for a whole two nights I'm starting to wonder about it. I should add that I have a POD XTL which really allowed me to get a lot of different sounds out of my cheapo strat copy. I'm purely a home hobbyist, and while I can afford the 500 I'd rather spend the money on something else if it's not worth it.

Some points

1) It's easy enough to play and nice. The neck is short for me though so the 5th fret feels more towards the body.

2) Most of the electrics don't sound all that different when they are played through the various XTL patches. I really don't know anything about the different types of guitar and none sound terribly different to my cheapo strat copy through the XTL.

3) Sitar and Banjo are useless to me since I don't know how to play either to get the right sound

4) The acoustics are great, since I don't own an acoustic and playing loudly at night is not an option this might be worth the price of admission on it's own, though the XTL virtual acoustics are also fine

5) I Find myself scared to death that the electronics will break.

6) There's a lot of wires flying about.

It's hanging on by a thread right now

 

[guhlenn]

nice, and honest, review. like it.

 

[Phildo]

My in-depth VAX review. Good, bad or ugly? Lets' see...

Well, if we’re doing sensible, balanced reviews…



Sounds:
Tele and Strat models are as close to the real thing as makes no odds. Differences are measurable only in terms of the differences between, say an ’89 Tele and a ’92 Tele. These models were A/B’d through active DI boxes into an Amek desk.

The Les Paul model is nice, chunky and responsive – a good sound in it’s own right but , I’d suggest, with not much of the real grunt of a Les Paul (although the only LP I’ve had available to compare it with is a 1980 Artist – the one with the active electronics by Moog). Still, a nice sound, nonetheless.

The Ricky sounds – thin & crispy. Not to my mind particularly Rickenbacker-y. The 12-Sting sounds are awful but work surprisingly well as a texture in a mix. Solo, they’re useless. Didn’t bother A/B-ing then with my 330-12 as it’s obvious they suck.

Semi – actually quite convincing, although (not surprisingly) not a patch on our guitarist’s 1967 ES335. One of my friends has a “Vintage” 335 copy, and the VAX is pretty much in this ballpark.

Gretsch – Sounds nothing like my Elliott Easton, (more on the twangy side of Gretsch, it would appear), but they record well and come across fine through my Blues DeVille live. Definitely some of my favourite sounds on the VAX.

Special – Also use these quite a bit live, when I want to cut through a bit more. Sound a bit lame in isolation, though.

Reso – the Dobro sounds are great. Not a Dobro connoisseur myself, but I’m recording a lot of stuff with these at the moment and they sound great in a mix. Must learn to play slide…

Banjo is banjo-y but impossible to play on a 6-string neck – it just ain’t right!

Coral sitar – great fun and a great texture for recording, but a bit lacking in presence.

Acoustics – convincing, but so wrong – I’ve got a problem with using the VAX for live acoustic stuff, which is that there’s no body resonance (obviously – it’s a solid body!), so I tend to end up using my Takamine which is a great guitar but doesn’t actually sound as good amplified as the VAX. Think I’m just a luddite. In contrast to the Ricky 12 models, the 12-String models work really well, and I’ve got to overcome my unease with the feel of playing acoustics on an electric and just go with it!



Hardware:
The neck. Umm. “Chunky”. Certainly no PRS, but oddly playable – it’s kinda like a compromise between an electric neck and an acoustic one which makes sense, I suppose, although you ain’t gonna shred on this guitar! The first VAX I didn’t play was in a music shop in Liverpool. Picked it up, sliced my fingers off on the heinously badly-finished frets and put it down again. Picked up my severed fingers and left the shop. I’m glad to say that they’ve healed well and that the VAX I bought (hint – try before buying!) is finished perfectly satisfactorily.

Machine heads are OK but cheap – maybe a set of Sperzels at some point. Still, once they’re in, it holds tune pretty well.

That’s about it, really. Body finish is adequate but not stunning and the silver-tortoiseshell (mine’s the black 500) looks very nice. Unarguably more "functional" than "boutique".



In Use:
As I’ve said elsewhere, I’m not convinced that the VAX has enough “va-va-voom” to punch its weight as the only axe in a recording – certainly I couldn’t envisage doing a session with nothing but the VAX, in the same way I could never do a session with nothing but the Pod for amplification. But it seems to sit well as a texture and, of course, it’s TOTALLY silent. Which is freaky for a single-coil boy like me.

Live, I love it. It’s controllable, it’s surprisingly quick to switch sounds, the controlled feedback you can get is fantastic – I can so easily get it to hang on any note of my choosing, which is a blast for the sort of alt. country/indie drone-rock we’re doing. Reliability doesn’t seem to be a factor – it’s been gigged by both me and a friend who’s a lot less forgiving of his instruments and, apart from a couple of dings it’s not fallen over once.

Once I’ve got the workbench software, it’s going to be the one backup guitar I take with me, as it can cover for any combination of guitars I’m using at a gig – even the 330-12 at a pinch, although I’d prefer not to!

Oh - negative points for the XPS DI/power supply/AB box. Great idea - footswitchable between 1/4" for electric and XLR for DI'ing acoustic...

...BUT...

...the huge "BUMP!!!" noise when you stomp on the switch to change outputs renders it completely unusable for mid-song use. So you're not going to be doing "More than a feeling" with this one! D'oh!


Sumary:
Not perfect, but despite its shortcomings, I love my VAX. The technology’s still in its infancy, so we can only guess where its going to be in 5 years, but overall this is a good instrument. I bought it on a whim as I thought it might be an interesting toy, but it’s so much more than that. I’m looking forward to the VAX 1500!

And, hell, I like the way it looks!

 

[Bassman Brad]

Reviews we can use!

User reviews - YES!!!!

Thank you, guys. I found that very helpful. You've earned your positive rep points fair and square.

The technology’s still in its infancy, so we can only guess where its going to be in 5 years, but overall this is a good instrument. I bought it on a whim as I thought it might be an interesting toy, but it’s so much more than that. I’m looking forward to the VAX 1500!

I'd just like to make one (very slight) correction, here. The technology, itself, that is used to model musical instruments is NOT new technology. The first modeling instrument that I can recall was the Yamaha WX-7, which looked like a soprano sax with a wire sticking out of it, and modeled various wind instruments. That was back in, what, '89 or '90? So we are in at least the fourth or fifth generation of modeling instruments now. The only thing new and exciting about the Variax is that it is the first one to use this technology to specifically model guitars.

 

[Ed Dixon]

Owner comments:

Output level: Different guitars have different output levels. While this is somewhat true to the original, it can cause issues for a live performer. If you switch between a LP and Tele sound, you don’t probably want a big change in output level. However you can use the Workbench software to tailor each model to produce the same output level.

Alternate tunings: You can program these by preset. A single switch then changes from say normal to drop D tuning. There are a dozen or more preprogrammed tunings to choose from, or you can do your own. The Workbench software is needed for these changes.

Custom sounds on the fly: You can use the Variax knob to program custom models between songs. Suppose you start with a LP sound then switch to acoustic in the middle, then back to LP. You can line these up on a single selector position so that the pickup selector quickly changes from one to the other. It takes about 5 seconds to program a selector (pick model, knob up, pick location, knob down).

POD XT Live: This is a separate product from Line 6 which works well with the VAX. Not only does it provide the standard POD sounds, but it powers the VAX via a digital cable. You can also set the XT Live to select guitar models along with POD preset sounds. That way a single floor button changes from LP heavy overdrive to acoustic 12 string.

Since the XTL is MIDI controllable, it can also be used via MIDI commands from other MIDI gear. I use a Behringer FCB1010 pedal for guitar and synth control. I have it MIDI-ed to the XTL for Variax control. I get my live guitar sounds from other rack gear, and just use the XTL for Variax control and power. For rehearsals, I use the XTL for both guitar and sounds.

VAX models: I normally use Tele, Strat, and LP tones. These I really like. I have also programmed a PRS type sound that works well. I use the acoustic for a few songs and the banjo for a few others (I can’t play a banjo at all, but the sound is still quite useful for some songs where banjo is needed). I also use some Jazz tones for a few songs. At church I have used the Dobro sounds a few times, but that is still pretty new to me.

I really like the Gretsch tones, but have not found a good fit for our song list yet. Same for Rickenbacker 6 string sounds. I liked the original Rick 12 string sounds much better than what is in the current 3.05 firmware. The Acoustic 12 string sounds seem pretty good, but again no good match for our songs.

Ed

 

[tonyoci]

Nice reviews, maybe someone can answer my uneducated questions.

Firstly what difference should I be expecting between guitars. For example I'm not hearing a whole lot of difference between Strat, Tele, LP on the bridge pickup ???? I'm just not a guitar expert

Secondly, if I run a heavily distorted POD XT patch I just can't tell any difference, yet I heard LP guitars distort better.

Please forgive the fact that I am a noob when it comes to guitar sounds but this thread has turned very helpful all of a sudden

 

[Ed Dixon]

Generally bridge Tele, Strat, and LP differ by tone (among other things). Tele will tend to be the most treble based where LP is more full bodied.

For hearvy overdrive POD patches, you will notice less difference between guitar models. Distortion tends to hide some aspects of the as it is 'distorted'. Bass becomes more noticeable, but sometimes less so for treble.

If you can download music, look for Gary Moore and "Still Got the Blues". He was a LP player with heavy overdrive. During his solo you can hear him change from neck to bridge pickup. You will hear the tone become brighter then.


Ed

 

[Ed Dixon]

On my media player, the change occurs at 4:17 in the song.

Ed

 

[ibanezrocks]

Nice reviews, maybe someone can answer my uneducated questions.

Firstly what difference should I be expecting between guitars. For example I'm not hearing a whole lot of difference between Strat, Tele, LP on the bridge pickup ???? I'm just not a guitar expert

Secondly, if I run a heavily distorted POD XT patch I just can't tell any difference, yet I heard LP guitars distort better.

Please forgive the fact that I am a noob when it comes to guitar sounds but this thread has turned very helpful all of a sudden

The strat should have a quacking kind of sound, and should be a little bright sounding. The tele should sound twangy, and be really bright. The les paul should have higher output, more bass, and a mellower sound.

Just remember the more you're distorting them, the more you're distorting the differences, it would be easiest to tell the difference between them with a very light distortion.

 

[guhlenn]

even on one heavy distortion settings the lp and strat difference should still be like day and night.

 

[Ed Dixon]

even on one heavy distortion settings the lp and strat difference should still be like day and night.

Having both a LP and a Strat, and multiple heavy overdrive sounds, that has not been my experience. However there are lots of different heavy overdrive units, and perhaps some allow more guitar tone differences to come through.

Ed

 

[guhlenn]

Ed, you do not hear vast differences between single coil and humbucker sounds? or maple and mahogany?

 

[Ed Dixon]

No, not vast differences when heavy overdrive is used. The Strat inputs tends to be more treble and the LP less treble and more full bodied.

The definition of what heavy overdrive means to different folks may be the key point here. For example I use a Rockman Sustainer for heavy overdrive sound most of the time. I also have a V-Amp Pro, POD 2.0, and POD XTL.

Ed

 

[Ed Dixon]

I am also referring to use of the bridge pickup in both cases, not the out of phase Strat sound. I am also not referring to the noise difference that would normally result from a single coil and a humbucker (which has little or no noise).

Ed

 

[guhlenn]

I use Koch, Marshall, Mesa Boogie and the POD xt, BOSS GT-8. I think i know what heavy distortion is

And ofcourse, we are allowed to differ in opinion. I think the difference is huge. and i do mean HUGE. but then again, i might be one of the "golden ears". (love that statement)

edit; the difference is huge in tube amps, modellers tend to minimise differences, but that, in my book, is a weakness, not a strength.