variax guitars

[kmcl1]

what is the general opinion on these soundwise - i bought one about a month ago and was fairly happy with most of the sounds but it developed a fault and is now away for repair - i cant decide whether to keep it of get rid of it and buy a second hand tele as i already own a les paul a semi & a strat

[Steptoe]

I've owned a and used a Variax for nearly 3 years now, 1st a 500 which I traded for a 600 after 2 years because I wanted a tremelo and I love it! Never had a problem with either of them. It's absolutely perfect for what I do which is play covers in clubs.

Having said that I have heard reports that the quality of the 300 is a bit suss though.

I wouldn't right yours of just yet unless it is a major fault but that can happen with any piece of equipment!

There is a variax forum which may be of some help: line6.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?&category=1

[kmcl1]

thanks for the reply steptoe i'll probably keep it whenever i get it back - its been away over a week now and no sign of it coming back yet.

[trainbrain]

Hi! Iv'e got the cheapie 300,and the guitar finich isnt that good,but a great tool when doing midigigs by yourself,and recording.But none of the sounds is like the real thing.


Cheers! Roland

[Steptoe]

trainbrain said:

But none of the sounds is like the real thing.


Cheers! Roland

Hi Roland, I've found the sounds to be pretty close to spot on, I also own a Tele, Strat & 335 (only recently sold the 335) and find the difference between them and the variax is minimal.

What setup are you playing yours through?

Cheers
John

[midimike]

Fender have now produced the Fender Stratocaster VG which simulates 37 different fender guitar types. It can be used by just plugging into your amplifier. It is a lot more expensive than the variax guitars but it looks the biz.

www.dv247.com/invt/froogle/38521/

Mike

[Steptoe]

The Variax does a lot more than the VG Strat,

Workbench alone is a huge difference, and the Variax has a lot more models - acoustics, banjo, sitar, 12 string, etc.

With Workbench, the Variax can do alternate tunings that the VG Strat can't (one of the ones I use is downtuning the bottom string to D to get the authentic 'Don't Be Cruel Intro at the flick of a switch).

The VG Strat can also ONLY run off batteries, which it eats quickly.

The advantage of a VG Strat is the ability to use it as a conventional Strat, with magnetic pickups, but the modeling side by itself isn't close to what a Variax can do.

[vanjohnsonband]

I use the POD XT Live & was wondering what it would sound like with the Variax guitar?
The POD is awesome, I also use the line 6 toneport UX2.
Do you guys just use the guitar?

[Steptoe]

vanjohnsonband said:

I use the POD XT Live & was wondering what it would sound like with the Variax guitar?
The POD is awesome, I also use the line 6 toneport UX2.
Do you guys just use the guitar?

I use the POD XTLive as well, it's a great match with the Variax.

With the POD you can power the Variax via the VDI cable and also make pickup changes to the variax via the POD! I use this a lot live, for instance a song that may have an Acoustic Guitar throughout and then requires a Tele for the lead break, I can do mid song via the POD without missing a beat or taking my hands off the guitar!

Another plus is recording via the USB input on the POD XTL, straight into the computer!

[Tiny]

hi john
as you know iv,e got the pod 2.0 it has a midi
button on the facia,have looked at manual it
doesn,t say much about midi, would like to
know a bit more if you could help, i have just
got one of these,i axe 393 behringer guitar,s
with modeling amp prog, for the price it,s a great
little guitar.... Tiny

[jimmarnie]

i have a variax 300 it has always sounded ok to me do u have software for it

[midimike]

There is a comparison in the latest Guitarist magazine of the Fender VG and the Variax. They prefer the Fender for looks and feel and the Variax for the bigger range of sounds available.

Mike

[don]

Hi there I am a new member and have only just seen this thread. My Name is Don am solo artist using midifiles with a Charlie Lab. I use a variaxe 300 along with a line 6 POD through the PA and have found its versality amazing. I used to carry around and Ibanez SA series guitar along with a yamaha accoustic and the variaxe has stopped me from doing this. I have even had other guitarists state to me that they could not fault the sound or versatlity. So don't give up and just try and get it repaired. Don.

[spookytooth]

Hi
I remember seeing a chap from line 6 do a demo evening with the variax from what he was saying seems you need the whole works I.e guitar amp effects to get the best out of this guitar .But Having owned 2 line 6 amps I was not very impressed seemed an awful lot of money for gear which I could not personally get excited about there are some better amps out there that are a lot cheaper .
Maybe the VG strat would be worth trying.

Good Luck Mark

[ovation99]

I agree with the comments on Line 6 amps, especially the Spider ll range.
Had one for 3 weeks and changed it for a Marshall with no fancy effects you can't use. Best buy I've made in a long time.

[paulhcctt]

i have a variax 700 Which i have now taken the electronics out of and currently fitting them into my Steve Morse Musicman {Drool}

Running it through a vetta II and totally love it, saves me bringing a tele, strat, lessie, and an acoustic.

Never liked the feel (or look) or a variax, and the fact i'm left handed has always been a problem also, so at least in the musicman i will be playing a variax that suits me

[midimike]

Apparently many guitar players moved the electronics in the original Variax 300 to other guitars which had tremolo arms etc. I am lead to believe that this is one of the reasons Variax started producing updated models.