Line 6 Variax 300

Normal features for a basic guitar. Quality a little above a budget guitar, but price's much higher. Good finish but, lets face it, the guitar is uggly. I would never buy it is it wasn't for what line6 annouced the guitar could do. Actually, I gave it a thought about buying one years ago, but the shape of the guitar has always make me give up.
Mine included power supply and cable.
I give it only 3 due to esthetic reasons.

The sounds are really awsome... when the guitar is not crackling, gargling and/or switching randomly between presets. Some say the problem is the hardware (connections) but some say is the software and electronics. After taking a peak into the line6 website user forum, I was sad to know that lots of users are having trouble with the electronics. I give 2 because the sounds are really close to the real thing. Otherwise I would give it 1

Everything was in good condition and ready to use. The action was fairly good, close to the neck, as I like it. Nothing to say here. The hardware of the guitar is flawless (tuners, neck, body, bridge).

The hardware looks good enough to last for centuries. The guitar is solid and the tuners are ok. And if you want to upgrade the tuners, it's not that difficult or expensive.
The bridge, due to the piezos, needs to be handled carefully, specially when changing the strings (do not let the curly top of the old string pass through the saddle - it can damage the piezo for good).
But the electronics... as I said before, the guitar sounds are very close to the real thing in all presets... but only when the guitar is not crackling, gargling and/or switching randomly between presets. It doen's happen all the time, but at least happens once everytime you turn it on and at a random moment. Due to this, I would never use it on a live gig because you never know when the guitar is going to go noisy.
Since lots of users are having trouble with this, I wonder what line6 was thinking about when they released the model. Ok, the guitar is less expensive than the other line 6 models, but even so, is expensive when compared with other budget guitars with a close quality on hardware and finish. Being less expensive is not an excuse for not functioning properly.

In the line6 website they throw some tips at you and that's all, since there's practicly no customer support in Europe.

I play guitar since I was 12 and electric guitar since I was 18. I have 40 now. I've owned several different kind of electric guitars during the years, from budget to medium guitars (never got a really expensive one because I serious believe they are not worth the price).

This one seemed a perfect guitar. Playable and with a lot of different sounds to explore and enjoy.

I used to play at home and 90% of the time works perfectly. But once in a while the guitar starts going crazzy, crackling, gargling and changing presets (imagine you're playing acustic live and suddenly it changes to 12 strings electric and then to les paul bridge and then to tele neck...)

Basic Variax 300 in black, rosewood fingerboard, 22-frets and so on. You know what this thing is. I would have liked the trem, but was on a budget so I stuck with the hardtail. Came with a strap which was worthless and a little external power supply box and stereo cable (for the power) which is a pain to use but beats chewing through 9v batteries all the time.

This guitar is all about the sounds - that's why you buy them. And the sounds are pretty damn good. Not perfect for sure, but pretty good all the same. My main guitar is a Strat I've had for 20-some odd years, fitted with SD pickups and it blows this away sound-wise - but this thing has variety. I can flick a switch and make it sound like a 335 or a Ricky - something my Strat can never do. The acoustic sounds are also pretty good. Again, they're not totally convincing, but they're not too bad.

I use this guitar purely for recording. On one song I wanted a 335-kinda sound for the solo - done, and it sound pretty close. A friend of mine was scornful of these guitars. I recording a couple minutes of me noodling around on one the acoustic sounds (with a splash of reverb over the top) and sent it to him. He was very impressed and wondered when I'd got a new acoustic. Told him it was a Variax and he became quite unhappy with me :-)

These sounds will not fool die-hard tone-heads, but for the 99+% of your audience, they'll do the job just fine.

This is not a well made or well set up guitar. The strings were crap beyond belief and the tuners slip slowly out of tune constantly. When you pick up and play this for the first time, it feels cheap - it feels like a $150 guitar, which is pretty much what it is - the extra $$$ is for the electronics. I would almost certainly gut this guitar and drop the bits into a new body and neck, but I'm far to cheap and lazy to do that. Truth is I use it occasionally for recording so I'm not that bothered.

Well, it hasn't screwed up on me yet. But there is no way I would use this live without somne form of backup - I just don't trust it. Not sure how well it will survive the test of time, but I don't fancy it's chances of lasting 20+ years like my Fender. And of course, if the insides do die, the rest is just a hunk of cheap wood with no future other than the nearest bonfire. A real electric always has a future... somewhere...

Never called them.

I only use this guitar for recording - giving me access to a wider range of sounds. I use a Line6 Toneport so my sounds are already digital - so the sonic defeciencies of this guitar become less obvious. Through a really nice amp and played well, this guitar may disappoint, but it works fine for how I use it.

Would I buy another? At $300, hell yes - but I'd rather get the elctronics (for maybe $150??) as a drop-in kit and use it on a decent quality guitar.

The Variax I purchased was a standard Red Variax. You know the features. It is nothing really notable

I play in a Church Praise Team, We play anything from Traditional to Rock so I needed a guitar that would be capable of everything from Acoustic Tones to a heavily distorted Les Paul. When I first Purchased the 300 I was not toally satisfied with the tones. Most of them sounded like a guitar but not specifically what they were supposed to sound like. However I was able to get a really good tone from most of the settings by tweeking the amp.

I purchased a Line 6 Pod XT Live a few months after and was very satisfied. The most important aspect is the powering through the Variax Cable. But the Tones that you are able to get using this combo is great. You really have to play with the two of them for a long time to get the tone but once you get it worked out it is very easy to tweek the tones to get exactly what you need.

My favorite part of the Variax was the fact that no noise comes out of the thing while you are not playing. no buzz. This is better than any humbucker. I did not play my semi-hollow for a few months after playing this and I substuted my semi and was shocked at how noisy it was. (same with my strat).

Another nice feature is that if you play with teh Variax workbench software a while you can get sounds that you would never dream of. By de-tuning through software I have very beliveable bass tones, Mandalin sounds etc.

The set up was acutally good from the factory. The action was sweet, intonation perfect. THe prbolem came when I changed the strings. (De-Addario' 12s or Fender Bullet 11's sound great everything else seems to mess with the modeling a bit. But once I changed back to the De-Addario's it sounds great again.

The only flaw that I found was that the battery compartment on the back will not close all the way when batteries are in it. But I can totally look past that.

About 6 months after playing it first the High E-String Pickup Cut out. Line 6 will tell you that this is a known problem from the factory. Everything seems solid. I have been playing it for over a year now and it still seems new to me.

Strap Buttons seemed a bit odd in that the cheap strap that I had would not stay buttoned. I switched with a strap lock on the top and Have had no problems at all now.

I use it for Live playing bi weekly and I do not have a backup I totally trust the guitar.

There was one version of firmware that I had installed that seemed to be a problem with switching the tones by itself. But the newer firmware does not seem to have that problem.

I did have to deal with Line 6 Customer service and they were frendly they told me exactly how to get it fixed. When my pickup died they told me to take it along with my reciept to the local repair shop and tehy would fix it. They Told me that it would take 5 ~6 weeks which really disapointed me. But when I got the local shop the guy told me that he could fix it within an Hour. So I waited with him and watched him fix it. I had the Guitar back together in 20 mins. (note this was my local shop and This guy was great I am sure that not all of them are like this)

This is a great guitar. It is not going to fool the local tone junkies right away but with the proper tone modeling it could.

I would only suggest buying this guitar with a Pod XT Live or X3 Live
It needs that extra tone modeling power enless you have a museum full of vintage amps.

I would totally buy another Variax if this one was stolen. I think I would go with one with a Tremelo however just because my playing style has changed.

I have played several guitars over the years. Anything from Vintiage Fender Jaguars to Gibson 335s to a wide range of acoustics. This one (along with the XT Live) is my favorite guitar to play. It does not quite have the feel of a good guitar but it has the tone (After hours of tweeking).

I bought this guitar 2006. I liked the various sounds it was able to produce, I like the look, especially the absence of pick ups. Finish is okay but nothing special. Best of it is the electronis and the variations it allows - at least as long as it works.

Most of the sounds are very useful, even the acoustic ones. The ability to create own sounds with the workbench is great. Not important for me, but alternate tunings only sound good when up-/down-tuning a small amount, especially on the higher strings (g, b, e). What I like best is the absolute absence of unwanted noise - you only hear what you play.

Set-up and finish of the hardware is okay. As the electronics is very important at this guitar it belongs IMHO also to this point. And electronics the weak point of this guitar: As long as it works it's okay, but if not... see next point. Because without electronics this guitar is of no use my rating is that bad.

Hardware is okay and I never had problems with it - that's the good part.
Electronics is crap:
The model selecting knob after some month began changing models by himself during playing, no way to end this behaviour. Therfore it is not useable for live playing.
Firmware upgrades only seem to work with special MIDI-connectors and even then only work sometimes. Two month ago I once again tried an upgrade and it ended up with a guitar producing no more sound - since then I'm trying to get a solution from Line6 support.
Simply said: No, you can't depend on it, I even wouldn't use it on a gig WITH backup.

Line6 support doesn't seem to exist, at least in EU. When reading Line6-forums it seems that a lot of Variax owners have similiar problems with electronics like me but besides the usual more or less helpfull hints from other users Line6 doesn't seem to be able to produce corrections of their buggy software and firmeware. For example: Firmware upgrade of variax (in my configuration via Vetta amp) functions that way, that a PC-program (monkey) connects via MIDI-port and Vetta to the Variax. Line6 states that this works only with a few MIDI-connectors. Why? The whole music industry communicates via MIDI with every existing MIDI-connector without problems, only Line6 doesn't? And even when using the recommended MIDI-connectors most of the times you must try the upgrade process a few times until it really works. Tried this with a few PC's, connectors and cables - everywhere the same ****. And the only answer Line6 is able to give is "You should send it to repair". If they would pay it - okay, but they don't.

I'm playing guitar since about 30 years. Two years ago I bought a Variax and a Vetta and sold everything but a Strat as backup. As long as this combination worked I never wanted anything else, it sounded good, it played well and I liked it. But because of the unreliability of the Variax I now am pretty disappointed. Because of this and the not existing Line6 support I never would by a Line6 instument again.

Black Variax 300 - if you don't know the details, check the web (or the reviews below). Looks-wise it's absolutely unique. The Variax top has a lovely "clean" look to it with the absence of pickups. I'm seriously tempted to do a bit of artwork on the top, because all that uninterrupted space would be just perfect for it.

The guitar itself seems well-made. Hardware is relatively cheap, but significantly better than Squiers or similar - think basic-seriesStrat, for example. I suspect it was set up by the shop (Digital Village), and the setup was absolutely spot-on. A few buzzes with the light strings it came with, but restringing with 11s (my preferred option) fixed that.

The matt-finish neck isn't quite as nice as the gloss neck on the Variax 600, and it doesn't feel quite as smooth. There's hardly anything in it though - certainly it's as good as yer average Fender neck, and much better than Yamahas, Squiers and other low-end stuff I've played.

No gig-bag which was a bit of a bummer, but you can't really complain at the price. Anyway, I bought a hard-case for it, so I wouldn't have used the gig-bag anyway.

I'm not too impressed with the XPS Mini power box that comes with it, which lets you power the guitar using a (supplied) stereo lead. It's a good idea, but the box is quite flimsy plastic, and there's no retaining clip for the power supply cable off the (supplied) wall-wart. This does create some risk of losing sound during a gig if you accidentally boot the XPS Mini.

I also got the Workbench. This is 100% vital if you're getting a Variax - make sure you include the cost of this in your calculations. See later for more.

How does the guitar sound plugged in? Pretty damn good, actually! It really is designed to be heard through an amp though - you can hear it in the tone of the guitars, especially the acoustic models. I wouldn't be tempted to DI straight out of the Variax into the PA. It's worth noting that the 300, 600 and 700 sound identical, so don't waste your money on a 600 unless you need the trem.

The Tele sound is far and away the most believable - I can recreate "Run to you", Springsteen or Status Quo dead easily. Generally though they all sound pretty good. The weakest electric patch for me is the LP Junior which sounds a bit lifeless, but I don't know whether that's how it really sounds. The Special sound is rather nice too. And although the 12-string Rickenbacker models aren't perfect, they're convincing enough to use for "Hotel California" or anywhere else where a 6-string sound (even with chorus) doesn't quite cut it.

The weakest sounds are the acoustics. They seem not to be modelled after acoustics as they actually sound (or as they're picked up from a microphone), but rather as acoustics sound with cheap-and-nasty piezo pickups through a cheap preamp! The only acoustic model worth using is the dread - the others are pretty ropey. The F212 in particular isn't even close.

The resonators are a bit better. The Tricone ain't perfect, but a bit of EQ livens it up OK. But I was disappointed to find the Dobro model was some strange aluminium-body version, instead of the wood-body one everyone would have preferred. The sitar is an absolute stand-out though - it really sounds perfect for "Paint it black" or Beatles numbers. And the idea to make the tone control set how much sympathetic resonance you get is a complete masterstroke, so you can move smoothly from a fairly clean electric sound to a full swooshing sitar sound or anything in betweeen.

One problem with the default setup is that the levels change between guitar models. OK, this represents pickup/body behaviour accurately, but it makes life harder when you're trying to find the right sound and you have to keep tweaking the gain/volume on your amp or FX. If you've got the Workbench then you can do what I did, which is to adjust everything to the same level, but it can be annoying.

Which leads me onto Workbench, which is fantastic. You could almost say that if you can't find the guitar sound you want with the options it gives you, you aren't looking hard enough. Once you start changing things at this level, you're usually not looking to reproduce a particular guitar but rather find the sound you want for a particular song, and chances are that if it's an electric sound then you can probably find it. It's a shame that you can't use the models from the acoustic Variax on the electric - that's one big change I'd like to see. Actually, better acoustic models in general would be an improvement. But I'd rather have seen a classical model instead of the banjo, for instance.

The pitch-shifting works very well for small shifts. Don't be tempted to detune the whole thing by an octave and use it as a bass though - it produces the right notes, but it just doesn't sound the same without a bass's fatter strings. I was disappointed to find that you couldn't change the tuning on the 12-string models in Workbench though - all other models let you change the base tuning, but the 12-string models only let you change the relative pitch of the secondary strings. If you're pitch-shifting, you need your amp loud enough to mask the guitar's acoustic sound, but this isn't usually a problem.

Absolutely spot-on. I do suspect though that this was a setup done by Digital Village, not as shipped by Line6.

I don't see there being any problems with the guitar. My only worry is with the floor-box power supply, but I can live with that.

Not needed it.

I'm generally keen on finding the right tone for the song, rather than using a "standard" tone on everything. So I use a Korg multi-FX already to get loads of different sounds, and just put it through the amp on clean. The Variax is just a natural extension of this.

Ratings-wise, it's got to be a 10, really. There's nothing else like it, and especially not when you can't even buy a basic road-series Fender or Gibson for that price. If it gets broken or stolen, I'll buy another immediately.

You are aware of the features, Jack of all trades, master of none.

Mine started life as a black one.

The electronics on this are the whole reason you want one. They are worth it.

My 10 is specifically because it has TONS of features. It's loaded with sounds.

As others have said, the sounds are really nice. I have plenty of guitars to compare this to, and to me, the differences between the original and the Variax sounds are much like the differences between different identical guitars. They're different, but it's pretty slight. All the sounds are very usable on stage, and they shine in recordings.

Not a huge fan of the 12 string sounds, but the alt tunings are really nice. LOVE the workbench. Really nice to experiment with.

Here's where I really wasn't happy. It felt like a really poor guitar. The neck was shimmed with plastic, the nut was "funny" and the frets were rough. I have purchased a few cheapo guitars (my fave is the Squier '51) and this one was not a well made cheapo guitar. I would recommend a different factory, this one is rough.

HOWEVER, I yanked the electronics (Really not hard to do at all) and dropped them into a Warmoth Black Korina Body and a Warmoth Pro neck. Set it up right, and plugged it in. It felt as good as it played. This is how the thing was meant to be. Honestly, I think it sounded better with the Warmoth parts (it's illogical because it's a computer and maintains the sound digitally, but maybe it's happier with me in its new home...)

My rating is based on the way it was out of box...

As it was, it would have worked, but it just didn't feel good. I wouldn't want to play it for hours, it just never hit my heart. With the body change it became one of my go to axes.

The original body and neck is now sitting on a shelf in my shop. Someday it will make a nice doorstop or something...

The bridge and the electonics are constructed very well and I have no doubts that they will last for a while. The solders were very clean on the circuit board, and there was no slop or runners on it.

My rating is an average of the highs of the electronics, and the lows of the body and neck

I have had a few interactions with Line6, and to quote the American Idol judges, "I'm a Fan". They have always been fair with me and pretty fast.

I've been playing for 30 years and I own a lot of the gear many people drool over (The benefit of giving up on that dream of being a pro guitarist, and focusing on Computer Science is that I can afford what I want now.)

My guitars are mostly tweaked to the 10s, I play mostly assembled Warmoths or USA Customs, My off the shelf guitars mostly have just the label in common with their original counterparts.

I play Keeley modded effects, a Teese wah, and tweaked tube amps including Ceriatone, Fender, Hoffman and homebuilts.

I have played most every type of music, and currently play with a cover band that covers everything from metal to country to jazz. This puppy covers everything really well. Well enough to generate complements from my band and from the crowd.

Do yourself a favor, buy one on eBay for a cheap price, and drop it into a Warmoth body. Buy a neck that meets your desires, and you'll have spent $700 on a guitar that sounds like many much more expensive guitars. I love mine in its current form, and plan on making one more...

I really only wish that Line6 had the option to buy the electronics outright. The doorstop that they shipped them in is too pricey.

Made in Indonesia, 22 frets medium frets, 1 volume and tone, 1 model selection knob, 5-way selector switch, 2 outputs (standard 1/4" and Line 6 VDI). You can go to Line6.com for detals on the models and such. In terms of value for the money, it's very high. If you have a POD XT Live or Vetta, you can get extra power from saving guitars with effects patches, which is a very nice option. Also, you can use Workbench though the Vetta or XTL without the separate interface. As someone who has to use a lot of different tunings often, having the ability to save tunings and not have to change guitars is absolutely imparative.

Um, I was surprised. It sounds great. I don't own all the actual guitar, but I can tell you it does sound like the ones I do own (LP and Strat). Many of the sounds are very usable and accurate enough. Sure, they are not perfect, but if you need total versatlity, it'll do very nicely.

I got mine used on eBay. I had to change the strings and do the standard neck adjustments and lower the action a bit. Small buzzes here and there, but they are not audible amplified. It plays much better that advertised.

Seems pretty solid. I'll get a backup just because I only own one. If it holds up like my POD XTL, it'll be a winner.

I was unsure I wanted to go the whole way into digital modelling. I've used a POD XT Live for a while now, and it's been great. Once I started to mess around with the Variax and all the possibilities especially in tandem with the XTL, I was blown away. Again, if you're one of those analog snobs, don't bother. I play in a contemporary church where I need to accomodate vocalists with different ranges, changing keys, and varying styles often. For players with these needs, I can't think of a better value-for-the-money modern tool than a Variax. Again, the models are not perfect, but they will do more than well enough to get through almost any situation.

The basic Variax, made in China to a high standard. Cant expect much finesse for the price especially as I got $200 off as red ones don't sell as well - I think it's fine. The neck isn't very comfortable around the nut - too thin, not enough to anchor on to. Have played it regularly for about 6 months and no problems with anything yet

Would prefer to have paid more for a solid metal floor power box rather than the dodgy looking plastic one. The stereo lead supplied crapped out quickly so got a decent one.

They've done a pretty good job of capturing the essence of most of the 30 or so models/tunings it comes with. BUT, it's like the difference between a high resolution photograph - perfect in every detail - and the same scene in real life. The guitar just doesn't have quite the presence that the real things have. Presumably that can be modelled, if you know what the magic element is, so maybe later generations will nail it. Having said that, it's now my main performance guitar because we cover anything that rocks from 60s to the present, and the slight compromise on 'presence' is outweighed by the huge sound palette.

I find the main thing about good tone is that it inspires the player to play better. Few in the audience are even aware of individual instruments most of the time and just respond to the band's overall sound. So by approximating a wide variety of guitars, your're more likely to impress an audience than using the world's best-ever Strat to try and cover everything - it just doesn't inspire as much when you really need an acoustic sound (try Black Horse and a Cherry Tree on a Strat ansd you won't enjoy playing the song) or say an Eb Les Paul for Guns n Roses.

Working against this inspiration though is the psychological difficulty you face in playing a cheap feeling/looking guitar and imagining what you're supposed to be playing! Buying the 900 would partly solve this, and I think the price of that is still very good value.


The ones I use most are Tele (position 4), Strat (2 and 5), Les Paul (1-3), Special (1-3: these are my favourites), Gretsch (3 and 5), Ricky (3and 5) Acoustic (3 and 5), Custom - Les Paul detuned to Eb (for Guns & Roses etc), tunings (open E, open A)

Very good for the price. No flaws apart from the lead. Just cheap looking.

So far so good. Always take at least one other guitar to a gig as it's still unproven

Dunno

Been playing 45 years,since teenage bands in Liverpool in the 60s. I had settled on a Twin, Strats and Tele, with a decent rack of pedals. I now use the Variax for its variety, and settle for the imprefect sound and the completely wrong feel for playing.

Got this Variax through CraigsList before they got cheap (and apparently got a bit cheap in the manufacturing process too). It came with the good foot pedal/power supply that has an XLR output as well as the standard 1/4" jack. The body is jet black ... and very nicely finished too. He had a Peavey hard case that fits perfectly and all the cables too ... more than comes with the $300 ones sold in the stores or Musician's Friend.

What surprised me was how good it sounds when recorded. Not only does it give you all the classic sounds they talk about, things like the relative volume of the guitars is realistic too. EG: If you play the Strat sound then click to a Les Paul, the volume jumps up about the amount a LP is louder than a Strat. And the fact that response and playability are exactly like a "real" guitar ... down to pick scratches and hand muting and string noise. All of it is precisely like playing a "normal" guitar.

The things you can do using the computer Workbench are WAY beyond what I originally expected. I'd thought that I was pretty much getting just guitar sounds and would have to drop the bottom string for "Drop D" tuning and such basic stuff. NOT! With the workbench, I built EVERY odd tuning I've ever tried, even a "split guitar" with the bottom three strings an octave down for playing bass along with the upper strings in normal tuning ... amazing for a jazzer or a good finger/pick player! You want a Baritone guitar? Click the switch. Open D or open G or open pick your chord? No problem!

So that's why this has become my favorite guitar. I can play ANY part in a recording session without even re-tuning the thing!

When I bought it, the previous owner had it set up pretty well. Just the right string height and neck relief. I just feels like a well finished Strat ... but with NO pickups to get in the way of your fingers or buzz next to a light dimmer or a computer monitor!

The only tweak I did was to lift the bottom fret a tad on the bass side to prevent a bit of buzzing on loud strokes. All it took was a slight lift with a knife blade and a bead of Crazy Glue and it's been perfect for more than a year now, probably forever.

This particular guitar seems very solid. I find that the tuning stays rock solid for days at a time, so the tuners and neck must be solid too. The only possible concern might be the fact that if the true computer inside went on the fritz, it'd be like having your hard drive crash in a computer. ALL sound is created instantly inside the body, including all the stuff you created with the Workbench and saved ... body styles, pickup choices, tunings, etc. There's a lot more going on inside than any "normal" guitar. So if I was a guy making a living playing night after night, I'd either have another Variax ready as a backup, or another "ordinary" guitar to grab just in case.

The only thing that was strange was when I got the Workbench (off eBay). After the first experiments were successful, the guitar wouldn't talk to the computer the next time. I did several software re-installs, but still no dice. So I called their Service Dept guys and ... despite the fact that I hadn't bought either the guitar OR the Workbench from them (!!) they gave me all kinds of help. Still didn't work. So they actually SENT ME A REPLACEMENT Workbench (remember, it wasn't under warranty and I didn't buy it from them!).

You know what the problem was? Not their Workbench software or hardware ... it was the silly computer plug in the guitar! I'd bent one of the 6 or 8 contact wires so the thing didn't "see" the interface box! It took me exactly 2 minutes to fix it with a pair of tweezers! Wasn't a construction or software problem. It was a stupid bent wire that I had bent!

I'm an old fart who's been playing since the early 1960's (cut my teeth on The Ventures!). Over the years I've built up a collection of WAY too many guitars and keyboards, many of which are pretty classic axes, both electric and acoustic. I've got great PLAYING guitars of every description, fretted and fretless basses, several mandolins, a dobro, a lap steet, even a bouzouki from Ireland! I've repaired many instruments and amps and love the smell of solder. I've designed and created custom guitars in both acoustic and electric forms. So when I say that this Variax has become my favorite guitar ... to PLAY and to listen to while I play ... it might carry some weight.

These folks have come up with something that constantly changes the way I play and they've put it all together in a form that's what I'm used to holding, with NONE of the irritating things that you learn to live with ... like hummmmm when you stand the wrong direction in a room with dimmed lights or 2 feet from your computer when you're recording.

Replace it? Absolutely! It pisses me off now when I play one of my old classics and, after about 3 tunes, find I can't just flip a switch and lay a bass part down in my Boss looper or hear an amazing sitar on top of a mellow Les Paul bed in a mix.

They've got me hooked!

The other reviews will give you a full round down of the list of features but my impression, after playing the guitar for just one week, is that the general build quality for the money is merely average.
After having some problems with my 300 I had a look at the Variax 600 and my fingers were cut to bits by all frets that were sticking out the neck. The shop assistant thought that the wood in the neck may well have seasoned or shrunk after the frets had been added.
The first 3 Variax 300s I tried were all faulty. The first had no output whatsoever, the 2nd produced crackling noises on one of the pickup selector settings, the third also had an issue with the selector (it wouldn't re-select new guitars or tones without repeated jiggling) the fourth (touch wood) seems to be Ok.

This is why I persisted with this guitar... I would never in a million years put up with the aggravation of trying numerous faulty models without the killer feature of the variax which know to be the instant access to its broad sound palette.

What impressed me about having all the sounds so quickly available to me was the tunes, licks etc that I was inspired to have a go at that I wouldn't normally touch. On the banjo setting I found myself learning dualing banjos, on the sitar setting I was experimenting with new chords, weird scales of my own invention, I started playing Byrds licks on the twelve string settings etc etc.

I recently bought a Digitech JamMan phrase sampler and I was layering these different instrument sounds over each other and it was inspiring. I'm not a particularly good musician but the sound mix of all these instruments starting out with some basic chords has really motivated me to improve in all facets of musicianship.

I am a tad dissappointed by lack of effect that the tone knob has - I am aware that on some settings it is designed to have no effect but I found that even when it is supposed to be adjustable its effect seems almost negligible.

I would never get a Variax by mail order. In my opinion Line 6 has quality control issues. To try 5 of their guitars (4 300s and 1 600) and find only one that so far seems fully operational is a very poor ratio. Maybe I have just been very unlucky.

Due to the problems I have encountered so far with the Variax range I would never take this guitar to a gig without a backup. For me, it's worth lies in recording, practice and general musical exploration. For the latter, it excels.

I have heard good things about Line 6 customer support but have had no direct experience myself.

In music, I crave variety. I hate the thought of being limited to one style, one genre, one sound etc so the Variax suits me. I also dislike having too much gear - amps, effects etc. I am primarily an acoustic guitarist but have recently picked up the electric again after a long abstinence.

As previously mention this guitar is tool to explore musical possibilities. I have so far got an enormous amount out of it and it has resulted me being able to scratch up some interesting stringed instrument arrangements. I have also found it a useful practice instrument for learning guitar in the various styles when a particular guitar type is associated with that style e.g. Gretsch - rockabilly etc.

If I were a professional musician I wouldn't use a variax as a replacement for the real thing. Certainly, don't thing for a moment that you will never need an accoustic guitar because the Variax has it modelled - there is no real comparison.

I'm so far glad I persisted with the Variax and I certainly would replace it - but I'd only buy a 300 series. Ideally I would like the Variax system in a better guitar. I would like to see a collaboration between Variax and a reputable guitar maker to produce a quality, reliable instrument. That I would cough up extra for.

20+ guitars in one. what can you ask for more. I guess you can ask for more. Will there be a software updates add more guitars? Like Maple Neck Strats, PRSs, etc. For the time being it does fine with me. I finished my Christmas instumental CD that I give to eveyone for each year - and I used the Variax 300 and XTlive exclusively. It turned out pretty well. I have used many variation and used lot of different guitar. I had one track that I down tunes to Eb. And it sounded pretty good. I have been using this Varaix for reheasals - was still scared to use it for real gig. Today I did and it turned out pretty good.

I mainly play in a praise and worship band - where veratality is required depending on the songs. We do not have a acoustic guitar player. And many praise/worship song comes alive with acoustic touch. I also own a Brian Moore iGuitar. I call it my Utility guitar. Check my posting on Brian Moore for details. The piezo on BM is pretty good - although it seems harsh. My Main Axe is Fender Stratocaster Eric Johnson Model. It is one of the best guitar that I have ever owned. I started using Boss Acoustic simulator - well it does the job. The acoustic modeling with 5 choices on Variax just blows other acoustic emulator - except using a real acoustic guitar. Even that has limitation dependinh how it is processed by the main PA guy.

The spank (strat) is the setting that I use most. Looks like it is modeled after a rosewood 60's model and it does not have bright maple sound - and the in between sound of BM and MN PU selection is not too good. I do love the P-90. I actually created a P-90 on a Les Paul - looks like it sounds better that the Les Paul Jr.

I had the need to play jazzy for some Christmas gig. I liked the Jazz Box - sounded too boomy. But with the right amp setting it worked great. I wanted to try 335 but it sounded too "electric" I own a Ephiohone Casino - It sounds woody. I thought Semi(335) would sound similar. For Jazz like the Box model.

I like the Lester for lead. Something that I couldn't get with my Strat nor BM. I have not used Rickenbucker or Tele...yet on a live situation.

I will keep it updated

It is $300 Guitar... I actually paid $259.00 - buying a demo.. which happened to be defective. and I got good fresh one in the box.. a Sunburst. Neck could be better. I heard there is a way to swap the neck to something better. I will do more research.

Well first one that I had was DOA. electronical problem... It stays in tune ok..but I can't do too much bending.. So far no major problem

I was told that I could get replacement in 3 days... it took me 4 weeks. It probably is retail thing not the manufacturer's fault

Great guitar- it could be the future of guitar. Like keyboard had a transition from hammered (piano) and bag piped (organ) to digital simulation. I think guitar is evolving toward this... it just took so long.. Because we guitarist are so - traditional?? I still love tube tone and there is nothing like 50 year old banged up strat. Well it is changing..

It's all good

Everyone should know by now what the Variax is and does. There is simplay nothing else like it on the market. That last statement does take into account Fender's new VG Strat. While being a great guitar in it's own right it doesn't compete with the Variax on the instruments it models. I give this section a 9 because there are a few other instruments I would like to have seen modelled. Still, you can't have it all I suppose.

I suspect that, like me, the vast majority of other players out there do not or will not own all the instruments that the Variax offers. Having said that, I own a Strat and a Gretsch. The Variax does not sound exactly like my Strat or my Gretsch. However, the Variax offerings do sound like a Strat or a Gretsch, just not mine. Do you see where I'm going with this? Sound-wise, it does a damn fine job with the breadth of options available. Before Variax what else was there. So why be picky??

I give this section a 9 because it can't be all things to all people but comes mighty close.

Well here is the downside. You get what you pay for. This is basically a cheap Indonesian made guitar that, without the Variax electronics, no one would buy. Certainly not at the price anyway. Want better quality? Then either upgrade to a 600 or a 700 or build your own using either pre-routed body or make you own.

The guitar can be improved by performing a little set-up work etc but it'll never be your dream player.

I give a 4 because that's all the actual guitar itself deserves.

No problems to date. I play it through a POD XT Live so don't have to worry about fading batteries.

I give this section a 7 because the hardware is not as good as other guitars of the same value.

Line 6 have always been very helpful when needed. No problems with these guys. They deserve a 10 for that.

Been playing over 35 years and owned all sorts of guitars. Having started off with a Hofner Colorama and dodgy solid-state amp I've been spoiled over the years with better and better gear. The Variax to me is nothing short of a wonder. Technology has made it possible and I'm not one to go on about "how much better things were in the past". I just wish I'd had one of these all those years ago.

I fully intend to transplant the electrics into a better guitar so that I can get the very best out of the modelled sounds.

All of the settings sound good. The Gretsch and semi-hollow sound particularly good.
The problem I have with the sound is all the things that a piezo pickup DOESN'T produce: the interaction between your pick and pickup, the little squeaks and sqwaks and honks when your sound is overdriven, and the subtle variations in string attack. The Variax is just incapable of transmitting that, and after a while, it really bugged me.
Also occasionally I would notice that an individual string would seem quieter than the others. I read on several Line 6 groups that this happened. If you have Workbench you can solve this but I never bought it.

Pretty good for factory setup.

Seemed fine.

I also got tired of having to put batteries in my guitar, that gets old fast.

Stock as described before. Worked well--then I took it apart and tried to put the bridge and electronics into a double neck body with a upper ax being a mandolin. Unfortunately after a lot of routing and juggling it was not to be. So....... I cut the top 3rd off the body of the Variax and cut the double neck in half. I glued them together and put on an old Ibanez Roadstar II neck. It is now a great double ax: Mandolin and Variax.

When I played it for the first time I ran it through my bass amp--Didn't sound so great. Spouse thought it was a waste of money and time. After the alteration above I set it up with 3 channels on my GT3: Clean Jazz sound with verb, Clean preamp with verb, and then a regular twinlike sound for blues etc.

I use the ES 335 emulation with the clean jazz setting to great sucess--sounds fab. As good or better than my regular guitar.

I use the Martin 6 String acoustic sound and the Guild 12 String sounds---They work really well--They are not like having the real thing miked with condenser's but in a gig setting it is great--no hassles, usable acoustic tones.

I have used the Sitar a few times in the clean Jazz or acoustic setting--it works really well.

I have only used a Tele or Strat sounds a few times--but they worked well.

This ax tracks all nuances of playing--just like a real guitar.

Here is my suggestion: I play jazz and don't need to bend a lot. I strung it with Diadario bluegrass acoustic strings. Gives me great jazz tone and very usable acoustic sounds. The GT3 makes the difference for processing. (I am not into distortion--so GT3 is perfect) The sound is very clean

I hated the neck --so I switched it out. There is not much to change after that. Now it is great.So I give it a "5" for the neck--but at $299--it is a steal

I use this ax 3 times a week without a backup for 3 months. I hope that it will last a long time. I took all the electrics out--dragged the cables through new routing holes---then put it all back into the Variax body. It still worked!! After that it should be able to handle normal wear and tear. So far no problems

I destroyed the warranty--so not much point in contacting Line 6

I have been playing 15 years professionally. Have used Ibanez Strat model--Cort Les Paul (great guitar) Hohner ES 335 Model (Another great Guitar), Tacoma Archtop and a Martin M-38.

The Variax with a neck replacement is a great gigging guitar. The amount of usable tones is jaw dropping

Variax 300 electric having solid black body similiar to a Fender Stratocaster with black pickguard, satin bridge, enclosed chrome tuners, maple neck and rosewood fretboard. Five position selection switch has white top and three control knobs are knurled with chrome tops.

Shipped with mini XPS power supply that in turn receives power from a 9 VAC at 2000 milliamp power pack, 6 AAA battery holder, neck truss rod allen wrench, bridge allen wrench, Planet Waves TRS cable, Pilot's (owners) manual and advertisement for Workbench usb interface.

Purchased August 3, 2007 and was manufactured in China March, 2007.

The features are not rated as high as they could be because: TS cable required to connect with an amplifier is not included. Received product is cosmetically different than advertising photographs.

The guitar sounds really good for the uses I have. I use it on ballads, country and classic rock. I use a Fender 15G amplifier and the effects section of a Zoom MRS-8 multitrack recorder.

Factory setup was fair. Strings were set way too high, all strings were in tune but one. Intonation was slightly off.

Intonation is diffcult to set because the bridge to body screws interfere with saddle adjustments. The screw heads are raised a little higher than the bridge itself.

I don't like the satin finish to the bridge and string saddles as I expected chrome. Similarly I don't understand the white cap on the five way switch or the stainless steel pickguard screws on a black body guitar having a black pickguard. Both are more a matter of taste and expectation than fault with the finish.

The build quality was better than I expected and in line with what I hoped.

I have no doubts about the guitar lasting. Strap button are solid and dependable. The finish is thick, solid and glossy. All controls have a solid feel. It stays in tune. If I was a professional musician, I used it on gigs.

I have not had to use Line 6 or AMS customer support.

The amazing breathe of tone is both the plus and minus to this guitar. All the sounds are pleasing, solid and clean. Having said that, the sounds are a little different than any other guitar I've ever heard. I think sound quantity and quality are why most people buy this instrument. If this one was lost or stolen, I'd definately buy another.

Okay if, like me, you never tried a line 6 product before, this is my first impression having purchased a Variax 300 yesterday and been playing it "non-stop" at home (for only one day).

1] to me, the sound is un-usable with a solid state amp. too grainy. horrible.
2] useable with a tube amp. not bad. good enough.
3] at low volume its like a synthesizer vs. a piano (each are useful). it has less dynamic range and less tonal variations. to me, it definitely does not sound like the real thing but nevertheless its an "attractive" artifical sound. Its "addictive" emough to pratice with.)
4] at high volume (which I haven't really tried fully yet) this sounds damn good. Actually, even with "real" equipment, to me, really loud guitars sound like "horns".
5] "un-plugged" the guitar sounds "twangy" as in "country". louder than I expected. the wood is good but still light weight.

I made the seller set the intonation at purchase (took 15 minutes).

Build better than I expected. hey, this is only a $299 instrument. No problems playing. Nice wide flat neck with big enough frets. Knobs feel solid. Nice paint job. Am pleased and cannot ask for anything more at this price.

I give this a 9 when considering the price.

You know what I'm going to do? At home, I'm going to put away all my guitars except for 3, this one, a nylon acoustic and a bass. This is all I need to mess around with. I like 2 of the extremely reverby acoustics settings. I will have a small tube amp upstairs and a larger tube amp downstairs. I think this is good for now.

Note: I am just a hobbyist. Not a professional or giging guitar player. I do have a little recording business (tracking and post) so I know decent sound.

I give this an 8 because it fills a need.

P.S. I ordered a Live XT floorboard that I didn't get yet.

Very nicely finished guitar and the features for the price are probably unbeatable. The guitar seems well made and solid and so far the electronics are working perfectly. The only thing i would say is that the strings that it came with were not that great but then again i dont know how long this guitar was hung on the wall in the shop before i bought it. A new set of strings made it brighter and more responsive with much better sustain. The new strings perticularly made the acoustics sound alot better.

Though the variax 300 does come with a power supply, to cut costs Lin6 only provided the basic one and not the footswitchable one. This does seem a bit cheep of line6 as they only cost ??22 so i will be purchasing one soon.

Other than that apsolutly brilliant for the money, i bought it for studio recording at uni just because i dont have that many guitars so the versatility is amazing.

The sound quality is brilliant. The fact that it has no conventinal pickups makes it extremely quiet and none of my computer hardware effects it. I did take some time setting up my POD so the different patches were true to the different guitar models. I did this because my friend tried one out and said he was disapointed as the different guitar models sounded two simialar.

In response to this they will sound samey if you dont change your amp settings to correspond to the different styles of music that each model in the variax has been designed for, Once i had set up my POD with the patches that i liked the range of this instrument is almost endless.

Some others have said that the acoustic models dont sound very good. I think they do sound good but only when used right Line 6 did state that the Acoustics sound best through a PA (why i will be purchasing the footswitch) or acoustic amp just like any other so its not bound to sound very nice through a guitar amp because that isnt what it was designed for. I managed to get them to sound pretty good through a small fender combo with a flat EQ (bass-0 middle-10 treble-0) but when tried through a PA they sounded amazing. I guess its thats fact thatit still feels like an electric guitar that places a slight bit of doubt in my mind.

The finish was perfect!!
The action was to high for my liking though the shop i bought it from offers a free set up with every guitar when bought new so this wasnt an issue either.

The guitar seems very well built. The wood used for the neck and the body have some weight to them and the guitar is nicely ballanced. The tuning stablity is fabulous aswell. So far i have had apsolutely no trouble with the electronics within the guitar but as it is a digital instrument im not sure i would fully trust it just yet. Because of the sheer range of tone i can produce i would probably use it live but i would definatly have a backup guitar just in case.

The strap pegs are solid and the finish seems very thick and durable.

I havnt had to deal with line 6 for this particular product though they have been helpful in the past when it came to recomending a good foot controller for the POD 2.0 (Behringer FCB1010 :D)

The guitar also comes with a one year waranty on the electronics and a limited lifetime waranty on wood.

Overall i would have to give this guitar a 10 just because if its sound/build quality and versatility. I have been playing about 7 years now and do alot of recording and composing, I also play bass in a semi professional band. In fairness i have only every owned a Squire Showmaster, a Vintage SG and an Ibanez destroyer but as far as it goes this is the best guitar i have evr bought and if it were lost or stolen i would definatly buy another.

The only thing i would say about the guitar that i didnt like was the fact that it came with no case and no footswitch and to switch to a PA during a gig to make the acoustics sound awsome you need that footswitch. The footswitch is ??22 how much does that cost to make. No alot as i would imagine as the thing is powered by a 9vDC PSU so there is nothing at all in the DI box apart from a very basic curcuit so how much more would it cost to add a footswitch into that, not alot.

I am still going to give it a 10 because it is an awsome instrument and i cant wait to get the Workbench software :D

The features have been covered enough, it's a digital modeling guitar and it has a bunch of models available. You'll like some and have no use for others.

Sounds surprisingly good, I was expecting less. I play it through a tube amp built by Mark Sampson and use good analog stompboxes. I favor Strats and Jazzboxes, but I also like P-90 guitars as well. The Jazzbox is not that great but it's useable for practice. The acoustic models have typical piezo sounds and the reso models are a kick, but I don't know what to do with them. The Strat, P-90 and semi-hollow models alone make this instrument worth the money for me.

I bought mine from a local dealer and got it already set-up and in tune. It's not an attractive guitar to my eyes (the pickguard is just flat ugly) but that's not what I bought it for. I have the three tone finish and it looks amateurish. But the fretwork is excellent and there is no burring. The neck is unfinished so I'll probably have to take some 0000 steel wool to it.

No comment.

Not needed so far, but it's still early.

17 amps-100+ pedals-and this is my 46th guitar. Doesn't mean I know anything but I've had plenty of things to compare it to. It's nowhere near the best guitar I've ever owned but it's quite serviceable. I wish they would have had these things around when I was young, it would have saved me a lot of time, effort and money. If you're a purist-stay away- if you like variety, this is a gas. It has plenty of limitations tonally but it's a lot of fun for those of us who are easily bored.

Strat style solid body with piezo pickups in the bridge. Simulates several popular electric and acoustic guitars. Not built like a PRS but not bad for the price.

Sounds very good, full stop. I have/had a few nice guitars such as an American Deluxe strat, Mexican strat, Gibson Nighthawk among others. Now I only play the Variax. I don??t care if the sound matches the originals or not. I only know that the strat model sounds like a nice sounding strat, the tele sounds like a nice tele and there is at least one great sounding acoustic model. Another great feature is its silence. I play in circumstances where even silent humbucker guitars are noisy (lots of ligthing, Giottos and all that stuff). It is quiet even with high gain and compressors on. Also, to be able to tune down a whole step or however you like is a blessing, although you must use the Workbench program for that.

Needed to be adjusted a bit. Its hard to get very low action without buzzing but I love its playability anyway. Finish is decent.

I do trust this guitar and it hasn't broken down on me yet, but it does have one flaw. When using the five way switch it will not always change to the desired sound. Sometimes it won't even change or it will go to another sound. That's not good. So Line 6 please take notice on this. Good idea to have a backup guitar.

I play guitar for a living. I have seen other pros using the 700, 500 and even the cheap 300 live. Judge sound with your ears. Playability can always be improved. I'm using this guitar instead of my beloved American
Deluxe so it can't be that bad.

Standard features of the Variax 300 which have been covered numerous times here. Picked up a sunburst model, not due to choice, but due to being the only one I could lay my hands on in any shop in my area. Finish is excellent. Very think poly finish. Perfectly finished. Almost looks like someone's poured treacle over it. Everything is was perfect. Frets finished nicely, tuners functioning good and no cosmetic or functional issues at all.

I think the sounds of the variax are all excellent and perfectly usable. There's not as much difference between some models as you might think. I think if someone played some of the models, you might have a hard time guessing which one it was. As all have said, the lack of pickups and the subsequent lack of noise interference is very handy. I find a lot of the sounds lacking in top end regardless of the amp used or DI. The acoustic sounds are very well done. A lot of people don't like the 12 string simulations, but I think they're excellent. I think it's partly psychological in what works, but if you heard the tones recorded, you'd be hard pushed to know it was a simulation. The only thing I'd say about the variax is that if you play metal or rock and are looking for a high output, sharp top end tone, you won't find it here. For classic rock, blues and anything where gain isn't much on an issue, you'd find something here to suit you. The alternate tunings are a god send. The variax now ships with 5 alternate tunings in the second custom back to give you a taste of them and based on that, I'll be picking up workbench to go along with it, and I'm sure most people would too. The only issue with that is the model which is stated as tuned to open G and it is, but not what the majority would consider open G. It's an odd variation which won't help most. Other than that, very impressed.

Do to it being the only place that had one, I had to buy from Sound Control which I try to avoid. I don't know if they'd done any setup, but I doubt it and the setup was good for me out of the box. I thought it was set up with 9s but I'm starting wonder if they're 10s. I don't know how the string gauge would affect a piezo pickup as I'm new to them, but I'd prefer 8s on there. The action was tiny bit higher than I'd like, but it's certainly playable. The neck is comfortable and fast enough. You're not gonna feel like you're playing a ??500 plus guitar, but it doesn't feel like a bargain basement banjo either. Not excellent, but not bad,

I haven't used to variax live and I don't think I would. The options it offers are a godsend, but the majority of an audience doesn't give a crap about your tones really, they care about looks. I think I'll stick to my usual rig for live, but in the studio, I think I'd take nothing but the variax. I wouldn't want to have only the variax at a gig and have it die on me and not have a full rig to back it up and if I had to take the full rig anyway, why bother with the variax?

haven't had to deal with them.

I've played for almost 20 years and owned loads of gear. Some good, some laughable. The variax isn't the worst guitar I've ever picked up. Ironically, it is one of the cheapest. I haven't had it long and I'd have to wait till the novelty 'new toy' factor wore off to see if I went back to it. It doesn't feel like home yet when playing it. I think it's going to become at home in the studio and never feel the heat of the lights. The 300 is so cheap now that I'd recommend most guitar players pick one up just for tinkering with. You can explore alternate tunings and pick away on a banjo for fun. I guess that's worth the price of admission alone. The final word I will say is that I was under the impression that all variax's came with a gig bag and that the power box was also an A/B box, but that's not the case now. To make is cheaper there's no gig back and power box is just that and nothing more. Still, I only paid ??249 and while it can be found cheaper, I feel it's been worth the cost, so far.

Orange Sunburst with perfect gloss finish. Looks excellent (as there's no "ugly" pickups). The body is surprisingly small compared to my Start copy to the extent that I've had to adjust my strumming arm as I was strumming above the frets. Having readjusted to hit where the middle pickup on a Start would be, I find I knock the 5-way selector sometimes though. Hence an 8 (so I still like it).

I play at home (in the cellar den) for my own pleasure. Sound sad doesn't it?

As a result I play a lot of modern acoustic rock rhythym (Kooks, Starsailor) plus some Beatles (I'm that old) through Pink Floyd, Brit-pop (Oasis etc.) and Led Zeppelin too. Hey, I'm a Brit - what did you expect?

You can imagine why I bought this then. Choose a guitar, click the multi-effect pedal I need, and go! You end up changing styles three or four times per practice session for the fun of it.

It really does make a 2 hour practice session feel half that.

Issues? The acoustic models aren't perfect, especially the 12-strings, but still sound more than good enough when picking out the opening lines of "wish you were here by Pink Floyd"

Frets could have been better finished (rubbed my fat fingers on the sharper than I'm used to edges when playing and bending the 6th string), but I can replace the neck at this price. Action was too high for me (coming from a low-cost and low-action strat copy) and I did release the neck bolt half a turn, but otherwise spot-on.

Dropped some 9s on there and that helped. May try 8s later (I used to play Rotosound 8s a while ago so may try again), but 9s seem fine.

So far not an issue. I don't gig so not the best person to comment. No big problems so far (6 months in). I had read that people have damaged the piezo pickups when changing strings. Well all I can say is that I'm ham-fisted and I haven't hurt them yet after two full-set string changes).

No problems, so no comment.

Got it from Sound Control in Sheffield (UK) and they were VERY patient as I tried to decide between a Highway One Strat and this. Yes after 90 minutes I chose the Variax over a US built strat, the flexibility being more important to me than the smooth sexy H1 feel. So although Sound Control had lost the gig bag it's supposed to come with, and palmed me off with a very iffy replacement, they left me alone to try stuff out so well done there guys! Would have been a 10 except for the missing gig bag.

I've been playing badly (and intermittenty) for around 30 years (started learning with 70s punk) and figured it may be worth someone who doesn't spend a fortune (or that much time) on music (it's only a hobby) and never had GAS at all before - offering an opinion.

I use a little 8 channel mixer through powered studio monitors with a Sennheiser e835 mic for my warblings and a Zoom 505 multi-effects (soon to be a Line6 XT Pro Live of course). Or sometimes I use my Fender MG15CD practice amp too (although that's no use for the Acoustic Variax models).

I was looking for an upgrade for my tiring Strat copy and thought I'd buy a Highway One, but the Variax allows me to do more (as a personal entertainment guitar) so it won (and was over ??100 cheaper - but that wasn't a real factor in the choice).

You have to understand that in my case the guitar isn't the limiting factor (my fingers and poor musical skills are). Given this, spending money on the Fender name badge seemed silly given this sounded just as good in my hands. No-one's suggested this as a learner's first upgrade, but to me it's ideal!

In the 6 moths I've had this guitar I've played twice as much as I used to, and took a guitar (the Variax) on holiday with me for the first time ever last month as I couldn't think of having free time and not playing around with it. You can't really say more than that.

I'm a solo act in Southwest Florida so the 300 has interested me for awhile. It wasn't easy to get the $299 red one but http://www.jr.com/ had 2 left. I got it last night and plugged it into my Carvin PA and most sounds are pretty darn good. Like others said, the Rick 12's aren't very good but may work in a band situation. It was hard to tell the difference between the Martin D28 and Guild 6 string - both are very good. The real electrics would certainly sound better thru a guitar amp vs. the PA but a couple are very nice for rhythm. The surprise for me was the big Gretsch. That one was really crisp. I'll use the National for a few honky tunes for sure. I'm not sure when I'll get to use it thru my Blues DeVille, if ever, since I haven't used it since I moved here in 2001.

Pretty impressive overall. Haven't heard the solids thru an amp or even with an overdrive pedal yet but that's where they'll probably sound best. It will suit my style very well. I play Beatles, Hollies, Kinks, Elvis Costello, Springsteen, Talking Heads, thru Bobby Darin and John Denver. I do need at least a $5 tip to play Buffett though. I'll give it a go Thursday night. The acoustics seem the best for my act but we'll see. I was using a Parker P38 and combined the piezo and mostly the front single in the 2nd position. The others have the usual hiss issues and the Variax will be a relief. It sounded great thru the Carvin. I also use a Boss DR5 for drum backing. Now when Digitech releases the Vocalist Live 2 I'll be all set!

My biggest concern reading this forum and by far the biggest surprise. It was set up great, the knobs were solid, very playable, and not a scratch on it. Better looking in person too.

This one's the tough call but only from the electronics. It may turn out to be a 10 but who can tell. The actual guitar, however, is way more solid than I expected. I guess I lucked out. It sure isn't what I expected from these reviews or the Guitar Player comparison of $500 and under guitars the other month.

I've been playing since the week after the Beatles were on Ed Sullivan. High School bands thru GB bands with tuxedos. I was a solo/duo act in Massachusetts before moving to FL in 2001. I play out once a week and that's enough with a regular job and 4 guitar students. My other guitars are the P38, 82 Ibanez Artist, 80 Ibanez AS200, 78 Ibanez 2455 ES175 copy, Peavey Odyssey, Peavey Foundation Bass, Taylor 710KCE limited edition KOA, and Seagull S6 Cedar. Fender Blues DeVille and a small Tech21. I wouldn't be in the market for another guitar but this one will offer me way more sounds than the Parker. It can get boring doing the same old stuff so this will at least get me interested again. This is an unreal value for my situation.

No point in re-inventing what other reviewers have written. For me however, is the fact Line 6 has created a modelling guitar, is a great feature and accomplishment in this kind of technology. I really become infuriated when reviewers rant on about it not sounding like "this model or that model" guitar. The 300 and the rest of the Variax range are modellers nothing more, nothing less. Once they get rid of that mindset, review it for what it is- a modeller!

I nde play almost any style of music and the 300 nails most genres. I've run it through a Behringer 40watt, A Jade 80w keyboard amp, a Roland 50w with onboard digital effects and unbranded amps and the 300 sounded good through all of them. Through a zoom 504ii acoustic the harshness of the humbucker models is "softened". I'd say that 80% of all the models are useful while the sitar and banjo are interesting to have fun with.

My 300 was great out of the box. No complaints here.

If treated carefully it will last a long time. I don't like the feel of the machine heads- they feel cheapish. As a matter of caution I'll replace the strap buttons with strap-locking ones. It's dependable and I've played at church without a backup. The electronics did pack up after 3 months but since then it's been solid.

Didn't have to deal with them as the dealer sorted out my problems within a week.

I'm 55 and started playing at 10. Took an extended break - 10 years to be exact. Back playing since 1995. Have played and owned second hand crap as well as a 58 Hofner jazzbox, 75 ibanez 12 string, Squiers, Cort, Epiphone, 96 Ibanez AG75, ES 335 Copy amd a gorgeous Rickenbacker 250. I've watched the development of the Vax for 5 years before buying one in 2006. Purely on looks I'd buy another model like the discontinued 500. It's a breeze to switch from Tele to Gretch to Ricky 12 to Jazzers and acoustics. For me it's a great instrument. I just wonder what percentage of an audience knows the difference between a Fender tone and a Gibson tone. I say this with no disrespect to audiences but my experiences have shown that they love the "sound" one delivers, irrespective of what one plays.

For the price, this a pretty well made guitar. I purchased the red one, and it was beautifully finished. It looked great. Very comfortable body. Amazing neck, that was fast and smooth. The control for the model selector was a little loose, but nothing to be alarmed about (but how about in five years?). Volume and tone controls, nicely out of the way. The selector was like on a strat. Really nice guitar.

The sounds are varied, and the models are great. The twelve string models were not great. I would probably never use them. The accoustics were hit and miss, but it comes pretty darn close to a amplified accoustic guitar. But I don't know if close is close enough for recording or playing live. The strat sound is bang on. If you want an affordable strat and nothing more, pass on the squire and pick this up. The tele was also very good, as were the jazz guitars (hollow and semi hollows). It sounds awesome. The only complaint was that not all the piezos were the same. Some strings were much louder than others (I know in some of the models that's actually the case, but it was the same over all the models). And there was some buzzing, which I guess could be fixed with enough tweaking. It would take some adjustments on an amp to get all the guitars to sounds good. A Line 6 amp is perfect. If you only get a few sounds from your amp, you might not use half the guitar sounds.

Everything was set-up pretty well. I guess I got lucky. It came direct from Line 6 through my local guitar shop.

Here;s the reason I took it back. The guitar died on me a few times. Just went quiet. I had to take the plug out, and put it back in to kind of "reset" the guitar and get it working again. Also, the piezo on the 6th string was REALLY quiet. Not dead, but quiet. I know I can fix the string volumes using Workbench. If that software program (which runs $100 USD) had been bundled with the guitar, I might have kept the guitar. As it stands I returned it because I was worried about the guitar dying on me, or the piezos going, during the many years I was hoping to have the guitar. I just felt insecure about the reliability so I took it back. Otherwise, I loved almost everything about this guitar.

Line 6 has a very informative web site. I got a lot of my questions answered about the piezos on thier site.

This would be an awesome first guitar for someone. Despite bringing it back (it was a tough decision) I would HIGHLY RECOMMEND this guitar to anyone starting out, who wants a nice playing guitar with lots of varieties in sound. Having a Line 6 amp like the Flextone or Vetta would be eeven more perfect. But defnintely have a back-up if you're going to be playing live gigs.

i've been a aerospace human-machine interface engineer during approx 20 years, and several years i was in charge of acoustic environment design inside spaces station. of course, i play guitar (jazz), mainly for my pleasure and sometimes for audience in a club.
if you are curious about how much i can play a guitar. Please go to my web below and listen to mp3 file that i play. (Sorry it is written by Japanese but you can find mp3 file easily, and furthermore i made English entrance last year.)
I???ve owned dozens of guitars, if you want to see, please visit my web and click ???Guitars???of right side. 'couse their photos are uploaded.

http://www.geocities.jp/extra_vehicular/

i do not recommend variax as a first guitar.
as a first guitar, you'd better buy strat type model more than $400, and you should buy it with reliable friend who can play a guitar.
and you should learn what real guitar can do.
if you know what a real guitar is, variax gives you new extended horizon.

Anyway variax is only a tool to create music. it is not a vintage strat! To own the vintage start gives you supreme experience. Those two are both worthy, but quite different.

Thank line6! you give our great- grandchildren a chance to feel the great sound of the vintage strat and more. Because a 100 year later, a vintage strat with good condition must not exist.

i would like to explain the variax feature using easy equation.

Output = A x Input / B

here...
Output is sound of the variax sent to amp.
A is a simplified ideal vintage strat characteristics(of course, in case of that you choose vintage strat mode).
Input is detected signal by piezo when you hit notes.
B is a characteristics of standard variax 300. (this is very important!!!)

you have to be aware that a variax only gives you simplified sound of vintage strat. So it is limited, but you know the limitation, you can use variax efficiently.

a real guitar has nature, that as you play it, your guitar's sound is getting better (because wood of guitar still has life). Unfortunately the electronics of variax must be tuned for the standard (initial) variax characteristics, so you will not get line 6 intended sound 5 to 10 years later.
Exactly speaking, each variax300 sound is slightly different characteristics from the standardized variax 300 guitar model (=parameter B above). so some variax300s give you nice sound as line6 intended, and there is possibility of that some give you not so good sound, because of the different characteristic from the standard. this difference (=deviation) can not be avoidable, because main structure (which defines each variax300 characteristics) is wood, and there is not any exactly same wood in the world!

there are two caution... when you use variax300

one: electronics of variax is durable as portable md and cd, but exposed piezo pickpu and pickups' wires are fragile. Please be careful.

two: most guy seems to have miss-understanding that electronics of variax 300, 500, 600 are the same. as a fact, they have similar electronics circuit construction but different firm ware (or to say different parameters related to B i mentioned above) therefore if you remove circuit and bridge of variax300 successfully and install it into an other guitar, the sound should be different from line6 originally intended.

for reference...

approx 20 years ago, Roland made VG(Virtual Guitar) system (too expensive product!) at that time, unfortunately we do not have sufficiently speedy & cheap digital processor. Roland used conventional divided magnetic pickup (now it is usually used for GT synth), but the product was in vain. because Roland did not determine B of above equation.

at last, what i would like to say is that you should be careful to modify variax body which is related to the parameters of B. For example, even heavier pegs utilization may be slightly change your favorite sound of the current variax300 you own.

considering price of 299$ including shipping fee, the sounds are amazing.
i like sounds of strat(spank) models and semi & jazz box models. they are far beyond the sound of $299 real guitar.
Variax300 nicely simulates the sounds of decent guitars.
but i am not careful of that how much they are like vintage strat, es-175, es-335 or something. i am only careful of that the sounds are useable or not.

i bought new one (sunburst variax 300 made in china) using web shop. The first one had dead piezo, so the web shop gave me the replacement. Additionally the replacement has awful noise from circuit! So again shop gave me another replacement.

I am satisfied now. The web shop finally gave me a proper one.

anyway $299 is too cheap for the capability of variax300.
does line6 have a plan to release new model? Or are there any powerful competitor?
If anyone knows something, I hope you to write it as a part of variax300???s review.