Line 6 Variax

O.K. I have had mine for about a week now, and I can honestly say that if you are reading this instead of playing a variax.. well, you shouldn't be. this guitar is freakin incredible... so many instruments, it is upgradeable, and no more pickup noise...

um.. like above, you just have to hear to believe... like most technological advances, some will find it awkward to handle. My bass player made the observation that if you are not looking at the guitar, your brain is convinced that someone is playing, for instance, a 12-string acoustic... but if you are looking at it, logic tends to override what you are hearing and it seems a little wierd.... The same thing happend with cd's when they first came out.. people said that the music just didn't sound as good.. well to those that say this about the variax... it is time to wake up... this guitar is unfreaking believable. no pickup noise. full sound, bright, warm, etc.. If you want it to sound like a jazz guitar, you can... Strat.. perfect.. .Tele...perfect.... a freakin banjo.. perfect.. les paul... perfect...

the action is perfect.. It comes equipped with 10's from the factory, but I had to put some heaver strings on.. no problem. The guitar comes with tools and a book that tells you how to adjust the intonation and set the truss rod to your liking... I have never seen that before.. (but then again, this is the first guitar that I bought new).
no flaws... none.

I sure as hell hope that this guitar would hold up... even if not, I would sell my left nut to buy another one...

well, let's just say that I got my guitar... so they have supported me enough.....

this is a guitar players dream... I posted a review earlier.. and that was on the demo model that I played... I just have one more thing to say... To all of you that are purists (ie.. Tube heads, vintage buffs...etc..), I think that it is important for you to realize that at one time you were taking risks on equipment.. Remember the buzz when distortion pedals came about? Chorus pedals, wahs??? This is not a gimock guitar.. it was designed, built, and marketed to and for serious musicians... Jazz, Blues, Country, Bluegrass...Metal.. this guitar can do it all.. The only problem that I see with the Variax, isn't with the guitar, but with my ability to play it...Until now, I never realized how bad-ass that banjo players are.

2002 Variax
Manufactured in Korea
Set up in U.S.A. by Line 6, Inc.
Solid body Electric Guitar
basswood body with a maple neck and rosewood fingerboard
1 Volume, 1 tone, 1 guitar selector knob, 5-way selector switch
Red Finish
1 5/11th nut
10" neck radius
fixed bridge a la tune-o-matic
Deluxe Gig bag with two large extra pockets for cable storage
Features accurate modelling of some 28 guitars including:
1960 Custom Telecaster (Bridge and Neck positions)
1968 Fender Telecaster (Bridge and Neck position - in series)
1968 Fender Telecaster Thinline (Bridge and Neck positions)
1959 Fender Stratocaster (all 5 pickup positions Bridge, Middle, Neck and both out of phase)
1958 Gibson Les Paul Standard (Bridge, Bridge & Neck, and Neck positions)
1952 Gibson Les Paul Goldtop (Bridge position)
1961 Gibson Les Paul Custom (3 pickups - Middle and Bridge positions)
1956 Les Paul Junior (Bridge position)
1976 Gibson Firebird (Bridge & neck and neck positions)
1955 Gibson Les Paul Special (Bridge & neck and neck positions)
1959 Gretsch 6120 (Bridge, Bridge & Neck, Neck positions)
1956 Gretsch Silver-Jet (Bridge and Neck positions)
1968 Rickenbacker 260 (Bridge, Bridge & Neck, Neck positions)
1966 Rickenbacker 312 (12-string electric Bridge and Neck positions)
1961 Gibson ES-335 (Bridge, Bridge & Neck, Neck positions)
1967 Epiphone Casino (Bridge and Neck positions)
1957 Gibson ES-175 (Bridge, Bridge & Neck, Neck positions)
1957 Gibson Super 400 (Bridge and Neck positions)
1959 Martin D-28 (Mic'd model - tone control varies Microphone position relative to guitar being modelled)
1970 Martin D-1228 (Mic'd model - tone control varies Microphone position relative to guitar being modelled)
1967 Martin O-18 (Mic'd model - tone control varies Microphone position relative to guitar being modelled)
1966 Guild F-212 (Mic'd model - tone control varies Microphone position relative to guitar being modelled)
1995 Gibson J-200 (Mic'd model - tone control varies Microphone position relative to guitar being modelled)
1935 Dobro Alumilite
Coral/Dano Elctric Sitar
DanElectro 3021
Gibson Mastertone Banjo
1928 National Style "2" Tricone

Not all guitars are fully modelled. No Full Telecaster for instance.

Using it with a Behringer V-Amp 2 and P.A. System.

All guitar models are faithfully reproduced but may not be "close enough" for some. The real thing often has intrinsic qualities of it's own. However, the Variax has intrinsic qualities all it's own as well. All electrics are solid. The Tele models have the "Tele Twang", the Startocaster has that "Strat Bite", and the Les Pauls can be alternately sweet smooth Jazz or exhibit that Grunge Growl (The Gold top in the pickup position with a Marshall Stack - Brit Hi-Gain gives that classic smooth Sonic Distortion).

The closer you get to the acoustic models, the more the piezo pickups tend to exhibit their inherent nature. Some "pinginess" can be heard on the strings. This can be expected with piezo pick-ups. However, the twelve string models can be "tinny" or sometimes sound like a 6-string acoustic with lots of chorus on an amplifier with a presence control. However, recordings made with the Variax acoustics sound great (See the Line 6 web site for samples).

The acoustics seem to lack warmth. This can be attributed to the fact that the player hears nothing coming from the soundboard or the soundhole of the acoustic (as there are'nt any on a solidbody electric). All tones are crisp and bright.

Actions was very low and the string height at the bridge matched the radius of the neck very well. However, I found no relief at the 17th fret and had to adjust the guitar myself. There was considerable string buzz (most noticable on the acoustic models) so I had to raise the string height. But after setting up the guitar to my satisfaction, the string buzz was minimized (virtually none) and the action was very respectable (I have seen worse on a Les Paul and mose Mexican made Strats).

Great point> No pick-ups to adjust. They are always just right!

The guitar construction was flawless. The finish was solid and sturdy. The neck has that unfinished glazed look, somethiing akin to a mexican tele neck. Some players may object to this. However, Line 6 had the forethaought to provide a bolt-on neck so you can replace the neck if you so desire. (They originally designed the Variax as an inset neck). The models knob comes off too easily but this was a minor issue. You can program a bank of settings to specific guitars which requires pulling out and then pushing the knob back in.

Crystal Ball,

A perfect gigging guitar as you have a variety of guitars at your disposal and the guitar seems sturdy enough for the road. It seems unlikely that Line 6 will begin building these in the U.S. anytime soon. However, a Variax XT???

The construction is simple and solid enough for any mass produced guitar made overseas.

Line 6 was very responsive when the Variax did not hit the street when they initially said it would. Line 6 representatives were very knowledgeable about the guitar and did many demos both here in the U.S. and in the U.K.

It is unknown yet how Line 6 will support the guitar in the future. They have plans (so I'm told) to make it firmware upgradable - good news for the unsatifactory acoustics and 12 string models and incomplete Telecasters. It would be nice to see a nice 1955 Gibson ES-333 (I have a friend who has one in mint condition).

For now, Line 6 is still having trouble keeping up with demand. August 2002 orders are still unfulfilled.

I have played bass guitar for over twenty years, acoustic guitar for over twenty years, and electric guitar for over two years. I previously owned an Ovation 12 string, an ESP H-302, and a classical guitar. I also own a Fender American Deluxe Bass guitar with Humbucker pickup and a Taylor 312ce. I use SWR and Fender bass amps for my bass and play through P.A. on acoustic. I use either the P.A. with a Behringer V-Amp 2 or go through a Fender Twin amplifier when I play Electric.

What other guitar in the world sports over 50 different tones including acoustic models, 12 strings, sitar,resonator,banjo and a list of all the finest electric guitars from yesteryear, and to top it all off, is upgradeable via the RJ45 ethernet port.

Well i have to give it a 10 and let me tell you why. When it comes down to it you have some really great tones on your hands regardless if they sound exactly like a 57 strat or not. To the moron from the vintage guitar shop who probaly looks like comic book guy from the simpsons - do you really think the audience cares if it sounds exactly like its vintage counterparts? I doubt it...

The electric models are the best part of this guitar as it stands today. I pretty much am blown away by all of the electric models. Now the acoustic models are great for what they are, but keep in mind these will not sound like your $3000 taylor or martin, but compared with a piezo equipped electric this is way better. The 12 strings are alright and get you in the general vicinity but arent quite there yet. Banjo i guess sounds right, ive never really played banjo. Sitar is awesome and to my ears sounds dead on to a coral sitar.

So why the 10 , if you didnt like some of the sounds you ask?
Because even with me not liking certain models i have expanded my tonal possibilities a lot and this single guitar has more usuable tones in it then all my other guitars combined.

shes not the prettiest girl in school but shes got a lot of personality.

out of the factory with 10's - setup pretty decent. the neck feels great and intonation was spot on.

Overall i love it, it basically covers a ton of ground tonally and does it well IMHO. I think that this technology is only going to get better over time and is truly a revolution. I would have to recommend this to everyone from beginners to pros.

as above really :@)

Well... as above i also work for a music shop (in the uk) and the rep came in with a (nearly finished) (remember these are beta state) variax... amd i dont know what guitar that dude above played, but.... jeez, give it a break! Ok ok ill admit the models arnt EXACTLY like there counterparts, but by christ do they get close, this is the second variax ive seen and the first one did not get nearly as close as this one. overall i think this would be a great workhoese for the gigging musician, bear in mind this is the FIRST guitar of its type, rome wasnt built in a day y'know

i cant say i like the shape too but the set up was good and no fiddling will be needed if thay come set up like this one, no flaws in the finish looked good (not the shape) :)

ok so its alder...who cares, what are strats made of? if yer talking about dinging it, id rather ding this than my 58 les paul... and then id have to take my martin too...christ so what if u ding it..all the best instruments looke goosed anyways... the neck was good, frets nice, inotation was good also...remember all the instruments it models are over the $2000 dollar mark so, look at it like this its. gonna be ace for yer cover band.. ace for rehearsin, and i dont care what this dude up there says, the sounds it gives off are GOOD!! its an 8 coz ive not tested it on the road yet !!

line 6 uk are great.cant say for the us tho

best thing to do if go out there and judge for yerself, second week in january thell be all over, the evolution starts here........ :)

Let me see, um.. a guitar that can emulate other guitars. Not to mention the fact that it is upgradeable.... hmmmm.....

Well the demo that I played rocked. I have no clue what the fellow that posted before me was talking about, but the guys at line 6 have pretty much nailed the sounds of all of the instruments that they were going for. I am giving this a 9 because they didn't model a nylon string guitar, and well.... I'll give them a 10 when they do that.

the guitar felt good to the touch... this particular model was set up like my tele, so I felt right at home wit it. the finish was impeccable.. As far as wood, well I know that it may be hard for all of those people stuck in the "vintage" world, but wood is no longer an issue for good tone. This instrument relies on 0's and 1's (binary language), or in simpler terms for those "tube heads" out there - wood don't matter no more. The variax is just the first step into a brave new world..

we'll have to wait and see on this one, but NASA

Well I own a Vetta (the digital modeling amp) and have not had to call their customer support line (thank God), but when I do I will rate it.

The bitter old guy that posted before me stated that he had been playing for 40 years.. So by my calculations, he is nearing retirement age.
Fellow players, technology is advancing at such a rapid pace. Sometimes I find it hard to comprehend what is mankind is actually capable of. A while back, a group of scientists actually sped light up...made light travel faster than the speed of light.. they are genetically engineering people in europe (a couple of doctors).. chances are that you are reading this from the comfort of your own home on a machine that would make the computer scientists from the 1990's shit on themselves.. why is it so hard to fathom that a company might actually be able to faithfully recreate the sounds of vintage instruments (at 1 billionth of the cost)? Vintage buffs need to wake up, because the technology is not going anywhere... Reading over the prior post, I am strangly reminded of what conservative people were saying about rock - n - roll in the 50's, or what record buffs (people that would actually spin these big black plastic disks under a needle) said about tapes in the 80's, or what tube heads said about the Vetta in 2000...

The only models that have been demoed are the beta models which do not have the final software installed. The guitar is not made of alder either. It's made of basswood. Not that that is a good thing but if your going to try to sabotage a new product you should get your lies in order first!