Line 6 Variax

For features, there should be a new rating category (11 or higher) for Variax -- there is simply no guitar anywhere that offers the versatility you'll find in here. Yet.

Mine is sunburst, but I won't detail all the other pedestrian details of the hardware -- you've read that already in the previous reviews.

Given that Variax emulates the sounds of approximately 2 dozen different instruments, a numeric rating of 1 - 10 could depend upon the chosen setting. Because the range covers everything from solid-body electrics to acoutics to metal-bodied resonators, this guitar is suited to just about any type that's normally played on guitar, save nylon string classical. Simply put, the variety of available sounds are not available in any other guitar. Amp simulators and other modeling systems, such as are available from Roland, can offer a huge variety of tone options, but Variax stands alone in the ability to offer different sounds at its output jack.

Overall, I rated it highly because there are only a couple of models that I absolutely wouldn't use in a live setting. The rest of them range from ordinary/ok to fabulous. This isn't necessarily a criticism, as the unadorned sounds of some of the instruments it models are also ordinary/ok to fabulous. The electric models, played without effects and at low volume, tend to be somewhat anonymous and similar-sounding. But the same can be said for the "real things". Much of the signature sound of legendary guitars is brought out by specific combinations of guitar/pickups, effects and amplifiers. Using the Variax with this type of ancillary equipment yields results which are, in most cases, very much like what they're supposed to sound like.

I bought this guitar to cut down on the number of instruments I carry when playing live, specifically to eliminate having to haul my Takamine EN10-C. In my opinion, all 3 of the acoustic 6 string models on Variax sound better than the Tak, when played through a PA or acoustic amp. This is the preferred mode for the acoustic models, as guitar amps generally don't have the high frequency response that breathes life into amplified acoustics. My plan is to play directly through a POD 2 into the PA for both the acoustic and electric models. The better choice would be to separate the acoustic output from the electric and send them into different mixer channels, but this requires additional cabling complications. I've found a combination of Pod settings that produce an acoustic sound quality nearly as good as going directlt to the mixer, and will probably stick with this strategy for simplicity. The quality of the acoustic models alone justifies the cost of this guitar for me.

It's been reported that some users are hearing hiss when connecting to very high-gain amps, or amp simulators. I haven't really tried this yet, but have found the output to be absolutely noise-free under normal circumstances, even placing the instrument as close as possible to a running computer monitor. This is due to the lack of magnet pickup coils, as Variax's hexaphonic transducers pick up vibrations of the strings through body & the bridge instead of a wire moving in a magnetic field.

Fit and finish is very good. Tuners are smooth, and the tone/volume pots have some resistance, as if they were slightly damped. This imparts a feeling of quality to them, but it may be false security. It has an impact on playing, thought, as this makes for a somewhat different feeling when rolling the volume with your pinky for volume swell effects. I'll probably get used to this in no time.

I could find no flaws, and would only downgrade on one of the pieces of wood used in the body. But that's strictly appearance, it's not in any way a defect.

The unit was shipped in a heavily-padded gigbag, set-up with action approximately the same as my Stratocaster -- fairly low, but suitable for slide work with a light-to-medium weight slide; a very playable and comfortable height.

I plan to use this as my main guitar for playing in just about any situation, and anticipate that it will hold up, physically. With Variax, the term "hardware" encompasses not only things like tuners & bridges, but the electronics. Time will tell about the reliability in that area.

I'm an 'electronics' guy and have faith that failure will be infrequent, and will very likely gig without a backup. However, I'm far from a pro, playing mostly coffee houses and open mics. If something went wrong, someone might be a little disappointed that we couldn't play, but it's unlikely that anyone would riot. For a paying gig, I'd probably take along my Strat for backup.

Truthfully, I haven't read the warranty details, but should. Generally, I don't give it a thought with regard to guitars, but the electronics in here would probably be rather costly to repair or replace.

My only contact with Line 6 support was positive -- they sent me, at no charge, an upgrade ROM for my Pod 2.0.

I'm less than enthused about their Sales & Marketing however, as they have been very tight-lipped about ship dates & delays in bringing Variax to market. As an eager customer waiting for a new product, I would have found more candor welcome from them, so that we didn't have to speculate on delivery times. A little bit of "Here's the story, guys" goes a lot farther than "Anybody have any idea when we're gonna see these things?" So I'll downgrade the one positive support incident by averaging in the lack of responsiveness to our Variax availability questions.

I've been playing since my teens -- and I'm 52 now. I have an early 70s Les Paul Deluxe and early 70s Fender Telecaster, a '65 Fender Jazzmaster, Epiphone, Alvarez & Takamine acoustics, Danelectro U2 reissue, Danelectro Baritone reissue, Silvertone reissue ES-335 clone, cheapo Yamaha bass, a Vox Jaguar organ and several recent vintage electronic keyboards. (just cheap stuff)

Variax will let me play songs on one guitar that would normally have me reaching for another one and will cut down on dead stage time, improving show pacing.

I've only had it for two days, and have only scratched the surface of its capabilities, but I've been following its progress since the NAMM introduction last July. So there was very little I didn't know about it when I ordered one, aside from how it sounded with me playing it.

One controversial feature will become a possible impediment. Line 6 chose to faithfully reproduce the output levels of the instruments modeled, which is appropriate, as they should more accurately drive amplifier input stages in order to produce sounds similar to those from the original instruments. This seems like the logical and accurate thing to do, but it results in a wide variation of output levels between some of the models, which makes setting levels difficult for rhythm/solo work & switching between models mid-song. I don't know what the answer is to this problem, but an alert soundman or a volume pedal are two possible partial-solutions.

It will long be argued that such-and-such model should have been included or excluded, and the debates will rage over the sound of the acoustics & 12-strings. Personally, I like the acoustics, and think the 12-strings will work ok in a mix, but are shaky for solo performance. Surely, emulating a 12-string is a technical challenge, and Line 6's effort is laudable. But I think they can still use a little work. Most of the electrics are eminently usable, and one of the toughest decisions for most guitarists will be which guitar model to use on a given song. Quite the happy conundrum!

A lot of interest has been expressed for a tremolo-equipped version, a nylon-string model, and some type of strategy for dealing with the signal amplitude variations between models. I'd buy one with a tremolo to use as a main axe, and keep the current hardtail for slide/alternate tuning and backup use.

Okay we all know by now that this is a new type of device - a modeling guitar. There are a ton of different actual guitars modeled in this instrument's software which you can switch at the turn of a dial and supposedly can be updated through a software port some time down the line. I have been waiting patiently for this guitar to hit the market since hearing about it last year. I got mine a few weeks ago with the first wave of the production models to ship. Repeat: MINE IS A REAL PRODUCTION MODEL NOT A BETA. Sadly there is no hard shell case and I think we all would have been happier paying another $80 for that out of the gate than the gig bag that they send it with.
There are many vintage and classic guitars modeled in it and many of them sound or at least ACT very much like what they are supposed to be. Oddly, my current favorites are the sitar and the banjo! Since they do offer many acoustic sounds, they have included (wow) a well-made stompbox that allows you to choose between hi-imp line to a guitar amp or balanced XLR lo-imp out to the PA. This is a GREAT idea and is well executed. Best of all, the litle pedal powers the guitar's software making the need for battery changing obsolete. For some-this guitar will simply be a blast. For me it is a source of new sounds. For a cover musician it has to be the answer to prayers.

At first blush, this guitar seems to have been made for the gigging cover band guitarist. That's great and it would certainly make that person's life a heck of a lot easier. But I'm always looking for new and interesting sounds to get out of effects for guitars. I'm actually pretty much a purist with a vintage les Paul, Gretsch and a Guild Brian May guitar as my usual main axes. I am using the Variax in my all-originals band: "tendercrush" and have just gotten back tonight from my first use of it with the band. I love the thing. It feels like a cheap Ibanez guitar circa 1987 but it looks much cooler. Kudos to Line 6 finding a pretty good look for the thing. The crushed pearl pickguard makes all the difference. The sounds are incredible. I put them right through my pedal board (Clyde Wah, Fulldrive, GuvNor, Line 6 delay modeler, Line 6 Modulation modeler, into a Matchless DC-30. I have yet to put the acoustic sounds through the PA but they are nice even through an amp. The cool thing is that it is whisper quiet. No single coil or any pickup hum. The band has cajoled me about this guitar and nicknamed it the 'magic guitar'. It kind of is. It has no pickups, but if you choose the Les Paul humbucker tone it will actually feedback close to the amp.I don't even understand how this is possible. The sounds are its best point. Line 6 really did a lot of fantastic unbelievable stuff here. How any moron would expect to do a side by side comparison and have it actually sound "just like" a Martin D-28 is beyond me but trust me - it sounds very, very good. My understanding was that they didn't make this item to REPLACE all your guitars but merely give the user a myriad to choose from in one spot.

Okay here's where it suffers a bit, but I think justifiably. It feels a bit stiff, like an 80's Ibanez or Charvel. Not my style. But like any new instrument it may loosen up a bit after wear. Action is okay but frets are bitey. Mine needed to be retuned after every song tonight. I don't know if that's a factor that will lessen or if it just has poor intonation memory in general. Body style and color and finish are all very cool. Very classic design where they could have gone stupidly 'pod-like'.

Live playing? I hope so! That's what I plan to do with it and again, I can't imagine that it was designed to replace a '58 Les Paul in a studio setting! Hardware is fine except maybe for tuners. There is a knob that has a list of all the guitars that you are choosing from. This will get damaged or lost for sure. Strap buttons are solid, seems moderately dependable. I ALWAYS gig with backups so...

Never really dealt with Line 6 service. I got them on the phone some months ago quizzing them on when we might see arrival of this item and they were personable and helpful.

I've been playing for 30 years and I've owned a lot of classics and love all my vintage gear. This item gets very close to many sounds you already know and love and offers up tons of new sounds to launch from. I hesitate to say this but it is worth $1000 just for the sheer fun of it. There are always ways to improve something and you can't please everybody. Line 6 has pleased me. Here are a few upgrades I would make were it up to me:
1) Guitar is understandably a bit cheap. It's a fantastic product. This item would easily sell at the $2000 range if it were a bit better of an instrument.
2) Light the guitar selection wheel. I can't read it at all under stage lighting.
3) I may not be understanding the modeling technology but what would actually stop you from doing software options that included other instruments? Piano?
4) Make a modeling bass! Having a few upright bass sounds on an electric bass would be great.
5) Include a case! Or make it an option.

This thing is the EPITOME of features. It's a modeling guitar that has extremely realistic simulations of Strats, Teles, Les Pauls, Rickenbackers, several acoustics, banjo, sitar, and more.

They're all accessible with a flick of the control knob. How great is that?

The models are good for the most part. Some of the best acoustic simulations EVER. The Strats, Les Pauls, and Teles sound great. The only outright dud is the 12-string Rickenbacker, which just doesn't do it for me. The 6-string Rickenbacker sounds pretty great though. And you'll be amazed at the Banjo and Electric Sitar sounds...

Sounds are WELL worth the money.

It's a pretty sturdy and good looking guitar. I got the black model, and it's small and light, yet pretty well-made. It doesn't feel cheap, though when people see that there's no pickup, they may (mistakenly) think it looks cheap. It has a special hexagonic pickup that does everything you need with regular pickups.

It's made quite well, but mine has a flaw I'm still trying to get fixed. It's powered by either 6 AA batteries or a footswitch and special cable. My footswitch plugged and powered up just fine. But it doesn't power the guitar. The special cable appears to be in fine condition, and I re-read the manual twice making sure to hook it up EXACTLY as described. NOTHING. So I'm running this great instrument on batteries. Yuck.

ABSOLUTELY HORRIBLE.

I cannot believe that such a well-regarded company as Line 6 has phone support this bad. I tried calling in to their tech support on MLK day 2003...My wait was WELL over 90 minutes on the phone, and it's not even a toll-free number. I left a voicemail for them to call me back earlier in the day and heard nothing.

Bar none...the worst customer support in the business.

This is a fantastic instrument, but a non-responsive customer support and fundamental flaw as described above are pretty big negatives for me. If you want to roll the dice, buy away, but be prepared to agonize thorugh excruciating phone calls if something goes wrong.

Made in the last few months. Solid body, 22 frets VERY active elctronics
Bridge is Lr Baggs tranducers
Came with a very nice gig bag
No strap locks and the original strap button have oversize screws so standar shcaller strap locks don't work unlees you change the screws

This guitar just arrived this week. I have spent most of my time on the acoutical models - and this sound better than naything I own with the exception of a D-18 I have had since the early 70's.
Mondo variety - I started gettign into the elctrics and it is all there Strat, Paul, Rick 360-12, and the dobros.
Not much to dislike except I wish it had shipped with strap locks - this is a nit given the other qualities of this guitar.

Action was set up just about perfectly.
The finish is very good. A tiny imperfection where the bolts go through the back into the neck, but no one will ever see that anyhow.

I wouldn;t gig without a back up until I have a bit more experience with this guitar.
As noted previously the strap buttons were very soldi, but do not work with Schaller strap locks so I had to change them.

Customer support at Line 6 has always been good.

Been playing longer than I would care to admit.
If it were stolen I would replace it. In fact I am already thinking about a second one to have for alternate tunings during live gigs.

The guitar comes in a very nice gig bag. I had always stayed away from gig bags, but find this one to be superior to some of the cases I have owned. I own the black with pearloid pick guard. What is it made of, doesn't really matter. The sounds are models. Line 6 used specific guitars for the modeling. If you own a 1958 Les Paul and play it next to another 1958 Les Paul you will notice differences. I have compared the models to the real life counterparts (where I could anyway) and they are very good. No hum, no noise, no pickups. 12 string acoustic with no feedback and no out of tune strings or tuning problems of any kind. Good neck, came setup from the factory very playable and in tune! Even after 4 days with UPS.

Playing through a 27 year old Peavy, sounded great. Using Line 6's guitar port got very good SRV, ZZ Top, Eric Johnson, Eric Clapton tones, using very good sounding models of the preferred guitars of the players. Playing Tush on a 1958 Les Paul (I think it was recorded on a 1957) sounds pretty good. If you can't afford a room full of vintage guitars this one does a decent job of filling in.

Good overall setup. Good action, nice neck, nice frets. No dings, no finish flaws. Very good out of the box experience. Intonation is good up and down the neck. Harmonics all where they should be and crisp and clear.

Seems very good. Time will tell. Very solid out of the gate. I would probably always have a backup, but that is true with my other guitars as well. Should be a giggers dream, 1 amp, 1 guitar, many many different models. The acoustic models are fantastic, and no feed back of hum.

Never dealt with Line 6.

Been playing for 29 years, would definitely buy it again, my favorite feature is the two custom slots where you can put 5 models in each, play dueling banjos with yourself, using a Gibson Mastertone Banjo and a Martin flattop!

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!