NGD - Seems I can't stay away from digital stuff..

Si_

Picked up a Taylor Variax JTV-59 yesterday.  My band play a few songs that require tuning down a 1/2 step, while others are in standard, so rather than jumping about changing guitars all the time I thought i'd give a variax a go. 

So far so good, the actual guitar build is excellent, if a little heavy. The Neck is big and chunky similar to the Les Paul Custom which is great and the magnetic pickups sound good. The digital side of things is a lot better than I expected, switching over to the digital Lesser model sounds almost the same at the magnetic pickups but brings in all the tuning options as well which is perfect, plus I've set it up to have a strat neck pickup when the pickup switch is up which is ideal for some of our songs.

It also does a decent acoustic and 12 string sound, certainly would be fine for a pub gig, I need to investigate ways of splitting the signal so I can send the acoustic sounds to the PA rather than through my main amp.. Not sure if this is possible but hope so.

Any other Variax users on here?

 

markslade07

Nice score, I had one (it's now with @sunshinewelly) and it was great. Got rid as the band split up and didn't need it anymore. Would get one again I think if I needed it, certainly a cracking tool for covers bands.

sunshinewelly

I have one - got it from @markslade07 - its a lovely piece of kit. I have the JTV69. Great guitar even without the digital gubbings.

xmrchi

Lovely looking guitar, I with the would sell retrofit variax units.

thecolourbox

You could use the Line 6 XPS AB unit thing to split it, has jack out for guitar amp or xlr out for acoustic then you just stomp to switch between them. Funny power supply for it though so a simple AB might be better

Iamnobody

Now the variax guts come in a seemingly decent built/looking/playing guitar I'd love to try one...

If we bought guitars purely as functional items based on need rather than want I suspect a few more of us might already own one. I'll define need here as a guitar that covers a hell of a lot of standard sounds and tunings in a band situation.

If I was gigging I reckon I'd grab one. As it happens I don't 'need' one and 'want' a collection of the classic guitars.

I will be interested to hear how it works out for you. Do any well known players use one?

Si_

I can't see it ever replacing my proper Gibson's, However, as a tool for a covers band I can see myself using it more often than not, especially if I like the acoustic sounds at band level (I'm having nightmare feedback problems with my pepper acoustic).

Si_

Great practice tonight with the variax.. it really is the prefect covers band guitar, and non of the feedback problems I'm struggling with when using a acoustic, this sounds just as good and no issues at all with it.

Every covers guitarist should have one..

guitarfishbay

I haven't played one but I have played a Variax transplant my friend built. I was pretty impressed with it actually.

close2u

What does it offer re: tunings / tones etc?

rich75

I have a JTV-69 and they're great guitars.

Re splitting the signal to take the acoustic sounds to a PA, I use a Mooer Micro ABY switch and that works fine. It definitely adds an extra dimension to the acoustic sounds if you play them through a full range speaker.

The ability to set up custom pickup combinations and tunings in the Workbench software and then save them in the custom presets in the guitar is also really useful.

Iamnobody

close2u;355096" said:

What does it offer re: tunings / tones etc?

http://uk.line6.com/jtv-59p/features

Voxman

Nice looking guitar. I've been toying with getting one (yup, I'm in a covers band too).  Does it also do away with the 50Hz hum you get from single coil strats/tele's etc?  If so, it could be perfect.

Si_

sure does

Voxman

Cool!  I'll keep my eyes open for a 'pre-loved' one!  

matt1973

Has anyone had the idea to make these thing midi controllable yet? Might have to buy one if they do. 

Used to have a VG strat but due to the fiddly knobs I'd get a DADGAD telecaster when I wanted an open G 12 string acoustic.

Si_

Not midi control, but if you use it with a POD or DT amp then you can switch guitar models with the patch.