I got the jtv59 tobacco, and I simply love that guitar. it is without a doubt the most fun guitar I have ever played. feels and sounds amazing. I would prefer that guitar over all other guitars out there. I think that is also how it feels when you have found "your guitar", then you only have eye for that!
@HEADBANGBALLER Jordan was explaining that when using the Alt Tuning knob, you need to remember to be accurately in standard tuning, otherwise all the corresponding Alt Tuning knob settings will be out of tune, too.
I just got the jtv 59 and it's absolutely amazing. Feels great and very paul-ish. My friend has a Gibson les paul plaintop pro and I perfer this to the gibson. I haven't brought it over to have my friend try it. I'll tell you what he says.
Sorry I took so long to get back to your question. I believe it's the US model. Not sure, but I don't own it anymore. I traded it for a Parker Dragonfly DF524. It was a bit pricey at $2600, but it is the finest guitar I have played or owned in my life, and I have played just about everything. From Gibson Collectors Choice at $6000 to a Frankenstrat re-creation for $20,000 and everything in between. It will make you a better player for sure.
@FlavioCastro81 The modelling comes from the piezo pickups in the bridge so changing the magnetic pickups doesn't change the modelling sounds. I'm not 100% sure but if the battery goes down or you don't even have the battery you can still play the magnetic pickups, which is cool.
This guitar is advertised with a dense crop of modeling options. One emulation which isn’t mentioned is the Brian May 1964 Special. The other Variax guitar advertised, the one modeled after the Strat, mentions compatible software for simulating any pickup configuration and body type of your choosing (Brian’s guitar is semi-hollow with three single-coil pickups and phase cancellation controls). Does the JTV boast those same editing options? The 12 string simulators are certainly more believable than on the original Variax. The Guild F212 emulator certainly sounds like my real F112.
@briankillebrew It's not the intro to Home by DT. It's very similar because real sitar music uses those oriental scales which is used in Home and Petrucci plays that very much like a real sitar part.
the riff he played with sitar in the end and the begening og the video is no doubt the bass riff of 46&2 by Tool..I play this mervelous riff each day God make!! and for me it's inspired by the riff of let it be more light by pink floyd in their earlier album 1968 saucerful of secret..track I..
@briankillebrew Actually the sitar in Home is played by keyboards but the guitar that plays under that is very close but not exact. It has the same feel and groove to it and you probably could switch the riffs and no-one would notice, but I think it's not the same riff.
Congratulations, great job !!! what do you think of this line 6 james tyler variax jtv-59? does it have a heavy weight? compared to a real gibson les paul what do you think? Do you recommend it also in 2022? Thanks and congratulations again !!!
You just keep your guitar in standard tuning, and if you turn the tuning knob to whatever tuning, the guitar will automatically sound on that tuning even though is still tuned standard. Its all electronic sound coming out of the line6 stuff so it doesn't matter what tuning the guitar is tuned at as long as it is tuned
the best blue song ever..I supposed to me yet...Since I've been loving you by Led Zeppelin ..on their III album..and their best song ever!! by the way the stuffs he played with sitar is the bass intro of Tool's song 46and2
@HEADBANGBALLER It is actually quite a good and simple idea. Mind this, as with every other guitar, you want it to be in tuned properly. This one, needs to be always in standard tuning. I think you might be confusing this system with the gibson robot guitar. Nothing physical happens here. You only have to keep the guitar in standard and by rotating the knob you'll get various tunings modulated FROM the original standard. Clear now? :)
so, I play guitar in EADGCF tuning (perfect 4ths). My top two strings are relatively a half step sharp. So If I tune my guitar to my tuning, can I recalibrate/reprogram all of the alternate tunings knob from the program. I am talking about setting my standard tuning as EADGCF.
I have had 2 Variax JTV-69 both had to be returned, one wouldn't talk to the PC, the other the alt tuning wouldn't work. When they were working they were fantastic both using the pickups and with the modelling. I am still tempted after all the software/hardware problems to get the JTV-59 in case I was just unlucky. What tuning was used in the video I didn't see an unturned option that was selected.
I bought a 59 and it immediately failed, was randomly strolling through the models on its own, so I took it back and exhanged for another one. A year later the bridge pickup went out on it. Also picked up a pod 500hd. Within a month it started messing up. Got rid of them both Line 6 has some of the best sounds and models, but the quality just isnt there..
y is everyone thumbin him down, i agree! amps are designed 4 guitars, 2 giv optimum output 2 frequencies best 4 guitars, sumthin like a sitar wud lose sonic clarity goin thru a guitar amp, ud be better runnin it thru a graphic eq 4 touch up if it needs it, then 2 a soundboard!
It doesn't physically tune your guitar. The alternate tunings are applied to your current tuning. Say if you want Drop D, you have to be in E standard and your E string will be pitched down 2 halfsteps. It doesn't KEEP your string in that tuning. That's physically impossible for a computer to tell what your open string is tuned at while you're playing. It's additive/subtractive pitch shifting to each string.
Thanks for this now I know which one to buy. All of the other Variax guitars demoed on youtube sound like poor emulations. This one sounds pretty nice. Awesome
There's a shop right around the corner from my house. I just got back. They have this exact guitar, only different finish, and I spent a half hour playing it. I had it plugged into a 5150 half stack. this video does not do the guitar justice. I was thunderstruck, and that don't happen very much with me and guitars very often. The tones you can get from this thing are very realistic. The quality, fit and finish like a Gibson Custom Shop. The pickups are slammin'. $1700. Nice.
Hey great video. I am looking for a versatile guitar to practice with. I use headphones to practice with I practice with only amp modeling software, like positive grid's Bias. Or Amplitude. Would anyone recommend this guitar? Is it worth it to get? Thanks.
@Zhaggysfaction are you sure?? I mean I know the actual sitar part in that intro is different but that sounds a lot like the clean guitar part (and the dirty one that comes in directly after) I mean, I'll accept your answer, but I could've sworn it was...
Interesting stuff, but a bit bummed you didn't tap into any Strat or Tele tones. I'm not really interested in if a LP-style guitar sound like a slightly different Les Paul, I'm more interested in how it can mimic things quite different. On the other side, the banjo, sitar, and resonator tones sounded pretty interesting. Not too impressed with the 12-string acoustic tones.
This demo is not that good but I own this guitar and it's the best guitar I've ever owned and I've been playing for almost 50 years. The modeling stuff is just gravy.
I don't understand the alt tuning knob. Is he saying you must physically tune the guitar to whatever tune you want, say standard D, (a whole step down) and then turn the knob to match it? Why? Why have the knob at all? Just tune it where you want, and then turn on the effect you want. Confusing.
Aside from the obvious gigging with a diverse setlist repertoire, a good reason for getting one of these is to go to a remote place and engage in some binge songwriting.
I just see this as a great value for a Les Paul design-vibe, and with the added tuning features, that's just icing on the cake. I mean, I know that $1400 (street price) isn't cheap, but in leagues better than a crappy Chinese Ibanez Artist reissue, or the Schecter / ESP / Dean / Cort / PRS Single Cut guitars. It's not even close. Peace. -Dave
Only one of the most important sounds! If it don't sound exactly like my Strat in the bridge/middle position I don't want it!! I am also interested in the acoustic and alternate tunings. None of which impressed me in the video.
It's 1.2 grand, not 2 grand, and because you'd get the gibson style guitar PLUS 25 other guitars as bonus, and an alternate tuning feature. The question you should be asking yourself is why should I pay 4k on a name brand guitar when I can get something just as good with that much features on it? Seriously, it has mags, so why not?
If it was $1300, you were playing the Korean-made "Tyler Designed" Line 6 model, not the USA made one (which runs about $4500, but still isn't made by the Tyler shop).
I guess the best part of this video is that it makes clear that the acoustic guitar models will sound almost as any clean electric guitar when it is hooked to an electric guitar amplifier instead of an acoustic guitar one or a PA where they sound incredible. As far as James Tyler Variaxs go, I believe I still prefer those with 5 way switches over this. It's complicated to remember which combination was which model..
The Variax sounds are fantastic. Especially combined with the switching and battery-free operation going through a VDI cable and into a POD HD500 with their amazing amp/cab/effects modeling. I know from experience. Very dependable also. What seems to be missing are decent (inspired) host guitars and Line 6's ability to explain, promote and support this amazing rig. My dream is that they start selling the Variax guts to guitar manufacturers and much better support of VDI in their OWN gear.
There is no Gibson or Epiphone that comes anywhere near the versatility of this guitar. It's about half the price of a Les Paul and about 20X the guitar.
From what I see, it will just shift the pitch for each string the right amount of semitones for the alt. tuning. So eg, if you (with your EADGCF tuning) set it to 'down one step' you'll end up with DGCFA#D#. Just out of interest, why do you play with this tuning? Are you a bass player?
I like the guitars, but I didn't think the video was very informative really. Not to beat up on ya, but we play guitars, so it would be nice to see all the guitar models, instead of banjos. Lol and also about the build qualities, and playability. Thanks for the info tho.
What, your camera person couldn’t hold the thing still?! Is pointless to show close ups of instrument details if you’re going to swing through each close up.
The progressive side of me would like to say "There's nothing wrong with innovation", but the conservative side of me has to say "buy a freakin' banjo if you want to play a banjo."
Love the content of the video... but man the acoustic / banjo tones sound BAD! I wonder, if this is due to mic placement or.. something? Do they really sound that thin?
I agree with you on the acoustic tones...terrible to say the least. The Fender/ Roland VG is just as bad as this sad example too. The best emulated acoustic tone is either from a Godin LGX-SA or a real acoustic guitar.
Do you judge the sound of the acoustic models by the sound of the video or have you ever played a Variax yourself? In the video it looks as if the acoustic models are also played over the JCM800 and that ruins the sound completely. The Acoustic models have to be played via acoustic amp or direct plugged into the mixer. Line 6 offers a A-B-switchbox to route the Variax to different types of amps. Another solution would be to use a modelling amp. That's the way I play my Variax - via the old Pod X3 Live. There I can decide for each single program if I wanna use a speaker-simulation or not and the acoustic models definitely need to be played without speaker-sim. As a Variax-Player I'd say: the quality of the acoustic models is not perfect, but it ain't that worse as well. It's really kinda perfect for a mixed set on stage. But when you're in the studio, better grab a real acoustic. Cheers.
Yes, unfortunately. But, it makes sense considering it's using 10-gauge strings. If you put 10s on any acoustic guitar, it would sound really thin, too. I put 11-49 strings on my JTV and it helped the modeling (and magnetic) tone significantly.
Why in all the demo's, do the players all play the same shit on the sitar voicing? Dang, I want the guitar but I'll NEVER play that fucking song! It sucks!
I won't be saving up for this. Got a Digitech Processor that does this and a lot more with a cheap Epi SG AND it's 13 years old. Maybe it was a bad demo...I won't judge, but an electric pretending to be an acoustic...I fart better Guild noises than that and my Martin loving chum yums the stink and creates a smelly Taylor omelette after.
Your hybrid picking is awful. I have this model though would recommend even for the price the natural body sound of the guitar is of a high quality, the sound in this video does it no justice perhaps you used a bad amplifier.
Didn't know you were married to the guy. I love this guitar, I own this exact model just suggesting that the sound isn't that great here and shouldn't put you off. I wouldn't criticise his playing if I didn't know I was better.. :D
Seems a nice "toy" made in Korea i presume. I must say got some clever electronics inside. But this instrument has no soul or any personality. Prefer my strat. anniversary 79.
alex lifeson Have you played one? How can you say you prefer it or that it has no personality? (Maybe it has 25 personalities ;)... They have a Korean-made version and an American made version. The Korean ones are about $1000-1500 depending on the model and the American ones are about $4000. They just came out with a $700 one built on a Yamaha Pacifica body, too, now that Yamaha bought Line 6 last year.
Danielle Muscato Tried a korean one 2 days ago. love the sound, the guitar itself: dissapointing ! the basic guitar € 825 is just the same quality as the cheapest new range squires € 299.- so it,s a cheapo guitar with some great electronic stuff inside. Guess your right that it will be a different story if u put this same electronics in a guitar for about € 3500
alex lifeson Well you made a comment 4 days ago saying that you prefer your Strat, I'm saying how could you have known that if you only tried the Korean one 2 days ago? The guitar itself is higher-quality than your basic Squire, although I do understand what you're saying. The new $700 version, the Variax Standard, is built on a very cheap body (a Yamaha Pacifica), but they're not yet available so I know you didn't try one of those. The JTV-59, 69, and 89 models, made in Korea, are actually pretty decent I think. They hold up to any import Epiphone solidbody or Mexican Fender I think. If you want a better body but love the sound, check out the JTV USA models! They're pricey ($3500+) but very well made. You can also do a "transplant" (google: variax transplant) and put the electronics in a custom-made body if you want. It would probably cost less than the JTV USA models actually.
Danielle Muscato I did try one of the JTV-69 models a few days ago Your right i didn,t try any American made models {not sure if they are available in Europe} But what do u prefer a decent ok mediocre guitar. or a real strat?
alex lifeson Strats ARE decent ok mediocre guitars, especially Fenders. That is why they cost 1/3 as much as Gibson Les Paul and PRS guitars. This is especially true with the CBS-era Fenders. I'd rather have a stock Mexican-made Standard Strat than a CBS-era 3-bolt Strat.
This may not have been the best review PG has ever done, but since I've had Variax guitars for quite a few years, I can assure you that the sounds available are more than usable. I have two of the JTV89F guitars (24 fret, 16" radius, 25.5" scale), an Acoustic 700 and an old Electric 500 series. If you're one of those players that uses a single guitar into a single amp, you may not find this useful. If you play some Boston and would switch back and forth between a 12-string and an LP if you could, this is your baby. If you play metal and want to be able to do alternate and downtunings with a Floyd, the JTV89F is the ONLY way to go.
I got the jtv59 tobacco, and I simply love that guitar. it is without a doubt the most fun guitar I have ever played. feels and sounds amazing. I would prefer that guitar over all other guitars out there. I think that is also how it feels when you have found "your guitar", then you only have eye for that!
@HEADBANGBALLER Jordan was explaining that when using the Alt Tuning knob, you need to remember to be accurately in standard tuning, otherwise all the corresponding Alt Tuning knob settings will be out of tune, too.
i v played this guitar.As a professional guitar instructor i wanna say something,this guitar is perfect for ur fireplace.
I just got the jtv 59 and it's absolutely amazing. Feels great and very paul-ish. My friend has a Gibson les paul plaintop pro and I perfer this to the gibson. I haven't brought it over to have my friend try it. I'll tell you what he says.
Sorry I took so long to get back to your question. I believe it's the US model. Not sure, but I don't own it anymore. I traded it for a Parker Dragonfly DF524. It was a bit pricey at $2600, but it is the finest guitar I have played or owned in my life, and I have played just about everything. From Gibson Collectors Choice at $6000 to a Frankenstrat re-creation for $20,000 and everything in between. It will make you a better player for sure.
@FlavioCastro81
The modelling comes from the piezo pickups in the bridge so changing the magnetic pickups doesn't change the modelling sounds. I'm not 100% sure but if the battery goes down or you don't even have the battery you can still play the magnetic pickups, which is cool.
This guitar is advertised with a dense crop of modeling options. One emulation which isn’t mentioned is the Brian May 1964 Special. The other Variax guitar advertised, the one modeled after the Strat, mentions compatible software for simulating any pickup configuration and body type of your choosing (Brian’s guitar is semi-hollow with three single-coil pickups and phase cancellation controls). Does the JTV boast those same editing options?
The 12 string simulators are certainly more believable than on the original Variax. The Guild F212 emulator certainly sounds like my real F112.
@briankillebrew
It's not the intro to Home by DT. It's very similar because real sitar music uses those oriental scales which is used in Home and Petrucci plays that very much like a real sitar part.
the riff he played with sitar in the end and the begening og the video is no doubt the bass riff of 46&2 by Tool..I play this mervelous riff each day God make!! and for me it's inspired by the riff of let it be more light by pink floyd in their earlier album 1968 saucerful of secret..track I..
@briankillebrew
Actually the sitar in Home is played by keyboards but the guitar that plays under that is very close but not exact. It has the same feel and groove to it and you probably could switch the riffs and no-one would notice, but I think it's not the same riff.
Congratulations, great job !!!
what do you think of this line 6 james tyler variax jtv-59?
does it have a heavy weight?
compared to a real gibson les paul what do you think?
Do you recommend it also in 2022?
Thanks and congratulations again !!!
You just keep your guitar in standard tuning, and if you turn the tuning knob to whatever tuning, the guitar will automatically sound on that tuning even though is still tuned standard. Its all electronic sound coming out of the line6 stuff so it doesn't matter what tuning the guitar is tuned at as long as it is tuned
The best sounds on the JT Variax guitar comes from the standard magnetic pickups, which sound awesome.
It would be absolutely complete if they had added a tremolo unit to it to complement the Strat sounds.
they have a strat model
My Strat came to me with its bridge fixed in position. I frankly don’t miss doing the dive bomber runs.
What song is that in 7:20??? Pretty sure I've heard it before, now it's stuck in my head... Someone, please tell me!
the best blue song ever..I supposed to me yet...Since I've been loving you by Led Zeppelin ..on their III album..and their best song ever!!
by the way the stuffs he played with sitar is the bass intro of Tool's song 46and2
@HEADBANGBALLER It is actually quite a good and simple idea. Mind this, as with every other guitar, you want it to be in tuned properly. This one, needs to be always in standard tuning. I think you might be confusing this system with the gibson robot guitar. Nothing physical happens here. You only have to keep the guitar in standard and by rotating the knob you'll get various tunings modulated FROM the original standard. Clear now? :)
so, I play guitar in EADGCF tuning (perfect 4ths). My top two strings are relatively a half step sharp. So If I tune my guitar to my tuning, can I recalibrate/reprogram all of the alternate tunings knob from the program. I am talking about setting my standard tuning as EADGCF.
I have had 2 Variax JTV-69 both had to be returned, one wouldn't talk to the PC, the other the alt tuning wouldn't work. When they were working they were fantastic both using the pickups and with the modelling. I am still tempted after all the software/hardware problems to get the JTV-59 in case I was just unlucky. What tuning was used in the video I didn't see an unturned option that was selected.
I bought a 59 and it immediately failed, was randomly strolling through the models on its own, so I took it back and exhanged for another one. A year later the bridge pickup went out on it. Also picked up a pod 500hd. Within a month it started messing up. Got rid of them both Line 6 has some of the best sounds and models, but the quality just isnt there..
andyp81111 That's weird. I've had a pair of Line6 705 five-string basses for years and years and they have never once caused me a single problem.
Brandon Ensign I've never had any problems out of my hd500x
All Line 6 produts have a unreliable eletronic architecture. Fact.
y is everyone thumbin him down, i agree! amps are designed 4 guitars, 2 giv optimum output 2 frequencies best 4 guitars, sumthin like a sitar wud lose sonic clarity goin thru a guitar amp, ud be better runnin it thru a graphic eq 4 touch up if it needs it, then 2 a soundboard!
I would love to use this guitar in my next video. I love it!
Now I can play where ever I may roam's intro with no problem! Lol
If I only have room on the gig for one guitar, this one is it!
My bad I didnt know they made a 61 custom unles you are referring to SG/Les Paul custom
It doesn't physically tune your guitar. The alternate tunings are applied to your current tuning.
Say if you want Drop D, you have to be in E standard and your E string will be pitched down 2 halfsteps. It doesn't KEEP your string in that tuning. That's physically impossible for a computer to tell what your open string is tuned at while you're playing.
It's additive/subtractive pitch shifting to each string.
Did he mention 2 more guitars are obtained by pressing down on the tunings knob?
Thanks for this now I know which one to buy. All of the other Variax guitars demoed on youtube sound like poor emulations. This one sounds pretty nice. Awesome
it.. its close but i can still hear the electronic undertones of the software. granted the pafs sound pretty good
There's a shop right around the corner from my house. I just got back. They have this exact guitar, only different finish, and I spent a half hour playing it. I had it plugged into a 5150 half stack. this video does not do the guitar justice. I was thunderstruck, and that don't happen very much with me and guitars very often. The tones you can get from this thing are very realistic. The quality, fit and finish like a Gibson Custom Shop. The pickups are slammin'. $1700. Nice.
when u turn the tuning knob the tuning changes. that's it. u don't have to do anything apart from turn the knob to whatever tuning it is u want.
Hey great video. I am looking for a versatile guitar to practice with. I use headphones to practice with I practice with only amp modeling software, like positive grid's Bias. Or Amplitude. Would anyone recommend this guitar? Is it worth it to get? Thanks.
@Zhaggysfaction are you sure?? I mean I know the actual sitar part in that intro is different but that sounds a lot like the clean guitar part (and the dirty one that comes in directly after)
I mean, I'll accept your answer, but I could've sworn it was...
these are now relevant with the new helix. it would be an awesome rig together.
Interesting stuff, but a bit bummed you didn't tap into any Strat or Tele tones. I'm not really interested in if a LP-style guitar sound like a slightly different Les Paul, I'm more interested in how it can mimic things quite different. On the other side, the banjo, sitar, and resonator tones sounded pretty interesting. Not too impressed with the 12-string acoustic tones.
If I change the pickups (magnetic on this guitar) will it change the modeling? Or the modeling is bypassed to the pickups?
This demo is not that good but I own this guitar and it's the best guitar I've ever owned and I've been playing for almost 50 years. The modeling stuff is just gravy.
9:04 sounds like floods by pantera
I'd love to be able to put the tuning mod into ALL of my guitars.
Or I could just get a Morpheus Drop Tuner
I don't understand the alt tuning knob. Is he saying you must physically tune the guitar to whatever tune you want, say standard D, (a whole step down) and then turn the knob to match it? Why? Why have the knob at all? Just tune it where you want, and then turn on the effect you want. Confusing.
Did you use the Korean or the US model Brody??Thank you! :)
Aside from the obvious gigging with a diverse setlist repertoire, a good reason for getting one of these is to go to a remote place and engage in some binge songwriting.
I just see this as a great value for a Les Paul design-vibe, and with the added tuning features, that's just icing on the cake. I mean, I know that $1400 (street price) isn't cheap, but in leagues better than a crappy Chinese Ibanez Artist reissue, or the Schecter / ESP / Dean / Cort / PRS Single Cut guitars. It's not even close. Peace. -Dave
Is there any pedal out there can custom the guitar tuning like this without actually tuning it?
no because the pickups in this are made to tune it, they pickup each string individually.
damn
I hope there's a pedal like this
tired or string snapper
***** I got this effect already but thanks for answering!!
Such an amazing multi-effect
+Floydandsome Your best bet would be the Roland VG series gear with their special pickup. It does all sorts of tunings and guitar modelling.
Not one comment about the Pride And Glory banjo riff?!?!
why is it no one demo's the out-of-phase strat sound?
Only one of the most important sounds! If it don't sound exactly like my Strat in the bridge/middle position I don't want it!! I am also interested in the acoustic and alternate tunings. None of which impressed me in the video.
Is it just me or do all those acoustics sound very much the same and pretty unsatisfying? Is it the TH-cam compression, my phone or the guitar?
Better demo here th-cam.com/video/yTTTBe5QLA4/w-d-xo.html
why dont you show fenders model? strat e tele?
Sitar sounds like 46 and 2.
It's 1.2 grand, not 2 grand, and because you'd get the gibson style guitar PLUS 25 other guitars as bonus, and an alternate tuning feature.
The question you should be asking yourself is why should I pay 4k on a name brand guitar when I can get something just as good with that much features on it? Seriously, it has mags, so why not?
If it was $1300, you were playing the Korean-made "Tyler Designed" Line 6 model, not the USA made one (which runs about $4500, but still isn't made by the Tyler shop).
how much's the price?
I guess the best part of this video is that it makes clear that the acoustic guitar models will sound almost as any clean electric guitar when it is hooked to an electric guitar amplifier instead of an acoustic guitar one or a PA where they sound incredible. As far as James Tyler Variaxs go, I believe I still prefer those with 5 way switches over this. It's complicated to remember which combination was which model..
I'd like one...but I'll keep my Les Pauls thanks :)
Does it have a nylon string classical model?
No.
seria muy lindo poder escuchar y ver una buena hecha por un buen guitarrista... :/
The acoustic models should be strummed as this is how they would mostly be used.
Damn you Bob Dylan, see what you have done by going electric!!!!
The Variax sounds are fantastic. Especially combined with the switching and battery-free operation going through a VDI cable and into a POD HD500 with their amazing amp/cab/effects modeling. I know from experience. Very dependable also. What seems to be missing are decent (inspired) host guitars and Line 6's ability to explain, promote and support this amazing rig. My dream is that they start selling the Variax guts to guitar manufacturers and much better support of VDI in their OWN gear.
Wish I have the money to spend on this amazing guitar...
Ooooooh that sitar setting...
There is no Gibson or Epiphone that comes anywhere near the versatility of this guitar. It's about half the price of a Les Paul and about 20X the guitar.
I LOVE MINE !!!
What size frets?? No one ever says what they are, too infatuated with the freakin' sitar sound!!
From what I see, it will just shift the pitch for each string the right amount of semitones for the alt. tuning. So eg, if you (with your EADGCF tuning) set it to 'down one step' you'll end up with DGCFA#D#.
Just out of interest, why do you play with this tuning? Are you a bass player?
I like the guitars, but I didn't think the video was very informative really. Not to beat up on ya, but we play guitars, so it would be nice to see all the guitar models, instead of banjos. Lol and also about the build qualities, and playability. Thanks for the info tho.
And people make fun of the new Les Pauls for having DIP switches...
I gig with this guitar, check out Stringfellows and chain of fools
What, your camera person couldn’t hold the thing still?! Is pointless to show close ups of instrument details if you’re going to swing through each close up.
they shoulda put a TUNER in it for you !!
It sounds very bad to me - specially the acoustic tones... If just Cliff Chase released some kind of modeling guitar someday, I'd buy it.
This is a much better demo th-cam.com/video/yTTTBe5QLA4/w-d-xo.html
these don't sound like different guitars in the slightest, just effects
Hate Your Guts at 11:35 :D Zakk rules!!
The progressive side of me would like to say "There's nothing wrong with innovation", but the conservative side of me has to say "buy a freakin' banjo if you want to play a banjo."
I like when he throws in the intro to Home by Dream theater as he does the sitar setting
Dont base your opinion on anything from some TH-cam video.
Go try it, play it, and listen to if yourself.
$1499? That seems like a steal!
Shane Walsh LOL!
while reading the worst argument ever, i stumbled across an awesome video about the new Variax! what luck!
Uh duh.. but then it is all so confusing really..Why not put in a guitar digital "roll" and let it play your riffs for you!
Before you comment shit. Go ask mom if it's ok
Blaze Gulisack
Ok.
yeah sure you can
Love the content of the video... but man the acoustic / banjo tones sound BAD! I wonder, if this is due to mic placement or.. something? Do they really sound that thin?
I agree with you on the acoustic tones...terrible to say the least. The Fender/ Roland VG is just as bad as this sad example too. The best emulated acoustic tone is either from a Godin LGX-SA or a real acoustic guitar.
Do you judge the sound of the acoustic models by the sound of the video or have you ever played a Variax yourself? In the video it looks as if the acoustic models are also played over the JCM800 and that ruins the sound completely. The Acoustic models have to be played via acoustic amp or direct plugged into the mixer. Line 6 offers a A-B-switchbox to route the Variax to different types of amps. Another solution would be to use a modelling amp. That's the way I play my Variax - via the old Pod X3 Live. There I can decide for each single program if I wanna use a speaker-simulation or not and the acoustic models definitely need to be played without speaker-sim. As a Variax-Player I'd say: the quality of the acoustic models is not perfect, but it ain't that worse as well. It's really kinda perfect for a mixed set on stage. But when you're in the studio, better grab a real acoustic. Cheers.
Yes, unfortunately. But, it makes sense considering it's using 10-gauge strings. If you put 10s on any acoustic guitar, it would sound really thin, too. I put 11-49 strings on my JTV and it helped the modeling (and magnetic) tone significantly.
Why in all the demo's, do the players all play the same shit on the sitar voicing? Dang, I want the guitar but I'll NEVER play that fucking song! It sucks!
The sustain seems dead to me... is it me or what?
Do all the tones sound so thin and lifeless?
Add a Helix or decent acoustic sim and it’s amazing. As for thin and lifeless.. think fundamentals, not precision.. the sims will do the rest..
Nice face at 4:45
I won't be saving up for this. Got a Digitech Processor that does this and a lot more with a cheap Epi SG AND it's 13 years old. Maybe it was a bad demo...I won't judge, but an electric pretending to be an acoustic...I fart better Guild noises than that and my Martin loving chum yums the stink and creates a smelly Taylor omelette after.
59 is based off Les Paul.
Jeez - Dude - tune your guitar.
Ok it's a
I think is half text and half english that means is texglish. lol
£850
Your hybrid picking is awful. I have this model though would recommend even for the price the natural body sound of the guitar is of a high quality, the sound in this video does it no justice perhaps you used a bad amplifier.
Let's see your skills. Well I see a Marshall head hooked up so I doubt it's the amp. Maybe you just have shit ears?
Didn't know you were married to the guy. I love this guitar, I own this exact model just suggesting that the sound isn't that great here and shouldn't put you off. I wouldn't criticise his playing if I didn't know I was better.. :D
it sounds bad
Don't kid yourself folks, these line 6 guitars are pure garbage and are best if used to start your next campfire.
Seems a nice "toy" made in Korea i presume.
I must say got some clever electronics inside.
But this instrument has no soul or any personality.
Prefer my strat. anniversary 79.
alex lifeson Have you played one? How can you say you prefer it or that it has no personality? (Maybe it has 25 personalities ;)...
They have a Korean-made version and an American made version. The Korean ones are about $1000-1500 depending on the model and the American ones are about $4000. They just came out with a $700 one built on a Yamaha Pacifica body, too, now that Yamaha bought Line 6 last year.
Danielle Muscato
Tried a korean one 2 days ago. love the sound, the guitar itself: dissapointing !
the basic guitar € 825 is just the same quality as the cheapest new range squires € 299.-
so it,s a cheapo guitar with some great electronic stuff inside.
Guess your right that it will be a different story if u put this same electronics in a
guitar for about € 3500
alex lifeson Well you made a comment 4 days ago saying that you prefer your Strat, I'm saying how could you have known that if you only tried the Korean one 2 days ago?
The guitar itself is higher-quality than your basic Squire, although I do understand what you're saying. The new $700 version, the Variax Standard, is built on a very cheap body (a Yamaha Pacifica), but they're not yet available so I know you didn't try one of those. The JTV-59, 69, and 89 models, made in Korea, are actually pretty decent I think. They hold up to any import Epiphone solidbody or Mexican Fender I think.
If you want a better body but love the sound, check out the JTV USA models! They're pricey ($3500+) but very well made.
You can also do a "transplant" (google: variax transplant) and put the electronics in a custom-made body if you want. It would probably cost less than the JTV USA models actually.
Danielle Muscato
I did try one of the JTV-69 models a few days ago
Your right i didn,t try any American made models {not sure if they are available in Europe}
But what do u prefer a decent ok mediocre guitar.
or a real strat?
alex lifeson Strats ARE decent ok mediocre guitars, especially Fenders. That is why they cost 1/3 as much as Gibson Les Paul and PRS guitars. This is especially true with the CBS-era Fenders. I'd rather have a stock Mexican-made Standard Strat than a CBS-era 3-bolt Strat.
Sorry, they still sound digital and processed
Maybe you should take up drumming
Call me.old fashioned but most of those sounds are unusable to my ears
This may not have been the best review PG has ever done, but since I've had Variax guitars for quite a few years, I can assure you that the sounds available are more than usable. I have two of the JTV89F guitars (24 fret, 16" radius, 25.5" scale), an Acoustic 700 and an old Electric 500 series. If you're one of those players that uses a single guitar into a single amp, you may not find this useful. If you play some Boston and would switch back and forth between a 12-string and an LP if you could, this is your baby. If you play metal and want to be able to do alternate and downtunings with a Floyd, the JTV89F is the ONLY way to go.