Line6 Variax Guitar

Mike Perlowin RIP · Post by **Mike Perlowin RIP** » 22 Jan 2003 8:38 am

I finally got to see and play one. It's very impressive. There are 55 sounds. Some of them are better than others. Some are very good, some are useless. They don't sound exactly like the guitars they are supposed to be emulating, but they do work. This is going to be a very useful tool for the working or recording guitarist who need a lot of different tones at his or her disposal.

Bear in mind that this is just the beginning. Undoubtedly Line 6 will introduce a new version in a couple of years with more and better sounds, and other companies will either licence (or rip off) the technology, or build a guitar with different technology that does the same thing.

I hope that some future generation will allow us to plug any guitar we want into it and it will be able to reproduce the sound of whatever we feed it. If/when that happens, I'll buy one myself.

I predict that this guitar is going to sell well, and we're going to see a lot of them or similar ones in the future.[This message was edited by Mike Perlowin on 23 January 2003 at 07:44 AM.]

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 23 Jan 2003 4:52 pm

Hey Mike, did they say when they are going to ship them? I've had one on order at Musicians Friend since September! They keep bumping the date.

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<img align=right src="http://b0b.com/b0b.gif" width="64" height="64">Bobby Lee - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs
Sierra Session 12 (E9), Williams 400X (Emaj9, D6), Sierra Olympic 12 (C6add9), Sierra Laptop 8 (D13), Fender Stringmaster (E13, A6), Roland Handsonic, Line6 Variax (coming soon)

Mike Perlowin RIP · Post by **Mike Perlowin RIP** » 23 Jan 2003 6:42 pm

Sorry Bobby, I didn't ask, but now that they actually have the instruments in hand it shouldn't be too long.I think when you get yours you will find a few sounds you really like.

Chip Fossa · Post by **Chip Fossa** » 23 Jan 2003 9:25 pm

Yes Mike,
I certainly can tell whether the guitar being played is a Drednaught Martin or
Gibson J-200; assuming Gibson hasn't monkeyed
with the J-200 sound/tone I've come to know;
mostly via Dave Van Ronk.

The depth and richness of the bass response
should tell you right away twixt the two (Gibson); and the bell-like bing of the treble strings
would definitely lean towards Martin.

Chipper

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 20 Feb 2003 1:12 pm

It finally arrived! I haven't played it much yet, but I'll tell you this: the acoustic sounds are wonderful. I've always been uncomfortable playing acoustic guitar because of the feedback problem. It's so great to play a little solid-body electric and have this big Martin sound coming out of the PA speakers, with no worries about feedback, mike placement, etc.

I haven't experimented with the electric guitar models yet, except the Rickenbacker 12 string which is really cool too. And, heaven be praised, the b@njo patch doesn't sound like a b@njo at all. Maybe it's defective. Should I care?

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<img align=right src="http://b0b.com/b0b.gif" width="64" height="64">Bobby Lee - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs
Sierra Session 12 (E9), Williams 400X (Emaj9, D6), Sierra Olympic 12 (C6add9), Sierra Laptop 8 (D13), Fender Stringmaster (E13, A6), Roland Handsonic

Steve Hinson · Post by **Steve Hinson** » 20 Feb 2003 6:30 pm

b0b-I played one today and I WILL have one of these this year!I thought the Strat out of phase sound,the sitar,the Rick 12,AND the banjo were all very good...maybe your banjo patch is defective...your friend,Steve

Ken Lang · Post by **Ken Lang** » 20 Feb 2003 7:17 pm

b0b. Which finish did you get? I've stared at the pictures for awhile. My choice would have to be sunburst. The red is too gaudy, the black too dull. My feeling is the guitars are sort of ugly, but with all the possibilities they present, I could learn to love one I'm sure.

The price isn't that bad either. I bought a guitorgan in the late 70's for $1750 which was real big money then, at least for me.

Maybe later some sound files for us of that new guitar? Pretty please with a cherry on top?

Eric Myers · Post by **Eric Myers** » 20 Feb 2003 7:45 pm

From that guitar to a POD to a direct injection into a computer based recorder - music doesnt even need to hit real air anymore - truly an age of magic and weirdness

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 21 Feb 2003 11:12 am

Strange, but it doesn't feel "digital". It feels like you're playing through a tone filter, maybe a multi-band parametric EQ or something like that. It feels very natural.

Don't expect sound clips from me on this guitar. I'm not a good guitar player. I haven't improved above the level I attained when I was 15 years old, which was mediocre. My guitar playing sucks. I wouldn't hire me.

I bought the sunburst model. I think it's a very pretty guitar.

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<img align=right src="http://b0b.com/b0b.gif" width="64" height="64">Bobby Lee - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs
Sierra Session 12 (E9), Williams 400X (Emaj9, D6), Sierra Olympic 12 (C6add9), Sierra Laptop 8 (D13), Fender Stringmaster (E13, A6),
Roland Handsonic, Line 6 Variax

Mike Perlowin RIP · Post by **Mike Perlowin RIP** » 14 Mar 2003 12:52 am

A friend who just got one of these puppies came over tonight and we really put it through it's paces and saw what it can do.

Suffice to say that this is the single most impressive electric guitar I have ever played in my entire life. I was not able to really see what it could do at the NAMM show, but it is absolutely astounding.

It doesn't sound quite like the various guitars it's supposed to be emulating, but it has more than enough great sounds to make it the most versitile and useful guitar ever made. The 12 string doesn't sound like a real 12 string, but it has a beautiful sound all it's own.

I want one.

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 15 Mar 2003 11:12 am

The 12 string Martin is my favorite patch. It might not sound like a real one in a recording (I haven't tried that), but through the PA it sounds as good as any I've heard.

Also, I used the Rickenbacker 12 string patch through my Boogie, and we sounded like The Byrds.

I'm not too keen on hauling it to gigs, though. The setup is time consuming (3 wires, a power supply, a guitar stand and a separate amp). I'm already setting up a lot of stuff. I think this guitar will stay at home.

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<img align=right src="http://b0b.com/b0b.gif" width="64" height="64">Bobby Lee - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs
Sierra Session 12 (E9), Williams 400X (Emaj9, D6), Sierra Olympic 12 (C6add9), Sierra Laptop 8 (D13), Fender Stringmaster (E13, A6),
Roland Handsonic, Line 6 Variax