line6 variax mini-review

anuj · #1 02-24-2003, 08:39 PM

played one at guitar center today ..

thru a line6 duoverb .. clean and 'recto' settings. i don't really like lin6 amps, but this (and vetta) get some dignified tones with normal guitars, so i played it thru one.

wow.

one of the absolute worst pieces of wood with six strings i've had the displeasure of playing. i know it sounds harsh, but it was pretty bad. there were some pretty good acoustic/reso sounds, but that's really all this thing may be useful for .. the 'sitar' sound was interesting, but not quite there .. it tracked pretty well, though.

cranked the amp up, and that's when this thing fell apart. and by cranked i don't mean voume, i mean gain. ouch. harsh, NO playing response, synthetic, pinch harmonics sounded like it was trying to throw out a preprogrammed "squeal" when it detected the harmonic played .. because they all sounded the same. all in all .. just .. bad - quite a waste of time.

the guitar itself is nothing to write home about either .. felt like just the 'wrong' neck radius .. not too well set up either (but then again, it was guitar center). needs a stereo cord going into a special footswitch to power it (or 6-AAs if you want to go straight to amp). spectacular $999 waste of anyone's time.

anyhow, i don't really think anyone here was interested in the first place, but here you have it, lol. i set it down and beelined towards the nearest guitar there was, a used charvel with $159 on the sticker, and it sounded like heaven even thru the duoverb amp after playing the variax.

oh well.

~A

Drew · #2 02-25-2003, 12:17 PM

See, i saw your "wow" and got all concerned... "WTF??? He LIKED it???" Then i breathed a huge sigh of relief.

The thing that Line6 missed is that, more so than with an amplifier, half the experience of the gear they're "modeling" is the feel and overall "vibe" of it. I mean, you can set them up exactly the same, but a Les Paul will still suggest much different lines and give a much different "playing experience" than a Strat, and the difference is GREATLY magnified when you're talking about a Taylor. There's a lot more to a good guitar than its tone.

And i can't think of a single demographic this is going to hit, with the possible exception of a retro acid surf band that already owns some Line6 gear. I bet they'll sell 5.

They're asking a grand for it? you're kidding me... They'd have a hard enough time selling them at five hundred.

-Drew

gemini8026 · #3 02-25-2003, 11:51 PM

I hope the technology developes.

Im not a die hard "WE MUST NEVER CHANGE THE TRADITIONAL DESIGN"

As it is, im more happy with my Sansamp PSA-1 then any tube amp I ever owned.

When the immature technology is refined and put into a quality made axe, look out, they'll have plenty of buyers.

As it is right now, i think line6 is doing quite well, and it's only gonna get better.

anuj · #4 02-26-2003, 05:37 AM

man .. i have nothing against technology. i'm after the sound.

well, not that there isn't any elitism in me (hell, i'm a member HERE, ain't i?) .. i still do believe that music is in the player, not the instrument .. but that's no excuse for the worthless thing that that was.

~A

**jono** · #5 02-26-2003, 06:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drew

There's a lot more to a good guitar than its tone.

-Drew

I can't agree more here Drew

I think how you play a guitar comes from its shape and its look and its feel as much as it does from its sound it's the guitar as a whole that evokes what gets played.

Microwaved food never tastes as good as Mom's cooking, or a food cooked on a barbecue with your friends now does it?