James Tyler Variax - Korea vs US make?

[lfm]

Anybody having experience testing these?
I'm mostly into 59 model, with close to Gibson scale length and set neck.

US make cost considerably more than highend Gibsons?
What about second hand value?

Since it's depending on software as well, one can assume it's second hand value drop pretty quick if a new generation comes along that is not upgradable?

What are your thoughts or experience on this matter?

Are there luthiers (in Europe) that build Variax system into any guitar?

Any tip is appreciated.

Thank you.

[SLiC]

I have the Korean JTV-69, there have been quality issues with the Korean models (check the JTV Forum forum http://line6.com/support/community/supp ... uments/jtv), In fact I sent mine back to Line 6 UK foir a new neck as my frets were filed in too much (causing the e strings to slip off). Line 6 changed the neck FOC and it plays well now, no problems, but expect it to play like a £250-£300 guitar, not a £1000 guitar, as you are paying for the electronics...

Its a great 'second' guitar for me - the instant drop tunings, useful and pretty good sound semi, accoustics etc., but I also have an ESP Horizon, and that is used for anything that sounds like an solid body electric guitar!

If I was only having one guitar, I wouldnt have the JTV, as versatile as it is, playability is more important to me, and for a grand you can get a lot of good guitars....I havent played the US custom version, if it plays like a two grand guitar and has the benifit of the electronics than it may be a winner.

The MOST important rule with a JTV is only buy the one you have actually played in a shop- dont mail order etc, they seem very variable on quality and set up.

FYI- I also have the HD500 and DT25, its an amazing set up if you play live, but if you dont then the Variax in to guitar rig etc. is just as good and you dont need the HD500 (even though it has a nice digital connection, switches guitar types with presets etc...)

[tapper mike]

American version prices are inflated because they can. Korean builds are cheaper also because they can. I've played many an outstanding korean guitar. Mostly samick factory made and not cort, Though I do own (regrettably) some cort made guitars (korean guitars with american/japanese brand names.

Samicks are damn good guitars. Even the licensed knock offs that samick produces for other guitar companies are pretty damn good.

Cort on the other hand is a different story but not for the reasons you would think.

[polaris20]

Buy a used JTV-69, get a Warmoth 24.75" conversion neck, and call it a day.

Seriously though, with all the neck issues I've read about with the MIK Variaxes, I'd definitely go the route of the 69 specifically because it'll accept a Warmoth neck. Then you're left with a great playing guitar that does all the cool stuff.

[lfm]

Thank you all for input.

A local music store claimed there have been some problem with tremolo on 69 model and I'm not a strata guy, really. Tremolo do not fully restore to correct tuning all the time. It may be fixed, I don't know. But he did not recommend it.

I've got some answers from Line6 support that I can share:

They reveal nothing of what might be coming, or is coming in advance.
This is a turnoff for me. Knowing they continue to come with new models would make me more open for the investment, maybe even in the US model.

I suggested Fender Jazzmaster, some ethnic stuff like Bozouki, Ballalajka etc. And a nylon guitar could be useful too. Heard some rumours about nylon.

At this time there are no separate sales of the electronics to any luthiers. Only the JTV-series.

They said there is room for new models in the current architecture and can be upgraded with flash update. Unclear if room for plenty more or just one or two.

So my strategy now is to get a couple of JTV-59 to store, they have nothing in stock. It does not seem to be a great demand.

Test and probably get one of them.

In sweden price on US model is triple the Korea so it's not worth it, I think. Saw prices in UK were a bit over £2000 which is better, but no way to actually play the instrument then. And not knowing if anything new is coming at all - it makes it even less an option. If not new models come all the time - second hand value is really low especially if a new generation comes along. It's the same as with software in general.

For me it's home recording use only - and it's interesting with the different characters Variax provide - if decent.

Thanks again.

[polaris20]

I'm not really interested until they come out with one without the magnetic pickups, like the original. I don't need another guitar with H-H pickups, and if it meant lowering the cost a bit, I'd be interested. I'm with ya on the trem, but I'd just block it anyway, so it doesn't bother me.

[lfm]

I'm not really interested until they come out with one without the magnetic pickups, like the original. I don't need another guitar with H-H pickups, and if it meant lowering the cost a bit, I'd be interested. I'm with ya on the trem, but I'd just block it anyway, so it doesn't bother me.

For me it's a tremendous strength that it is a fine ordinary instrument - with these extra abilities like Variax provide.

The first version of Variax really looked odd and strange and naked kind of without the pickups.
- What is this?

If the JT US-built overall qualifies as a fine custom built instrument - I don't know. But it's not before then I would trade in my Gibsons for real. For a moment I thought I might be able to do that - and get money left over and use for other studio investments. But then JT would qualify as the first guitar, with something close to Gibson emulations - not an extra second guitar with some stompboxes inside.

But the US custom built might give you a chance to order one without any pickup bays at all - but I doubt it woyld be cheaper.

[hibidy]

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

They had one at GC and I checked it out. It fretted out too easily or I might have taken a chance on it. Build seemed to be nice though (jtv 69)

I don't know about the 59.......

[lfm]

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

They had one at GC and I checked it out. It fretted out too easily or I might have taken a chance on it. Build seemed to be nice though (jtv 69)

I don't know about the 59.......

Thanks.

By "fretted out" you mean?

1st and 6th string too close to neck/fret edge?

[tapper mike]

I don't think they want to sell of the parts and I'm not too sure that James Tyler is entirely independent.

Anyone remember Valley Arts before they where bought out by Samick? I do they were a custom shop that mostly did repair work for the stars. After the buyout they were just a nameplate to sell Samicks. Anyone remember Greg Bennet before Samick launched his line? I'd never heard or read of him either and I've been following the market since the 70's

When parker dropped the ball on Belew signature models a lot of die hard fans would get older series Variax guitars rip the guts out of them and put them in Parker bodies.

So I don't think Line6 want's it's cat out of the bag. That being said a lot of luthier's and tech's are taking the guts out of older variax models and putting them into more playable instruments

[lfm]

When parker dropped the ball on Belew signature models a lot of die hard fans would get older series Variax guitars rip the guts out of them and put them in Parker bodies.

So I don't think Line6 want's it's cat out of the bag. That being said a lot of luthier's and tech's are taking the guts out of older variax models and putting them into more playable instruments

That's a very interesting approach - thanks for that tip!

I see lot's of ads of the old 600 and 700 at pretty low prices.
I don't know the improvements made lately - how much it developed?

The one thing that must fit - is that the piezo bridge thingy as the source for everything?

Or are there Gibson-type bridges with piezo on each string?

[hibidy]

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

They had one at GC and I checked it out. It fretted out too easily or I might have taken a chance on it. Build seemed to be nice though (jtv 69)

I don't know about the 59.......

Thanks.

By "fretted out" you mean?

1st and 6th string too close to neck/fret edge?

Nope. If I just randomly try doing a proper bend at lets say 15th fret it chokes rather quickly. It was set up reasonably well so I doubt it was that.

I could also hear a slight "phasy" sound when using the alternate tunings at times (like when you hear pitch changes with simples......not sure I can describe well)

They have the 59 in concord but I don't feel like driving that far to try one.

[tapper mike]

Re phasey sound. Yeah I think they call it warble. It's an artifact of using an altered tuning



I can recall a friend of mine having the same issue with older roland VG's


Re 600. 700 series. The were using a single processor which may have been more stable then the current dual processor. But also it had some short commings particularly when trying to pull of a slide using a 12 string acoustic model.

So six of one (altered tuning warble) half a dozen of the other (slides with 12 string guitar sound)

[hibidy]

I don't know if it would drive me nuts or not. However, it was indeed much fun using those altered tunings. Mostly, it sounded good. (hint: it's a good idea to tune the guitar first )

[Uncle E]

I have the Korean JTV-69, there have been quality issues with the Korean models (check the JTV Forum forum http://line6.com/support/community/supp ... uments/jtv), In fact I sent mine back to Line 6 UK foir a new neck as my frets were filed in too much (causing the e strings to slip off).

There was a run of JTV-69's that had this problem. hibidy reported one and we had one with this problem. The most recent JTV-69 we received from Line 6 is good.

FWIW, Korean guitars are usually excellent these days. I would only recommend getting a US model if you actually want to use the standard magnetic pickups.