Line 6 Variax Electric Guitars
I've had quite a few of these Line 6 guitars even though some folks hate them, or at least they hate what they represent. 'How can digital electronics sound like a (fill in your favourite guitar here)'? OK, I've never done a side by side comparison of this with a '59 Strat, a '58 Les Paul, (I don't have a hundred grand to spare anyway) or even a Gretsch 6120 (even though I own one). But for my purposes they work pretty well and the sounds capture the spirit of the ones they try to emulate.
And with Workbench software you can set up the custom tunings that I use all the time. For an example of the custom tunings and one of my own guitar sounds, have a listen to Guantanamo at my MySpace page. All of the electric slide is done on this guitar. The guitar sound is based on a Gretsch 6120 with an impossible pickup configuration, and set to open G tuning.
There are huge advantages playing live - from doing the electric sitar solo in Steely Dan's Do It Again, to doing a passable acoustic sound, to instantly changing tunings for slide guitar pieces. It's even better for recording. No noise whatsoever, not even a crackle, because there are no magnetic pickups.
Variax 500
The 500 model at top right was the first electric Variax that I bought. I loved the acoustic model 700 and had begun using it to record, but I decided I needed an electric (and later a bass) to put down everything I needed.
This Variax was perfect for that, although it did feel and look a bit cheap.
But it was really easy to play and the sounds were fantastic, especially once I got Workbench so that I could begin playing around with the settings. I came up with some really unique sounds that people frequently commented on, by moving 'virtual pickups' into impossible positions and very weird configurations.
The 500 model was discontinued by Line 6 around 2007.
Variax 600
Later I got a 600 model (at right with the maple board) because I wanted to play around with a whammy bar, and it was quite cheap.
But as soon as I got it I regretted it because it felt just like a Stratocaster. I've had several Strats before and really wanted to like them, but just couldn't get used to them. All the knobs are in the wrong places and nothing feels right.
So about a month later I sold it, losing about $100 in the process.
Variax 700
Then I got my 700 model around Christmas 2008. In fact I got two of them - this one and a hardtail black one (below). They were a ridiculous bargain price and I immediately sold the hardtail one for very good money, so I effectively got the sunburst one for free.
The 700 models are infinitely better than the other models. Made in Japan whereas the others are made in Korea, China, even Indonesia, they look and feel far more professional. Most of the 700 models have a body made of mahogany with a carved ash top, but the black ones are solid mahogany. The black ones are slightly heavier and sound marginally better in my opinion.
The sunburst was sold to guy in Perth Western Australia in early March 2010 because I got hold of a Trussart with Variax electronics in it.
None of these guitars are made any more.
