Line6 Variax And Workbench

Tell Your Friends about Gear that you love

Moderators: admin, mdc, TAXIstaff

Post Reply
User avatar
mojobone
King of the World
King of the World
Posts: 11837
Joined: Sat May 17, 2008 4:20 pm
Gender: Male
Location: Up in Indiana, where the tall corn grows
Contact:

Line6 Variax And Workbench

Post by mojobone » Fri Nov 25, 2016 9:18 am

I used to use this thing strictly for stage work, cuz I could switch guitars mid-phrase at the turn of a knob, (thereby replicating what was on the record; cool for doing Top Forty-type stuff) but I eventually realized that in the heat of a live gig, I was the only person in any venue that cared or could even tell whether I was using a Les Paul or a Rickenbacker 12-string, and since I have more guitars than I can play at once back at the ranch, I just used the real ones when tracking, because they're y'know, real. However, since I started looking into ways to speed up my music production...I've been kicking myself for not using this thing in the studio all this time.

For exposed parts or solo guitar/dobro I'm still using the real ones, but boy is it ever nice not to have to wonder whether a Tele or a Gretsch will sit better in a given mix before pulling out a bunch of cases. The instant drop tunings and 12-string emulations are a bit less convincing in a studio setting, but can still provide useful textures.
The Straight Stuff; Roots, Rock & Soul

http://twangfu.wordpress.com
http://twitter.com/mojo_bone

User avatar
funsongs
Total Pro
Total Pro
Posts: 7162
Joined: Fri Sep 06, 2013 11:18 am
Gender: Male
Location: So Cal
Contact:

Re: Line6 Variax And Workbench

Post by funsongs » Fri Nov 25, 2016 11:07 am

And yet - there's still quite a bit of truth - and, I gather a substantial 'quorum' who will agree:
"There's no such thing as having too many guitars." :)

Fact is: I don't have enough - there are ones I would still like to own - which are too many to list.
Now you've just added another one; gee thanks, Mojo. :lol:

I do own a nice Takamine G406S that's heading for Craigslist soon - one that I DON'T get around to playing... or seem to need.
Hopefully that'll make room - and a good excuse - for getting that Gold Tone 4-string Irish Tenor banjo in my Amazon cart!! :? :shock: ;)

Hope y'all had a good Thanksgiving - 8 of us had plenty of laughs, and plenty to eat!
Cheers.
Peter Rahill - aka "funsongs"
NOW, back on YouTube (2022)
https://www.youtube.com/@peterrahill9263/featured
https://soundcloud.com/funsongs-1
https://peterrahill.bandcamp.com/

“The future aint what it use to be.” - Yogi Berra

LamarPecorino
Serious Musician
Serious Musician
Posts: 1420
Joined: Tue Nov 12, 2013 5:00 pm
Gender: Male
Location: Austin, Texas
Contact:

Re: Line6 Variax And Workbench

Post by LamarPecorino » Fri Nov 25, 2016 11:42 pm

Mojo:

I have used a Variax in the studio for several years now. It is my "go to" guitar. I used to use floor toys and amps, but found that the Variax lost a lot in the process. Now I record direct and use plugins for effects and amp modeling.

I am on the look out for a Variax 700 Acoustic at a reasonable price. I found one awhile back that I should have bought. :oops:

What do you use for a nylon string guitar?
Onward and upward!
Lamar

“We set sail on this new sea because there is new knowledge to be gained" JFK

User avatar
mojobone
King of the World
King of the World
Posts: 11837
Joined: Sat May 17, 2008 4:20 pm
Gender: Male
Location: Up in Indiana, where the tall corn grows
Contact:

Re: Line6 Variax And Workbench

Post by mojobone » Sat Nov 26, 2016 5:31 am

I have a slim acoustic-electric nylon string from Washburn; it's a little thin on its own, but works fine with a smidge of body resonance IR and/or some early reflections added. I tend not to use amp plugins, cuz I have lots of tweaked amp/effect preset chains in a Line6 X3Live, which helped take some strain off my former DAW rig. (the new rig doesn't need the assist, but habits die hard) I A/B'd the XLR outputs vs USB and preferred the analog outs. Most of the time there's a guitar, a bass in the aux input and the Variax at its dedicated input, so I can blaze through pop/rock combo stuff, but I mike up the real hardware, when the mission's critical. Still on the lookout for a decent real 12 string and a good mandolin, so yup, no such thing as too many.
The Straight Stuff; Roots, Rock & Soul

http://twangfu.wordpress.com
http://twitter.com/mojo_bone

LamarPecorino
Serious Musician
Serious Musician
Posts: 1420
Joined: Tue Nov 12, 2013 5:00 pm
Gender: Male
Location: Austin, Texas
Contact:

Re: Line6 Variax And Workbench

Post by LamarPecorino » Sat Nov 26, 2016 7:54 am

Very cool! I have a Yamaha thin line nylon string that I love to play, but the sound isn't the best. I will try your approach. I've considered getting a Fishman Aura to enhance the tone. Any experience with it?

As floor toys go, I bought a Digitech Mosaic pedal to use live. I have some hand issues that make most 12 string guitars unplayable. I've been impressed with it on both electric and acoustic guitars. I haven't used it to record though.

I have a first generation PODxt Live. Maybe I should check out the HD versions.
Onward and upward!
Lamar

“We set sail on this new sea because there is new knowledge to be gained" JFK

User avatar
mojobone
King of the World
King of the World
Posts: 11837
Joined: Sat May 17, 2008 4:20 pm
Gender: Male
Location: Up in Indiana, where the tall corn grows
Contact:

Re: Line6 Variax And Workbench

Post by mojobone » Sat Dec 03, 2016 7:39 am

I hear good things about the Fishman Aura, though I haven't tried one. I just picked up a Zoom A3, and haven't spent enough time with it to form an opinion. Both have modeling functions, and what I'm hearing in forums is that the Zoom cuts a bit better in band situations and the Aura shines in a solo guitar format. Both are ultra-quiet, but the Zoom's input configuration was a better fit for my Washburn dreadnaught, which has a Baggs double Barrel P/U installed-it has a stereo endpin jack with pickup and mic outputs on 1/4 in plugs.
The Straight Stuff; Roots, Rock & Soul

http://twangfu.wordpress.com
http://twitter.com/mojo_bone

Post Reply

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 12 guests