Line6 Variax And Workbench

[mojobone]

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.

[funsongs]

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.

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!!

Hope y'all had a good Thanksgiving - 8 of us had plenty of laughs, and plenty to eat!
Cheers.

[LamarPecorino]

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.

What do you use for a nylon string guitar?

[mojobone]

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.

[LamarPecorino]

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.

[mojobone]

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.