Excellent article! I'll second the Taylor T5 series and the Music Man Majesty.
I'd also include the Godin A6 Ultra - great neck, humbucker and piezo, body's about the size of a Tele, and it's made in North America (parts in Canada and parts in the US) for under a grand!
This is on my someday list now that the motherboard issues have been fixed. I know a half dozen people who had one and notes just stopped playing. More accurately, STRINGS just stopped playing. I was at a show when the 2nd and 3rd strings suddenly stopped responding and the guy had to stop mid song and change guitars. They seemed to be really badly affected by humidity back then. I understand the James Tyler variant does not have that problem. I do like the concept of modeling guitars along with my Line 6 modeling amp.
All so I can play in my upstairs bedroom studio! But hey, you can't take it with you, right? I make it, I spend it. No concern in the slightest about saving money. I don't need money, I have credit. So many hoard money because "what if I have a medical emergency". Okay. I get it. I also don't have that worry with the VA standing behind me. So yeah, I'll get one soon here. Likely a white Strat body model. Love them when they work.
This is on my someday list now that the motherboard issues have been fixed. I know a half dozen people who had one and notes just stopped playing. More accurately, STRINGS just stopped playing. I was at a show when the 2nd and 3rd strings suddenly stopped responding and the guy had to stop mid song and change guitars. They seemed to be really badly affected by humidity back then. I understand the James Tyler variant does not have that problem. I do like the concept of modeling guitars along with my Line 6 modeling amp.
All so I can play in my upstairs bedroom studio! But hey, you can't take it with you, right? I make it, I spend it. No concern in the slightest about saving money. I don't need money, I have credit. So many hoard money because "what if I have a medical emergency". Okay. I get it. I also don't have that worry with the VA standing behind me. So yeah, I'll get one soon here. Likely a white Strat body model. Love them when they work.
I still have an original model from the first run of the Variax and also have a James Tyler model. Both still work very well and have never had any issues whatsoever with either.
My wife asked if I had seen the dog bowl. I told her I didn't even know he could.
I still have an original model from the first run of the Variax and also have a James Tyler model. Both still work very well and have never had any issues whatsoever with either.
You play a lot of outside gigs? Most of the trouble I have seen was related to humidity, and you guys have that in spades and doubled down in Florida.
This is on my someday list now that the motherboard issues have been fixed. I know a half dozen people who had one and notes just stopped playing. More accurately, STRINGS just stopped playing. I was at a show when the 2nd and 3rd strings suddenly stopped responding and the guy had to stop mid song and change guitars. They seemed to be really badly affected by humidity back then. I understand the James Tyler variant does not have that problem. I do like the concept of modeling guitars along with my Line 6 modeling amp.
All so I can play in my upstairs bedroom studio! But hey, you can't take it with you, right? I make it, I spend it. No concern in the slightest about saving money. I don't need money, I have credit. So many hoard money because "what if I have a medical emergency". Okay. I get it. I also don't have that worry with the VA standing behind me. So yeah, I'll get one soon here. Likely a white Strat body model. Love them when they work.
I still have an original model from the first run of the Variax and also have a James Tyler model. Both still work very well and have never had any issues whatsoever with either.
I actually had an old Variax 300 come onto my workbench a couple years ago, the owner had plugged it into the wrong port on his amp with the ethernet cable. Fried the guitar irreparably, and I found out in the process that Line 6 neither sells parts nor allows users to talk about repairs on their forums, so we were unable to get it fixed.
I actually had an old Variax 300 come onto my workbench a couple years ago, the owner had plugged it into the wrong port on his amp with the ethernet cable. Fried the guitar irreparably, and I found out in the process that Line 6 neither sells parts nor allows users to talk about repairs on their forums, so we were unable to get it fixed.
Can you elaborate as to what he plugged where and how current got to where it wasn't supposed to be to fry things? All I know about these is that a CAT 5 runs to a pedalboard that has a display that shows what model is selected and that the analog audio runs from the guitar to an amp. The only amp I even know has a CAT5 are Line 6's amps and that CAT5 runs to the shortboard. I want to learn things from people who have touched these beyond the youtube videos. It is so attractive to me to be able to switch from standard tuning to dropped D or open E or open G to play slide with the twist of a knob and then back again during the same song. It just freaked me out to see my pal Billy playing and suddenly the 2nd, 3rd and 6th string stopped responding.
I actually had an old Variax 300 come onto my workbench a couple years ago, the owner had plugged it into the wrong port on his amp with the ethernet cable. Fried the guitar irreparably, and I found out in the process that Line 6 neither sells parts nor allows users to talk about repairs on their forums, so we were unable to get it fixed.
Can you elaborate as to what he plugged where and how current got to where it wasn't supposed to be to fry things? All I know about these is that a CAT 5 runs to a pedalboard that has a display that shows what model is selected and that the analog audio runs from the guitar to an amp. The only amp I even know has a CAT5 are Line 6's amps and that CAT5 runs to the shortboard. I want to learn things from people who have touched these beyond the YouTube videos. It is so attractive to me to be able to switch from standard tuning to dropped D or open E or open G to play slide with the twist of a knob and then back again during the same song. It just freaked me out to see my pal Billy playing and suddenly the 2nd, 3rd and 6th string stopped responding.
The new models have both cat 5 and regular 1/4" jacks. The cat 5 is great if you have other line 6 gear (Helix or amps etc.) as it can plug in and also be controlled by the gear. Say you have a certain setup on helix, you can also program it to change the Variax to the guitar you want and the tuning you want just by stepping on the right buttons (which you set up when you do the program). I have no idea what someone could have plugged it into that fried it though. If you don't use the cat 5 (which also provides power), it has a battery pack that is rechargeable and last plenty long enough for a several hour gig. The older model has a foot switch that provides the power using the 1/4" jack.
You mention a pedal board telling you which model etc. That is not an included item. I can only attest to using it with a Line 6 Helix which I find to be quite nice. You can also connect it to your computer and use Line 6 software to create your own models, say you want a Gretsch with the 5th and 6th strings to be bass strings (as Chet Atkins did on several songs) you can program the strings down an octave and place it in one of the model's spots so you can dial that in when you need it. Pretty versatile. The acoustic models are pretty cool, I find they work best in a mix as I don't really like their naked sounds, but that is probably just me and my preference. It could be I have not figured out how best to use them (this is more likely).
Yes, parts are an issue. I have not had to deal with Line 6 support very much at all. And have no idea about their forums.
And lastly, I do not play outside very much so I have not noticed any humidity issues, although inside my house can be quite humid at times and I have not had any issues there.
My wife asked if I had seen the dog bowl. I told her I didn't even know he could.
[quote/] It just freaked me out to see my pal Billy playing and suddenly the 2nd, 3rd and 6th string stopped responding. [/quote]
That would freak me out too. Like anything else in this world, nothing is perfect and electronics have a way to finding the worst time and way to fail. I have owned a lot of Line 6 gear over the years and so far nothing has failed me (he types as he knocks on wood!)
My wife asked if I had seen the dog bowl. I told her I didn't even know he could.
I actually had an old Variax 300 come onto my workbench a couple years ago, the owner had plugged it into the wrong port on his amp with the ethernet cable. Fried the guitar irreparably, and I found out in the process that Line 6 neither sells parts nor allows users to talk about repairs on their forums, so we were unable to get it fixed.
Can you elaborate as to what he plugged where and how current got to where it wasn't supposed to be to fry things? All I know about these is that a CAT 5 runs to a pedalboard that has a display that shows what model is selected and that the analog audio runs from the guitar to an amp. The only amp I even know has a CAT5 are Line 6's amps and that CAT5 runs to the shortboard. I want to learn things from people who have touched these beyond the youtube videos. It is so attractive to me to be able to switch from standard tuning to dropped D or open E or open G to play slide with the twist of a knob and then back again during the same song. It just freaked me out to see my pal Billy playing and suddenly the 2nd, 3rd and 6th string stopped responding.
As far as I know, it was the other RJ45 connector on the amp, the one that was meant for the floorboard. The pinout on them is vastly different, as is the voltages present on each pin, enough so that it fried the guitar.
As far as I know, it was the other RJ45 connector on the amp, the one that was meant for the floorboard. The pinout on them is vastly different, as is the voltages present on each pin, enough so that it fried the guitar.
Oh wow. I think that is right under Ohm's Law in the electronics textbooks, formally known as The Moron Equation. WHO would just randomly start plugging things in just because they fit like that???
As far as I know, it was the other RJ45 connector on the amp, the one that was meant for the floorboard. The pinout on them is vastly different, as is the voltages present on each pin, enough so that it fried the guitar.
Oh wow. I think that is right under Ohm's Law in the electronics textbooks, formally known as The Moron Equation. WHO would just randomly start plugging things in just because they fit like that???
I think the real question is why would a manufacturer have the same type of ports for two different things when one would cause that kind of damage?
Also that is what can happen when you don't RTFM!
OK, a random thought; Why does toilet paper need a commercial? Who's not buying it?
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
I have a bunch of Line 6 stuff and it is all labeled quite nicely and I always, always, always make sure I am connecting stuff to the right place on anything I am connecting to anything else. But accidents happens.
I agree with Eddie, probably should be a standard associated with which wire carries what. So then even if you screw up you don't brick you stuff.
My wife asked if I had seen the dog bowl. I told her I didn't even know he could.
I agree with Eddie, probably should be a standard associated with which wire carries what. So then even if you screw up you don't brick you stuff.
Ah yes. "Brick". After doing that to a couple of iPhones trying to Jailbreak them, I am intimately familiar with the term.
As far as what Simon Says (see what I did there?) I would love to know WHAT the guy plugged into where. I don't know anything about equipment I don't have, and my Line 6 amps CLEARLY say that the RJ45 is for the shortboard. I have moth the little practice amp and a Spyder III modeling amp head plugged into my 2x12 speaker. That this is SO LOUD I an barely use it at home. I haven't even gone through all the modeling settings yet. 100 bucks from a pawn shop in Los Angeles! Also have a Pocket Pod I got for $30 and shipping from a pawn shop in San Francisco. All those guitar toys!!!
And I am a keyboard and sax player who used to be a guitar player and now can't grip a pick because of arthritis. LOL!! We won't even get into how many guitars I have.
I think the real question is why would a manufacturer have the same type of ports for two different things when one would cause that kind of damage?
Also that is what can happen when you don't RTFM!
My favourite thing to do is to RTFM, it stops me from being an ID-10T!
Yes, it seems like a major design oversight to me. Two physically compatible ports that are not electrically compatible.
Originally Posted By: eddie1261
Also begs the question "Why isn't it the same wire in all RJ45 cable ends the wire that carries +vdc?"
The ethernet standard doesn't actually have a pin for +VDC. Signal on the wire is generally +-2.5V, transmitted on differential pairs. No ground, no power, simply 4 pairs with signals. RJ45 was not designed for the power delivery requirements that a Variax or FBV require.
Originally Posted By: etcjoe
I agree with Eddie, probably should be a standard associated with which wire carries what. So then even if you screw up you don't brick you stuff.
I heartily agree.
Originally Posted By: eddie1261
As far as what Simon Says (see what I did there?) I would love to know WHAT the guy plugged into where. I don't know anything about equipment I don't have, and my Line 6 amps CLEARLY say that the RJ45 is for the shortboard. I have moth the little practice amp and a Spyder III modeling amp head plugged into my 2x12 speaker. That this is SO LOUD I an barely use it at home. I haven't even gone through all the modeling settings yet. 100 bucks from a pawn shop in Los Angeles! Also have a Pocket Pod I got for $30 and shipping from a pawn shop in San Francisco. All those guitar toys!!!
And I am a keyboard and sax player who used to be a guitar player and now can't grip a pick because of arthritis. LOL!! We won't even get into how many guitars I have.
There are a bunch of Line 6 products that have two RJ45 connectors for the FBV pedalboard and for the Variax - both use a "standard" RJ45 socket (although the Variax uses a ruggedized connector, but this doesn't stop someone from using a regular ethernet cable). This customer plugged their Variax into the FBV plug. I think the Vetta was among the first that did that.
And since you didn't ask, I'm "down" to 8 guitars now after my last move. Far too few!
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