Guitar Technology, Gears, Artists News and product reviews

The Line 6 brand has been in existence since the 1990’s and has made a name among the big players of today’s guitar amplifier’s makers and guitar gadgets makers. One of their first product is the AxSys 212 which is a guitar amp that models dozens of classic guitar amplifiers, as well as a complete arsenal of stomp boxes and effects. From then on, they have successfully build newer products and a few of the line includes POD which is a series of stomp box and racks guitar effects, new amplifier series like the Spider, Flextone, Vetta and the HD147 which is an amp head.

The Line 6 company has also jumped into the ‘Digital guitar’ race with their arsenal of guitars called “Variax”. Sounds like some deadly agent huh? Anyway, I have tried these guitars at CK Music at our local store here in Malaysia and I have to say I’m quite impressed with those Line 6 people. I believe this guitar is on a different league compared to the VG Strat and the Digital Les Paul. This guitar is pure digital modeling. You can’t use it without power through the batteries or via the stereo cable which powers the guitar. The Variax guitar gives you 25 different guitar models in one. Can you believe that? Well with modeling technology, almost everything is possible. I mean just check out these models that they emulate:

* 1960 Fender® Telecaster® Custom
* 1968 Fender® Telecaster®
* 1968 Fender® Telecaster® Thinline
* 1959 Fender® Stratocaster®
* 1958 Gibson® Les Paul® Standard
* 1952 Gibson® Les Paul® “Goldtop”
* 1961 Gibson® Les Paul® Custom (3 PU)
* 1956 Gibson® Les Paul® Junior
* 1976 Gibson® Firebird V
* 1955 Gibson® Les Paul® Special
* 1959 Gretsch® 6120
* 1956 Gretsch® Silver Jet
* 1968 Rickenbacker® 360
* 1966 Rickenbacker® 360-12
* 1961 Gibson® ES®-335
* 1967 Epiphone® Casino
* 1957 Gibson® ES-175
* 1953 Gibson® Super 400
* 1959 Martin® D-28
* 1970 Martin® D 12-28
* 1967 Martin® O-18
* 1966 Guild® F212
* 1995 Gibson® J-200
* 1935 Dobro® Alumilite
* Danelectro 3021
* Coral/Dano® Electric Sitar
* Gibson® Mastertone Banjo
* 1928 National® Style 2 “Tricone” [info]

Given a choice, I would like to have one in my collection too. This will be good for a live and on the stage situation. I magine you don’t have to switch guitars between a les Paul or a Telecaster. Pretty convincing sound too. Only thing is the feel of the guitar is somewhat strange. No pickups and all.. weird dude.

Variax guitars comes in models 300, 600 and the 700. There’s also the acoustics and bass versions.

For more info, check out Line 6 Variax page

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