Retro Gear Review - Line 6 Variax Acoustic 700

#Line6 #Variax
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[@bungalowfeuhler1541]

I love using my old Variax for open tunings and slide guitar. So easy.

[@chuckkelley5894]

I bought one out of Belgium a few months ago. Insane instrument. No player doesn't love it. I have been considering buying 2 or 3 more as donors so that I don't get caught with my pants down in the future. Mine is spotless/scratchless so I don't need perfect-looking donors.

it is soo sad that line6 does not sell these anymore, the nylon version and the bass were also super interesting

[@aaronshortmusic]

Yes. WAY ahead of their time.

[@markroberts3522]

Hi Aaron, my son and I recently bought the Gary Moore Line 6 Variax 700 from the Gary Moore collection @ Bonhams Auctioneers. Gary can be seen playing it just a few months before his passing on his final appearance @ The Montreux Jazz Festival on the song "Johnny Boy" which can be viewed on KZbin. Your video is so informative and highlights the full potential of the guitar........Many thanks.

[@aaronshortmusic]

Hi Mark! You bought THE guitar? That is wild!

[@markroberts3522]

@@aaronshortmusic IMHO Aaron, Gary was the greatest guitar player to walk the planet........any genre, be it rock, blues, jazz fusion, acoustic.........even heavy metal. Check out Gary's version of "The Messiah Will Come Again" @ Montreaux 1990 using his Peter Green 59 Les Paul Standard. See what you think Aaron, I think it's the most complete piece of guitar playing anyone could wish to see. :)

[@left0verture]

I’ve had one of these since they were first introduced. A great guitar. A couple months ago, it developed a problem and no longer works with batteries, only the DI. Sadly, Line6 has ABANDONED it. I’ve been told by multiple repair places that there are no parts and no schematics. That’s unacceptable “support” for a $1000+ instrument. Keep that in mind when you’re shopping for new gear.

[@aaronshortmusic]

This is why I sold mine. However sometimes we have to buy stuff that may one day be unrepairable if it is truly great and enhances our music.

[@madmartinline6]

2 months late ! I had an electic variax about 15 years ago for a short while. I had the same problem with the battery. But just before I sold it I realized that the problem was me & had something to do with me using a standard cable instead of a TRS cable. Might be worth checking with the instructions that you are doing everything exactly right. Also check that the wires to the battery in its compartment are not broken as they are very thin & brittle in my memory. In my experience, anyway, the batteries only seemed to last 5 minutes particulary if you left them in the guitar all the time... but its nice to have everything working as it should.

[@WalterBranky]

All the Variax thing was sold to Yamaha, then THEY abandoned it

[@nickkellie]

Wow the transposing tuning in the beginning was sensational!

[@incubrian]

it's really cool to see the variax finally getting respect. in 2004 and thru most of the 2010s most ppl just didnt understand how cool it was, since guitarists are such purist traditionalists. variax was just so far ahead of its time. i think guitar culture is slowly catching up to where line6 was thinking almost 20 years ago. talk about cutting edge.

[@aaronshortmusic]

I agree. It was WAY ahead of its time and it feels like companies don’t want to take these risks anymore.

[@lonnyhorowitzmd509]

I have 6 Variax’s. Two Acoustic 700s, a Variax 600, and Three JTVs - 59, 69 HSS and 69 SSS. I love them. Yamaha bought out L6 and for whatever internal reasons has taken focus off advance the series. I use them all with a Helix for power and with the JTVs the ability to used Helix to change modeling and all the JTV Variax settings!! Unfortunately, L6 has left us out in the cold with their Variax Workbench HD software which only works with the JTVs and not the original Variax’s. The Original Variax Workbench software doesn’t work on a 64Bit PC (written for 32 Bit Java environments) and I find it intermittently works with a 64 Bit machine. Still I love my Variax’s and find myself playing the Acoustic 700s even more now. Love your review - Absolutely the best Acoustic 700 review I’ve seen!! 😊

[@aaronshortmusic]

@@lonnyhorowitzmd509 Thank you! I agree about the updates. I had their mixer and could not get it to work with the iPad app. They don’t support their older products.

[@lonnyhorowitzmd509]

@@aaronshortmusic They sort of feel that there’s not that much $$$ in it for them. They would rather sell Yamaha Rev Stars and their other gear. It’s just the way of “Bigger Business”!! Remember Yamaha is the biggest musical instrument manufacturer in the world. Don’t forget the pianos, band instruments, recording gear etc etc. Line 6 is just a very small part of the many that make Yamaha. As such even though the L6 stuff was and is always excellent gear it’s not their biggest income source hence we are at the end of the trough as they say.

[@aaronshortmusic]

@@lonnyhorowitzmd509 Yamaha make the silent guitar and other very innovative products. I would love to see a new Variax collaboration!

[@ClarenceT100]

Thanks for that review. I was given one of these about 6 months ago. It is so useful for songwriting and inspiring creativity. Different tunings at the touch of a button and turn of a wheel. Add a little eq and compression and it sounds better.

[@robbolandsvids]

I'm surprised at how good the near 20 year old technology in this sounded. I did play a very early Variax electric when they first came out, and loved the idea and thought it did a pretty decent job for the most part, with a few limitations in terms of how the guitar responded to playing dynamics. I had to stop gigging about 20 years ago for health reasons, but think I may well have ended up with one of these acoustics if I'd carried on. Ideal for carrying to gigs on foot, and knowing it'd avoid any feedback issues from dodgy PA setups at random open mic venues. Cool review, nice one Aaron.

[@aaronshortmusic]

I agree. Thanks!

[@user-tq3nd7sw9c]

I bought one of these when they first came out. It was the black model and I loved the look and sound. Shortly after the purchase I had a really bad horse accident and had to sell the guitar. Fast forward to 2021 I was able to find the exact guitar only a blond like you demo on your video. I too enjoy the Jumbo the most however now that my son plays with me we have been able to supliment his acoustical playing with Banjo, 12 string, and various other sounds that blend really great. I play a lot of tunes in Drop D so it is so nice to just push a button and move from one tuning to another. I prefer to use a capo so I do not use the guitar to change but it could if I chose to. Loved your take on this Line 6 and I agree that the company should have expanded on into the 2020's.

[@aaronshortmusic]

Thanks for sharing Phil!

[@WalterBranky]

I'm waiting to get a used one today in 2024! I own an electric Variax and also the acoustic sounds stunned me so I wanted a dedicated acoustic variax

[@aaronshortmusic]

Good luck. Just remember there are hardly any spare parts around these days.

[@Quincyzmusic1]

I own one and have had it for many years. It’s in great condition and am amazed by it still. Thanks for the cool review!

[@aaronshortmusic]

Congrats!

[@bungalowfeuhler1541]

The most important part of owning a Variax is learning to replace piezos. The part number is 11-11-0001. You need to keep several in stock and learn to solder them properly. They last decades, but I cannot imagine how many Variax’s have been tossed out because one string stopped working.

[@DavidFell]

Yes, I have one of these. I also have the original Variax 500 from before it was called the 500, and the 700 bass, and the Variax Standard, which has basically replaced my (now for sale) Variax 500. All of these were purchased new. Over the years since, as I have purchased “real” guitars I have come to appreciate that none of the models in the Line 6 guitars really approach the sounds on the originals. On the other hand; they make for a wonderful palette of sounds that one might otherwise never acquire.

[@fatimapalacios2292]

metallica still uses one of these live

[@aaronshortmusic]

Very cool!

[@kornelious1]

Damn I'd love one of these guitars... but sadly they don't make them anymore :(

[@aaronshortmusic]

I would love to see a new version for 2023!

[@kornelious1]

@@aaronshortmusic Me too!!!

[@whimpypatrol5503]

Wish line 6 would update. Individual string approach was the way to go. Batteries are probably better now. A box would also be great. The boss sy-1000 which allows individual string pickups has a couple of acoustics out of their cauldron of effects. And there are IRs the don't use the Individual string approach such as NUX air and a few others.

[@aaronshortmusic]

Actually I’m not sure if the current tech would be a huge step up in battery or technical performance but it’s too bad it wasn’t at least kept around and supported.

[@guitaniac]

Thanks for another enjoyable review, Aaron. I can recall playing around with one of these at a Guitar Center. My only dislike was that the fretboard was a little narrow for my taste. With respect to the altered tunings thing, I believe that Joni Mitchell used a Roland VG-8 for that back in the '90s.

[@aaronshortmusic]

Joni did? That’s cool! James Taylor played a Variax as well. I don’t understand why guitars like this are not made anymore.

[@harveycan5820]

Yes she did! I saw her use it in late late 90s at UCLA. She was sandwiched between Van Morrison and Bob Dylan - - she blew both of them away! Her set was built around that Roland as it enabled her to replace using many guitars and could instantly give her all her tunings. Huge smile, hips swaying, voice soaring. Brilliant show!

[@jamesdeininger3759]

I have the JTV-59, and it’s my favorite guitar. Looks like I’ll have to pick up a 700

[@RichardAndersonMusic]

Aaron I'm so pleased you decided to review the Variax 700, which I still currently use, and thankful for such a positive review. One small point, I didn't think the Helix 'Supported' the older generation of Variaxs so don't think the Ethernet able works with the Helix. I use the Line 5 POD500. I'd be interested to know of any way to make the sound 'Bigger' as I do use it solo/acoustic. Nice to connect with you again

[@mauricejanssenbvi]

I think it does support power for sure … possibly even model switching but names not matching. I remember seeing that the Helix does not support forced tuning om the old Variax. I will try in a few months. Have a Helix, Variax 700 acoustic and two 705 basses from 1st gen. Also have 4 new gen Variaxes.

[@aaronshortmusic]

It definitely powers it as I tried it.

[@zakklee2556]

​@mauricejanssenbvi does the Helix support the Variax 700? Does the HD500 support the Variax 700? By older Variax , Does that include the Variax 300? Does the HD500 support the Variax 300?

[@approachableactive]

I used a 700 when gigging. Hundreds of hours live. Only downside with the tuning live is if you had a stage monitor rather than in ears and you'd get some odd issues. It would lure you into a false security with stage volume. I'd play in say open A digitally, the actual guitar is still in standard tuning. The feedback rather than squeel to tell you there's an issue would instead drag the guitar out of tune. It's the strangest thing. You'd just hear it like 2 strings were flat. Or you'd hear it like you had an extra string that was in a different key. Never an issue with the electric though. Great in the studio!

[@jubuttib]

So nice to see people appreciating the Variax guitars, they really got a harsh deal back in the day. Why "retro gear review" though, isn't this a vintage device, not a new one pretending to be old like the word retro would imply?

[@aaronshortmusic]

Vintage works but implies an older item to me. These are still fairly recent.

[@jubuttib]

@@aaronshortmusic I mean sure, but retro implies it's brand new, just pretending to be old. =)

[@perfectpersonatrandom2826]

Hi aaron. Sounds good as always.

[@aaronshortmusic]

Thanks!

[@staleyexplores]

ok I'm shocked how good that sounds...great start to the video! Now excited to finish it.

[@staleyexplores]

love the variability in how to use the instrument, re charging, output/inputs, etc.

[@staleyexplores]

kind of like a t5 taylor imho, i like it.

[@BatRocker]

I’ve played one of these for many years in a Nirvana tribute. I have it all doctored up like Pat Smear’s Buck Owens (red white and blue). It’s an incredibly reliable stage guitar!

[@aaronshortmusic]

Awesome!

[@78tag]

I think the answer to your question is that the newer Variax/JTV electric guitars have the ability to do most, if not all, of these settings. Granted they don't look like an acoustic, there is no built-in compressor, and the alt tunings are done differently but that is where they focused their & and tech. I am going to check out that 700 though, I never bothered to look at their capabilities. Thanks.

[@josehayas63]

I have a Variax 5 String Bass and the Planet Waves TRS cable was included with the instrument to work with the preamp.

[@aaronshortmusic]

Thank you Jose. I thought it would have been an unbranded cable. It’s good to know that it is the original part!

[@gangoa07]

Great review Aaron! The Variax has aged well, considering the acoustasonics are still relatively new to the scene, As a Line 6 helix user, I would love to see you review a Tom Anderson Crowdster Plus 2 and hear your thoughts on it, from a solo player /point of view, they seem unbelievable,. I believe they are covering everything you are looking for ?

[@kittyhooch1]

I used to have a Variax 600 but now have a Variax JTV-69S and a Helix floor. My guitar looks similar to a Stratocaster and emulates acoustic and electric guitar guitar guitars and 12 strings. The guitar you have even does a Shamisen. What you seem like very unaware of is the Variax VDI cable not only powers the guitar but has control. I am not certain the degree on that one but the 600 I had didn't have tunings. The newer one has much more processing power. So you can do pretty much everything on the newer ones but yours is better for looking the part with acoustic. I can change a patch on my Helix and select a guitar, pickup, tunings in 1/100 of a tone and more. I can also totally modify everything in a guitar right down to electrical components.

[@sassaay]

Just got mine today. I’m wondering how I can find a power supply. I’m just interested in the alt. tuning capabilities and can’t believe I just stumbled upon these guitars a week ago. I’ll be creating my own custom tunings but I’m not there yet. I appreciate this video. It seems to be the most comprehensive one out there. Thanks.

[@sassaay]

I use Joni Mitchell tunings and various other artist’s tunings as well. My Martin will be glad to get a break. I see the end of a “5 guitar” gig as well.

[@aaronshortmusic]

Congrats! Reach out to Line 6 to ask about parts. It’s going to get harder and harder to find them. Check Reverb and eBay etc as well.

[@sassaay]

I’m learning just how hard.

[@yester30]

Love mine

[@dukeofdream]

I have a 300 acoustic that was a faulty floor unit and got it for 100 bucks, managed to find a replacement board from SweetWater that was also kinda faulty and some years later it died on me again :( It was already impossible to find another replacement back in 2013, let alone now 😅 I really miss this guitar, the one thing that cannot be beaten is the sound you get out of that 1/4 inch jack... No guitar can get you this good of a sound on it's output without doing some crazy EQing on it... At least no guitar that i can afford 😅 the ~500-1000 euro market is filled with guitars that sound great in a room but horrible when plugged in to a PA system, they all just sound fake... I really regret not buying a 700 acoustic when i had the chance... These days they are more of a unicorn in my Country at least :(

[@aaronshortmusic]

The problem with these great inventions from 10-20 years ago is that once they break you will not be able to find parts easily for them.

[@dukeofdream]

@@aaronshortmusic You can't believe how many hours i've spent under the microscope trying to get at least one of those boards working... I'm mainly a lead guitarist and my main instrument is a Variax JTV-89F... I tremble in fear of something happening to it cause these days, even JTV guitars are irreplaceable and parts are not available... Rumor has it that L6 fired the man behind the Variax Project and nobody knows how to at least provide support for electronic repairs... There are some schematics available for the first gen variaxes but not for the later JTV models (or my acoustic 300 for that matter). It's just so sad seeing a company doing stuff like that when in reality they do have a great product in their heritage... I've been promoting L6 for free even before i owned a variax cause i was amazed by testing one back in 2005... Nowadays i always tell people don't buy if you're not prepared for it to die one day and have no support whatsoever... Especially if you don't live in the UK or the US like i do... Shipping a guitar to their center would cost me about the same as the guitar itself 😅

[@aaronshortmusic]

@@dukeofdream Yes the Variax is officially discontinued for the time being.

[@theatremusician]

I'd love to hear this guitar in combination with either a Fishman Aura Spectrum or the NU-X Optima Air.

[@aaronshortmusic]

I’ve tried that with other guitars that already have processing and I find that usually it’s too much although it CAN work on a rare occasion.

[@theatremusician]

@@aaronshortmusic I have the “electric” 700. The 12 string acoustic models sound great through the Fishman. I haven’t tried the 6 strings yet.

[@aaronshortmusic]

@@theatremusician It’s definitely worth trying. You just have to find an image that matches really well.

[@daganhaddad]

pitch shift is better than the new variax...but I still love both of mine

[@adamgeorgebrown7694]

People always complain about line 6 guitar amps, but i thought they were pretty cool, i had the spider 2

[@DAVEBLISS2007]

I wish Yamaha would upgrade the Variax Acoustic with ability to communicate with Helix doing lternative tuning via foot switches.

[@aaronshortmusic]

I wish they would make a new version!

[@billgarrett4491]

I have the steel string acoustic version and i really like it, but the D sting cuts out or has a bad digial fuzzy sound which comes and goes. I have blasted it out with air and elec. circuit spray to no avail. It even may have made it worse. WFT? I sure would like to clean up that D string sound.

[@aaronshortmusic]

Have you contacted Line 6?

[@robchrystal]

It was good enough for Gary Moore ( Johnny Boy live ) Nuff said :)

[@ZootaAndrewMahera]

If you can feel the latency it's not working as it should.I have the electric version and I can't feel any latency. The latency should be the same as digital amp modellers. And technically speaking full analog signal chains also have latency

[@aaronshortmusic]

I didn’t feel latency while playing.

[@peetersmarc58]

Nice review! Would this guitar sound decent with the Bose S1 pro or L1 pro 8?

[@aaronshortmusic]

Most likely.

[@Celticsaint777]

Line 6 should revive these guitars. The acoustic and electric guitars.

[@aaronshortmusic]

I agree but sadly I don’t think they sold well enough for it to happen…

[@gtrdrumsplayerduarte]

There's one problem to every piezo loaded guitar. You can't play it as hard as an miced guitar. You don't even have to be heavy handed to bring up the piezo quack effect. Playing softer brings better tone. Love the variax tech. I have a JTV-69 and the 705 bass. I embrace their flaws and like any other instrument you need to adapt to get the best out of it.

[@aliengrey6052]

Chris Norman uses these on stage.

[@albroderick5259]

great review.....er why didn't you play all the other sounds?...12 string dobros etc?

[@aaronshortmusic]

Thanks Al. I thought it would take too long and I’m sure there are a ton of videos that show all the different sounds.

[@BeesWaxMinder]

What is the difference between the two steel string acoustic versions of the Variax, please?

[@aaronshortmusic]

I can’t remember without googling it sorry.

[@BeesWaxMinder]

@@aaronshortmusic i've tried looking myself… I'm being offered one (700) for 350 UK pounds sterling I like the idea of the tuning but I don't play acoustic gigs

[@aaronshortmusic]

@@BeesWaxMinder Just be careful as you can’t get parts anymore. I sold mine.

[@jazzy9773]

Great Review. Bought one (used) more than 15 years ago (this video kzbin.info/www/bejne/goW4qY2dZ9efd80 convinced me at that time and when I demo-ed it it sounded just the same) It is still my goto acoustic today (when I use amplification). Had to replace 2 piezo's over time and sometimes there is a small problem with the sliders. But this guitar sounds much better than a lot of piezo-guitars. Plays very light without rattle. Lot of models and tunings to choose from. Also still have a Variax 700 electric that I don't use anymore (took one piezo out for the acoustic). That guitar and also the newer Line6 electric guitars had/have some acoustic sounds but personally I liked the sounds of the acoustic 700 more. With some Reverb, EQ and sometimes other effects I can get more bodysound as well. You can also connect it to a PC and change the tunings and a lot of other things using the dedicated workbench software. `Don't know why they discontinued them. By the way: I got those planet wave TRS cables with all my variaxes (the 700 acoustic, 700 electric and a 3m cable with my Variax 300 Nylon)

[@tunesdonebyone3428]

I own this guitar and I still use it and like it. I want to put locking tuners on it and was wondering if you knew which ones I can use as far as the fit. The ones on the guitar look standard. TIA

[@aaronshortmusic]

I am not sure as I only had the guitar for a short time but maybe another owner will recommend…

[@steliostitos6815]

Hello from Greece,i have a problem with this guitar,when i am going to save the sound the light is being orange and the instrument stop to play

[@aaronshortmusic]

I would reach out to Line 6 to see if it can still be fixed.

[@steliostitos6815]

Have you ever seen orange light in this guitar?you know what is it?Thanks for your answer

[@aaronshortmusic]

@@steliostitos6815 No sorry and I don’t have it anymore.

[@BeesWaxMinder]

What is the tuning at 17:52, please?

[@aaronshortmusic]

Sounds like I took it down 4 half steps!

[@BeesWaxMinder]

@@aaronshortmusic EADGBE but 2 tones down? (I really like the sound of it!)

[@aaronshortmusic]

@@BeesWaxMinder Yes.

[@SilverchairGuitars]

James Hetfield uses one of these and I can tell why!

[@otelematetyger4411]

i have one but my power pack is faulty , please where can i get another power pack ?

[@aaronshortmusic]

Try Line 6 or fullcompass.com

[@The2Frank]

👍

[@pauloantoniomestre6728]

Good afternoon, does Variax have this model for left-handers?

[@aaronshortmusic]

Unfortunately no. They have also been discontinued for a while.

[@pauloantoniomestre6728]

ok thanks

[@davidem.palatella9684]

Gran bella chitarra. Ne ho acquistata una 14 anni fa e suona ancora da Dio. Purtroppo è terminata la produzione e se devi cambiare un pezzo non lo puoi fare. Peccato.

[@aaronshortmusic]

Yes it is a shame that they stopped developing this technology and I would also be wary of buying one today due to the lack of replacement parts.

[@davidem.palatella9684]

@@aaronshortmusic Certo. Io la uso nei live e la userò fino a quando non mi abbandonerà. Ero interessato anche alla variax 300 nylon, mi sembra molto interessante, ma anche questa serie è ormai introvabile.

[@TheWorstManOnEarth]

Line 6 is actually discontinuing the entire Variax line of products. They could have gone so darn far. Imagine adding a Sustainer pickup, and going further with stringed instruments modelling, you could have cello, I mean, with AI re-creating sound modelling, you could virtually have ANYTHING under the fingers. I really do hope they discontinue Variax to get to the "next gen" of such instruments.

[@aaronshortmusic]

I imagine they will release something under the Yamaha brand. Speaking of which I would love to see a new silent guitar etc too.

[@RaxFx]

If you want to sell it, pls let me know..

[@aaronshortmusic]

I do not have it anymore.

[@cedricpeabody265]

Great idea, but sounds awful.

[@aaronshortmusic]

It’s old tech and still sounds better then most under saddle pickups. I would love to see a new version for 2022!

[@cedricpeabody265]

@@aaronshortmusic I can't disagree with that Aaron. Under saddle pickups are the pits.