Line 6 Variax 300 Modeling Guitar,Red

by Line 6

Product Features

• Agathis body with Maple neck and Indian rosewood fingerboard
• Six-on-a-side headstock
• 22 medium profile frets, 25 1/2" scale length, 12" fingerboard radius
• PODxt Live, Vetta II, and Workbench connectivity

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 19 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S. and to APO/FPO addresses. For APO/FPO shipments, please check with the manufacturer regarding warranty and support issues.
• ASIN: B0009EHHDK
• Item model number: 99-162-0105
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #117,394 in Musical Instruments (See Top 100 in Musical Instruments)

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

The Line 6 Variax 300 is a 22-fret digital modeling guitar with a comfort-contoured agathis body, maple neck with Indian rosewood fingerboard , maple neck with Indian rosewood fingerboard, and a Baggs hardtail bridge.

A couple of years before Variax® was born, we decided to turn our attention from all that guitar gear to the guitar itself. We wondered—could it be possible to capture a complete range of this tone in one single instrument? It was a daunting task, but then so was the idea of squeezing a whole collection of amps and effects into one little kidney bean shaped metal box. So we figured, why not give it a go?

We knew our sounds would have to be amazingly accurate to meet the needs of discriminating guitarists, so we began an intensive research project into guitar physics. We assembled test guitars that would make Victor Frankenstein blush. We systematically examined every factor that contributes to a guitar's tone, and developed ways to measure the complex interactions of vibrating strings, resonant bodies, and magnetic pickups. More importantly, we developed ways to capture these interactions mathematically so we could get the same sounds from our guitar.

As we refined our measuring and modeling techniques, we began working on a new, powerful hardware platform that could deliver our shockingly accurate sounds. Variax needed to have less noise than a standard humbucker, the ability to switch sounds in the fraction of a second that it takes to slap a pickup selector switch to the next position, and be powered in a variety of ways. And, most importantly, perform so flawlessly that you could forget it's even there.

As the body and brain neared completion, it was time for us to create the soul. We auditioned an amazing array of vintage instruments to find the ones with the most distinctive voices and personalities. We applied our painstaking measuring techniques to these specimens, and refined our models while constantly referring back to the originals for accuracy. When the model reached the point not only sounding like the original, but also being as much fun to play, it was done.

Features:

• Comfort-contoured agathis body
• Maple neck with Indian rosewood fingerboard
• Six-on-a-side headstock
• 22 medium profile frets
• 25 1/2" scale length
• 12" fingerboard radius
• Standard 1/4" guitar output jack
• Digital I/O jack for PODxt Live, Vetta II, and Workbench connectivity
• Includes XPS Mini power supply with 1/4" standard guitar output for connection to any guitar amp
• Powered by XPS Mini, on-board batteries, Vetta II or PODXT Live
• Available in opaque gloss Black, Red, or Sunburst

Variax Workbench:
Build your own custom guitar at home on your PC or Mac®! Variax® Workbench™ gives you your own personal guitar custom shop with all the tools needed to easily create, store, and share the guitar you've been dreaming of.

Variax Workbench allows you to completely customize Variax Electric 300, 500, 600, and 700. Now you have the tools to easily create and store the guitars you've always wanted. Select from a complete list of guitar bodies, choose pickups and placement, and tweak other parameters to design guitar models that are truly unique.

This combination USB interface and software application allows you to see and hear the physical changes as you apply them to your custom guitar. You can even add alternate tunings. Once you've created your custom guitars, model patches can be stored in the included "Tone Locker," downloaded into any of the 60 available positions on your Variax, and even emailed to your friends that own a Variax. Your dream guitar is just a few clicks away!

Variax 300 Frequently Asked Questions
What is Variax? :
Variax® is the world's first modeling guitar. It offers the sounds of an entire guitar collection in a single instrument.

Is Variax a MIDI guitar?
No, Variax is a real guitar. All of the sounds available in Variax start with the actual string vibrations of the Variax itself. Our patented modeling process shapes the raw string signal to replicate the sounds of the modeled instruments.

Does Variax work with only Line 6 amps?
Variax works with any guitar amp from any manufacturer.

How does Variax 300 differ from Variax 500 or 700?
Variax 300 has a new, slimmer neck with a flatter fingerboard, rolled edges, and a six-on-a-side flat headstock. It features a comfort-contoured Agathis body, maple neck with Indian rosewood fingerboard, and a Baggs hardtail bridge.

What colors does it come in?
Variax 300 comes in an opaque Black or Red.

Is there a left-handed version?
Left-handed versions of Variax 500 are currently available. As of this time, Variax 300 is not available in a left-handed version.

Does it have the same models as Variax 500 and 700?
Yes. Variax 300 has the identical model compliment as the 500 and 700 guitars.

Is it upgradeable?
Variax 300 is upgradeable, as is the 500 and 700.

Can I use it with Vetta II and PODxt Live?
Variax 300 is fully compatible with Vetta™ II and PODxt Live™ via the custom RJ-45 digital Variax cable.

What does it come with?
Variax 300 comes with an XPS mini power supply, and a custom TRS cable.

Product Description

Variax 300 in red from Line 6 takes the technology and sound from the award-winning Variax family and puts in a guitar any musician can afford. The exclusive Line 6 modeling technology that lives inside this solid-body guitar enables musicians to easily access over 25 historic guitar sounds, including classic single-coil and humbucker guitars, hollow and semi-hollow jazz guitars, acoustic 6- and 12-string, dobro, sitar, banjo, and many others. Instantly familiar controls work just like any traditional guitar. Custom TRS cable and XPS mini power supply box included.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Too risky for the money, December 9, 2006

By 

Guitar Player "Dirty Moe" (Grosse Pointe Woods, Michigan USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Line 6 Variax 300 Modeling Guitar,Red (Electronics)

I had reviewed this before, but there is some new information that may be useful to people thinking about it.

I went to change the strings and the guitar stopped working. The part under the bridge was held in place by the strings. Getting service is also very difficult (most people wait weeks for service and I can't even find an "authorized" service dealer that will take it on). I went to the message boards and online and found that many people were experiencing a myriad of problems with it.

SO PLEASE THINK LONG AND HARD BEFORE BUYING.

Below is the first review (feel the misplaced optimism!):
The models are fantastic. I will never be able to afford all those guitars (or have a place to keep them!), so this is the next best thing. The sounds are spot on. The guitar even arrived in tune (even with the shipping). I use it going through a PODxt and into a computer. Running it through an amp does not do it justice, especially the acoustics.
CONS:
The B and E string have some 2 fret buzz. But the action is a little low anyway, an easy fix.
The plug is in an awkward place. It is hard to sit with it.
If gigging on a dark stage it would be very hard to know where the modeling knob is at. Line 6 may want to light it up.
You really need Workbench to make this thing sing. They should bundle it. That is just greedy selling them separate. Line 6 seems to do this a lot (i.e. buy a PODxt and then spend more on model packs). It's a poor corporate strategy that just makes customers upset, and that always leads to less customers in the future.
I'd swear the D string volume is less on the acoustic models, but that may be me!
PROS:
The models! The quality is top notch. The variety is also top notch. I found myself playing models of guitars a lot that I didn't even think I'd like before.
Through a computer home studio, it is amazing.

So in conclusion, if you long for many guitars, but have a tight budget, this is the BEST alternative to selling your organs to buy more guitars. There may be purists that say you are better off with the real deals, but that is simply not possible for almost everyone. I think those snobs should do "taste" tests where they hear both and have to pick which is which.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great guitar, May 9, 2007

By 

Mark Morita (Boston, MA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Line 6 Variax 300 Modeling Guitar,Red (Electronics)

The sounds out of this guitar are amazing. The playability is not great compared to more expensive guitars, but considering the price this guitar is quite good.