Variax Transplant - "before" sounds

As of this writing, I am about to transplant my Variax 300 electronics into a Telecaster. My goal is to hear whether there is any tonal difference between the Variax sounds in the original body, and the sounds in the Telecaster body.

Mostly, I am listening for any increase in sustain. I've noticed that the Vax puts out a slightly lower level through the digital cable into the PodXT than the real Strat does.

Last winter, I replaced the Variax nut with an Earvana and the bridge piezo pickups with Graph Tech Ghosts. That seemes to improve the intonation and the warmth of the sounds.

Now, I'm going for the look, because let's face it; the Variax 300 is kinda ugly. I picked out a nice ash Tele copy and with any luck I will figure out a way to mount the electronics in it and still be able to use the passive magnetic pickups.

So, here it is: the original Variax sounds, before transplanting.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Line6
• Variax
• transplant
• guitar

[tdonevan]

Hey-

Been looking for a sunburst variax 300 body. Is yours just collecting dust?

[mattmguitar]

If I wasn't using it I'd sell or give it away, but instead I made a new guitar with regular pickups out of it, for my little sister in college.

[guitartec]

Reelin' in the years was cool

[ragsradke]

So how did you replace the bridge piezo pickups with Graph Tech Ghosts?

[baddmaddogg]

like the Van Halen lick

[nightwing231]

How is the Earvana nut? I've been looking for put one in my strat. Is it as good a product as it seems?

[nickmorgan19457]

Amazing job on nailing those classic tones. I could tell you were playing Reelin' in the Years before you even started playing the familiar licks.

[Rodbowers031959]

Great job on your conversion. check mine out I used a strat.

[tonebenderx]

An impressive array of guitar tones! I love your song selection too.

[watondtube]

followed this right through-thanks for the comparison tests. Not sure if it's conclusive, hey? By the way, nice playing style, and please what was the playlist of test songs you did for the record, wouldn't mind having a go at these. I've a Variax 600, happy enough so far.., but haven't done much with it. Don't think I'm ready to try a transplant just yet :-)