Variax compared to real Strat, Tele and Les Paul

A comparision bethween real Strat, Tele and Les Paul and the modeled one on the Variax. I used a real Vox AC4 miced with a Shure SM57. Just for last solo test i put a Vox Satchurator in front of it, rest is only amp with different volume values.

Unfortunately in record dynamic, shape and feel are quite evanished. This is a gift for the Variax, who seem pretty similiar is some tests when in reality it is quite different. It is a nice product, but in my opinion play quite far from a real electical guitar (is not like a pod, here the difference is still huge from the real one) and i wont reccomend it except for the excellent acoustic simulation. I'm a Variax owner and i use various modeling software-hardware, so really i'm not interested in pushed something over somethingelse.

From what can be eard in the test, Variax has problems especially on overtones. Harmonics and articulation on the high end are the very big difference, and can be eard on single coils. Difference are several, but just few of this can be eard in a clear way in the record. Feeling on hands cant be catched, Variax play in an "acoustic" way so it react strangely with saturation, feedback and other tipical electrical interaction. I hope this video can be helpful for someone.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Line6
• Variax
• strat
• stratocaster
• tele
• telecaster
• les
• paul
• electrical
• guitar
• test

[Maurizio70GilmourFan]

Confronto perfetto e ineccepibile; ho provato e testao anche io una Variax e concordo pienamente con tutti i tuoi commenti. Strumento valido, specialmente per la simulazione acustica ma ancora lontano da quelli reali. OTTIMO VIDEO, davvero!

[rafport]

@Maurizio70GilmourFan grazie, stavo pensando di rifarlo con strumentazione più moderna visto che è abbastanza visitato (e che secondo me non si sente quanto dovrebbe la differenza, il POD ha i suoi limiti anche se fa delle buone registrazioni) ma essendo uscita una nuova Variax che di certo non comprerò, non so se sia il caso. Grazie comunque!

[stampingdragon]

Great Video. Personally I really am impressed with my Variax and the new ones look and sound amazing.

I have done a whole bunch of AB's and must say pound for pound the Variax punches way above its weight price wise.

I have a VG 88 coming and will be trying the Roland Models with a Magnetic divided pick up GK3.

On Dynamics of course the guitar in the hands feels different but for the cost its a great package

[rafport]

@stampingdragon i published with pleasure your video reply, if you received the new model i would be pleased to see a test of it (if you want as many people interested in variax walk from here, you can reply on this page)

[jazo54]

RAPFORT: Is this the same James Tyler Variax 69 guitar model that has won the 2011 Electric Guitar of the Year at the MIA Music Awards?

[rafport]

@jazo54 "simulation" you need to weight things. Anything is sacred for me, so if for a small loss i can have great advantage (cost, speed, easy record) that's a deal. Modern hi end modeling has a great results, maybe is not exact the same but it's pretty good and advantage are clear so i like them. This Variax anyway is not like that, this guitar won't react at all as it should. Maybe in a record this is not so evident, but when i play i feel i'm not playing in the right way, this is disturbing

[ShortFingeredShreder]

It did a better job of emulating the Les Paul then it did emulating the Fenders, it just doesn't have the clarity to do the job.

[zedchuva]

@jazo54 YEA, GO OUT AND SPEND $34,000 ON 40 GUITARS INSTEAD OF ONE, THEN YELL ON THE INTERNET ABOUT IT!

LOL!

It's not a duplicator, it's an emulator. It does a GOOD job. At (for this model), $1200, it's still half the price of one Les Paul, let alone the 30 other guitars it emulates. Calm down dude, and quit yelling. :)

[willemvee1]

Actually, it wood be good enough for me.

[rafport]

@jazo54 hi, no this is an older model, is a Variax 500. I'm very interested into the musical innovation, so i tried just when out; this obviously won't mean that new things are better or good (but an open mind is needed, even consider perfect anythings is old is not the right approach). Maybe the new Variax play better, i saw it has a real pickup (and this piezos has a too weird dynamic), but this time i won't buy for sure. When you had to mix between benefit and cost of a "simulation"