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Post by scorpiodog on Jul 30, 2014 15:02:49 GMT
It was the email that did it. The one from Goofbid that said I'd "won" (love that term!) the auction in its last 10 seconds. I could almost hear the cries of "It's Not Fair!" from my competitor who'd held the highest BID at nearly £100 less than the final hammer price for the last 4 hours. So I'm now the proud owner of a Line 6 Variax Acoustic model 700. In black. I pick it up from Plymouth on Saturday. It looks like this: I hopeSo I haven't a clue what it sounds like, what it's like to play, how realistic are the supposed modelled sounds, how easy it is to use. I'm going to have fun finding out, though. Line 6 don't make them any more, and there are a fair number coming up for sale on ebay, so I don't suppose it's the answer to a Maiden's prayer. I did try one out 7 or 8 years ago, and I realised then what a heavy beast it is. I'm thinking of using it in my duo "Men In Black" - it's even the right colour!  So: opinions? Anybody used one? If so what was it like? You'll see I've thoughtfully included it in the Electric Ladyland section. No controversy here, eh? btw, I got it for less than a third of the recommended retail price when they were discontinued. I don't mind having a punt at this price, but I'd have been a bit chary about buying a new one.  |
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Post by andyhowell on Jul 30, 2014 15:10:58 GMT
I shall be interested in what you think. What are you going to be using it for? |
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Post by scorpiodog on Jul 30, 2014 16:18:53 GMT
Well you see Andy, the way Men in Black works is that Charles plays electric guitar and I play acoustic. The way we set up the pa system is to make my guitar very bass heavy. That way with heavy strummage and judicious left and right hand damping I take the place of the whole back line.
This can cause problems in songs where I have to fingerpick. The acoustic can get a bit lost in the mix.
So my idea is that if I have the variax, not only will I be able to dial up guitars with quite different treble and bass response simply and change it from song to song, But I can also use some of the tuning presets to go an octave down on the 5th and 6th strings when we really need some bass oomph.
This may not work. But it will be fun to try.
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Akquarius
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Post by Akquarius on Jul 30, 2014 17:17:33 GMT
Congrats, Paul! I played a few Variax', most of them nylon stings. They are unusual, but nevertheless fine intruments. You will definitely have loads of fun with that one  |
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Post by Martin on Jul 30, 2014 18:06:12 GMT
I'm looking forward to seeing and hearing you play it, Paul  |
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Post by ocarolan on Jul 30, 2014 18:07:26 GMT
Bill, the widdly guitar player in Nuffsed's band plays the electric version - some pretty nifty sounds. Congrats Paul - looking forward tohearing your impressions. Keith |
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Post by Akquarius on Jul 30, 2014 18:08:51 GMT
Paul, you surely are aware of the fact that you just have to bring her to Halifax, aren't you?
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Post by scorpiodog on Jul 30, 2014 18:12:26 GMT
As I have just bought a car like yours Bernd I shall have plenty of room. Sharon can fit in too. As long as she only brings a (very) small suitcase.
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Akquarius
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Post by Akquarius on Jul 30, 2014 18:26:14 GMT
As I have just bought a car like yours Bernd I shall have plenty of room. Sharon can fit in too. As long as she only brings a (very) small suitcase. I didn't buy it. I get my cars for free  It's completely off topic, but may I ask which motor your car is equiped with ? |
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Post by scorpiodog on Jul 30, 2014 20:06:32 GMT
2 litre turbo diesel. Beyond that I am ignorant. As many (including my ex wife) will tell you.
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Post by leoroberts on Jul 31, 2014 7:39:16 GMT
Sounds like an intriguing purchase, Paul. I am ignorant of such hybrid things - so look forward to your elucidation |
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Post by scorpiodog on Aug 4, 2014 11:40:22 GMT
First impressions. I don't like it. It doesn't seem to do what it says on the tin. It doesn't sound like an acoustic guitar, it doesn't play like an acoustic guitar and it doesn't feel like an acoustic guitar.
But giving the damn thing the benefit if the doubt, I haven't really learned all the controls yet (I've only played it for a half hour or so). Also, not being used to playing an electric guitar, I'm not finding the "play a bit (twiddle with knobs), play a bit, (alter the gubbins on the amp), play a bit (see what it sounds like as a sitar - ooh quite good!), play a bit (adjust the strap), play a bit (I wonder what happens if you push this in - damn!), play a bit (lets just play the same phrase in as many modes as possible)etc etc" not very conducive to exploring anything properly.
So, as we all know, when we bring a new guitar home we play and play and play. But with this hunk of concrete, I'm finding myself thinking "A Martin Dread doesn't sound anything like that" and playing my Martin Dread for an hour. Or, as happened yesterday, deciding I'd rather play in the garden and getting out one of the cheapest guitars I own and playing it in the garden.
I'm going to have to discipline myself to sitting down and actually working through the manual. I have read the manual (it's written in a quite quirky and amusing way) which was no hardship. But playing the damn thing is a bit of a soulless exercise.
I anticipate it'll be back on ebay in a month. But we'll see.
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Post by vikingblues on Aug 4, 2014 18:52:11 GMT
I hope it improves for you with practice and I'll keep the fingers crossed! I did wonder about the electric version back in my days on the dark side but was less than totally enthused about how genuine the sounds were of all the different beasts it purported to be. Also I had a feeling that some of the basic sounds of the different electric guitars arose from their shape and the way they felt to play, so it really needed to be able to morph into different shapes too. With electric guitars being a lot easier to emulate than acoustics I was rather surprised to hear that there was an acoustic version given my reservations about how good the electric version was. I wasn't too optimistic about the possibilities given how bad a job most on board electrics on an acoustic guitar make of even recreating one guitars sound. I've just been listening to a couple of YouTube videos of one of them and I think I hear why you have reservations. I assume it'll have things like built in open tuning adjustments, and it can sound vaguely like a sitar, banjo, mandolin, etc. On those videos it all sounds a bit processed though. Good luck Paul - I really hope you prove my doubts to be misplaced. Mark |
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Post by Nuffsed on Aug 5, 2014 16:56:14 GMT
Bill, the widdly guitar player in Nuffsed's band plays the electric version - some pretty nifty sounds. Congrats Paul - looking forward tohearing your impressions. Keith Hi Paul....as per Keith's comments, Bill, our lead guitar man, has used the electric version for several years now, and it is an extremely versatile tool for gigging purposes.....and lead guitar stuff. I've never seen or heard the acoustic version though, are you going to bring it to HB5? Glyn |
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Post by scorpiodog on Aug 5, 2014 17:47:33 GMT
I will unless I've put it back on ebay in the next 52 days Glyn. That is possible.
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Jo whoever he is.
