Line 6 JTV59 James Tyler Variax Electric Guitar (with Gig Bag)

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Access over 25 guitar sounds with the versatile JTV59 Variax. Line 6's digital guitar modeling technology offers classic tones from the '20s to the present.

What's special about this item?

Feature: What it does:
Variax technology Models classic guitars and alternate tunings
Variax Workbench software compatibility Software to edit and tweak your Variax
LR Baggs Radiance Hex piezo pickups Electric hybrid-acoustic tones in one guitar
Carved maple top Impeccable feel, enhanced body contours

A guitar designed with and named after a renowned luthier, the Line 6 JTV59 James Tyler Variax is a chameleon of an instrument. Able to emulate the tone of 25 guitars and other instruments, the JTV59 adds unbelievable depth to any guitarist's collection.

Sean Halley demos the incredible versatility of the James Tyler Variax series:


Out of Many, One

The possibility of switching between a 1959 Fender Strat and a 1976 Gibson Firebird V on the fly is one usually reserved for rock stars and guitar shop owners, but Line 6 has put that power in a turn of the knob on the JTV59. Thanks to Variax technology, this guitar can recreate 25 different models, allowing you to instantly switch between iconic models from Fender, Gibson, Gretsch, and more.

The ability to model several electric guitars would be one thing, but the JTV59 James Tyler goes further by offering acoustic models -- based on classics by Martin, Guild, and Gibson -- and even other instruments like a banjo and electric sitar.

Choose from 11 Tunings

Making the JTV59 even more flexible is its ability to instantly switch between alternate tunings. Like the guitar models, alternate tunings are available at a turn of the dedicated knob. Go from standard tuning to open tunings to even baritone without ever touching a tuning knob.

Quality in its own Right

Even aside from the Variax technology, the JTV59 offers an excellent experience for guitarists who just want to plug in and play. The guitar's mahogany body read more features a carved maple top and is given an elegant and comfortable single cutaway shape. The mahogany neck is set-in and cut in a Tyler '59 rounded profile.

Electronically, the guitar is powered by two alnico humbuckers that are wired to James Tyler's specs. They offer familiar "patent applied for" tone, but with extra kick in the bridge position.

Features:

- Mahogany body with carved maple top
- Mahogany neck in rounded Tyler '59 neck profile
- Rosewood fretboard
- Alnico humbucker pickups in bridge and neck position
- Variax modeling technology offers 25 guitar models
- 11 alternate tunings available via Virtual Capo system
- Polyphonic L.R. Baggs piezo pickup system
- James Tyler Custom stoptail bridge
- Sealed tuners with 16:1 turn ratio
- Variax Workbench software included
- Includes one Li-ion battery and international wall charger
- Gig bag included

Sure, you could get one new guitar -- or you can get 25 guitars with the JTV59.
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- Body: Mahogany body
- Top: Carved maple
- Neck: Mahogany set-neck
- Fingerboard: Rosewood
- Scale Length: 24-9/16 inch
- Neck Shape: Tyler '59
- Frets: 22 medium-jumbo
- Inlays: Dot
- Nut: 1-11/16 inch Graph Tech Black TUSQ XL
- Tuners: Sealed tuners with efficient 16:1 turn ratio
- Hardware: Chrome
- Bridge: Fully adjustable Tyler-designed stoptail bridge with L.R. Baggs Radiance Hex piezo pickup system

Pickups:
- Wound to Tyler's specs
- Vintage-voiced alnico neck and bridge humbuckers

Controls:
- Classic "two and two" format
- 3-way selector switch
- Master volume
- Tone
- Guitar Model
- Alternate Tuning controls

Accessories: Quality padded gig bag

For support or warranty questions, please contact the manufacturer:
Phone: 818-575-3600

Line 6 JTV59 James Tyler Variax Guitar

60 years ago, modern music was transformed by the advent of the electric guitar. This revolutionary instrument proved to be incredibly expressive, and allowed players to connect to their music and their audiences in powerful ways. As music evolved, traditional electric guitars clung to the past, but others provided broader palates of sounds.

In 2002, Line 6 launched Variax modeling guitars. These groundbreaking instruments offered guitarists an unprecedented range of tones based on the most desirable electric and acoustic guitars on the planet. To develop this evolution of Variax guitars, Line 6 partnered with legendary luthier James Tyler to craft an exceptional instrument and the perfect delivery system for Variax technology.

Award-winning Variax guitar modeling technology

Line 6 set the goal posts for digital guitar modeling, and this evolution of this technology gives the James Tyler Variax JTV 59 unprecedented tone-crafting potential.

At a twist of its simple and intuitive selector knob, JTV 59 transforms its tone with 25 award-winning electric and acoustic guitar models, giving you a virtual guitar collection to rival the gear rack of any top studio. Need to roll from country twang 'n' spank to thick bluesy wail to resonator-style shimmer and chime in the course of the same song? The JTV 59US takes you there and beyond, instantly.

Each model offers nuance-perfect tone inspired by the most desired vintage acoustic and electric guitars, and it does so with more accuracy and tonal purity than ever before (thanks to the ultra-sensitive and more reliable L.R. Baggs Radiance Hex (polyphonic) piezo pickups loaded into the bridge saddles of JTV 59).

25 guitar models based on

- 1960 Fender Telecaster Custom
- 1968 Fender Telecaster
- 1968 Fender Telecaster Thinline
- 1959 Fender Stratocaster
- 1958 Gibson Les Paul Standard
- 1952 Gibson Les Paul "Goldtop"
- 1961 Gibson Les Paul Custom (3 PU)
- 1956 Gibson Les Paul Junior
- 1976 Gibson Firebird V
- 1955 Gibson Les Paul Special
- 1959 Gretsch 6120
- 1956 Gretsch Silver Jet
- 1968 Rickenbacker 360
- 1966 Rickenbacker 360-12
- 1961 Gibson ES-335
- 1967 Epiphone Casino
- 1957 Gibson ES-175
- 1953 Gibson Super 400
- 1959 Martin D-28
- 1970 Martin D 12-28
- 1967 Martin O-18
- 1966 Guild F212
- 1995 Gibson J-200
- 1935 Dobro Alumilite
- Danelectro 3021
- Coral/Dano Electric Sitar
- Gibson Mastertone Banjo
- 1928 National Style 2 "Tricone"

Top-flight Guitar Design

Designed from the ground up by one of the world's foremost luthiers, and manufactured in one of the world's best-respected guitar plants, JTV 59 is a cutting-edge performance tool.

JTV-59 is built along the lines of the archetypal singlecut, set-neck guitar with 24-9/16 inch scale length, and it employs the tonewoods that have made the format legendary since the 1950s. It has a mahogany body with carved maple top, and a set mahogany neck with 22-fret rosewood fingerboard. Optimum playability is ensured by the smooth, rounded Tyler '59 neck profile and comfortably contoured neck heel, while highly efficient 16:1 tuners and a James Tyler Custom stoptail bridge keep it all rock solid and resonant.

Taking it all to your choice of amplification are a pair of alnico humbucking pickups, wound to James Tyler's specs along the lines of classic PAFs, but with a little extra punch in the bridge position. Add it all up, and it's a supreme player's machine, even before the Variax guitar modeling enters the game.

Variax Technology

- 25 award-winning Variax guitar models inspired by classic vintage electric and acoustic guitars
- 11 programmable alternate tunings featuring our Virtual Capo system on a dedicated knob
- Polyphonic L.R. Baggs Radiance Hex piezo pickup system for ultra reliability
- Variax Workbench Software allows each model to be customized to your unique taste (Mac/PC)
- VDI (Variax Digital Interface) connection to Line 6 POD xt, POD X3, or Vetta II guitar amplifier, enabling dual channel processing and guitar model selection integration with POD presets
- Includes one Li-Ion battery for 12 hours of play time, and international wall-socket charger, and Variax Workbench USB adaptor

Alternate Tunings

- Standard: E A D G B E
- Drop D: D A D G B E
- 1/2 Down: Eb Ab Db Gb Bb Eb
- Drop Db: Db Ab Db Gb Bb Eb
- 1 Down: D G C F A D
- DADGAD: D A D G A D
- Open D: D A D F# A D
- Blues G: D G D G B D
- Reso G: G B D G B D
- Open A: E A C# E A E
- Baritone: B E A D F B

Reviewers gave this product an overall rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars. (27 ratings)
Submitted December 27, 2011 by a customer from rockingeeks.com

"Great buy!"

Overall: 4.5 out of 5 stars
(see rating details)
Verified Customer zZounds has verified that this reviewer made a purchase from us.
This review has been selected by our experts as particularly helpful.
If it got stolen or burned up I would be buying another one without a doubt.

Sound
Its a Variax so what can you say? I also own a Variax 500 and the models, though the same, do sound much better. I already was planning to replace the magnetic pickups until I tried them no need to now they sound quite nice as is. I still have some issues with the 12 string models but mostly that is tweakable on Workbench. This is a great sounding guitar!

Features
As in above, its a Variax (so I won't delve into the modeling)! There a MANY improvements over the previous Vax. Line6 has been listening to user input for sure! - The first and best for my use (mixed guitar and synth sound with a GTK-3 and GR-20) is the rechargable battery. My 500 would devour AA batteries like nobody's business and rigging it to work with the a/b switchbox power AND the GTK was a mishmash of cables, the JTV fixes that (and in a pinch I can still use the box while the battery is charging). - The Alt Tuning Knob. Baritone banjo, got it! Switch almost instantly from a Drop D Lester to an Open E Tri-cone? Got it! breaking this function away from Workbench and the custom tones was a fantastic idea! - Workbench software with 10 custom models. You can either just tweak the existing presets to taste OR take the axe to all kinds of crazy places. Workbench is a love/hate piece of cool.

Ease of Use
Gave this a 9 for a simple reason. read more Depending on the type of musician you are the tech can be a double edged sword. 1- If you just like to plug it in and play it is pretty danged simple. If you are just playing the magnetics you paid too much but learning to switch between the models is pretty simple and they are pretty good out of the box. The JTV-59 is unique in that it is an LP style with a three way switch. There are 5 banks in each model sound so you can see the math is a bit screwy. You use a combo of pushing the Alt Tuning knob along with the 3-way to select between the models but it is easy to get the hang of. 2- Workbench can be a pain but it is pretty simple onece you get the hang of it.

Quality
While you will see varying reports of build quality among the three models (59. 69, and 89) I will just rate my experience. The build quality on this guitar was excellent. The finish is perfect the neck was straight and intonation spot on out of the box. It is a solid feeling guitar ad feels as good as My American made Tele Plus Deluxe. There was early on a 3-way switch issue that Line6 fixed on all guitars shipping after July or so thet does leave a slight indent around the 3-way but it isn't an issue for me. This is easily a $700 guitar without the $700 in electronics.

Value
There aren't any other items quite like this one to compare to but the value should be an 11. While it is quite a bit more than my Variax 500 was it is also quite a bit more than my Variax 500 was. Would I spend 3k more on a US model? Honestly, no way. The build quality and playability of this guitar is excellent. If you want to explore new territories with your music or need a SUPER flexible axe for gigs this is the guitar. I can easily sell most of my other guitars without reserve and still have an expanded sonic playground. IMHO it is worth every penny.

Manufacturer Support
I am only giving this a 9 because I haven't used Line6 support (have several products). From appearances though the support forums are active and most folks seem to get issues resolved.

The Wow Factor
Lets face it, the ability to switch almost instantly from a Les Paul to a Tele then to a Ricky, then a banjo, then a Martin, all intoned and in tune with each other because you are playing them on the same guitar? It is amazing! Add in alternate tunings and custom patches (I have some bass guitar tunings in my Vax 500). If all you want is plug and play with good pickups there are cheaper and more capable axes. If you want a lifetime of exploring wild tones in your music then pair one of these with a GR-20 or GR-33 synth and settle in for the ride!

Musical Background:
13 years guitar, play and record at home

Musical Style:
mixed
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