Line 6 JTV69 James Tyler Variax Electric Guitar (with Gig Bag)

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This axe recreates the tones of 25 classic guitars and lets you switch between tunings instantly, thanks to Line 6's cutting-edge DSP modeling technology.

What's special about this item?

Feature: What it does:
Alder body Light weight with a wide tonal range
James Tyler-designed PAF humbucking pickup PAF-style tone, with extra punch and definition
Variax technology Models classic guitars and alternate tunings
Variax Workbench software compatibility Software to edit and tweak your Variax

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 these Variax guitars, Line 6 partnered with legendary luthier James Tyler to craft an exceptional instrument and the perfect delivery system for Variax technology.

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


Award-winning Variax guitar modeling technology

Line 6 set the goal posts for digital guitar modeling, and the evolution of this technology gives the James Tyler Variax JTV 69 unprecedented tone-crafting potential.

At a twist of its simple and intuitive selector knob, JTV 69 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 69 takes you there and beyond, instantly.

Each model offers nuance-perfect tone inspired by the most desired vintage read more acoustic and electric guitars, and it does so with more accuracy and tonal purity than ever before (thanks to the sensitive and more reliable L.R. Baggs Radiance Hex (polyphonic) piezo pickups loaded into the bridge saddles of JTV 69).

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 69 is a cutting-edge performance tool.

Designed in the tradition of the classic 25-1/2 inch scale bolt-neck, three-pickup solidbody (but updated for today's demanding player), JTV 69 is made from a body crafted from solid alder, with a maple neck carved to a comfortably rounded Tyler '59 profile and a 22-fret rosewood fingerboard. This time-tested design yields the bright, percussive snap and bite for which Fender's style guitars have been famed for 60 years, with plenty of bluesy warmth when required.

To further increase its versatility, the three-pickup format is expanded with a PAF-style humbucker in the bridge that has been designed to complement the single-coil early '60s Strat style pickups in the neck and middle positions (all loaded with alnico magnets and wound to James Tyler's specs).

Completing the package is a James Tyler Custom Tremolo bridge (engineered for increased resonance and improved tuning stability over vintage units) that gives you access to the smooth vibrato action that is a big part of this breed of guitar.

Features:

- 25 award-winning Variax guitar models inspired by classic vintage electric and acoustic guitars
- 11 programmable alternate tunings featuring the Virtual Capo system on a dedicated knob
- Polyphonic L.R. Baggs Radiance Hex piezo pickup system for 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
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- Body: Alder
- Neck: Solid maple
- Fingerboard: Rosewood
- Scale Length: 25 1/2"
- Neck Shape: Tyler '59
- Frets: 22 medium-jumbo
- Inlays: Dot
- Nut: 1 5/8" Graph Tech Black TUSQ XL
- Tuners: Sealed locking tuners with efficient 16:1 turn ratio
- Hardware: Chrome
- Bridge: Fully adjustable Tyler Custom Tremolo bridge with L.R. Baggs Radiance Hex piezo pickup system

Pickups:
- Wound to Tyler's specs
- Alnico bridge humbucker
- Middle single-coil
- Vintage-style single coil neck

Controls:
- 5-way switch
- Volume Knob
- Tone Knob

Accessories: quality padded gig bag

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

Reviewers gave this product an overall rating of 5 out of 5 stars. (22 ratings)
Submitted December 8, 2011 by a customer from gmail.com

"So many sounds, so little time"

Overall: 5 out of 5 stars
(see rating details)
Verified Customer zZounds has verified that this reviewer made a purchase from us.
if it was lost or stolen I will replace it

Sound
sounds are very good, i love the fact that i can play a stray cats tune with a gretsch sound then a dire straits song followed by an acoustic song all without changing guitars.... that in itself is worth the money.

Features
i owned one of the first generation variax guitars ... the 300 i believe.... and i thought it sounded and played OK but this new Tyler model is far superior to that and the price is about the same

Ease of Use
remembering the position of all the different models is a challenge but once you have learned what are your favs it is pretty self explanatory

Quality
this guitar is not a PRS or gibson but it is a very playable instrument very much on par with many mid priced guitars..... lets face it, you are paying for the electronics.

Value
the vast catalog of sounds and alt tunings make this worth the price the only reason i didn't give it a 10 was the non inclusion of an A/B pedal (you really do need one to send acoustic sounds to the PA (or acoustic amp) and electric sounds to your amp (the original 300's did come with this pedal)

Manufacturer Support
when i was talking to them years ago (when i had my first variax) they were superb..... (i think i was the first person in the UK to have one.... i ordered it and had to wait for the read more first shipment to clear customs to get it) i didn't have problems but just used to call and chat about the guitar with the support staff....they were all very interested in talking about it back then

The Wow Factor
i love not having to change guitars or making do with a one sound does all set

Musical Background:
playing professionally for 25 years

Musical Style:
blues, country, classic rock, acoustic folk
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16 of 17 people (94%) people found this review helpful. Did you?
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