Line6 Variax 500 Modeling Guitar (With Gig Bag)

Dozens of classic guitar sounds. Simple, instantly familiar controls.

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Line 6 Variax 600 Modeling Electric Guitar

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  • Installment Plan:4 payments of $199.99
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    • In stock
    • 38 people rate: 7 out of 10

A couple of years before Variax(R) was born, we decided to turn our attention from all that guitar gear to the guitar itself. We wondered could it be possible to capture a complete range of this tone in one single instrument? It was a daunting task, but then so was the idea of squeezing a whole collection of amps and effects into one little kidney bean shaped metal box. So we figured, why not give it a go? Learn More...

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Line6 Variax 500 Modeling Guitar (With Gig Bag) reviews

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69 People rated this product : * * * * * * * * * * 7 out of 10

 

3 People wrote reviews

Read all Line6 Variax 500 Modeling Guitar (With Gig Bag) reviews...
* * * * * * * * * * 9 out of 10

"The Variax line of guitars prove that technology and playability can co-exist beautifully."

Feature:
This guitar is an achievement on a number of levels. Typically new technologies such as this go through countless models to reach a working solution, usually leaving the equipment buying masses to pay the tab. Line 6 did an outstanding job of keeping this under wraps until they could produce an instrument that really does everything it claims.

Quality:
I've always had concerns about Asian manufactured guitars, but his Korean made guitar is top notch. Good wood, good cuts, good fittings. Well beyond anything I've seen from them in a while. Anybody remember Hondo guitars???

Value:
I bought this guitar for $200 less than it is currently advertised here. I would definitely say the cost versus value is well balanced.

Desirability:
This is a badass piece of equipment and it will definitely attact attention. It is a technical marvel and if thats not good enough, the fact that it has no pickups will definitely start a conversation. Very lust-worthy...

Sound:
Not only is the thing a technical marvel, it really is a sweet playing guitar. Great action, very "soft" and playable.

Support:
Haven't needed any service but questions can be answered quite readily via the Line 6 website.

Overall:
Without the wall wart the thing uses 8 AA batteries or a 9 volt by itself in an emergency. Can't say I care for that, but I know the engineers tried to make reasonable accomodation for power consumption - after all the thing is a guitar with a processor built inside the body. All of this can forgotten about should you choose to purchase one of the new Line 6 amps which use the proprietary variax cable to power the guitar. All in all, the way this thing plays with nothing plugged in was enough to make me buy it. Beautiful playing guitar.

Submitted: 4/5/2005

Style of Music: folk, rock, alternative whatever - anything with heart, soul and emotion.


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* * * * * * * * * * 9 out of 10 zZounds has verified that this customer bought this product from us.

"Variax - why not have your next guitar be every guitar?"

Feature:
The stock neck... If you like playing huge fretwires (think railroad spikes) go for it. The neck exhausted me, so I replaced it. Now, I am a very happy camper.

Quality:
This 500 series is ugly. The black and red models are atrocious. The sunburst I bought is tolerable. Nothing fancy in the guitar... if you want beauty, buy the 700. If you just want an amazing axe, the 500 will do. Plan on replacing the neck either way.

Value:
Considering what you get, and what you can do with it, it is superb. I paid $850 for my 500; now you can get them cheaper.

Desirability:
Sound/tone: 10+ Body appearance: 7 Average: 9.5, only because the flexibility in tones/sounds/instruments is staggering.

Sound:
Nothing else compares in any way to the sounds you can get out of this axe. Are each of the virtual guitars perfectly accurate with the "original" - no, but are they close enough to provide a professional sounding array of sounds and tones... absolutely.

Submitted: 4/24/2004

Style of Music: Praise Rock, Classic Rock, Guitar, Bass, Keyboards, vocals.


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Additional Images:

Main
Main
Red
Red
Group Shot
Group Shot
Headstock
Headstock
Black
Black
Red Body Detail
Red Body Detail
Group Shot 2
Group Shot 2
Black Body Knobs Detail
Black Body Knobs Detail
Family Shot
Family Shot
Sunburst
Sunburst

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About This Product!
Description
Variax isn't just a guitar -- it's a revolution. With a single beautifully crafted instrument, you'll have instant access to a showroom full of the world's finest sounding guitars. Variax is the definitive combination of traditional guitar craftsmanship and Line 6's pioneering modeling technology. Imagine what you could do with a Variax.

Stage
For years, guitarists have struggled with the fear of losing their most prized guitars on the road. You could probably count on one hand the amount of players who actually drag their one-of-a-kind vintage Strats, Teles and Les Pauls* to every gig. It's even worse for acoustic players. Even if you decided to pull out your favorite old acoustic, getting a properly miked acoustic guitar sound at stage volume can be an absolute nightmare.

What if you could take one guitar and not only have all your electric needs covered, but have a pristinely miked acoustic sound at the touch of a 5-way toggle switch? Sound too good to be true?

Studio
Talk to any working studio guitarist and they'll tell you that traveling with a guitar trunk the size of a small car is the norm. When the red light is on, and you're expected to come up with "the right part," the last thing you want is an uninspiring guitar sound. Even if you have the right guitar in your road case, it's still going to take you few minutes to change, re-tune and get back into the vibe of the track. With Variax you'll be able to audition 25 different guitars all at the turn of a knob. Now that's inspiration at the speed of creativity.

Of course, for the rest of us who just want to demo an acoustic-heavy song at home before the dog and kids start making the "sounds of war," Variax will become indispensable. You'll be able to record a dobro, sitar or 12-string all without having to worry about mics or the bleed from the TV in the next room. Variax will help you be as creative as humanly possible with the 20 minutes you have after work and before you have to drive the kids to football practice and ballet lessons.

Collection
There's something magical about playing a 50-year-old guitar. Even better is a guitar that's actually been "played" every day of that half-century. Those instruments have a sound to them that only comes from the passing of time, hundreds of sessions, thousands of gigs

Technical Info

Contoured basswood body

Maple neck with rosewood fingerboard and pearl dots

22 medium profile frets

25 1/2 in. scale length

10 in. fingerboard radius

Digital I/O jack for PODxt Live, Vetta II, and Workbench connectivity

Volume and tone controls respond faithfully for each model

Included XPS A/B footswitch selects between two outputs:

1/4 in. standard guitar output for connection to any guitar amp

XLR balanced output for sending acoustic sounds to a separate amp or PA

Powered by footswitch, on-board batteries, Vetta II or PODxt Live

Custom-fitted heavy-duty gig bag
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