I have WAY too many "real" guitars, yet I find myself ignoring them and grabbing this Variax most of the time. Perfect intonation and sweet feel up the neck. And ANY damn guitar (or bass) I want in any TUNING I want at any TIME I want it. What's not to like? I just hope they keep making and improving the Variax line. Sometimes I get the feeling that it's just WAY too much for most players. They pull back from the endless range of possibilities. Too much brain drain. Personally, I LOVE it!

Sound
The sound, especially when heard through a clean amp or a recording system, is so close to the original instrument being modeled that it's spooky. The Tele sounds like a TELE. The Strat has the best Strat sounds you've heard on record. Same with the Les Paul ... even down to the fact that a Paul is LOUDER than a Strat or Tele! The other guitars are equally true to the original. And if you've ever played one of those electric Sitars like I did in the 60's, you'll be amazed at how perfectly they nailed THAT sound, even with the third string being louder and buzzier than the others. Astounding accuracy!

Features
OK ... here's where the thing blows me away: The WORKBENCH! With this computer add-on, not only can you tweak the KIND of guitar you're playing (body, shape, pickups, pot qualities and all) but you can CHANGE THE TUNING to ANYTHING that you like! Drop D? DONE! Open G? COOL! A true Baritone guitar that's… read more halfway down to a bass? Outstanding! I really like putting the bottom 3 strings down a full octave then playing bass lines, counterpoints and harmonies with the top 3 strings normal for a REALLY fat guitar. If you're a "looper," it lets you lay a bass part in with a simple click of a switch. Then you can pop into a screaming lead line with another click. Limitations? They're all in your head!

Ease of Use
The only thing that an older guy like me notices is that the main Select knob is hard to read without "cheaters." There are a whole TON of clicks there and you have to kind of do it by feel. The "learning curve" is mostly trying to remember ALL the possibilities without clicking at random up and down. I found a good PICTURE based wall chart that is an excellent helper in finding the sound you imagine FAST.

Quality
The one I got was in pretty stellar condition, but the first fret did have a tiny bit of buzz. I fixed it by carefully prying the fret up with a knife blade and freezing it there with a few drops of crazy glue. Perfect! Of course, I'm an instrumant maker and repair guy, so that kind of thing doesn't spook me. The only delicate thing is the multi-pin connecting wire to the computer for using the Workbench. Be carefull to keep the tiny slip wires straight. If you stick the jack in crooked, you can bend one or two and then it doesn't talk to the computer. I know. I tracked down that problem after a few days of studying the Line 6 Support pages and finding no answers. It's simple and physical, but something to keep in mind.

Value
Guess what ... for the price of a basic Strat copy you're getting TWO DOZEN guitars that play well and expand your mental horizons. Yeah, it's a GREAT value!

Manufacturer Support
They are STELLAR. I didn't even buy it direct and didn't have an official "warranty," yet their tech guys were right on my problem with the wire mentioned above. Then they sent me a WHOLE NEW Workbench (which I had also NOT bought from them new!). The web has several Variax sites with tons of really experienced users. One of the best is in Holland!

The Wow Factor
Here's probably the weakest link in the Variax chain. Folks still want to SEE a gorgeous Les Paul when they HEAR one. They want to SEE a Strat when they hear that hollow sound. And players grouse that they miss the psychological change of style they get when they exchange one guitar for a physically different one. There is some of that. On the other hand, I LIKE the fact that I don't have to re-learn the "feel" from one instrument to the next.

Musical Background:
Been playing since the early 60's, run a radio/TV production company

Musical Style:
A mish-mash of rock/country/folk/jazz/bossa/latin stuff read less