Line 6 Variax 700 thoughts?

Travisthedog · June 2014

Anyone own one of these.

If sort of got myself embroiled in an acoustic duet thingy with a mates wife (ooo er?!) - she has a hell of avoice and to see if it would work i bought a fairly cheap nineboys acoustic - its nice, but I need to spend out on a pickup etc and i still hate the high action, even though apparently according to my tech - its low for an acoustic (wha?!)

So I started thinking about possible other solutions and as we possible need the use of varied tunings (vocal ranges etc) the line6 700 looked to be a good bet, they are £700+ new but ther are a couple on gumtree for £350.

Does anyone own or gig one - would they be suitable for an acoustic hating luddite like me to use at occasional open mic nights etc and what do you plug it into PA or amp?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUZ0ocHeCd8

This guy kinda sold me the concept

Ta

Fretwired · June 2014

I have a 500 which has the same technology in it. I'd say the acoustic tones are fine for home recording or playing in a covers band where you want some tones for one or two songs or an intro. I don't think it would cut it for an acoustic gig. Just get a cheap Yamaha electro acoustic and string it with 10s.

Travisthedog · June 2014

natch

Fretwired · June 2014

Travisthedog said:

natch

The 700 Acoustic's are actually good guitars. I thought you meant the standard 700 Variax which has some acoustic models.

geepers0677 · June 2014

These are great - used to gig with mine all the time - feels a little like a les paul in terms of playing - the bodies are solid so doesn't feel like an acoustic as such.

Does need a DI power thing though which it should come with.

Straight to PA.

Fretwired · June 2014

geepers0677 said:

These are great - used to gig with mine all the time - feels a little like a les paul in terms of playing - the bodies are solid so doesn't feel like an acoustic as such.
Does need a DI power thing though which it should come with.
Straight to PA.

I think he's after the Variax 700 Electro-acoustic ... same mistake I made.

geepers0677 · June 2014

Fretwired said:

geepers0677 said:

These are great - used to gig with mine all the time - feels a little like a les paul in terms of playing - the bodies are solid so doesn't feel like an acoustic as such.
Does need a DI power thing though which it should come with.
Straight to PA.

I think he's after the Variax 700 Electro-acoustic ... same mistake I made.

That's what I am talking about, lovely kit.

Fretwired · June 2014

geepers0677 said:

Fretwired said:

geepers0677 said:

These are great - used to gig with mine all the time - feels a little like a les paul in terms of playing - the bodies are solid so doesn't feel like an acoustic as such.
Does need a DI power thing though which it should come with.
Straight to PA.

I think he's after the Variax 700 Electro-acoustic ... same mistake I made.

That's what I am talking about, lovely kit.

OK apologies - it was the Les Paul comparison that threw me ..

geepers0677 · June 2014

The body is solid, that 'sound hole' is for effect... the les paul reference was to the neck, mine was spot on, so felt like playing an electric guitar. When you unplug this guitar, it is silent pretty much - natural string sound aside, must be plugged in to sound like an acoustic if you know what I mean. regularly gigged mine in a full band situation and was never left lacking. In the end - mine died, the piezo died, but I probably should have had it repaired.

Travisthedog · June 2014

yes i mean the acoustic guitar - not the acoustic models on the electric

now I am, happier

ICBM · June 2014

geepers0677 said:

The body is solid, that 'sound hole' is for effect... the les paul reference was to the neck, mine was spot on, so felt like playing an electric guitar. When you unplug this guitar, it is silent pretty much - natural string sound aside, must be plugged in to sound like an acoustic if you know what I mean. regularly gigged mine in a full band situation and was never left lacking. In the end - mine died, the piezo died, but I probably should have had it repaired.

This is something to think about - I've come across a couple with faulty piezos too, it's actually more common with individual-saddle pickups than standard full-width strips, although those aren't immune from failure either. If you don't have a backup of some sort I would be wary about gigging this as your only guitar. If the electrics go down, you're stuffed - you can't even stick a mic in front of it and get by that way, which you can just about with any other kind of electro-acoustic.

I would get a second opinion on the setup of your acoustic, or get an electro-acoustic - even though I think they're generally horrible-sounding things and have reliability problems of their own - there's no reason you can't get an electric-like action on one if you don't want to put on heavy strings and play it hard. If you want to spend a bit of money something like a Taylor can play just as well as an electric *and* have a good amplified sound.

impmann · June 2014

Number one problem with the V700 acoustic was piezo failure. That is a matter of record.
They do sound great through a PA (I gigged one a lot) and they don't feedback at all.
Downsides - batteries last 20mins live and interfere with the mains power circuit so if you try using the TRS cable (power adapter) with batteries installed, it may cut out. The 12string does warble a bit. Check the bridge isn't lifting off the front of the guitar - some bridge mountings fail. Now obsolete tech at Line6 - some parts remain but nothing new will be made for them.
Upsides - great sound, versatile, no feedback, built like a shithouse.
Hope that helps

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