LINE6 Variax Acoustic 700 Sunburst Modeling Guitar

LINE6 VARIAX700N Details ^top

Variax ® Acoustic 700 offers you 16 models of the finest acoustic instruments on the planet with the push of a button. You can easily access jumbos, 12-strings, or even a nylon string classical to suit any style of play. Variax Acoustic 700 gives you the freedom to achieve an expertly mic'd acoustic sound without complex setups or feedback, even at concert-level volumes! Recording a great acoustic sound no longer requires a noise-free environment or a big equipment budget; just plug in and go. You also get instant access to alternate tunings for endless possibilities to fuel your inspiration.

Several years before Variax ® Acoustic was born, we turned our attention from the POD ® , amps, and effects that we had been developing to take a fresh look at the guitar itself. We wondered–could it be possible to capture a complete range of guitar tone in a single instrument? After a couple of years of research, development, and countless hours playing dozens of vintage electric and acoustic guitars, we released the original Variax, the world's first modeling guitar. But while the Variax is perhaps the ultimate general-purpose guitar, we also wanted to specifically address the unique needs of the acoustic musician.

We decided to tackle a problem that had plagued acoustic guitarists since the advent of electrified music–how to get a great acoustic sound on-stage and in the studio. With our unique Mic Position control, you can adjust your tone the way professionals do–by changing mic position. And since our mic is a DSP algorithm, you don't have to worry about feedback or noise leakage. Another key ingredient to both live and recorded acoustic instrument sound is compression. To further simplify the life of the Variax Acoustic owner, we decided to add a remarkably effective, yet simple to operate compressor. Many acoustic guitarists are fond of alternate tunings, but re-tuning during a performance can often become–literally–a show-stopper. To remove this obstacle, we gave the Variax Acoustic the ability to re-tune for you, at the press of a button.

And of course, to fill our instrument with the sounds of so many archetype acoustics, we had to audition truckloads of vintage guitars to find the ones with just the right sound. Just as we did with the original Variax, we refined our models while constantly referring back to the originals for accuracy. When each model reached the point of not only sounding like the original, but also being as much fun to play, it was done.

The result of our labors? Variax Acoustic 700. An entire acoustic collection in a single instrument.

With a simple twist of the MODEL SELECT knob, you'll hear a diverse range of instruments from no-frills workhorses to the upper echelons of collectibility. And a few exotic oddities that most of us don't even know how to tune, much less play. With the Variax® Acoustic, you won't get the vintage patina or the strangely erotic musty case smell, but you won't have to deal with the neck re-sets and cracked tops either. Instead, you get only the very best part: the sound.

Variax Models Based On*:

1941 Martin® 5-17
1946 Martin® 000-28
1960 Martin® D-21
1954 Gibson® J45®
1951 Gibson® SJ®-200
1933 Selmer® Maccaferri
1951 D'Angelico New Yorker
1958 Manuel Velazquez
1973 Guild® F412
1935 Stella® Auditorium
1939 National Reso-Phonic Style "O"
1937 Dobro® Model 27
Gibson® Mastertone
Mandola
Japanese Shamisen
Indian Sitar

Volume
Push it toward the Model Select knob to get louder. Pretend to push it away from the Model Select knob when people ask you to turn down.

Mic Position
The top slider (the one furthest away from you when you hold the guitar) allows you to alter the position of the modeled microphone. Here’s a simple way to remember how it works: As you move the slider closer to the soundhole (away from the Model Select knob), the Mic Position is also getting closer to the soundhole. Some of the instruments modeled in the Variax Acoustic don't have a soundhole, but the control will work similarly for these instruments. When the slider is close to the Model Select knob, the strings (and upper frequencies) are emphasized; when the slider is close to the soundhole, the body (and lower frequencies) are emphasized.

Compressor
The bottom slider allows you to change the level of compression. A compressor usually has a lot of controls to adjust, but we take care of all the complicated stuff for you. Just push the slider toward the Model Select knob for more compression, and away from the knob for less.

Model Select
The Model Select knob has several functions. First of all, it allows you to choose the active instrument model. Rotate the knob to choose from the 16 Variax Acoustic models. The name visible in the slot is the active model. The LED will help you see the name on dark stages, or in the closet if you are very shy.

The Model Select knob also lets you engage the Instant Alternate Tuning function. With a quick press on the knob, the LED will change from green to red. Now, none of the notes are where you thought they were! To learn the method to our madness, check out the next section, Instant Alternate Tunings. But wait, there’s more: The Model Select knob also lets you save any customizations you have carried out. More on that in the upcoming Saving Custom Guitar Setups.

Many guitarists, especially acoustic guitarists, play in tunings other than the familiar EADGBE. Rather than deal with the hassles of retuning during a performance or transporting multiple guitars, wouldn't it be great to have a guitar that could retune itself automatically? We thought so, too, so we included this function on the Variax Acoustic.

Of course, this magic is performed on the output signal only. The physical strings are unchanged…and you're still responsible for being in tune. For the most pleasant experience, you'll want to have your amplified signal loud enough to drown out the sound of the physical strings. You should keep in mind that the retuning is relative to the actual strings. If you tune the actual strings of the Variax Acoustic to something besides EADGBE, and apply one of the tuning presets, you're going to get some unexpected, though not necessarily unmusical, results.

We made it easy to get to some of the most commonly used alternate tunings. First, enter the Alternate Tuning Set-Up mode with a quick double press on the model select knob. The LED will flash red-green-red-green to let you know you are in this mode. With the bottom (COMPRESSOR) slider all the way down, choose the tuning you want with the top (MIC) slider.

Of course, part of the fun of alternate tunings is in being different, so we give you the ability to retune any of the strings up to a 5th (7 half-steps) higher or up to an octave (12 half-steps) lower. Enter Alternate Tuning Set-Up with a quick DOUBLE press on the Model Select knob.

Select the string you want to tune with the bottom (COMPRESSOR) slider. The selected string will be louder than all of the others, so the easy way to select a string is to pluck it while moving the slider until you hear it get louder. The other strings will still be audible to assist you in selecting the right interval. Use the top (MIC POSITION) slider to change the interval. With the slider at either extreme, there is no retuning. Moving the slider away from the model select pot lets you lower the pitch in half-step increments; Moving it toward the model select pot lets you raise the pitch in half-step increments.

With your custom tuning all set, just press the Model Select knob once to leave Alternate Tuning Set-Up mode. You are now back in regular "Play" mode, with the Alternate Tuning on - notice the red LED. A quick press on the Model Select knob, and the Alternate Tuning goes away - notice the green LED. Another quick press - presto – Alternate Tuning returns, just as you left it. When you have an Alternate Tuning you like, you're going to want to save it so...

To really take advantage of the sonic capabilities of the Variax Acoustic, especially when performing, you want each instrument model to be set up for your specific needs. Use the Customize function of Variax Acoustic's model knob to get all sixteen models sounding just the way you want.

1. Choose which of the 16 instrument models you want to customize.
2. Find a Mic position and Compressor setting that suit your needs.
3. Select an Alternate Tuning in Alternate Tuning Set-Up, if desired.
4. Switch Alternate Tuning on or off, depending on how you want it to be saved.
5. Press the Model Select Knob down and hold for a few seconds until the indicator LED shines solid green or red.
6. Release the Model Select knob.

That's all there is to it. You've saved your settings for that model. Now that you've got it all down, you can repeat these steps for the remaining 15 positions. (Or not, if you like the factory settings.) And if your needs or tastes change, you can recustomize any of your models as often as you like.

BATTERY POWER

Simple Operation
The simplest way to use the Variax Acoustic is to connect it directly to the mixer or an acoustic amplifier with a standard mono guitar cable.

Battery Power
Of course, the electronics of the Variax Acoustic will need power, so to use this simple hookup, you'll need to install six AA cells in the on-board battery compartment. If you use fresh alkalines, you should get approximately 10-12 hours of operation.

At the gig with no AA batteries? Unclip the plastic battery holder from the connector and swap in an ordinary 9V battery. This "emergency" setup will give 1 to 2 hours of battery life.

USING THE XPS POWER SUPPLY

We realize that constantly changing batteries can be a real drag, so we included a more convenient option–the unobtrusive yet capable XPS.

Powering your Variax Acoustic with the XPS is easy. Use the included TRS cable (meaning "Tip-Ring-Sleeve" or also simply known as a "stereo" cable) to connect the Variax Acoustic to the INPUT jack of the XPS. Connect the PX-2 power supply to the XPS POWER jack, and use a standard mono guitar cable to connect the XPS's 1/4-inch OUTPUT to your acoustic amp or mixer.

Use a standard XLR/mic cable to connect the XPS's XLR output to feed a mixer or recorder's input with a balanced, +4dBu "line level" signal. While you can also connect this to some acoustic guitar amps, you may get better results with the 1/4-inch cable, because most amps like to receive a lower level signal than the XPS's XLR puts out. The XPS can also work as either an A/B or a Standby switch. If, for example, you want to send your DREADNOUGHT sound to the PA but want to send your ROUNDNECK sound to an acoustic amp, just use the switch: When the 1/4" indicator light is lit on your XPS, you've got your signal routed to the 1/4" OUTPUT.

NOTE: You may have already noticed that the Variax Acoustic has two output connectors: a familiar 1/4-inch jack and a second RJ-45 jack protected by a rubber cap. The RJ-45 connector will be the way you will connect to Line 6 products with a “Variax” input, and add additional sounds and abilities to your Variax Acoustic in the future.

LINE6 VARIAX700N Specs ^top

Simple and intuitive Volume and Mic Position/Tone Shaping controls
Instant access to preset and custom altered tunings
Thin and comfortable mahogany body with spruce top
Mahogany neck with rosewood fingerboard and pearl snowflake position markers
24 medium profile frets
25 1/2" scale length
17" fingerboard radius
Standard 1/4" guitar output jack
Digital I/O jack for Vetta™ II connectivity
Included direct box provides power plus 1/4" standard guitar and XLR balanced outputs
Can also be powered by on-board batteries or Line 6's Vetta II amplifier
Includes custom 1/4" TRS cable
Custom-fitted heavy duty gig bag
Available in Natural, Black and Sunburst finish

LINE6 VARIAX700N FAQ ^top

What is Variax Acoustic 700?
Variax® Acoustic is the world's first acoustic modeling guitar. It offers the user a selection of 16 richly detailed acoustic instrument sounds, phenomenal feedback-resistance, unique and intuitive tone-shaping options, and instant access to altered tunings.

Is the Variax Acoustic 700 a MIDI guitar?
No, the Variax Acoustic is a real guitar. All of the sounds start with the actual string vibrations of the instrument itself. Our proprietary modeling process shapes the raw string signal to replicate the sounds of the modeled instruments.

Does Variax Acoustic work with only Line 6 amps?
The Variax Acoustic’s output can be sent direct to a PA, recording device, or any standard acoustic amplifier.

Where is the Variax Acoustic 700 made?
The Variax Acoustic was designed entirely by Line 6, by experienced luthiers and engineers. The Variax Acoustic is manufactured in Korea, by a manufacturer with many years of experience building high-quality guitars for some of the most respected brands in the industry.

Is a left-handed version available?
A left-handed version will be available in the future.

What's up with the footswitch?
The amazingly warm and detailed models of the Variax Acoustic 700 sound best when amplified by a full-range system, so we include the XPS to give you the option to send these sounds a 1⁄4” input amplifier or an XLR input amplifier, mixer, or recording device. The XPS also provides power to the Variax Acoustic.

What's up with the extra jack?
This connector allows for connection to the “Variax Input” on Line 6 products like the Vetta™ II (and, at a later date, Variax Workbench). It also allows for future software upgrades.

How is the Variax family different from the Roland® VG-8 or VG-88?
Variax guitars are self-contained, all sounds come from inside the guitar itself. Models were specifically developed for the body resonance and transducer of the Variax in order to achieve the highest possible accuracy of modeling. The VG-8/88 is an external processor that is connected to a guitar via a separate hex pickup. With the VG system, variations in tone may occur due to the guitar the pickup is attached to and the specific placement of the pickup. The VG-8 includes basic amp modeling and effects, in addition to its guitar modeling functions. With the Variax family, the DSP concentrates on the accuracy and detail of the guitar characteristics.

Can I use rechargeable batteries in my Variax Acoustic 700?
Yes, but they won’t last as long as alkaline batteries.

How long will six AA batteries last?
Fresh AA alkalines will last 10-12 hours, under normal conditions.

How long will a 9-volt battery last?
An alkaline 9V will generally last 1-2 hours, so it is best thought of as a backup for other power options.

Can I use the Variax Acoustic 700 with a wireless system?
Yes, though you will have to use battery power to operate the Variax Acoustic.

Will the XPS pedal recharge batteries in the Variax Acoustic 700?
No, the XPS provides power to operate the Variax, but will not recharge the batteries loaded in the battery compartment.

What type of cables do I need to use for my Variax Acoustic 700?
The TRS (stereo) cable needed to connect the Variax Acoustic to the XPS is included. You can use any standard 1⁄4” TS (mono) or XLR (mic) cable to connect the XPS to an amp or mixer, or simply use a standard 1⁄4” cable to connect the Variax Acoustic to an amp or mixer when on battery power.

What type of strings come with the Variax Acoustic 700?
Standard .012” gauge bronze acoustic guitar strings.

What happens if I use different strings?
The variation in sound from using different strings on the Variax Acoustic is similar to the effect of changing to a different gauge or type of strings on a traditional acoustic guitar.

What accessories come with the Variax Acoustic 700?
The Variax Acoustic comes with a custom gig bag, the XPS direct box/power supply, and a 1⁄4” TRS cable.

How well does the Variax Acoustic 700 "track"?
Since the Variax Acoustic works by processing the signal from the actual vibrating strings, tracking is generally never an issue. You may find that some models, like the 12-strings, do not respond well to certain techniques.