Are Helix and Variax the Greatest Gigging Combo Ever??!!

The snapshot tuning change guitar model stuff is just awesome for gigging. Good stuff.

Great video! So glad to hear other guys extolling the virtues of the Helix/Variax combo. I use an 89F (just can't let go of my Floyd Rose LOL) and it's the greatest thing since sliced bread. I was an early adopter of this technology,starting in the early 2000s with a Variax 500 and a Vetta.There's no logical argument against using this stuff. It allows the impossible to be done.A good example in my own experience- the band I was in played "Someone Like You" by Keith Urban,which required me to switch from banjo to 12-string acoustic guitar to crunchy Les Paul to overdriven Tele. Then, just to be a show off (LOL),the next song in the set was "Dragula" by Rob Zombie. If you play in a cover band, this is the only way to go IMHO.

An interesting tidbit about the JTV 89F: in addition to the standard Variax models, one of the custom banks contains models of the actual "analog" side of the guitar (all 5 pickup positions).So if you like the sound of the analog guitar,you can use that sound like any other model in the Variax,and take advantage of the tuning possibilities and such.The 89 has high gain pickups,which none of the other models have. The guitar itself sounds and feels very much like my trusty 1990 Hamer Chaparral, so that's a plus for me.

One last thing- do you ever use the tone or volume controls on your Variax for controlling parameters on your Helix? I often have my tone control set as a volume boost,in case I'm not right by the Helix when it's solo time. I've also used it as a Whammy pedal.

Enjoying your videos. I haven't upgraded to Helix yet - still using the Pod HD500X. Thinking about getting a Variax. But my biggest question is: In a live situation, what do you use on stage as a monitor? Thanks!

Really helpful to hear your thoughts on this, Chad. One question I have is, if you can configure a Variax guitar to be literally anything you want through Workbench, why bring two? Is that for backup in case something fails?

Definitely with a Variax, you'll never need a capo again!

Thanks again man! This was awesome!

I hope Line6 pays you a commission on all the Variax sales you've just generated. :)))

Yes. Yes it is the greatest gigging combination ever!

Nice, Chad. Been a Line 6 guy for around 20 years now and current play a JTV-69 with the Helix. I absolutely love it and will never go back to my old setup for live playing. My band is a guitar/bass/drum trio with a lead singer up front, we do a lot of high energy rock and R&B. So, I don't necessarily cover guitar parts all the time, it's more like doing whatever it takes to make a song work. This rig, of course, give's me so many options. Like we just learned Fleetwood Mac's "Go Your Own Way" and I ended up using the "3 Note Drone", assigning the 3 chords in the outro solo to footswitches. I do something similar with "Any Way You Want It" as well. Another thing I'll do very often is set up my lead sound with an expression pedal. It's a great option to have when your singing and can't look down for a footswitch so easily. However, as far as the Variax goes, other than the acoustics, I'm still not a fan of the electric models on the Variax and will use them if I need a custom tuning and that's about it. It's mostly because of the palm muting issue it inherently has. To be honest though, I haven't delved into Workbench to customize the guitars at all. One of these days, I guess I will and see what's what. Thanks again, Chad, and good luck with the carpal tunnel too.

Hi Chad, thanks for the video’s they are very informative.....I wonder if you could help me.....I am new to the jtv 69s variax and experiencing a few issues which I’m trying to resolve via workbench.......in particular, the ‘chime’ 12 strings sound very false, not so noticeable on the acoustic, but the chime seems unusable to me in its stock form(not tried it in a band mix yet1).......any thoughts on possible fixes? Many thanks Steve in the UK.

Great video! What strat model patch are you using in your variax on this video? It sounds great!!

I really enjoy your videos, thanks for all the tutorials. I'm in a cover band, recently got a Helix LT (xmas present) and the more I look and research the more sense the JTV69S seems to make to me. The things you can do with that combination seems ready made for a cover band. The US custom seems way over priced but the JTV69 seems like a good value. Is that they one you're using in these videos or is it a custom? I assume you're happy with it based on the videos?

Nice...great playing...what are you using for amplification?

Hey...thanks..I to have just gone straight to the PA with Helix...thought I would never give up my Marshall....still loving my Strat(s)...but I likely will move to the “dark side” at some point....thanks for the great video...where did you get that T-Shirt?

hey Chad..I'm looking at line6 custom tones for pre sets. how would i find your tones posted? thanks.

Did you swap the stock Variax neck with a Fender (or some aftermarket) neck? If so, was there an issue with the stock neck from Line6?

Hey Chad , just ordered a JTV69s based on my reading and your videos and your extremely helpful answers to my inquiries. Looking forward to climbing the learning curve and seeing what I can do with it and my lt. Told my wife it’s the last guitar I’ll ever need which might even be true. Thanks for helping out and all your great content.

Hey Chad, perhaps an odd question but there is so little JTV69 setup information that I can find online and you have a wealth of information. I've had my JTV69 for about 3 days and I wanted to raise the pickup height a bit based on Fender Strat specs (since I can't find anything on Line6 about basic setup). I can't get the bridge pickup raised any higher than about 1/4 inch from the pick guard. I can lower it but it simply won't go any higher. If I eyeball it the bridge in it's 'max' position is about 1/8 an inch lower from the bottom of the strings than the Neck, and Middle pickup. Do you know if the bridge pickup can't be raised as high as the other two?

Hi everybody. I would like to know in your opinion why nobody famous use this gear ? Sorry for my english...

Hey Chad. I’ve been enjoying your videos. I got a Helix a couple months ago and had a POD XT before that which I ran direct to PA. Now that I have the Helix, I think the next progression is a Variax. I can’t decide between the JTV 59 or 69, although I think I’m leaning more toward the 69 because of the freedom to change out the neck down the road. I mainly use an Ernie Ball Axis, T-Style from Danocaster, and a Les Paul. How well does your 69 stay in tune? If you do a dive bomb on the bar does it stay in tune? This is something I haven’t really seen anyone comment on. Thanks!

Carpal tunnel syndrome ain't no joke. I took over a year off from playing guitar, did plenty of exercising and stretching, and my cts didn't get any better.

Great video. I’m also using 2 Variax guitars with the Helix. I have some great Les Pauls and a custom guitar but after playing out with the new setup I’ll never go back. Do they sound exactly like my Les Pauls and Marshall amp? No but now I can go from a Tele to a strat to a hollow body to an acoustic with a simple snapshot. I’m all in.

very great video !
I own a standard Variax and a Helix LT, and think as you do this is the perfect combinaison
thank you for your work on these vids !
no problem with the palm mute sound on your Variax using Variax cable (no magnetic pickups) only ?

This is the first time I can recall you mentioning having CT syndrome, Chad. You definitely do well at working around it, technology or no technology.

I’ve indefinitely shelved my own pursuit of a Variax (tried getting a preowned one in 2019 whose modeling system didn’t activate and new ones seem interminably backordered). Instead, I’m grooving with a “Frankenstrat” built for me with Burns pickups and Brian May-motivated switching. If I wind up trying again to get a Variax, your uploads are definitely a motivation to do so. Especially with your neck swap on this model.

Chad, I have a question. You stated that you only use 2 variax guitars. My question is why do you have 2? Is 1 just a backup in case 1 fails or is there another reason?

They did the "Pepper" rhythm parts with epiphine Casino. Anyway... you're great

Great video, I have a Variax standard and a Helix LT still discovering their potential, keep up with these videos. It's nice walking into a gig with one guitar and a Helix and getting any sound I need for whatever the job calls for.