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Published on 03/06/09 at 08:31
Short story: no need to introduce the Fender Telecaster Clarence Leonidas (Leo says), genius of violin musician but not a dollar! Roland is against most famous in the world of synthesizers. In the 70s, the idea occurs to them to develop a guitar synthesizer. They are therefore the guitar organ Godwin (1976) and in 1977 released the GS-500, Les Paul type guitar plugged into the GR-500, big synthesizer. In the early 80's, Roland recidivism four guitars, a bass and three pedals. Not yet fully developed (latency period between the attack of the strings and the emission of sound), the third gnération is the most complete ... and more futuristic: the G-707 and GR-700 pedal huge 12-kg lots in 1984. Success is not to go, but Roland has persisted for a simpler method: the Virtual Guitar (VG). A microphone pickup is placed just under the strings of any guitar and connects to a synthesizer. Roland, however, keeps the idea of integrating the microphone to a guitar and VG approaches Fender. Will be born in the first Roland Ready Stratocaster ready to connect to a syhtétiseur Roland. Then the VG Stratocaster guitar modeling, which is strongly reminiscent of the Line 6 Variax, and offers different models of Fender guitars with alternate tunings.
We keep of course the eternal line of Fender Stratocaster, released in 1954 with an ash body (alder and 1956) and a maple neck accompanied by his touch unreported (rosewood fingerboard appearing in 1959). The two-tone sunburst finish early will be complemented by colors "custom" in 1959. Drawing on original but not eternal ... head. In fact, hard to believe that Leo has not inspired on his head Telecaster guitar made by Paul Bigsby for Merle Travis in 1948! Bigsby has can also turn inspired the first of Martin guitars in the mid-19th century, before it adopts the heads that we know well today. CFMartin, meanwhile, was just copy the headers Johann Stauffer, a well-known German maker, with whom he worked before emigrating to the United States ... As for the body, its shape is actually due to the remarks of the guitarists on the Telecaster and Leo has taken into account: double cut for better access to acute bevel ergonomic ...
BODY Alder (polyurethane varnish)
NECK Maple, Modern profile "C", polyurethane varnish
Rosewood or maple fingerboard, Radius 9.5 "(241mm)
22 medium jumbo frets
DIAPASON 25.5 "(648mm)
Nut width 43mm
MECHANICAL Fender ® bath oil staged
BRIDGE Vibrato chrome with 2 anchors
PLATE 3 Ply
MICROS 3 American Start / Micro Roland GK
STRINGS Fender ® Super Bullets ® 3250L, Nickel Plated Steel, (.009 - .042)
No complaints about build quality: it's great!
UTILIZATION
It's a stratocaster: everything has been said about the playing comfort, the handle, access to acute, shape, weight, content ...
The sound? it's plug and play.
SOUNDS
I am also proud owner of a Line 6 Variax 700 with its indispensable workbench (customization tool).
The sounds found on this layer are very honest modeled: Start, Tele, humbucking, 12-string, acoustic + alternate tunings. It's versatile high quality! You can play any style of music: pop, folk, rock, metal, blues, ...
But the problem is not there. Indeed the comparison with the Variax needed.
- The price: 2,000 euros for the strato, 1,500 euros for the Variax workbench +
- Quality: the beautiful work of two sides, the layer has on the logo for it!
- The models: many more on the Variax! Start, tele, les paul, firebird, ES-335, Gretsch, Rickenbacker, Martin, resonator, banjo, 12 string, Hawaiian, ... you can do everything (or almost). Moreover Fender does not specify exact models were modeled. Line 6 against with the originals are clearly detailed (although emulation is not always 100% true, this leaves dreaming about the different models and mythical).
- Opportunities: no customization possible on the stratum. Against by the Variax, the workbench provides a virtual luthier shop where all combinations are possible (body microphones (positions, angles, types, output levels), fully customizable alternative tunings of 2 octaves, ...) and 100 memory available on the guitar! What extend to infinity and the models available with a quality appointment.
- Much more than the stratum: this is a real stratocaster in liabilities associated with modeling. The mixture between tradition and modernity. By the Variax is against "a guitar modeling", without character. It sounds like whatever you want, but not as itself. This is not a "real" guitar in the traditional sense. No visible microphone (it's weird anyway). In short, is a "real" guitar? For me, yes, but not for everyone.
- Other black dot next to Fender: power only by batteries (LR6 4) which is limited autonomy (4 hours) on the Variax can be fed via batteries or via transformer provided (jack-jack cable used for audio and power), in short demand.
So for eight sound quality (except for some noise) but not 10, as a customization would have been welcome, and because the models are of unknown origin (the Line 6 Variax has been there and immediately set the bar very high) .
OVERALL OPINION
Recently acquired, I am delighted. It is a real liability in strata with character all its own, and active modeling are bluffing, to extend the spectrum of sounds and providing a welcome versatility.
Unfortunately, the Line 6 Variax 700 has been through it before: cheaper, more modeling guitars, better identified (models accurately described), longer battery life and especially with the ability to fully customize his guitar!
If this is your first or Fender Stratocaster, go for it! Otherwise try the Variax workbench, you'll be surprised and you will emerge probably more comprehensive and relevant!
We keep of course the eternal line of Fender Stratocaster, released in 1954 with an ash body (alder and 1956) and a maple neck accompanied by his touch unreported (rosewood fingerboard appearing in 1959). The two-tone sunburst finish early will be complemented by colors "custom" in 1959. Drawing on original but not eternal ... head. In fact, hard to believe that Leo has not inspired on his head Telecaster guitar made by Paul Bigsby for Merle Travis in 1948! Bigsby has can also turn inspired the first of Martin guitars in the mid-19th century, before it adopts the heads that we know well today. CFMartin, meanwhile, was just copy the headers Johann Stauffer, a well-known German maker, with whom he worked before emigrating to the United States ... As for the body, its shape is actually due to the remarks of the guitarists on the Telecaster and Leo has taken into account: double cut for better access to acute bevel ergonomic ...
BODY Alder (polyurethane varnish)
NECK Maple, Modern profile "C", polyurethane varnish
Rosewood or maple fingerboard, Radius 9.5 "(241mm)
22 medium jumbo frets
DIAPASON 25.5 "(648mm)
Nut width 43mm
MECHANICAL Fender ® bath oil staged
BRIDGE Vibrato chrome with 2 anchors
PLATE 3 Ply
MICROS 3 American Start / Micro Roland GK
STRINGS Fender ® Super Bullets ® 3250L, Nickel Plated Steel, (.009 - .042)
No complaints about build quality: it's great!
UTILIZATION
It's a stratocaster: everything has been said about the playing comfort, the handle, access to acute, shape, weight, content ...
The sound? it's plug and play.
SOUNDS
I am also proud owner of a Line 6 Variax 700 with its indispensable workbench (customization tool).
The sounds found on this layer are very honest modeled: Start, Tele, humbucking, 12-string, acoustic + alternate tunings. It's versatile high quality! You can play any style of music: pop, folk, rock, metal, blues, ...
But the problem is not there. Indeed the comparison with the Variax needed.
- The price: 2,000 euros for the strato, 1,500 euros for the Variax workbench +
- Quality: the beautiful work of two sides, the layer has on the logo for it!
- The models: many more on the Variax! Start, tele, les paul, firebird, ES-335, Gretsch, Rickenbacker, Martin, resonator, banjo, 12 string, Hawaiian, ... you can do everything (or almost). Moreover Fender does not specify exact models were modeled. Line 6 against with the originals are clearly detailed (although emulation is not always 100% true, this leaves dreaming about the different models and mythical).
- Opportunities: no customization possible on the stratum. Against by the Variax, the workbench provides a virtual luthier shop where all combinations are possible (body microphones (positions, angles, types, output levels), fully customizable alternative tunings of 2 octaves, ...) and 100 memory available on the guitar! What extend to infinity and the models available with a quality appointment.
- Much more than the stratum: this is a real stratocaster in liabilities associated with modeling. The mixture between tradition and modernity. By the Variax is against "a guitar modeling", without character. It sounds like whatever you want, but not as itself. This is not a "real" guitar in the traditional sense. No visible microphone (it's weird anyway). In short, is a "real" guitar? For me, yes, but not for everyone.
- Other black dot next to Fender: power only by batteries (LR6 4) which is limited autonomy (4 hours) on the Variax can be fed via batteries or via transformer provided (jack-jack cable used for audio and power), in short demand.
So for eight sound quality (except for some noise) but not 10, as a customization would have been welcome, and because the models are of unknown origin (the Line 6 Variax has been there and immediately set the bar very high) .
OVERALL OPINION
Recently acquired, I am delighted. It is a real liability in strata with character all its own, and active modeling are bluffing, to extend the spectrum of sounds and providing a welcome versatility.
Unfortunately, the Line 6 Variax 700 has been through it before: cheaper, more modeling guitars, better identified (models accurately described), longer battery life and especially with the ability to fully customize his guitar!
If this is your first or Fender Stratocaster, go for it! Otherwise try the Variax workbench, you'll be surprised and you will emerge probably more comprehensive and relevant!