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Variax Bass??

Actually a release was posted to the public today..
Yahoo Story
This is a pic from PMTonline.co.uk that purports to show .
Invalid Link Removed

Mind you it is described as a 700 in the story and shown in what is obviously a 500 style.

Either way, when it hits the street it's mine.
 
I played one briefly at the New York Bass Player Live show this weekend.
The instrument they had wasn't quite 100% working yet, not all sounds were loaded yet.
But the one I played had Precision, Jazz, Stingray and Alembic sounds. The Precision and Jazz had both roundwound and flatwound sounds available.
Was hard to hear competely clearly with every other loud booth nearly, but it sounded pretty convincing.
 
I found this:
Press Release Source: Line 6

Line 6 Unveils World's First Modeling Bass, Variax Bass 700
Saturday October 16, 2:59 pm ET
-- Instant Access to 24 In-Demand Bass Sounds Ranging From Vintage and Modern Instrument Models to Acoustic Upright and Synth --


AGOURA HILLS, Calif., Oct. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- Line 6 announced today the launch of Variax Bass 700, a high-quality bass instrument addition to the Variax family of guitars. Variax Bass 700 is the first bass that accurately models vintage and modern electric basses, an acoustic upright, plus synth bass tones. Variax Bass 700 is the instrument that is ready at a moment's notice for any live performance or recording situations.

Variax Bass 700 is a breakthrough product for any bassist, as it provides instant access to sounds never before available in a single instrument. Its simple, stand-alone operation offers 24 authentic bass sounds all in a single, professional grade instrument. Its output can be sent direct to any standard bass amplifier, mixing console, or recording device.
"Variax Bass 700's simple layout combines the best of passive and active electronic controls in one practical, problem-solving, pro quality system," said Rich Lasner, director of instrument product lines, Line 6. "No other bass enables artists playing live or in the studio to instantly call up a modern 4-string, vintage 8-string, acoustic upright, fretless, or synth bass," explains Lasner.

Variax Bass 700 uses Line 6's patented guitar modeling technology to offer bassists instant access to models of a world-class collection of the greatest bass instruments and sounds in recorded history. Variax Bass 700 features an alder body, maple neck with rosewood fingerboard, and sealed chrome tuners. Custom-fitted gig bag and direct box with 1/4-inch and XLR outputs included. Available in black or sunburst finishes.
 
davidmwilson said:
No, the one I played was more traditional looking although not a Jazz shape from what I remember. It does look odd without a pickup there.

Hopefully they'll have the option of a thumbrest. Is there a full list anywhere of the full list of basses that are "emulated"? So far it only seems like P, J, Alembic and Stingray. It would rule if it also had a super-J (Sadowsky style), Ricky, Warwick Thumb, 8- and 12-strings, EB-0 and upright.

Also, am I right in thinking the the Variax system (at least in the guitars) is basically a piezo bridge connected to some complex electronics internally, no wired frets or anything like that? If that was the case, I dare say the system could be transplanted into a nice custom bass body...

Russ :bassist:
 
davidmwilson said:
No, the one I played was more traditional looking although not a Jazz shape from what I remember. It does look odd without a pickup there.

Great! I'm looking forward to checking one out. I'm especially curious about the quality of the upright sound(s). I hope they'll give that some extra attention, especially knowing that on the Variax guitars, the nylon string sounds are a tad behind in quality compared to the solid body models.
 
XO-Bionic said:
Stingray. It would rule if it also had a super-J (Sadowsky style), Ricky, Warwick Thumb, 8- and 12-strings, EB-0 and upright.
There were old school J and modern J sounds available, and an upright sound. The literature there said it had Rick emulation , but it wasn't loaded on the bass I used
Also, am I right in thinking the the Variax system (at least in the guitars) is basically a piezo bridge connected to some complex electronics internally, no wired frets or anything like that? If that was the case, I dare say the system could be transplanted into a nice custom bass body...
I believe that's the way it works. It's certainly intriguing, and on first pass sounded much better than I thought it would
 
i suspect your prolly right, it could be a piezo bridge or magentic-type based on the technology both yamaha and roland have for their Vbass pickups. Then the output is sent thru the modeling data similar to the Vbass.
So it this variax bass is all that its claims I can get the whole vbass kit and kaboodle in a bass w/ no large bulky floor unit or Gk-2b ugly pickup. Can't wait to try it out
frank
 
FCM3 said:
i suspect your prolly right, it could be a piezo bridge or magentic-type based on the technology both yamaha and roland have for their Vbass pickups. Then the output is sent thru the modeling data similar to the Vbass.
So it this variax bass is all that its claims I can get the whole vbass kit and kaboodle in a bass w/ no large bulky floor unit or Gk-2b ugly pickup. Can't wait to try it out
frank


Line6 uses piezo, not magnetic pu's.
So far Line6 haven't sold the electronics separately, you have to buy the whole instrument. Of course you can do whatever you want after that. Though Variax instruments will work on batterries, they do come with a small floor switch/power supply.
 

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