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Teleplayer
Large Member
799 Posts |
 Posted - 07/21/2003 : 12:42:24
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Hi all,
Well... I've decided to give it a try. I've taken my V-axe apart and I've measured all of the routs. I've voided my warranty, but I don't really care. I made some routing templates for the control cavity, battery cavity and covers. I'm waiting on my new Warmoth body and neck to arrive. I'll keep you all posted on my progress! Wish me luck!
Jeff
http://w3.iac.net/~jmiller |
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Mott
Large Member
USA
746 Posts |
Posted - 07/21/2003 : 12:49:18
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Oooh--a guinea pig!
Good luck--definitely keep us updated! |
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DrDipwad
Large Member
938 Posts |
Posted - 07/21/2003 : 13:09:59
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Jeff:
quote:
Originally posted by Teleplayer
Hi all,
Well... I've decided to give it a try. I've taken my V-axe apart and I've measured all of the routs. I've voided my warranty, but I don't really care. I made some routing templates for the control cavity, battery cavity and covers. I'm waiting on my new Warmoth body and neck to arrive. I'll keep you all posted on my progress! Wish me luck!
Jeff
Whoa. Gutsy move.
I've gotta ask: Did you decide to use a body of more-or-less the same size, weight, shape, and/or wood type as the Variax? And, will it have a pickguard and some routed areas, like the Variax?
I ask because some folks have surmised that the models wouldn't sound good anymore if you transplanted the guts into a guitar body that was very different from the Variax. According to these folks, the Variax body represents a "baseline" from which the modeling software must work; ergo, a radically different bassline will confuse the software.
Myself, I bet that the body doesn't have to be TOO identical to the original. If the software were THAT sensitive, then...
1. ...people who retrofitted the neck would have similar "changing the baseline" problems, and...
2. ...the slight differences between two pieces of wood might be enough to confuse it, causing one out of every few Variax bodies to be unsuitable for use in a Variax!
I haven't heard of either of these problems occurring; therefore, I conclude it must be OK to retrofit the body, provided you're very careful with those fragile piezo leads, and provided that you don't retrofit it into something COMPLETELY different, like a National Resophonic!
-- Dr. Dipwad
"Always hopeful, yet discontent,
he knows changes aren't permanent,
...but change is." |
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cbrillow
Giant Member
USA
1375 Posts |
Posted - 07/21/2003 : 13:19:25
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quote:
Originally posted by DrDipwad
Myself, I bet that the body doesn't have to be TOO identical to the original.
I quite agree. Will there be an effect on some of the models? Probably. Will it be bad? Probably not. Will anybody else notice? Hard to say. It's not gonna sound like bagpipes, no matter what you put it in...
Way to go, Jeff! If I had serious dislikes for any particular aspect of the guitar, I might do the same thing. But I'm not a "serious" player, and am not that demanding. |
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James
Member-At-Large
USA
167 Posts |
Posted - 07/21/2003 : 13:32:11
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Cool Jeff!
Ya know, I've considered doing the same thing. I've never been afraid to operate on anything...if my Les Paul could talk, it would tell ya.
The Variax body and neck are "ok", but I think the technology inside way outshines the package Line6 put it in.
My guess it that the sounds might be altered slightly in the new body...barely enough to notice, but I'll bet it'll be fine. Maybe we should take taking bets on the outcome! 
Take your time, but I can't wait for you to finish!
-jc
My POD XT goes to...12 |
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AZ
Member with too much time available
USA
5377 Posts |
Posted - 07/21/2003 : 13:40:10
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| Hey Jeff, if you take pictures along the way, you might make it easier for the next guy planning on doing this. I'd be happy to host them if you think it would get more coverage here than your site. |
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Motojunkie
Giant Member
USA
1003 Posts |
Posted - 07/21/2003 : 14:16:54
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quote:
Originally posted by DrDipwad
Whoa. Gutsy move.
I've gotta ask: Did you decide to use a body of more-or-less the same size, weight, shape, and/or wood type as the Variax? And, will it have a pickguard and some routed areas, like the Variax?
My guess is that he's going to be using a Tele shaped body. You know how country players are. There just so particular....
Digital is not bad, but a closed mind is..... |
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Raceboy
Member with too much time available
USA
9864 Posts |
Posted - 07/21/2003 : 14:24:02
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Excellent, Jeff. I talked with Line 6 within days of Variax being announced and asked about this and was told it couldn't be done.
I never bought that response. It makes no sense for the very reasons described in a few posts above.
I believe this WILL work if all the measurements are correctly done.
I also believe that there will be NO adverse effects on the sound of the guitar when done. It will still sound just like every other Variax, but will look and play a bit different.
I've been planning to do this from the beginning, and am waiting to buy a 2nd Variax so I don't have to do without one during the transformation.
Please do document all the steps and procedures for us, Jeff.
I'm sure this is a door that Line 6 would rather we not open.
Never trust anyone with three or more stars. |
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cbrillow
Giant Member
USA
1375 Posts |
Posted - 07/21/2003 : 14:40:46
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quote:
Originally posted by James
I've never been afraid to operate on anything...if my Les Paul could talk, it would tell ya.
YOU CUT OUT ITS VOCAL CORDS??!! YOU BUTCHER!!!!! 
Calling Dr. Howard, Dr. Fine, Dr. Howard.... |
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Teleplayer
Large Member
799 Posts |
Posted - 07/21/2003 : 15:30:56
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quote:
Originally posted by Raceboy
Excellent, Jeff. I talked with Line 6 within days of Variax being announced and asked about this and was told it couldn't be done.
I never bought that response. It makes no sense for the very reasons described in a few posts above.
I believe this WILL work if all the measurements are correctly done.
I also believe that there will be NO adverse effects on the sound of the guitar when done. It will still sound just like every other Variax, but will look and play a bit different.
I've been planning to do this from the beginning, and am waiting to buy a 2nd Variax so I don't have to do without one during the transformation.
Please do document all the steps and procedures for us, Jeff.
I'm sure this is a door that Line 6 would rather we not open.
Never trust anyone with three or more stars.
Racey,
I don't see any reason why it couldn't be done. I wonder if they just meant to say "we don't want you doing it". I've taken it all apart, taken measurements and re-assembled it and it still works. There's really nothing to it except the circuit board and a
laminated ribbon cable running up to the X-bridge. I've done some test routs on some wood using my templates and the routs are dead on, so that shouldn't be a problem. The only thing I can see being a problem is the body wood (or shape) causing problems with the software interpretation of what is happening with the strings.
AZ,
I'll make sure to document everything for those of you wanting to try this.
Moto,
No, I didn't choose the Tele body. What would be your second guess?
Take care everyone!
Jeff
http://w3.iac.net/~jmiller |
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Raceboy
Member with too much time available
USA
9864 Posts |
Posted - 07/21/2003 : 15:46:07
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I'd be willing to bet that you could do a Flying V body design and it would work fine. Or any other, for that matter. MAYBE going to semi hollow bodies might have an effect, but I think as long as it's a solid body, there won't be a noticeable difference.
They did tell me that I'd hear from their lawyers if I did do this. But I laughed and told them that it would be a big waste of money on their part because, unless I tried to manufacture and sell them, there was no law against making my own guitars from parts of other guitars. No further argument was made from them.
I look forward to seeing your project.
Never trust anyone with three or more stars. |
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Motojunkie
Giant Member
USA
1003 Posts |
Posted - 07/21/2003 : 15:46:16
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Shoot!
Guess 2 - Warmoth "VW", maybe with a carved top.
Digital is not bad, but a closed mind is..... |
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Teleplayer
Large Member
799 Posts |
Posted - 07/21/2003 : 16:01:20
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quote:
Originally posted by Raceboy
I'd be willing to bet that you could do a Flying V body design and it would work fine. Or any other, for that matter. MAYBE going to semi hollow bodies might have an effect, but I think as long as it's a solid body, there won't be a noticeable difference.
They did tell me that I'd hear from their lawyers if I did do this. But I laughed and told them that it would be a big waste of money on their part because, unless I tried to manufacture and sell them, there was no law against making my own guitars from parts of other guitars. No further argument was made from them.
I look forward to seeing your project.
Very interesting. I don't see why they'd want to sue me for trying to put the electronics in another body. Dang, it's not like I'm trying to sell them with my name on it. I'm just trying it for fun and to maybe have the best of both worlds. I'd like to have Variax components in an American-made guitar that looks good.
Jeff
http://w3.iac.net/~jmiller |
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Teleplayer
Large Member
799 Posts |
Posted - 07/21/2003 : 16:04:03
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quote:
Originally posted by Motojunkie
Shoot!
Guess 2 - Warmoth "VW", maybe with a carved top.
OMG Moto! You nailed it! How'd you do that? LOL!
Jeff
http://w3.iac.net/~jmiller |
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woodenboy
Giant Member
United Kingdom
1971 Posts |
Posted - 07/21/2003 : 16:07:11
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Very excited to see how this is going to work out for you Jeff. Just wondering...... since the body you're using is going to have cavities for pickups, are you going to put anything in them?
WB |
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Stanley
Member-At-Large
United Kingdom
100 Posts |
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Topic |
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I'm putting my V-axe guts in another guitar
Topic Locked
