I bought a Variax 5 String Bass....

[davedvdy]

I am really thrilled with it, it's so versatile.
I'll post pics, but it looks like this:




I guess it's bass modeling has something to do w/midi. The upright sounds like an upright, the P-bass sounds like a P-bass, The fretless and fretted jazz bass, the same. The feels are very accurate for each of the models, and the sound and resolution are great. The only sounds I would probably deem close to useless is the "synth" selector, but the red "selector" one was pretty cool, while the "green" selector LED one was nearly completely useless, IMO. Powered by 6 "AA" batteries.

You have a lever knob that turns 12 ways. If you hit the first button, the lever turns "green", and when you switch back it turns "red". You can save your EQ presets by holding down the lever, and it blinks twice.


So the models go like this:



Green/Red "selector knob changes it in one click.

1961 Fender Jazz Bass/1960 Fender Jazz Bass w/flatwound strings

2004 Deluxe Jazz Bass/Fretless 1961 Jazz Bass

1963 Fender Precision Bass/1958 Precesions bass w/flatwound strings

1977 Music Man Stingray/2003 Modulus Flea bass

1971 Rickenbacker 4001/1963 Rickenbacker 4001 w/flatwound strings

(Hollow)1966 Danelectro Longhorn/1963 Hofner Mode 500/1 w/flatwound strings

1963 Gibson Thunderbird 4/1966 Gibson EB-2D w/flatwound strings

2002 MTD 535/2003 Warick Thumb

1978 Alembic Long scale/1984 Steinberger XL2

8/12 string basses

!968 Hagstrom H8/1994 Hamer B12A

Acoustic
2003 Tacoma Thunderchief/1949 Kay M-1

Synth
Classic Moog MiniMoog/"inspired by modern bass synth sounds"


It's also the first 5 string bass w/spacing that didn't bother me, since for the past 13 years I've been playing 4-string basses. It has an excellent and sound to it, and I'm usually really picky w/feel.

 

[JOLLY]

Re: I bought a Variax 5 String Bass....

How's the 8 string sound?

 

[BigAlTheBird]

Re: I bought a Variax 5 String Bass....

Already tired of your beautiful Music Man!?

 

[beggar_guitar]

Re: I bought a Variax 5 String Bass....

I'd love a full review. I'm wanting to get a bass, and have been considering a Variax. What's your amp situation?

 

[Wattage]

Re: I bought a Variax 5 String Bass....

Yeah full review please, I will be in the market for a new bass in the near future and those seem very cool.

 

[davedvdy]

Re: I bought a Variax 5 String Bass....

How's the 8 string sound?

That model sounds excellent, it adds an "octavey" type of dimension to it, almost eerie in a way.

Already tired of your beautiful Music Man!?

No, not at all, I'm keeping that one. I wanted more sound options, though, and this is a 5 string, and covers the "Fender" sounds, as well as upright. This is more of a Swiss Army Knife...

I'd love a full review. I'm wanting to get a bass, and have been considering a Variax. What's your amp situation?

I'll post sound samples soon. I am using a SWR workingman's 15 combo.
It was really hard to find the 5 string version, but you can purchase them online. You really need to try one before buying, as usual, esp. w/a midi instrument like this.

 

[beggar_guitar]

Re: I bought a Variax 5 String Bass....

If I may ask how much did you pay? They have some on musiciansfriend for like 500. Clearance. It's pretty tempting

 

[larry_emder]

Re: I bought a Variax 5 String Bass....

I'd love some sound samples mate!

 

[bungalowbill]

Re: I bought a Variax 5 String Bass....

My bassplayer uses the variax 5 string with the bass podxt live. Lots of good tones in that little rig.....works like a charm in a cover band situation. Congrats on the score.

 

[davedvdy]

Re: I bought a Variax 5 String Bass....

If I may ask how much did you pay? They have some on musiciansfriend for like 500. Clearance. It's pretty tempting

That is what I paid, but this was the only 5 string model I was actually able to find around here, but online you could get anything. Play before you buy like anything!

 

[davedvdy]

Re: I bought a Variax 5 String Bass....

My bassplayer uses the variax 5 string with the bass podxt live. Lots of good tones in that little rig.....works like a charm in a cover band situation. Congrats on the score.

Thanks and it's great to know people are using it! I can't stress enough how versatile this instrument is. You can go from an incredibly realistic feeling and sounding upright to a P-bass in the flip of the knob.

 

[Mincer]

Re: I bought a Variax 5 String Bass....

i have a Variax Acoustic 700 and it is awesome...worth it for the custom tunings alone, but it really is an awesome sounding instrument.

 

[davedvdy]

Re: I bought a Variax 5 String Bass....

i have a Variax Acoustic 700 and it is awesome...worth it for the custom tunings alone, but it really is an awesome sounding instrument.

Cool, I just heard some clips of that, it has some great tones in it.

The only Line 6 product that I don't like is the POD 2.0, but they redeemed themselves w/the POD XT, lol.

 

[Bezmotivnik]

Re: I bought a Variax 5 String Bass....

I'm still debating whether or not to get one of these. The reviews are mixed on TalkBass.

Everyone seems to complain of the weight -- over ten pounds -- and that's very nearly a deal-killer in itself for me.

I have many other misgivings as well, but I still may wind up doing it. We'll see.

:scratchch

 

[davedvdy]

Re: I bought a Variax 5 String Bass....

I'm still debating whether or not to get one of these. The reviews are mixed on TalkBass.

Everyone seems to complain of the weight -- over ten pounds -- and that's very nearly a deal-killer in itself for me.

I have many other misgivings as well, but I still may wind up doing it. We'll see.

:scratchch

It is a tad heavy, but it's not a big deal...although I'm personally used to heavy basses. You shouldn't make your decision based on a bunch of reviews, but the way it feels and sounds for you. It did win bass player magazine bass of the year, but if it doesn't sound or play good to you, then you shouldn't get it. For me, it feels a great void and recording and live gig purpose.

 

[Bezmotivnik]

Re: I bought a Variax 5 String Bass....

It is a tad heavy, but it's not a big deal...although I'm personally used to heavy basses.

It's a very big deal to me, though, as playing a ten-pound bass is physically painful.

It can never be a primary-use bass for me with that weight.

You shouldn't make your decision based on a bunch of reviews, but the way it feels and sounds for you.

I make my purchase decisions on facts and calculated value.

It did win bass player magazine bass of the year, but if it doesn't sound or play good to you, then you shouldn't get it. For me, it feels a great void and recording and live gig purpose.

I'm dismissive of magazine awards and reviews for reasons we've all discussed before. I understand the Variax and have a fair idea of what it can and can't do. It may have won "awards," but it failed in the marketplace -- largely because it was perceived as so seriously overpriced with an MSRP of $2000 for a rather average Korean bass qua bass, irrespective of what it could or couldn't do with its proprietary electronics.

My misgivings are based on the unique electronic nature of the bass -- will these instruments be laughably obsolete in five years? Will the complex onboard electronics have developed service problems by then? Will they even be supported? etc., etc., etc...

We of course can't possibly know the answers to those questions, we can only speculate...but they don't even arise with a more conventional passive bass.

I have a line on a new one for $387, shipped, and if I can secure it at that price, I'll probably do it just out of curiosity, but I'm not going to go the prevalent $499 price on these, I've decided.

 

[More-Gear-Than-Skill]

Re: I bought a Variax 5 String Bass....

It's just a matter of time before fender release their own modelling P-Bass. Like they have their Strat. Yummy, good scored, enjoy.

 

[these_go211]

Re: I bought a Variax 5 String Bass....

i've looked at this too primarily for the 8 and 12 string options. if the price was right it would be worth it for those 2 alone i think.

 

[JOLLY]

Re: I bought a Variax 5 String Bass....

I have a line on a new one for $387, shipped,

Where from?

 

[davedvdy]

Re: I bought a Variax 5 String Bass....

I make my purchase decisions on facts and calculated value.

I don't get what you mean by "facts". Feel and sound are everything in an instrument and it is all very relative to the person.

It may have won "awards," but it failed in the marketplace -- largely because it was perceived as so seriously overpriced with an MSRP of $2000 for a rather average Korean bass qua bass, irrespective of what it could or couldn't do with its proprietary electronics.

The quality of the bass definitely doesn't feel average to me, and I've played quite a few different basses, and own a EB Music Man. This was the first 5 string I've played I loved. Even at a thousand bucks it would be worth it for what you get, IMO.

My misgivings are based on the unique electronic nature of the bass -- will these instruments be laughably obsolete in five years? Will the complex onboard electronics have developed service problems by then? Will they even be supported? etc., etc., etc...

I was worried about that too, but I'm not sure, only time can tell. This is no different than any of those other piezo bridge electronics, so I would imagine it would hold up w/time.

We of course can't possibly know the answers to those questions, we can only speculate...but they don't even arise with a more conventional passive bass.

Honestly, who cares? if it sounds good, it sounds good. I know of a Musician who is still touring w/a Boss GT-5, and that is over 10 years, and would be deemed "obsolete", w/new amp modeling and effect modeling coming from the GT-8. If it sounds good, that is all that matters.

I have a line on a new one for $387, shipped, and if I can secure it at that price, I'll probably do it just out of curiosity, but I'm not going to go the prevalent $499 price on these, I've decided.

Have you even played it? you may be disappointed, or surprised depending on that.

As I said, it cannot be laughable in 5 years if it sounds good now. It is a very useable bass, I am considered a professional quality bass player, and I would be more than confident in taking it to any session or gig.