why would one choose a variax acoustic over a normal acoustic?

[Robert Delahunt]

Re: why would one choose a variax acoustic over a normal acoustic?

I don't know why they'd chose a variax over anything. I think the variax concept is nice, and not all of us have the money for an expensive guitar collection. However, I can't afford the variax itself either, so the hot rodded combo gives me all the versatility I should ever need (or have needed so far).

 

[frankfalbo]

Re: why would one choose a variax acoustic over a normal acoustic?

I think the Mama Bear and a decent acoustic (including a shallow one) would absolutely smoke the Variax. Even the Mama Bear with an electric guitar piezo bridge would probably smoke it. And yes, I've tried the Variax. To me the sounds are worse than a cheap keyboard, and the feel is completely ruined.

If you want to discuss what it takes to fool an audience, I agree that we take this stuff way too seriously. They just want to hear an "acoustic guitar" and usually don't care if it's a Maple Jumbo or a Rosewood Parlor. Still, I'll take the real deal any day.

 

[Mincer]

Re: why would one choose a variax acoustic over a normal acoustic?

I think the Mama Bear and a decent acoustic (including a shallow one) would absolutely smoke the Variax. Even the Mama Bear with an electric guitar piezo bridge would probably smoke it.

Well, last I looked, the Mama Bear can't do tuning changes instantly, or turn a 6 sting into a 12 string. It can't do virtual capos, and you can't use software to store various tunings, body types. pickups, microphones and compression. The Mama Bear is a completely different product for a different audience. A Variax is about using technology to make the working player's life easier. I hate changing tunings on guitar, and I hate changing guitars. The Variax has certainly made me want to get creative with tunings and techniques that were too much of a pain to use before.

 

[Baltar]

Re: why would one choose a variax acoustic over a normal acoustic?

sorry for warming up this old one, but i consider to buy me one v300 steel and
have no chance to test it (need to order blind).
i've read different reviews about it's unplugged capabilities ...
- how does it sound? balanced or bad resonant unmusical like a stratacoustic?
- how loud is it? loud enough for practice? loud enough for a livingroom
acoustic jammin with another acoustic?

i'm sure the plugged sound is ok, but i'm interested how far can i go with it unplugged
for practice

thanks!
martin

 

[Mincer]

Re: why would one choose a variax acoustic over a normal acoustic?

well, i own a 700 now, and the 300 has the same quality: unplugged, it sounds just like a solidbody electric. in other words, if you need it to be an actual acoustic guitar sometimes, that isn't what it does. for purely plugged in playing, I love it. i can practice scales & stuff unplugged, but i really dont want to hear that loud anyway.

 

[Baltar]

Re: why would one choose a variax acoustic over a normal acoustic?

i'm asking to myself, 'whats the soundhole for?'

 

[Mincer]

Re: why would one choose a variax acoustic over a normal acoustic?

for looks? a place to keep the pick? i'll tell ya, it has fooled a lot of people thinking they were watching me play a real acoustic guitar.

 

[GuitarSandwich]

Re: why would one choose a variax acoustic over a normal acoustic?

I think that the Variax is a great solution for a lot of people. Personally, I'm more interested in the VG strat. I actually think that the people in our audience either don't care or even know what the difference between and acoustic and an electric guitar is, let alone the difference between a "real" acoustic and a variax.

I also tried the new VXT Ovation, but really had a hard time understanding where the value in that was. It was 5% of the VG at 90% of the cost.

 

[Mincer]

Re: why would one choose a variax acoustic over a normal acoustic?

i didn't dig the VG strat, although I was comparing it to the acoustic and electric Variax. I think for most people, it is good enough (and it is a Strat, which is prolly more important to them), but as far as modeling and options go, the Variax has it beat badly.

 

[Baltar]

Re: why would one choose a variax acoustic over a normal acoustic?

cool. thanks