First, other than wages can anyone tell me the difference (other than the price) between the JTV-69 and the JTV-69 USA. One is 1399 the other is 3899. That is a lotta dadgum money. So, is it worth the difference?
 
Then the Roland ready strats... You got the VG-99 synth unit for 1499 and the G-5 Strat for 1299 (G-5A USA for 1899) then I m about where the JTV American Variaxis priced. It can play in different tunings and model a Strat/Tele/humbuckers/acoustics, maybe more without the synth. I assue with the synth I can do far more that with the Variax and spend about the same as the JTV American... a little more I guess...
 
BUT...
 
Do you have any ideas on where the price break is in all this... I mean at what model or point do you have diminishing returns? What is the best bang for buck without settling for a POS?
 
Thanks for any thoughts... ideas... experiences. I may have to get a Sweetwater credit card. Get one of these , an SM-7, and an e-drumkit... Hey Bapu or Mike... if you get a chance, check out the new e-drumkits. I think Alesis has a couple of new kits. Maybe Yamaha too.. don't know. I think I saw a new Alesis with an i-pod dock, I am interested in the other one but don't know if it is just or a good kit... I want to play and trigger plugs.
 
Thanks.. if you can.
 
J
 
Julien

No one has any experience with these?

J

Bapsi has one a them weird lookin Variax thingys...the one that looks like the Jetsons.  Not the pretty Les Paul style.  I've got a tobacco sunburst original Variax (the one that has the breakout box nobody liked) and it's quite fun. 

Do you think there is much (or anything) to be gained from a Roland Ready Strat and a Roland synth box? I assume I would have access to a number of sounds only limited by the number of synths I could control with the Strat.... but, does the JTV have a midi out too? As far as the onboard sounds I think I would be prefecty happy with the JTV. I want one... but I also want to know if there is any real difference between the 3800 dollar JTV and the 1299 JTV, I can change the neck if I need to.

Thanks for the reply olpal, I've talked to Bapu about it before but I can't remember what he said or if I even asked about the difference between the 3800 and the 1300 models.

J

Two diff animals Julien. Variax vs. Roland.

WRT to 69 vs USA 69, the 69 is manufactured in Korea so if you're a finicky guitarist then teh Korean may not meet your standards. For an occasional tracking session I'm happy with the Korean model. YMMV.

The Roland is more for triggering synth sounds (of course you could also trigger guitar samples by myolpal will say "that's jes dang wrong"). 

So it seems to me you gotta decide what you want between the two (Line 6 vs Roland). Or, are you looking to get both but just can't decide between the various models?

I am leaning WAY toward the Variax and the Korean thing does not bother me in the least as long as it has the same electronics.

Does the Variax also have a midi out or does it just play it's sounds? I think I will be really happy with it. NO WAY I could buy both. I woud have a REALLY hard time paying 3800 bucks for the American Variax... I cannot see how it could possibly be that much better.

Thanks,

J

I'm happy with my Korean version but I'm not all that discerning when it comes to an electric 6-string guitar (given the frequency that I actually play one).

This is my Variax (really) - It's nickname is the Raspberry Twist.  It also has passive pickups from Bare Knuckle Pickups (Crawlers).

Note that it's also the ONLY guitar I have left (there's another custom being built, but it's been on hold for a few years now).  *Sigh...*