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-- Turning a Variax 300 into a Mountain Dulcimer! The Birth of the "DulciCaster"™ by Quintin Stephens, Katy, TX A little bit about the builder, Quintin Stephens... A second-generation Mountain Dulcimer player, Quintin incorporates a solid foundation in traditional music with dynamic, innovative techniques to create a fresh approach to the instrument. Building upon the divergent influences of Force & d'Ossché and those of his father, Ed Stephens, Quintin embodies a high level of driving energy and technical musical artistry. But beyond the merely pyroclastic, woven throughout his pieces are melodic refrains which make his music highly approachable. He redefines the dulcimer's unique musical voice in the larger context of contemporary composition. Quintin got an early start on dulcimer at the age of eight and has played and given workshops on the instrument for more than 32 years. Along the way, he also became a Blues/Rock and Slide guitar player, bringing many of the techniques and tricks over from guitar to the dulcimer. Especially recognized for his double-stop and two-handed-tapping techniques, he has no qualms about freely adapting styles to create the music he hears in his head. Long-time player, Alan Darveaux, says, -- "Quintin has excelled in creativity and technique. Quintin has gone far beyond his mentors."
Variax® is the one guitar that is a complete collection of guitars. No more dragging around multiple acoustics and electrics to gigs or recording studios. Variax gives you an endless variety of sounds from classic acoustic and electric tones all the way to sitar and banjo, all in one instrument. Moreover, the absence of magnetic pickups means that every note comes out crystal clear without any unwanted pickup noise. Variax is the only guitar that allows you to plug into a computer and customize your tone or apply alternate tunings to any of the 25 presets. Line 6's exclusive Variax Workbench software lets you fine-tune all the details of each tone, or change your tuning to Open G, DADGAD, D-MODAL, Drop-D, or any tuning you can imagine, without ever needing a tuner. For greater control, Variax integrates seamlessly with POD® XT Live and Vetta™ II - not only powering the guitar but also letting you control the entire signal chain right at your feet. Variax is also the only modeling guitar that can run either on batteries or by the included phantom adapter. Your next guitar could be 25 guitars in one. The guitars that are modeled in Variax aren't just showroom pieces. They have been played to perfection. These guitars have dings, scratches, and, most importantly, unbelievable tone. With one knob and a 5-way switch, Variax will take you through this historic collection of guitars. Variax Models Based On*: 1960 Fender® Telecaster® Custom 1968 Fender® Telecaster® 1968 Fender® Telecaster® Thinline 1959 Fender® Stratocaster® 1958 Gibson® Les Paul® Standard 1952 Gibson® Les Paul® “Goldtop” 1961 Gibson® Les Paul® Custom (3 PU) 1956 Gibson® Les Paul® Junior 1976 Gibson® Firebird V 1955 Gibson® Les Paul® Special 1959 Gretsch® 6120 1956 Gretsch® Silver Jet 1968 Rickenbacker® 360 1966 Rickenbacker® 360-12 1961 Gibson® ES®-335 1967 Epiphone® Casino 1957 Gibson® ES-175 1953 Gibson® Super 400 1959 Martin® D-28 1970 Martin® D 12-28 1967 Martin® O-18 1966 Guild® F212 1995 Gibson® J-200 1935 Dobro® Alumilite Danelectro 3021 Coral/Dano® Electric Sitar Gibson® Mastertone Banjo 1928 National® Style 2 "Tricone" Some F.A.Q.s about the Variax... Is Variax a MIDI guitar? No, Variax® is a real guitar. All of the sounds available in Variax start
with the actual string vibrations. Then the sound goes through our patented
modeling process to shape the raw signal and replicate the sounds of the modeled
instruments. Does Variax only work with Line 6
amps? Variax works with any guitar amp from any manufacturer. For additional
control, Variax integrates seamlessly with POD® XT Live
or the Vetta™ II amp when connected via a VDI (Variax Digital Interface) cable,
however it is not necessary you own either to hear all the tones that come in
Variax. Variax runs on 6 AA batteries, a single 9V, or phantom power with the
included XPS A/B Footswitch Direct Box/Power Supply. Additionally Variax
can be powered through PODXT Live or the Vetta II when
connected via a VDI (Variax Digital Interface) cable. Can I send acoustic models to a dedicated
acoustic output like a separate amplifier? Variax includes amazingly warm and detailed acoustic models that sound best
when amplified by a full-range system. For this reason, the included XPS
A/B Footswitch Direct Box gives you a convenient way to divert the output to a
PA or acoustic amplifier. There are 25 distinct guitar models that come with Variax. Any tuning you can imagine can be loaded into your Variax! Open G,
DADGAD, D-Modal, Drop-D, or any crazy tuning you might think up. Using
Line 6 Variax Workbench software, you can radically customize every tone preset: change body types,
pickups or add any imaginable alternate tuning to any preset. Can I use it with Vetta II, PODXT Live and Variax Workbench? Yes! All models of Variax are fully compatible with Vetta II and
PODXT Live via the custom RJ-45 digital Variax
cable. What is the purpose of the extra
jack? This "special" jack connects your Variax to our Vetta II amp or PODXT Live. This cable (based on industry-standard CAT 5
Ethernet) provides everything needed to make the most complete guitar system
ever created. Vetta II or PODXT Live provides
power, a direct digital audio connection, and bi-directional control of the
Variax. Variax is the only guitar that hooks up to any computer for easy downloads
and upgrades.
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