New JTV Update (Acoustic Models)

[gurumonkey]

Hey people. I feel like the JTV update should have it's own thread. i recently updated everything (the hd 500 and the jtv69 Korean). I have only slightly messed around with the POD as of this point, but I wanted to talk some about the acoustic models that were updated and give a few impressions.

My first impressions were just browsing through stock patches made for acoustic on the hd500. I thought they sounded okay, but it seemed like the patches were more set-up for strumming and honestly I'm more of a fingerstyle and melodic picking kind of guy. Since I had never heard those patches before (i just rewrote all of my presets) I don't really have anything to compare to, but it's certainly a useable starting point. It should be mentioned that I was using the VDI connection, which I find to sound a little different than the 1/4 input.

After that I switched to going straight into my interface with a 1/4 cable. All I can say is that I find the acoustic models to be FAR more useful than they were before. Kudos to the line6 team. Definitely got rid of the boom in all of the models, which was something that I just struggled with the first time around. I have read a few reviews that stated that the acoustics weren't as good as they were before. I beg to differ. I think they are far better. As far as the 12 strings go, I have to be honest with you. I still don't like them. And I don't really care for 12 strings anyways, but the acoustic 12 strings are the most unrealistic sounding models on the JTV in my opinion.

One thing that another poster stated that I think I will weigh in on. He said that the guitars sound like there is more space between the mic and the guitar. I suppose I can agree with that. But really what I think LINE6 set out to do and have accomplished well is to capture the sound of an acoustic in a room instead of just the plugged in version of any acoustic electric. Does that make sense? This sounds more like an acoustic guitar just being played, and especially for those who like to do more melodic picking, rich sounding fingerstyle, or anything like that, this is a great update. For strumming, it sounds better to me too, but i prefer darker to brighter, and I think this just both less pingy and less boomy.

I also agree with another poster that the useable range on the tone knob (which acts as a mic position knob in this case) is much better.

That's my 2 cents. one day I'll get 3 cents.

[Scott Peterson]

My first impressions here match yours.

I didn't like them at first; but it was because I had both dialed in and saved the 'tone' position I preferred with Workbench on the old ones and familiarity with the original ones from a lot of work with them this past year. A lot of work with them. LOL.

But... after spending some time; about an hour... carefully listening and working with Workbench to save the tone positions (which is supposed to mimic how you have the mic aimed at the guitar and where) my impressions changed considerably. One of the 12 strings sounds too quiet on the output but the other sounds better than before - and it was pretty good for what I need it to do (I need it for the intro/verse on "Dead or Alive" so.... gotta have it!).

The six string acoustic models are all improved to the point where I had a hard time choosing between them. In the past, I used the Jumbo exclusively but now.... all are useful.

I have to hear them with the band and tonight is rehearsal so I'll form a much better informed opinion after tonight.

[gurumonkey]

yes exactly. where I used to like the "tone" knob is no longer the sweet spot. It takes a bit of experimentation, but there are a lot more useful tones now.

[germanicus]

Im actually disappointed in the new Acoustic models.

Ive been in love with variax acoustic models for a long time, using them on the old generation variax's, the acoustic 700, and now the JTV.

The new models have a slightly 'removed' character, the same type of sound you get when moving a microphone farther away from the soundhole. This is great if you want that sound, but there are times where you want a more 'direct' tone. Its equivalent to the Pod's 'E.R.' (early reflection) control on the amp models being turned way up.

I really hope that theres a way to dial this out, or in the least have Line 6 make the old models available in a future firmware. Otherwise I will probably roll back to 1.71.

I dont see how this is an improvement. Its messier, not as tight, and doesnt cut through a mix nearly as well.

You can always add that same E.R. with a delay, why make it imprinted in the guitar model itself? Please make the older models available so we can use the other newer functions included in 1.80

[crispsandwich]

I have no use for the switching features in 1.81, so I'm rolling back to 1.71.

I'm disappointed with the new acoustic tones. They sound compressed and lifeless compared to the previous ones. They've lost their sparkle. As the previous poster pointed out, it was possible to add E.R. to the tones. I don't like that they are fixed with this update. The tone knob is far less usable now, too. They models are unusable through my little acoustic amp due to the 'room' sound. The 12-string models sound horrible.

Shame, as the HD500 update ROCKS.

[Pietro]

I found that the new acoustic models work just a little better alongside the electric (that I do at the same time) than the old ones.

I also found that I could way closer to where I wanted with the tone knob and not have to futz with an extra eq to dial out something... AND... the new vintage pre-amp in the HD 500 in combination with those new models is FREAKIN' AWESOME! The combo of the new acoustic models and the vintage pre-amp is saving me one or two FX blocks in every patch on my HD 500. The hard part is now I have to actually have to build all-new programs to take advantage of that, and the fact that I am in love with the new Plexi model (which I thought I wouldn't like).

I'm disappointed that harmonics on the D and G strings on the 12-strings are still largely useless, but I don't actually use harmonics on a 12-string that often anyway (actually never...)

[Scott Peterson]

I found they really hung well with the band tonight. The other guitarist and the keyboardist in particular called me out on it asking what I was doing different.

I'm liking them.

[gurumonkey]

here's a good example of before and after

not me, btw.

[iaresee]

Originally Posted by Scott Peterson

really hung well

So tempting...

Scott, are you running this straight in to the front of the Axe-Fx's instrument input? Or does the preamp in the guitar work better on the rear input?

[derek_32999]

Not sure if anyone noticed, but there is a bug fix update for the Variax. It enables you to dial out some of the "ambiance" that was included in the last update.

[Scott Peterson]

Originally Posted by iaresee

So tempting...

Scott, are you running this straight in to the front of the Axe-Fx's instrument input? Or does the preamp in the guitar work better on the rear input?

Straight in. I run a Multiband compressor (used VERY lightly) and some room reverb only on most of my acoustic work.

Originally Posted by derek_32999

Not sure if anyone noticed, but there is a bug fix update for the Variax. It enables you to dial out some of the "ambiance" that was included in the last update.

Thank you for the alert!

[gurumonkey]

cool. thanks for the word.

[Pietro]

downloading now!

[travisvwright]

Agreed I wouldn't have heard of this without this post. Thanks.

[Scott Peterson]

It does piss me off though that it takes multiple attempts - with a Line 6 proprietary hardware interface - to get the updates into the Variax.

Trying to update the thing for the THIRD time in a row right now. Grrrr.