John Birch Guitars and RIC TM infringement.

grayk · Post by **grayk** » Mon Jun 05, 2006 9:55 am

Ian that pic you have supplied a link for is obviously from the US market. The ones here dont have Dillion on the TRC. They have the Rockinbetter logo. Strange thing here is I cannot find a picture of one on the web as massive as it is. Are they trying to hide something ?

jnbass · Post by **jnbass** » Mon Jun 05, 2006 10:10 am

oh-oh...

tomg · Post by **tomg** » Mon Jun 05, 2006 10:53 am

Completely off topic:

"Forget the Line 6 Variax (I bought one thnking this would do, it's just a chorus aplied to a six string)"

He lies. The Variax model for the 360/12 actually uses pitch shifting. It's certainly a passable imitation, fwiw.

grayk · Post by **grayk** » Mon Jun 05, 2006 11:04 am

I cannot imagine why anybody would want to buy one of those Variax things. They are hideous! I like real guitars and basses with real pickups and real sounds...preferably made in the US !

johnallg · Post by **johnallg** » Mon Jun 05, 2006 12:48 pm

In the interest of learning, I thought chorus was acomplished by pitch shifting?

12stringbassist · Post by **12stringbassist** » Mon Jun 05, 2006 1:16 pm

Re : "Ian that pic you have supplied a link for is obviously from the US market. The ones here dont have Dillion on the TRC. They have the Rockinbetter logo. Strange thing here is I cannot find a picture of one on the web as massive as it is. Are they trying to hide something ?"

The one I saw had a Rockinbetter logo, but Google searches showed the others up. I think they are all the same guitars made by Tokai. Naughty naughty.

bobcat · Post by **bobcat** » Mon Jun 05, 2006 3:54 pm

"I cannot imagine why anybody would want to buy one of those Variax things. They are hideous! I like real guitars and basses with real pickups and real sounds...preferably made in the US !"

I tried out a Variax bass. Comfortable, but bland-looking. Sounds good, not great. It was good at emulating all those basses, but not great . . . certainly not worth my money.

tomg · Post by **tomg** » Mon Jun 05, 2006 4:09 pm

"I cannot imagine why anybody would want to buy one of those Variax things. They are hideous! I like real guitars and basses with real pickups and real sounds...preferably made in the US !"

Obviously, you've never played one. The Variax, is very, very good at what it does. I'm speaking of the electric and acoustic six string guitars.

For a gigging guitarist, the ability to have dozens of different guitars on tap is a great benefit (even if the models aren't 100% accurate). I know a LOT of guitarists in cover bands around my area who use 'em. And in a live gig situation, most people would be hard pressed to tell if someone were playing the real deal or a model.

If a legend like Steve Howe uses Variax guitars, then there's got to be something good going on.

Sorry if my post is a bit testy, but it kinda chafes me when people dismiss stuff out of hand.

The bass, OTOH, was well, meh. If it were cheaper, I'd consider one for the studio.

re: Pitch Shifting

What I meant was that the Variax uses pitch shifting to emulate the extra strings on a 12 string. So what you hear isn't chorus, it's actually 6 real strings and 6 pitch shifted strings (or however a real electric 12 is strung).

grayk · Post by **grayk** » Mon Jun 05, 2006 9:39 pm

Well that told me didnt it ? I said "I cannot imagine why anyone would want to buy one" I suppose I am a bit more traditional in the fact that I wouldnt entertain a Line 6 amp either. I would entertain a Pod, but when I play a bass I want it to be a real quality thing whether it be a Ric,P or Jazz. Call me a stick in the mud if you wish. As far as Steve Howe goes, he is using it as a tool....not because he loves the instrument, and is he endorsing? How many pro players are using them? Can you see Townshend, Slash or John Frusciante with one ? No! Maybe some use them but not many. I can maybe see the advantage for a guy playing in a charts covers band, but not much else! That maybe discounts my original statement.

geddeeee · Post by **geddeeee** » Mon Jun 05, 2006 10:40 pm

I wouldn't use anything made by Line 6. People say that Behringer equipment is bad, but I beg to differ. I use their 2 channel parametric EQ and it is superb.
I've tried loads of Line 6 products and while they may be to other peoples taste, I find the sound a bit sterile.

grayk · Post by **grayk** » Tue Jun 06, 2006 1:17 am

I am not a fan of processed sounds full stop. I do have an effect unit but I dont ever use it. As I said above I would entertain a Pod if the occasion arose where I needed different sounds, but I doubt that will happen. The only reason I would take a look at the Pod is because a few knowledgable people on this forum have said good things. However I would be surprised if many Ric players also owned a Variax. I near enough draw the line at having a Jazz bass fitted with EMG's. I am a huge John Entwistle fan but I wasnt a fan of the way he processed his sound towards the end of his life. The result of his processing was a sound that barely represented a bass guitar.

webhead · Post by **webhead** » Tue Jun 06, 2006 2:31 am

I think Line 6 products are great. They allow you to access all kinds of sounds and patterns, most of the equipment, I believe, is upgradeable via the web. I own the two Pod Live floorboards for guitar and bass. They're great to tinker with.

My two cents on the Birch axe: If it's not an original, IMHO, it's junk. I know most people love those Tokai Les Pauls and I've heard people say they are a little bit better than the Standards out there. I haven't tried it personally, but I don't like knock offs. Why buy Kirkland when You can buy Bounty, "the quicker picker-upper."

tomg · Post by **tomg** » Tue Jun 06, 2006 2:43 am

I'm not here to evangelize. I don't have a stake in line 6, except that I like their products.

atomic_punk · Post by **atomic_punk** » Tue Jun 06, 2006 3:58 am

Different strokes for different folks. As long as it makes the sound you hear in your head, it's all good.

leftyguitars · Post by **leftyguitars** » Tue Jun 06, 2006 4:59 am

Pepsi isn't original, so is that junk too?