Alright this is a more recent build. I've had a Variax 500 and 300 for some time and loved the tones but hated the feel and look. (hated is probably too nice a word!) I really wanted to play them out but I was . . . well . . . kinda embarrassed by them. After cutting the 300 down to a Dan Electro-style and refinishing it in artic white, I decided to try my hand at a full hybrid with the 500 guts.
It's an Alder body finished in my own take on aged, white linen in a satin lux. (I've got a dinner jacket the exact same color.)
The neck is mahagony with an ebony board and stainless steel frets and is short scale with my best effort on a clear gloss. (I wanted more Les Paul chunk than Tele cluck since the Variax already does a pretty good Tele.)
It has an EMG 60 in the neck an S in the middle and an 85 in the bridge.
The pickguard is a little much but I couldn't resist a little bling.
The Variax and EMG's can be used simultaneously (Variax through the Cat5 out and EMGs through the 1/4") with no digtal whine. The secret is isolating grounds which is made possible by the lack of string ground on the EMGs.
The controls are volume, tone and model select for the variax and volume and middle pu blend for the EMGs on the concentric pot. The five-way is used for both circuits. The mini toggle is a 3P3T that allows either the Variax or the EMGs to the 1/4" stereo jack while still keeping the circuits isolated.
It's a fabulous live guitar that was well worth the time sorting the electronics.
It's an Alder body finished in my own take on aged, white linen in a satin lux. (I've got a dinner jacket the exact same color.)
The neck is mahagony with an ebony board and stainless steel frets and is short scale with my best effort on a clear gloss. (I wanted more Les Paul chunk than Tele cluck since the Variax already does a pretty good Tele.)
It has an EMG 60 in the neck an S in the middle and an 85 in the bridge.
The pickguard is a little much but I couldn't resist a little bling.
The Variax and EMG's can be used simultaneously (Variax through the Cat5 out and EMGs through the 1/4") with no digtal whine. The secret is isolating grounds which is made possible by the lack of string ground on the EMGs.
The controls are volume, tone and model select for the variax and volume and middle pu blend for the EMGs on the concentric pot. The five-way is used for both circuits. The mini toggle is a 3P3T that allows either the Variax or the EMGs to the 1/4" stereo jack while still keeping the circuits isolated.
It's a fabulous live guitar that was well worth the time sorting the electronics.
