Variax Transplants

[biliousfrog]

just stumbled across this guy,

http://www.guitaristjeffmiller.com/index.htm

The figure on the purple double-cut is awesome (shame about the inlays though)...also check out the videos of him demoing them, he's a pretty nifty player too.

[Marzocchi705]

Ive had this guy in m favourites for a while now. I realy like his transplant guitars. they do look nice.

And he can play them too

[Daniel Sorbera]

Now that it's been a few years since the variax came out is there any way to get ahold of the electronics for a decent price?

I've always wanted to do one of these but I don't want to spend $500+ for a guitar just to throw the guitar away and take the electronics out of it

[Simo]

I'm actually about to start building one, unlike most of the 'transplants' I've seen I'll be using the electric's from the 300 model, so it will be front routed with a scratchplate. The electric's are the same on all the models of course but the 300's are mounted inside a metal casing, although apparently it is possible to free the 300 electric's from the casing without to much hassle.

[SnowGTR]

Now that it's been a few years since the variax came out is there any way to get ahold of the electronics for a decent price?

I've always wanted to do one of these but I don't want to spend $500+ for a guitar just to throw the guitar away and take the electronics out of it

Scitscat Music has a variax 300 for sale $280. I just bought one from guitar centers for $300. I've got a transplant in the works.

[Simo]

Now that it's been a few years since the variax came out is there any way to get ahold of the electronics for a decent price?

I've always wanted to do one of these but I don't want to spend $500+ for a guitar just to throw the guitar away and take the electronics out of it

Scitscat Music has a variax 300 for sale $280. I just bought one from guitar centers for $300. I've got a transplant in the works.

I really should move to the USA I just paid £250 ($500) for my 300 over here

[Daniel Sorbera]

Now that it's been a few years since the variax came out is there any way to get ahold of the electronics for a decent price?

I've always wanted to do one of these but I don't want to spend $500+ for a guitar just to throw the guitar away and take the electronics out of it

Scitscat Music has a variax 300 for sale $280. I just bought one from guitar centers for $300. I've got a transplant in the works.

I really should move to the USA I just paid £250 ($500) for my 300 over here

Yeah it's a killer for any musician on the other side of the drink.

[prs man]

Hi I have email jeff and he has told me that he bought a used variax to get the electronics to use in his guitar.

he also told me the top is 1/2 thick and the back is 1 1/4 thick

if you think his guitar look awesome [they do] you need to listen to his cd fly by wire.

[fookgub]

I'm actually about to start building one, unlike most of the 'transplants' I've seen I'll be using the electric's from the 300 model, so it will be front routed with a scratchplate. The electric's are the same on all the models of course but the 300's are mounted inside a metal casing, although apparently it is possible to free the 300 electric's from the casing without to much hassle.

I've got a transplant in the works, too. I'm using the guts from a lefty 500 that I got on the 'bay. Mine is going to be a front-routed strat-style guitar. What are you planning to do about the batteries? I really don't like the "compartment" on the Variaxes, so I'm thinking about leaving it off, or maybe installing a regular 9V battery box "for emergency use only."

[SnowGTR]

I'm actually about to start building one, unlike most of the 'transplants' I've seen I'll be using the electric's from the 300 model, so it will be front routed with a scratchplate. The electric's are the same on all the models of course but the 300's are mounted inside a metal casing, although apparently it is possible to free the 300 electric's from the casing without to much hassle.

I've got a transplant in the works, too. I'm using the guts from a lefty 500 that I got on the 'bay. Mine is going to be a front-routed strat-style guitar. What are you planning to do about the batteries? I really don't like the "compartment" on the Variaxes, so I'm thinking about leaving it off, or maybe installing a regular 9V battery box "for emergency use only."

I’m am building a PRS and I am not going to install a battery in the guitar. I have a Vetta with the VDI input. The variax will get the power from that. The ¼” output jack will be used for the passive pickups only so I will be able to use both the ¼” and VDI cable together. I’ve been toying with idea of either an A/B switch or a Blend Pot on the guitar. I really want to keep the knobs down to a minium so I am going to use dual pots and a 4 pole 5 way selector switch. I haven't pulled the doner guitar apart yet. I am not sure what resistance the pots are. If they are not 500K I will have to get creative.

[Simo]

I have a Pod XT Live with the VDI input so power isn't a problem for me personally but I'll probably still have a battery compartment on mine anyway. I'm going to stick with using the AA batteries rather than a single 9-volt, but I'm instead of using the Line 6 battery box I'll make my own, which be a lot smaller, the Line 6 one is much bigger than necessary IMO.

[Xanthus]

The XT Live is the best invention ever ...With the very possible exception of the Vetta II, haha

I got scared for a second, though, when I clicked on the link, because I saw the transplants and though "Oh that's just too bad, he'll have to use the #(*% fixed bridge or the (#&! trem bridge." And apparently neither is the case, and I didn't know that.

That's pretty cool If, like others have mentioned, it's not a big deal to buy a guitar and throw away almost everything in it. Hell, I'm still trying to scrounge up 50 or so extra bucks for neck wood this summer.

[GregP]

I couldn't find any videos of builds or specifically showcasing the variax transplants...

However, in his "Licks" section, he's got some tasty country open-string hammer/pull licks and tab to go with... Maybe if I practiced for 2 years I'd be able to play those at that speed with that cleanliness. <laff>

[biliousfrog]

There's walkthrough pics of at least three of the builds in the guitars section, there's videos of him playing them & showcasing the different sounds.