Line 6 introduces another James Tyler Variax model, the JTV-69S with Strat-like design and 3 single coil pickups.
This guitar is based on traditional Strat SSS configuration, equipping the guitar with vintage-voiced single-coil pickups loaded with alnico magnets.
This new Variax guitar is also designed by luthier James Tyler, combining traditional boutique level quality with modern modeling capability.
The JTV-69S expands on the familiar Strat shape, pickup configuration and sound by adding 29 built-in modeled instruments.
Following traditional build, the body of the JTV-69S is made of Alder. The body is cut into a double cutaway Stratocaster like shape that is a bit sharper on the edges.
The guitar has a bolt-on solid maple neck that measures at 25.5″ scale length, it is cut into Tyler ’59 neck shape. The neck is topped with a rosewood fingerboard that carries 22 medium-jumbo frets and dot inlays. The nut however strays from the traditional, equipped with modern Graph Tech Black Tusq XL self-lubricating.
The headstock comes with sealed locking/staggered tuners with 16:1 ratio, and it works together with the guitar’s Tyler-designed tremolo bridge to keep the guitar in-tune. The hardware on this guitar is chrome.
Being part of the James Tyler Variax Series, this guitar comes with a L.R. Baggs Radiance Hex piezo pickup system. This Piezo pickup enables the guitar to produce 28 vintage instrument sounds which you can easily adjust using a special Model knob. The model knob will let you pick between 18 vintage electric sounds, and 10 acoustic electric sounds. This tone flexibility is what makes these instruments very popular. Aside from guitar modeling, you can also pick between 11 alternate tunings using its Alt Tune roller knob.
If the default vintage guitar sounds are not enough, you can also customize your own virtual guitar via Variax Workbench. It is a software that lets you mix and match the 28 instrument body models (solid-body, semi-hollow or hollow) with any of the 17 pickup models (single-coil or humbucking) to mimic popular guitar setups or to create your own unique guitar tones.
What makes the JTV-69S unique among the JTV series guitars is its SSS configuration with three vintage voiced single coil pickups. These pickups are equipped with alnico magnets and are wound to the specifications of James Tyler. This gives the guitar traditional Strat style tones when engaging its magnetic pickups.
Other features include a rechargeable lithium-ion battery with 12-hours playing time and built-in Variax Digital Interface for integrating with compatible Line 6 products.
The JTV-69S is available in your choice of four finishes. Three-tone Sunburst, Olympic White and Shoreline Gold finish all come with rosewood fingerboard, chrome hardware, mint pickguard and pickup covers. While the Black finish version comes with matching black pickguard and pickup covers, chrome hardware and a maple fingerboard.
Pricing information is not available at this time but it is expected to be somewhere around $1,400, which is the price of the HSS configuration JTV-69 model.
For more information and complete specifications, you can visit Line 6.
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