Specifications

Manufacturer:
line6.com

List Price:
$839.99

LINE 6'S NEW Variax Acoustic 300 Nylon modeling guitar is designed for players who desire both genuine-sounding classical and flamenco tones and an instrument that feels like a proper nylon-string guitar. The 300 does the job, on both counts. And while it is not as versatile as Line 6's Variax Acoustic 700--it provides only two models instead of the 700's 16, and it doesn't allow you to store alternate tunings--it costs about half as much while still providing exceptionally lifelike acoustic sound, excellent feedback resistance and versatile tone shaping controls. It even includes a built-in tuner-something you won't find on the 700.

The 300's neck features an almost flat fingerboard with a 21-inch radius, and it measures 2.05-inches wide at the nut, making it ideal for classical and flamenco players who demand wider string spacing. A generous "scooped" cutaway makes it easy to play all the way up to the 19th fret. The 660mm scale length is slightly longer than the average (650mm) scale length of most classical guitars, but is right in the range favored by most flamenco players.

A rotary "Body" knob lets you dial in a bright, punchy flamenco guitar model, a warm, full-bodied classical guitar model, or combinations of the two. Three sliders control, respectively, reverb, compression and virtual microphone "placement," and a one-touch programming button makes it easy to store 10 of your favorite sounds. The reverb isn't a typical room or hall effect but rather an emulation of the natural body resonance produced by nylon-string guitars-very cool.

Paco de Lucia and John Williams wannabes will find the 300 Nylon's tones as good as the real thing, as will any guitarist who wants to add Chet Atkins, Willie Nelson, Gypsy Kings or Ottmar Liebert tunes to their onstage repertoire. I can't say for certain, but I'd bet that even Andres Segovia, who refused to amplify his guitar with a microphone, probably would have approved of the 300's rich, vibrant tones.

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