Many guitarists exploring synth sounds often wonder if a Variax guitar can directly function as a synthesizer. The question arises, especially when aiming to replicate synth-heavy songs using a Variax. Let’s clarify the capabilities of Variax guitars and explore how to achieve authentic Synth Guitar sounds.
Variax: A Modeling Guitar, Not a Synth
It’s crucial to understand that the Variax guitar is fundamentally a modeling guitar, not a synthesizer, sampler, or MIDI guitar. This distinction is key to dispelling the common misconception. The Variax operates by digitally modeling the sound of various guitars and pickups. It captures the signal from your strings and processes it to emulate different guitar tones. This process is signal-based and should not be confused with synthesis or sampling. Thinking of a Variax as a synth guitar is akin to mistaking a digital amp modeler for a synthesizer – they operate on fundamentally different principles.
The Variax delivers the sound you hear directly from your playing and the instrument’s output, whether through a standard 1/4″ jack or a VDI connection. The exception to this rule is the Variax Bass, which incorporates a built-in synth patch. However, even this is an exception within the Variax line, not the defining feature of the technology.
Achieving Synth Guitar Sounds
While the Variax itself isn’t a synth guitar, achieving synthesizer-like sounds with a guitar is certainly possible using external devices. These devices can be used with any guitar, including a Variax, to transform your guitar signal into synth sounds. Several dedicated guitar synthesizer options are available on the market:
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Roland GR-55: A popular choice, the Roland GR-55 is a dedicated guitar synthesizer that offers a wide range of synth sounds and modeling capabilities. It, along with Axon devices, typically requires a specialized GK pickup or a guitar equipped with a 13-pin output to convert the guitar’s analog signal into MIDI data for synthesis.
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Fishman TriplePlay: The Fishman TriplePlay is another option that functions similarly to a GK pickup system but offers a more streamlined and versatile approach. It acts as a MIDI converter, allowing your guitar to control synthesizers and software, often connecting directly to a computer without needing a separate converter box.
These external devices bridge the gap between your guitar and the world of synthesis, enabling you to achieve those sought-after synth guitar tones for songs like “Uprising” by Muse and beyond. By understanding the distinction between modeling and synthesis, guitarists can make informed choices to achieve their desired soundscapes.
