Modifying a guitar with piezo pickup with Variax normal controls

    Hi guys, I'm interested in modding my guitar with piezo electric pickups to work with a Variax.


    Do you think it's doable? What would the mod involve? I know djemeass has done something similar with his Musicman JP and I'm wondering if I could do the same thing.


    The guitar is an Ibanez RG1820X. I was thinking of purchasing a Variax 300 that's going cheaply, then replace the entire piezo pickup section with the Variax control section. The guitar has two outputs, so it should be easy to find an output for it.


    Any ideas? I like to think this will sound good, but it could bomb terribly. Worth the modification? Let me know!

    Look at a picture of the internal Variax electronics - they will not fit into the body without extensive modification. Routing, adding a pickguard, etc.


    If you are determined to do it:

    I used a set of Graphtech piezo bridge saddles to install Variax electronics into a PRS SE guitar several years ago, so, yes, it can be done.


    It will be important for you to be able to use the L6 Workbench software to adjust the output levels of the sounds, so you need to install all of the connectors. Chances are pretty good that the Ibanez saddles will not have the exact same output as the stock Variax saddles, and Workbench is where to adjust everything.

    Toasterdude, who is now a member of the Kemper forum, is a real pro about Variax conversion, he knows all the tricks you need to know about the subject, so maybe he will shime in or you could send him a PM.