The latest Variax technology in a finely crafted guitar.
The JTV-89 James Tyler Variax Modeling Electric Guitar offers an innovative design and boutique playing experience courtesy of master luthier James Tyler, and the worlds most advanced guitar modeling technology from the people who invented it, Line 6. Plug this guitar into any amp and hear all the models, all the tunings, and both acoustic and electric tones youve ever wanted. No more dragging around multiple acoustics and electrics to gigs or recording studios. Variax gives you an endless variety of sounds from classic acoustic and electric tones all the way to sitar and banjo, all in one instrument.
The JTV-89 is made for the shredder with a 14″ fretboard radius and a James Tyler Fast n Flat neck profile. Features include a mahogany body, and a 3-piece bolt-on maple neck with a rosewood fingerboard. A recessed heel makes reaching the upper frets a breeze. The JTV-89 is loaded with a pair of high-output PAF-style alnico humbuckers (wound to Tylers specs). Controls include a 5-way blade pickup selector switch, a master volume & tones. A rotary model selector dials the 25 virtual guitars plus sitar, banjo, and resonator guitar tones. A rotary alt tuning selector lets you pick from 12 alternate tunings. The fully adjustable Tyler Custom stoptail bridge is fitted with an L.R. Baggs Radiance Hex piezo pickup system for sweet acoustic guitar tones. A Graph Tech Black TUSQ XL nut keeps the strings from gripping and sticking. Comes standard with a durable, padded gig bag with a stitched Line 6 logo and 2 pockets big enough for all your gig essentials.
29 Instruments in One
18 Vintage Electrics
10 Acoustics and Eclectics
1 Dangerous Guitar
Alternate Tunings
Variax Workbench
James Tyler Design
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29 Amazing Instruments in One
By combining patented, industry-leading Line 6 digital modeling technology with boutique-style craftsmanship, James Tyler® Variax® delivers an extreme range of tones within a single guitar—28 instrument models, plus the James Tyler-designed guitar itself. No more dragging piles of instruments to gigs or recording sessions. JTV-89 gives you an endless variety of sounds—from electric and acoustic tones all the way to sitar—in a sleek, modern 25-1/2″ scale-length design from one of the world’s finest luthiers.
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18 Electric Guitars
When it comes to electrics, we’ve included 18 incredible instruments so you can explore everything from aggressive metal tones to classic rock, blues and more. Featuring meticulous models based on* Strat®, Les Paul® and Rickenbacker® guitars, among others, your James Tyler Variax provides instant access to the guitar tones favored by the world’s most famous players. Whether you’re performing or recording guitar, Variax gives you a huge range of sounds for all styles of music.
See all electric guitar models
10 Amazing Acoustic and Eclectic Instruments
JTV-89 makes it easy to switch between electric and acoustic guitar sounds on the fly. The acoustic guitar collection features beautiful six- and twelve-strings, jumbos and a “parlor,” ideal for a variety of genres and playing styles. Line 6’s breakthrough acoustic guitar modeling technology gives these five models amazing depth and detail, capturing the subtle nuances of string vibration through the soundboard and the tonewoods of the original modeled guitar body. The five eclectic instrument models let you take your tone even further—from an instrument based on* the Danelectro® 3021 that was favored by Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page, to the sitar sound of the Indian subcontinent.
See all acoustic and eclectic models
1 Dangerous Guitar
The modern design of the JTV-89 yields optimum speed and power. The mahogany body complements a 24-fret three-piece maple neck with reversed 6-in-line headstock, super-slick Tyler Fast n Flat profile, and a rosewood fingerboard with 25-1/2″ scale length. A pair of custom alnico humbucking pickups—wound to James Tylers specs for high output, sizzle and sustain—translates this powerhouse to the amp of your choice. It all adds up to punishing lows, searing highs and aggressive midrange.
Access an Arsenal of Drop Tunings—Instantly
Imagine going from Standard tuning to Drop Bb in an instant—without sacrificing an ounce of playability. With immediate access to 11 drop tunings, JTV-89 lets you go lower than guitars have gone before, without worrying about pitchiness or slack strings. You can mix and match any tuning with any instrument—and also create your own tunings on the fly with Virtual Capo. It’s easy to save your custom tunings, either to the open Model slot on the Alt Tune knob, or to one of the other alternate tuning slots.
See all alternate tunings
Create Custom Instruments with Variax Workbench
Variax Workbench™ is your personal custom shop—with a twist. The software takes you far beyond what’s possible in the physical realm, so the options are limitless. 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 define your own sound. You can fine-tune all the details of each tone, or change your tuning to Drop D, a full octave down or anything else you can imagine, without ever needing a tuner. Once you load your custom instruments into your JTV-89, it’s easy to access them with a twist of the Model Selector or Alternate Tuning knobs.
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Designed by James Tyler, Master Luthier
Spot-on, industry-leading modeling is only half of the James Tyler Variax story. Equally important are the innovative design and boutique playing experience provided by master luthier James Tyler. Tyler’s visionary concepts and meticulous attention to detail have made his guitars the top choice of world-renowned session players and performers—and made him the perfect partner for the Variax guitar series. Each James Tyler Variax guitar was designed by Tyler and is built to his exacting specifications to ensure exceptional playability.
Read the full James Tyler Variax story
Exceptional Playability
Since the feel of the neck is one of the most important aspects of a guitar, James Tyler chose a proven neck shape for the JTV-89 from his custom work—the super-slick Tyler Fast n Flat profile. Unlike most bolt-on guitars, the thin neck depth doesn’t get any thicker at the heel, giving you maximum access to the upper frets. To take it even further, Tyler also carved away all the wood around the neck bolts in a sweeping pattern. The four neck-mounting ferrules eliminated the need for a neck plate, and allowed Tyler to carve away even more wood from around the neck screws. With this exceptional attention to detail, JTV-89 is designed to handle as much speed as you can deliver.
Precision Pickups
After decades of partnering with other manufacturers to spec pickups for his custom guitars, James Tyler began winding his own pickups in 2007—and has since released more than 30 variations. Drawing on this vast expertise, Tyler carefully designed the pair of high-output alnico humbucking pickups for the JTV-89 guitar. Wound to his precise specifications, they deliver an extended sonic range and serious sustain.
Custom Wraparound Bridge
One of the most integral parts of any guitar is the bridge, where seemingly small changes can mean huge differences in tone and tuning stability. James Tyler leveraged years of experience to design a custom, fully adjustable wraparound bridge for the JTV-89.
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Premium Nut, Tuners and More
A high-quality guitar nut also plays a critical role in maintaining tuning stability and extending the life of your strings. As you hit the strings on a fixed-bridge guitar, they flex, retract and move in the nut—and if they bind even a little, you’ll end up quite out of tune. That’s why Tyler chose the precision-engineered, self-lubricating Graph Tech Black TUSQ XL nut, which allows the strings to move—and enhances the JTV-89 guitar’s performance and tone by bringing out hidden harmonics in each note.
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Play for 12 Hours—Or All Night
JTV-89 features a long-lasting, rechargeable lithium-ion battery, which delivers at least 12 hours of playing time on a single charge. It also features a four-LED battery life meter, which lets you know how much time you have left. To get the most from each charge, simply roll down the volume when you’re not using the guitar, and the electronics will go to sleep after just a few seconds. And thanks to the pickup bypass function, you can always use the guitar without batteries.
Headed out on the road? Pick up some extra batteries and chargers, or check out the optional cable power kit.
Get More from Your JTV-89
Unlike a traditional guitar, James Tyler Variax modeling guitars can expand their capabilities over time. Line 6 is continually working to refine Variax technology, so be sure to check Line6.com for updates that enhance your James Tyler Variax guitar—and the way it integrates with your other Line 6 gear.
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The Dream Rig
Individually, the JTV-89 guitar, DT25™ or DT50™ amplifier and POD® HD500 multi-effect processorare powerful sonic tools. Collectively, they form the ultimate integrated dream rig—and provide limitless sonic possibilities. With the press of a single footswitch, you can change sounds, routing, instruments, effects and tuning—instantly transforming your setup into virtually any rig.
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US Custom Shop Model Also Available
Hailing from our Los Angeles-based custom shop, JTV-89US is an electric guitar of the highest caliber. This hard-rocking powerhouse features a sculpted mahogany body, quarter-sawn 3-piece maple neck with 24-fret rosewood fingerboard, and super-slick Tyler Fast n’ Flat profile. Even with heavy distortion, the deepest lows and velvety highs emerge with exceptional definition.
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