United States · Est. 1996
Line 6
Pioneers of digital modelling, Line 6 transformed modern guitar with the Pod and Variax, bringing studio-quality tones to every player.
About the brand
Line 6 was founded in 1996 in Calabasas, California by Marcus Ryle and Michel Doidic. The company's core innovation was digital modelling — using digital signal processing to accurately simulate the sound of classic amplifiers, cabinets, and effects. The Pod (1998) became the first genuinely successful modelling device and changed how guitarists approached tone on stage and in the studio.
The Variax — Line 6's digital modelling guitar — takes the concept further, using piezo pickups and internal processing to model the sounds of dozens of classic guitars from a single instrument. One Variax can convincingly simulate a 1959 Les Paul, a 1954 Stratocaster, a Martin D-28, and a resonator within the same set.
Line 6 was acquired by Yamaha in 2014, bringing Japanese engineering resources to the brand's digital expertise. The Helix series of floor processors and rack units represents the current state of the art in digital guitar modelling, and Line 6 continues to lead the industry in making professional tones accessible to every player.
Key facts
- Founded in 1996 — inventors of the Pod and pioneers of digital amp modelling
- Variax modelling guitar simulates dozens of classic instruments from one body
- Helix series is the current benchmark in professional digital guitar processing
- Acquired by Yamaha in 2014, combining digital expertise with Japanese engineering
Iconic models
Line 6 Variax JTV-69
A Line 6 modeling guitar based on the Stratocaster shape, capable of simulating dozens of iconic guitars through digital modeling technology.
Line 6 Variax JTV-59
A Variax variant with a Les Paul-style body, combining classic aesthetics with the most advanced guitar modeling technology on the market.
Line 6 Variax Shuriken
Designed with Periphery, the Shuriken brings Variax technology to modern metal with a contemporary body, multiscale neck, and alternate tuning capabilities.