Line 6 has announced Variax Workbench (Mac/Win: $139.99), a "virtual custom shop" for Variax 300, 500, and 700 electric modeling guitars. The program lets you fill each slot on the Variax Model knob and five-way switch with an instrument of your own creation.

Variax Workbench is a combination USB interface and software package that allows guitarists to see and hear the physical changes to their customized guitar in real time. The program lets you create—mixing and matching a variety of pickups, controls, and bodies—store, and share guitar models, while listening and tweaking in real time. In addition, you can design and store custom tunings.

Workbench's librarian keeps track of your customized guitar models and stores them on your computer's hard drive. A software-only version will be available later for Vetta II and PODxt Live owners. For more information, visit Line 6.com.