MASTER OF DISGUISE

Line 6 has introduced the Variax ($1,399), a self-contained modeling guitar that can be plugged in to any guitar amp. Using a hexaphonic bridge pickup instead of normal electric guitar pickups, the Variax feeds individual string signals to physically modeled electric and acoustic guitars, banjo, Dobro, electric sitar, and other instruments. Digital algorithms create the interaction of each string's pickups and placement, characteristic tone controls, and the modeled instrument's physical structure. A single knob (in conjunction with the five-way pickup switch) lets you select sounds.

A short list of modeled electric instruments includes Fender Stratocaster and Telecaster; Gibson ES-335, Firebird, and several Les Paul variants; and an assortment of Rickenbacker guitars. Acoustic models feature Martin D-28 and 018, Dobro Number 32 and Gibson Mastertone banjo (albeit without the tunings inherent in those instruments), and others. You also get 12-string electric and acoustic guitars as well as Coral electric sitar models. The manufacturer points out that the guitar modeling eliminates the typical hum that accompanies single-coil pickups and avoids feedback issues when playing acoustic guitar models at stage volumes.

The 22-fret guitar has a contoured alder body, a maple neck, and a rosewood fingerboard. The single volume and two tone-control knobs' responses are tailored for each model. The guitar provides a balanced XLR jack suitable for sending guitar output to a P.A. system and a standard ¼-inch high-impedance jack. Line 6; tel. (818) 575-3600; e-mail info@line6.com; Web www.line6.com.

AN EYE FOR SOUND

The SonicEye ($40) from Fong Electronics is a simple tool that lets you test gear for weak or nonexistent signals. You can carry it on your key chain.

The gadget sports an unbalanced ¼-inch plug, a power-indicator LED, and three LEDs indicating signal level. Plug the device in to the output jack in question and press the power button, and the LED indicates signal strength when you input audio. The three LEDs indicate -32, -22, and -16 dBu levels respectively, but the manufacturer provides instructions for soldering modifications that enable evaluation of pro-audio-level gear.

SonicEye runs on the same miniature 12V battery used to power car-alarm key fobs. According to the manufacturer, the included battery will last for roughly 2,000 operations. Fong Electronic; tel. (208) 898-6442; e-mail info@fongelectronic.com; Web www.fongelectronic.com.

THE BRONZE AGE

The new ZXT series from the Avedis Zildjian Company provides a range of sheet-bronze cymbals at an affordable price. The manufacturer claims that new hammering and lathing techniques help deliver clear definition; a bright, powerful sound; and warm overtones.

Included in the series are hi-hats, crash cymbals, and ride, splash, and China cymbals. Cymbals come in a variety of weights and sizes for different applications. The Trashformer is a 14-inch special-effects cymbal with a purple-blue color, designed to be used either on its own or stacked on another cymbal.

Prices for the cymbals range from $115 for the Trashformer to $230 for the 14-inch hi-hats. The cymbals are also available in boxed sets ranging in price from $238 to $528. Avedis Zildjian Company; tel. (781) 871-2200; Web www.zildjian.com.

NOW, VINTAGER

The Vintager GM110 ($129.99) from Behringer uses analog modeling to pack classic guitar-amp tones into a small, 30W combo. The 28-pound unit provides three amp models, three speaker simulations, and three gain modes. Individual chicken-head knobs let you adjust master and output settings as well as three bands of EQ. Switches select amp, speaker, and gain modes.

Behringer uses an 10-inch, 35W Jensen speaker to convey guitar tones. Dynamizer circuitry imparts tubelike compression and harmonics similar to those found in multistage vacuum tube amps.

In addition to the ¼-inch, high-impedance input jack, the amp has a balanced direct output on an XLR jack. The unbalanced ¼-inch effects send lets you integrate external processing gear. You also get an unbalanced ¼-inch jack for connecting to external speakers. Behringer U.S.A.; tel. (425) 672-0816; e-mail support@behringer.com; Web www.behringer.com.

ELITE AND SWEET

The AE2500 ($699) is one of the newest additions to the recently introduced Audio-Technica Artist Elite Series. The mic is unusual in that it combines condenser and dynamic mic elements in a single housing. It uses a five-pin male XLR connector and comes with a five-pin female cable that splits into two separate three-pin male XLR jacks, allowing condenser and dynamic elements to be mixed separately.

The manufacturer claims that the elements are positioned in a perfect phase relationship and that the mic offers uncolored performance for high-SPL tasks, especially miking kick drums. For example, the dynamic element can capture the attack transients of the beater while the condenser captures the overall tonalities of the instrument and the shell.

You get a built-in 80 Hz highpass filter switch and a 10 dB pad. The unit's housing offers a sturdy design for roadworthy protection. Audio-Technica provides its new AT8471 isolation clamp for mounting the mic. Audio-Technica U.S., Inc.; tel. (330) 686-2600; e-mail pro@atus.com; Web www.audio-technica.com.

CHEAP TALK

It may look like a cross between a stompbox and a bong, but Danelectro's Free Speech ($129) is a talk box with a difference. There is no need for an external microphone and no connection to the back of the amp. You simply plug Free Speech in to your amp as you would any other stompbox. Two mics mounted on a tube send signal from your mouth back to the pedal and into your amp.

Controls are simple: the box has a knob for volume and a Growl knob for adding overdrive to the guitar signal. Free Speech is housed in a die-cast zinc case with a psychedelic marbleized finish. Danelectro Guitars; tel. (949) 498-9854; e-mail info@danelectro.com; Web www.danelectro.com.

CALL ME FATHEAD

New from Joemeek is the VC8 Fathead ($599), an instrument preamp that's designed for both live performance and recording applications. The VC8 can also serve as a mic preamp with defeatable phantom power.

The unit features the coveted Joemeek optical compressor and a modified version of the company's Meequalizer EQ with sweepable low- and high-frequency knobs. Frequencies cross over for extreme EQ effects. Fathead's Opto Distort feature lets you dial in everything from mild overdrive to full-on fuzz.

The front panel offers buttons for a 20 dB pad, for engaging phantom power, and for toggling mic or instrument levels. You also get buttons for engaging the Opto Distort, compression, EQ, and Mute. Knobs govern input and output gain, distortion, compression, and EQ parameters.

The Fathead Controller (included) is a four-way footswitch with on/off buttons for compressor, distortion, EQ, or mute. You get a balanced ¼-inch jack for mic or instrument input as well as an XLR jack. PMI Audio Group; tel. (310) 373-9129; e-mail themeekman@joemeek.com; Web www.joemeek.com.

MICRO-ME

The diminutive, 37-minikey MicroKorg ($500) from Korg boasts most of the same sound-generating capabilities as the company's MS2000 synths; however, the unit has a few tricks of its own. For starters, you can run MicroKorg from the supplied 9V AC adapter or with six AA batteries.

The instrument sports two oscillators. Oscillator 1 offers 71 different waveforms, including those from Korg's DW-8000 synth. Oscillator 2 has sawtooth, square, and sine waves and can be used to create oscillator sync or ring modulation effects.

There are four resonant filter modes on the MicroKorg. You get two ADSR envelope generators and two LFOs that sync to MIDI Clock. You can program the pitch-bend wheel and the modulation wheel to control synthesis parameters. Five knobs provide additional real-time control, and all parameters are accessible from the top panel of the unit.

The unit accepts external audio for processing with the filter, effects, or the 8-band vocoder. Effects include three modulation types, four delays, and EQ. The vocoder can capture formants from your voice or another external signal and superimpose them across the range of the keyboard without pitch change.

Built-in arpeggiators offer six patterns with control of gate time, swing, and pitch over four octaves. You can turn individual pattern steps on or off. Korg U.S.A., Inc.; tel. (516) 333-9100; Web www.korg.com.

TREMULOUS GUITAR

It's hard to imagine an acoustic guitar with a tremolo system, especially when it's issued from the same company responsible for the D-28 Dreadnaught, but C. F. Martin pulls it off with its new Alternative XT ($1,469). That feature is possible due to the guitar's aluminum soundboard.

The electroacoustic guitar features a Bigsby tremolo system mounted on the soundboard and bolstered by a custom X-bracing pattern with a spruce transverse brace and a thin graphite reinforcement plate under the bridge area. The aluminum soundhole grille is removable, allowing access to the instrument's body cavity.

A DiMarzio Fast Track Two pickup sits between bridge and soundhole, and a coil-tap switch enables the guitar to function in single-coil or humbucker mode. You get a knob for tone and one for volume. Also notable is the addition of Ned Steinberger's AutoTrim tuning machines, which can automatically lop off excess string length as the string is tuned. C. F. Martin and Co. (the home of Martin Guitar); tel. (610) 759-2837; e-mail info@martinguitar.com; Web www.martinguitar.com.

HEARS AN EARFUL

Shure has announced the PSM 200, its lowest-priced in-ear monitoring system to date. Depending on budget and needs, you can choose either the wired system, the P2RE2 ($468), or a wireless version, the P2TRE2 ($798).

Common to both is the P2R Hybrid Receiver, a bodypack that can function in a wired or wireless capacity. It features a volume control, a ¼-inch line-level input, and a built-in limiter to protect the ear. There are LED indicators for power, radio frequency (RF) signal strength, limiter, and battery level. Depending on volume, the P2R can operate for up to six hours on a single 9V battery.

The P2T Transmixer comes standard with the wireless system and can also be purchased separately as an add-on to the P2RE2 system to give it wireless capability. It has a built-in 2-channel mixer that offers complete control of the ear mix. The unit features two Neutrik combo input channels, and separate volume controls for the mic and line inputs let you adjust your mix to taste. XLR split outputs enable connection to a mixing console without affecting the original settings.

Shure's new E2 Earphones are included with both systems and come with interchangeable foam sleeves to adjust the fit. Shure, Inc.; tel. (800) 25-SHURE or (847) 866-2200; e-mail info@shure.com; Web www.shure.com.

WATTS IT TO YA

The db500 speakers from Samson are available in active ($699.99) and passive ($419.99) configurations. Both versions offer the same sturdy cabinets and mounting options. The db500 has a fixed-frequency crossover. Both models rely on a super-heavy-duty 15-inch Celestion low-frequency driver paired with a 1-inch titanium-diaphragm high-frequency driver.

The active model, the db500a, adds a Class H amplifier that supplies 400W to the low frequency driver and 100W to the high-frequency section. Samson touts the amp's ability to deliver pure, punchy transients.

The db500a uses the company's Optimax compressor/limiter to provide high volume levels without distortion or feedback. A back-panel preamp section sports an unbalanced ¼-inch line input and an XLR mic input, each with an individual input level control. You also get controls for the compressor/limiter and a lowpass filter. Samson Technologies Corporation; tel. (800) 328-2882 or (516) 364-2244; e-mail sales@samsontech.com; Web www.samsontech.com.

BACK TO BASSICS

DigiTech offers four new bass pedals in its X-Series roster. The company uses the same processing power found in its multi-effects units to focus on single effects boxes and provide more flexible sound-generation features.

The Bass Multi-Chorus ($89.95) delivers 16 bass chorus voices simultaneously for lush tones. Randomization capabilities help thicken the chorus effect. DigiTech has collaborated with dbx to include the latter's “OverEasy” compression in the Bass Squeeze pedal ($79.95). The Squeeze pedal features dual-band compression with a variable crossover.

The Bass Synth Wah ($79.95) features an Envelope Filter with seven filter types. The Bass Driver ($79.97) offers analog modeling for three different overdrive pedals tailored for bass; you can “morph” models to create custom overdrive sounds. DigiTech; tel. (801) 566-8800; e-mail customer@digitech.com; Web www.digitech.com.