Almost every stage piano offers vintage-keyboard sounds, but conventional sampling technology tends to reduce them to one-dimensional instruments. The Promega3 ($2,995) stage piano from Generalmusic offers physically modeled electric pianos and Clavinet and bolsters its hefty complement of sampled acoustic pianos with specialized physical-modeling techniques.

Offering up to 320-note polyphony, the Promega3 contains 128 MB of sample RAM primarily devoted to acoustic pianos. Included is a stereo sample set of the Fazioli F308 and a Steinway B. Physical modeling algorithms of natural string resonance and damper pedals provide extra realism to the sampled acoustic pianos.

Instead of a conventional synth-type lowpass filter, the sounds use a proprietary algorithm to more precisely reproduce a piano's natural changes in harmonic content with respect to time and dynamics. The damper model reproduces the actions of strings contacting a felt damper. Promega3 generates Rhodes, Wurlitzer, and Clavinet instruments completely through physical modeling.

In addition to pianos and vintage-keyboard sounds, Promega3 gives you orchestral sounds and pads, basses, and more. You get a total of 64 preset and 64 user performances divided into Singles, Splits, and Layers. The user interface includes five faders, six virtual Pots and eight EQ Bars, with seven LCDs for keeping track of your tweaks. Knobs and faders send MIDI Control Change messages, and the faders are motorized. Generalmusic; tel. (800) 323-0280 or (630) 766-8230; e-mail gmail@generalmusicus.com; Web www.generalmusic.com.

Aviom offers its solution to the persistent dilemma of bad monitor mixes for the individual musician. The A-16 Personal Monitor Mixing System allows you to tailor a custom monitor mix to your taste.

Coupled with the A-16T Transmitter ($749.95), the A-16 Personal Mixer ($439.95) gives individual control over channel volume, grouping, pan, stereo spread, and master volume. Each A-16 Personal Mixer in the system provides a unique monitor mix; you can save and recall as many as 16 custom mixes. Each A-16's stereo output can drive powered wedge monitors, in-ear monitors, headphones, or powered spot monitors. The Transmitter unit can be rackmounted, and the mixers can sit on a tabletop or be mounted on a mic stand.

Aviom's proprietary A-Net LAN technology allows the system to transmit 16 channels of high-quality 24-bit audio with virtually no latency over a single Category 5 (Cat-5) cable. There is no limit to the number of A-16 Personal Mixers you can use in one system. Cable length between components in the system can be as long as 500 feet. Aviom, Inc.; tel. (610) 738-9005; e-mail info@aviom.com; Web www.aviom.com.

Protect your axe from drastic climate changes! Planet Waves Humidity and Temperature Sensor ($49.99) provides precise digital readings of humidity and temperature and indicates when it is necessary to adjust the humidity level inside instrument cases. The unit provides an accurate readout of humidity levels ranging from a low of 20 percent to a high of 99 percent.

The sensor displays temperature in degrees Fahrenheit from a low of -32 to a high of 122; it also provides readings in centigrade. You can set levels for the minimum relative humidity desired. If levels fall below the set point, a water-drop icon indicates when you will need to use a humidifier. The unit offers a History feature that can indicate the highest and lowest temperature and humidity conditions the instrument has been subjected to, including dates and times since it was last reset. J. D'Addario & Company (distributor); tel. (631) 439-3300; e-mail strings@daddario.com; Web www.planet-waves.com.

Audix recently announced the D6 ($349), a mic that's especially tailored for kick drums. A large-format cardioid dynamic, the D6 offers a 30 Hz to 15 kHz frequency response. Audix asserts that the D6 is designed to sound good in any mounting position and is not dependent on finding a sweet spot. Although the D6 is about twice the size of its D-series siblings, it boasts a newer capsule technology that Audix promises will capture big, clean kick drum sounds without distortion.

The mic adapts for use with a variety of clips, including the Audix Dvice and Dflex, making it easy to position. The D6 comes with a Cordura pouch and a nylon mic-stand adapter. Audix U.S.A.; tel. (800) 966-8261 or (503) 682-6933; e-mail info@audixusa.com; Web www.audixusa.com.

The DeuceTone Rat ($249.99) from Pro Co Sound is the successor to the company's Vintage and Turbo Rat pedals. With its two analog channels, the stompbox gives you dual-mono, stereo- or cascading-channel operation. Each channel has a switch that lets you select from three Rat sounds. The pedal offers familiar Rat tones (such as Vintage Rat) and two new ones: Dirty Rat and Clean Rat. Combined with continuously variable distortion for each channel, you can create a wide range of tones.

The DeuceTone Rat is housed in a heavy-duty black steel chassis and is assembled by hand to provide overall sturdiness and resistance to extreme shocks as well as to ensure smooth controls. Each DeuceTone channel offers knobs for distortion, volume, and filter cutoff for tonal variation. The filter is a 6 dB lowpass type.

You get bright activation LEDs for each channel; heavy-duty, industrial-grade, triple-pole footswitches; and an easy-to-open 9V-battery compartment. (The box can also run with an optional DC adapter.) To make sure that you don't get stuck with a dead Rat, Pro Co tests each DeuceTone unit twice before it leaves the factory. Pro Co Sound Inc.; tel. (800) 253-7360 or (616) 388-9675; Web www.procosound.com.

Fishman Transducers' new Full Circle Bass Pickup ($249.95) is designed for upright bass. The manufacturer touts the unit's microphone-like sound and dependable performance.

Fishman claims that the transducer achieves an accurate tonal balance between the direct sound of the strings and the bass's body resonance. The pickup is positioned within the leg of the instrument's bridge, providing an amplified sound with fast attack, lots of body resonance, and resistance to feedback.

The pickup is encased in an aluminum height-adjuster wheel. Another solid-aluminum height adjuster wheel is included to match the look of the Full Circle. Fishman Transducers, Inc.; tel. (978) 988-9199; e-mail sales@fishman.com; Web www.fishman.com.

The Xciter-series pedals ($179 each) from Aphex Systems bring the company's storied Aural Exciter and Big Bottom technology directly to the stage. Separate models are offered for acoustic, electric, and bass guitar. The pedals have a simple design, making customization easy.

Each unit sports four control knobs, allowing separate control of the Aural Exciter and Big Bottom effects. The footswitch provides true bypass when in the off position and an LED to indicate on or off status. You also get a switch for accommodating active or passive pickups, and a high-quality, balanced DI output for connecting to the mic input of any preamp or mixer.

You can turn the Low-Frequency Limit knob so that the Aural Exciter handles everything above the user-selected frequency. The Hi Blend control lets you set the amount of Aural Exciter effect anywhere from zero to the maximum level.

The Big Bottom section dynamically enhances the low end by deepening and expanding the bass frequencies. Big Bottom circuitry protects speakers while it extends their bass-producing capability. As in the Aural Exciter section, the Big Bottom feature controls let you select the upper frequency limit for bass enhancement, while the Lo Blend control mixes in the desired amount of effect.

The units can run on a standard 9V battery or from an external DC power supply. Aphex Systems, Ltd.; tel. (818) 767-2929; e-mail sales@aphex.com; Web www.aphex.com.

It's often difficult to find an inexpensive banjo that is suited to bluegrass music; compromised craftsmanship or materials often pervade the ranks of lower-cost instruments. The Vega Bluegrass Wonder ($998) from Deering Banjos is a well-crafted, medium-weight, entry-level instrument that is easy to play, adjust, and maintain.

The instrument owes much of its bright bluegrass tone to its three-ply rock-maple pot, its maple neck, and its double-bound, rock-maple resonator. The neck features a polished ebony fingerboard and a low-profile neck shape, which the company claims enhances playing ease.

You get nickel-plated guitar-style tuners and a geared fifth-string tuner. The peghead features a black Vega overlay, and the fingerboard has mother-of-pearl dot inlays. Planetary tuners are an optional upgrade.

All of the banjo's hardware is nickel plated, including the brackets, the 24-piece flange, the one-piece arm rest, and the adjustable tailpiece. The instrument comes with a frosted plastic head. Deering Banjo Company; tel. (619) 464-8252; e-mail info@deeringbanjos.com; Web www.deeringbanjos.com.