NECK AND NECK

Lots of manufacturers have produced double-neck electric guitars, typically combining a 6-string neck with a 12-string or a bass neck. Now, in the why-didn't-anyone-think-of-this-before category, comes the Kramer Striker AX-404C double neck ($599.99), a combo electric 6-string and acoustic 6-string guitar. The Striker AX-404C's dual outputs let you keep the two “guitars” discrete or route them to a single output.

The acoustic section uses a German-made Shadow SH-CA active acoustic system, consisting of a bridge-mounted Shadow SH-095 ceramic piezo pickup and volume and tone controls. The electric section employs two American-designed QuadRail humbucking pickups, with individual volume and tone controls and a three-way pickup selector switch.

The Striker AX-404C is constructed of alder, with a flame maple top and maple necks with rosewood fingerboards, and the body, neck, and headstock are bound. Finish options include translucent amber, translucent black, translucent green, and translucent blue. MusicYo.com (distributor); tel. (615) 277-2750; e-mail marketing@musicyo.com; Web www.musicyo.com.

THREE-STORY PAD

If you've always wanted a fancy custom pedalboard made by Pete Cornish or Bob Bradshaw but had to put your foot down when you discovered the even fancier price, the PedalPad by MKS Professional Stage Products may be more in step with your budget. The PedalPad is built into a rugged carrying case, and its modular design lets you configure it to your own needs.

There are two powered versions of the PedalPad: the three-tiered RM-10 ($599) features three rackspaces and a power unit on its upper tier, whereas the two-tiered JP-10 ($549) features a power supply but no rackspace. The bottom tier on both models has three independent panels that can sit at 90 degrees or be pitched 16 degrees to accommodate volume, wah, and other larger pedals. The JP ($299), essentially an unpowered JP-10, is also available. The PureVolt power supply ($249) may be purchased separately.

The power supply feeds three 110 VAC outlets and ten 9 VDC outlets, four of which can be converted to 9 or 12 VAC, and provides EMI/RFI power filtering as well as spike and surge protection. All three of the models have stereo outputs, two aux outputs, and an effects loop, facilitating multiple routing options. MKS Professional Stage Products; tel. (785) 862-4723; e-mail mkspro1@msn.com; Web www.pedalpad.com.

PITCH IN TIME

Don't you just hate it when you're trying to work out Charlie Parker solos on your guitar and a dozen notes fly by from your stereo before you can play your first one? Now, using Superscope's PSD230 portable CD player ($599), you can slow the Bird's (or anyone else's) sounds down enough to clearly hear the individual notes — and you can do it without changing the pitch. Or, if you have the chops to play full speed and simply prefer a different key, you can transpose to that key without changing the tempo.

The PSD230 works with any CD format and allows you to alter the tempo of any recording -33 or +50 percent without affecting the key or change the key ±1 octave without affecting the tempo. You can have a section of a song play back continually or when triggered. A voice-reduction circuit that eliminates the lead vocal on many CDs and a 3-band EQ are also included.

You can play or sing along to a CD by plugging in to the ¼-inch instrument or XLR mic inputs and then listen through headphones, on the built-in speaker, or on an external sound system using the RCA analog or RCA coaxial digital stereo outputs. Superscope; tel. (630) 820-4800; e-mail dpratt@superscopetechnologies.com; Web www.superscope-marantzpro.com.

RACK 'N' ROLL

Okay, you have your rackmountable preamp, amp, and effects processors all conveniently located in a single rack, and you're all wired up and ready to roll to your next gig. Then you start to pick it up and whoa — Hernia City! Wouldn't it be nice if that rack had wheels and you could just roll it to the van? Well, SKB is already a few steps ahead of you.

SKB's Roll-X rack cases are constructed of polyethylene rotationally molded plastic and are fitted with 2.5-inch wheels and an industrial-strength collapsible pull handle — just like modern suitcases. There are four sizes of Roll-X rack cases: three-space ($159.99), four-space ($169.99), five-space ($179.99), and six-space ($189.99). All four models are 24.00 inches wide and 21.25 inches deep (with 17.50 inches of internal depth).

All Roll-X rack cases can interlock with each other and are stackable. They're made to last and come with a lifetime limited warrantee. SKB; tel. (714) 637-1252; e-mail questions@skbcases.com; Web www.skbcases.com.

SYN COMMAND

The four-rackspace Proteus 2500 Command Module ($1,329) from E-mu offers three times the processing power of the popular Proteus 2000, usurping that unit's position as the company's flagship sample-playback synthesizer module. The Proteus 2500 sports 17 knobs (many programmable), 46 push buttons, and a large data wheel, providing analog-style editing ease.

The Proteus 2500 comes with a 32 MB sound set and can be expanded to as much as 128 MB using any of the Proteus 2000's 11 expansion ROM kits or E-mu Ultra sampler Flash memory boards. There are lots of real-time editing options, and sounds can be shaped using 50 filter types, three 12-stage envelope generators per oscillator, and 17 LFO waveforms. There's also a robust onboard 16-track MIDI sequencer offering as many as 16 MIDI channels per track and linear or pattern-based recording capabilities.

Analog audio output is routed through six unbalanced ¼inch analog jacks (two of which are subs that also function as inserts), and DAC conversion is 24-bit. Digital output is routed through a coaxial S/PDIF jack. There's also a USB connector for use with a host computer. E-mu/Ensoniq; tel. (831) 438-1921; e-mail info@emu.com; Web www.emu.com.

ON THE HORN

For years wireless systems have let singers, guitarists, and other formerly cable-bound performers roam the stage freely. Now horn and other wind-instrument players can join the fun using the Samson Technologies AirLine AH35x Wind Instrument Transmitter System.

The AH35x combines Samson's AH1 UHF headset transmitter with its Pro 35x microphone, and the unit clips directly onto your instrument so there's no need for cables and body packs. The device is easy to use yet features all the necessary controls: Power switch, Mute (audio on/off) switch, Sensitivity control, and an LED that tells you when the power is on and when the battery is running low. The frequency response is 50 Hz to 15 kHz.

The AH35x transmitter comes with either the AR1 single antennae receiver ($699.99) or the UM1 diversity receiver ($839.99). Samson Technologies Corp.; tel. (800) 328-2882 or (516) 364-2244; e-mail sales@samsontech.com; Web www.samsontech.com.

PSYCHIC RECEPTION

Shure's new ULX Standard wireless system is centered around the ULXS4 receiver, a durable plastic half-rackspace unit that not only scans for open channels across 1,440 preprogrammed frequencies but also actually uses microprocessor-controlled Predictive Diversity to anticipate and avoid dropouts. Other features include LEDs for audio level and RF reception and a multifunction LCD that indicates group and channel settings, current UHF TV channel, and battery power status. Detachable antennae allow for front mounting.

Systems with Bodypack transmitter options include the WA302 guitar cable and Beta 98H/C horn mic ($960 to $1,279); handheld microphone systems ($1,050 to $1,224) include the SM58, SM87, Beta 58A, Beta 87A, or Beta 87C transmitters. All transmitters have backlit LCDs indicating group and channel settings and battery power level. Shure Inc.; tel. (800) 25-SHURE or (847) 866-2200; e-mail info@shure.com; Web www.shure.com.

ESCAPE PADS

In response to an increasing demand for entry-level electronic drum kits, premier electronic-drum manufacturer Pintech has introduced the Escape series ($795 to $1,495 depending on options and module choice). Despite its budget price, the Escape features Pintech's patented woven-head ConcertCast pads, designed to provide a more realistic response than the plastic pads often included with low-cost electronic drum sets.

You can choose from a variety of sound modules and other options, depending on your individual needs. The Escape kit comes standard with a compact K-3 inverted-style kick pedal with dual-beater capability; a dual-zone snare; three single-zone toms; three single-zone Dingbat cymbals for your hi-hat, crash and ride; a hi-hat footswitch controller; an RK-T aluminum composite rack system with module mount; and all necessary arms, clamps, and cables. Pintech; tel. (800) 445-0506 or (864) 288-1500; e-mail play@edrums.com; Web www.edrums.com.

A LIVE ONE

Following on the heels of its popular M-One effects processor, T.C. Electronic's new M-One XL Dual Effects Processor ($699) is especially suitable for live sound applications. Using TC's proprietary XL reverb technology, the M-One XL produces sounds ranging from the obligatory rooms, halls, and plates to grainy '80s-style snare reverbs and huge vocal reverb/delay combinations. You also get lots of other effects, including delay, gate, compressor, limiter, de-esser, parametric EQ, vocal ambience, and various modulation effects.

You can choose from 200 factory presets, including 100 new presets optimized for live applications, or create your own and store them in the unit's 100 user slots. Any two effects can be used independently or in combination — in either parallel or serial configurations. Internal processing and A/D/A conversion is 24-bit resolution, and S/PDIF digital I/O supports both 44.1 and 48 kHz rates. T.C. Electronic; tel. (805) 373-1828; e-mail tcus@tcelectronic.com; Web www.tcelectronic.com.