........................................................CYBER-TWIN
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“Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.”
—Arthur C. Clark
It’s a funny thing; the better stuff gets, the more unimpressive the act of creating it
appears to the casual viewer. For example: Have you ever watched Jimi Hendrix play
live? Whether on video or in person, the most striking thing about Jimi was the
apparent ease with which he created that glorious cacophony. No scrunched up
faces; bent over gas-pained stances; little if any sweating... Nothing except that
sublime peaceful look of total contact with his soul.
Well, technology has finally caught up with us antiquarian guitar players. Initially
scoffed at by the masses, digitized effects and amplification have found their way into
the tonal mainstream where just a few years ago only tubes dared to tread. But, there
is a price to pay. Putting aside for a moment the requisite stack of manuals, their lack
of elegance and simplicity, modern digital technology has been used to “model” or
“mirror” the most sought after guitar tones - and in some cases it comes pretty close.
But more often than not, following the initial exciting experience, fatigue quickly sets
in. For after all, these products are merely mimicking a one-dimensional snapshot of
specific parameters or a particular moment in time. A far cry from the wonderful chaos
that is at the heart of great tone.
Enter the Cyber-Twin project. Since day one, Fender has been about finding one’s
own path - the invention of the original Telecaster in an era of arched top jazz guitars
is the ultimate example of Leo Fender’s self expression and free thinking. Originally
derided as a “plank,” the Telecaster went on to spawn an entire industry of solid body
guitars and the amps they require. The Cyber-Twin team got together under the same
rallying cry -
“Innovate
…
Don’t Emulate”
was the rule of the day.
Not even remotely like any other “digital” amp or processor on the market today, the
Cyber-Twin is a robotic “shape shifter” which reconfigures itself to literally become
different amps, changing topology and component values in the blink of an eye. The
result is nothing short of stunning. Unlike the “snapshot” amps, each master program
or “Source Amp” on the Cyber-Twin is a different amplifier, each one with its own
complete palette of tones and feel waiting for you to explore.
The Cyber-Twin is a complete collection of Fender amps and their medley of voices.
It is a marriage of patented, cutting edge technology and fifty-year old vacuum tube
circuits working together to create the entire experience. The only drawback that I can
see is like Jimi, the Cyber-Twin’s familiar look and simple interface also makes it all
look a little too easy. Maybe it really is just magic.
Ritchie Fliegler
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