All Tube vs the new Cyber Twin SE - Guitars101

**rjfoster** · 12-15-2004, 03:29 AM

I have always been a hard core tube guy, and have been playing exclusively on Marshalls ever since I have been able to afford them. There is just that special "something" about that tube based Marshall tone......

However, I have had two very good experiences with non-tube amps.

One is a Fender Power Chorus, which is a transistorized dual channel stereo amp with a built in chorus effect. The dirty channel on this amp is OK at best - good enough for jamming or practicing, but not good enough for the Studio or live performances. The clean channel on the other hand, is quite amazing if you are after a pristinely clear clean channel sound. The chorus effect in this amp is also awesome - I wish I could take the chorus effect out of it and build it into an effects system.

The other digital amp that I have been very impressed with is the new Fender Cyber Twin SE. This amp features a tube pre-amp with two 12ax7's that feed a transistorized power amp with digital effects. Fender says that it is not a modeling amp, because the Cyber Twin virtually re-creates the circuitry of the manty types of amps that it emulates.
IMHO it does a FANTASTIC job! The tones are authentic to the types of amp being simulated in most circumstances - especially the other Fender amps like the Twin Reverbs etc. The dirty channel is awesome - even after years of playing true tube amps, I am not at all disappointed with the sound of this amp. I highly recommend it!!

I have just purchased the amp and have not done a lot with it yet, but I did do a quick recording of a backing track to Smokin, by Boston. I used the built in preset called "Tokin'" amd tweaked it a bit. The guitar I used was my Fender USA Strat (1990). The backing track including yours truly on rhythm guitars is attached for your enjoyment.

Have a listen, and then vote in the poll above!

Lata!

Rob

**sweeps** · 12-15-2004, 08:01 AM

Sound really good!!!!!!!!!! It that a marshall preset and did you have chorus or any other effect on it? Your playing was nice and tight. The drums got alittle weird at times but you sounded great.

**rjfoster** · 12-15-2004, 08:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sweeps

Sound really good!!!!!!!!!! It that a marshall preset and did you have chorus or any other effect on it? Your playing was nice and tight. The drums got alittle weird at times but you sounded great.

Thanks! Glad you liked it. The setting I used was called Tokin', and I got the setting off of a Cyber Twin forum somewhere... I recorded the rhythm part twice, once for each channel. (L&R). I Tweaked the treble a bit on the setting because it was too scratchy sounding as it was, and added just a pinch more mid.

When I look at the properties for that preset, here is what I see:

Tone Stack: British (ie Marshall)
Stack Location: Pre-distortion
Circuitry: HMB Tube 3 (I don't know what HMB stands for)
Reverb: Arena
Timbre: Full Body
Speaker Polarity: Standard
Compression: High
Noise Gate: 8.8
Noise Gate Threshold: High
Gain: 9
Volume: 4.9
Treble: 4
Middle: 5.7
Bass: 5.5
Presence: 5
Reverb: 3
Effect: Triangle Chorus
The chorus sweep was set very slow, the intensity medium-ish. Basicly, the chorus is almost imperceptible - but adds a nice touch.

Yeah - the drums do get a bit wacky sometimes - I don't know who programmed the backing track - I got it off the forum here I think. Over all though they did a pretty good job.

Thanks for replying!

Rob

3fingers · 12-17-2004, 12:06 AM

I played through a friends Cyber Twin and was amazed. I have a few vintage tube amps, but the Cyber Twin did open my eyes to a different opinion about modeling amps. I loved it!!

**rjfoster** · 12-17-2004, 04:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3fingers

I played through a friends Cyber Twin and was amazed. I have a few vintage tube amps, but the Cyber Twin did open my eyes to a different opinion about modeling amps. I loved it!!

Hey 3fingers - I was looking at your list of tunes, and decided to listen to the one called "fender tone". You did a great job on that! Do you still have that backing track? I would like to mess around with that one a bit myself!

Lata dood!

rj

**hiyaka** · 12-22-2004, 11:16 AM

I have the first version of the Cyber Twin and I love it. I have a 70's era super reverb and did a side by side sound comparison and could not tell the difference. The amp is great for live shows as well, you have so many tones at your fingertips!!

**rjfoster** · 12-22-2004, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hiyaka

I have the first version of the Cyber Twin and I love it. I have a 70's era super reverb and did a side by side sound comparison and could not tell the difference. The amp is great for live shows as well, you have so many tones at your fingertips!!

From what I have read, I guess one of the more important improvements that has been made on the new CT is that they made the channel switching near instantaneous. Did you notice that youR version has a large delay when switching?

**hiyaka** · 12-23-2004, 05:15 AM

Not really, it switches with no noticable delay. I have been using it live for around two years now and have had no problems. I still use a tube screamer with the amp to give me a little extra boost on some of my leads. I see on the new Cyber Twin this feature has been added.

**rjfoster** · 12-23-2004, 05:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hiyaka

Not really, it switches with no noticable delay. I have been using it live for around two years now and have had no problems. I still use a tube screamer with the amp to give me a little extra boost on some of my leads. I see on the new Cyber Twin this feature has been added.

Did you purchase the Cyber Foot COntroller to go with your amp? I did, and now I am trying to figure out how to organize all of the different tones. After a bit of thought I decided that I would make the 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5 buttons distortion tones, and the 5, 6, 7, 8 & 9 buttons clean tones. How do you organize all of those sounds???

Rj

**hiyaka** · 12-23-2004, 06:07 AM

No, I still have the four switch controller that came with it. I did try the Cyber Controller out a the music strore last week and really liked it. I'm going to buy one after Christmas.

Here is a web link to some Cyber Twin Presets. I found a few good ones on the list.
http://www.patchwizard.com/pw_patchpool.htm

**stingx** · 12-23-2004, 06:55 AM

I am still debating over buying a Cyber series amp or a Deville 2x12. I just cannot make up my mind because I get off on playing both. I already have the XT for modelling so I tell myself it's overkill to go Cyber. I dunno...I will have to take up residency at the local guitar shop a while longer

**rjfoster** · 12-23-2004, 08:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stingx

I am still debating over buying a Cyber series amp or a Deville 2x12. I just cannot make up my mind because I get off on playing both. I already have the XT for modelling so I tell myself it's overkill to go Cyber. I dunno...I will have to take up residency at the local guitar shop a while longer

The Cyber Twin has a couple of Deville presets, and there are also some Deville presets that you can get at patchwizard.com. I would suggest that you get the patches from patchwizard.com and take them with you to the store. Program them in, and see what you think of that verses the real thing. You may decide that the CT sounds just like one. I am not sure how a Deville sounds - I have never played through one..... However, the HRD preset is one of my faves on the CT.

Later!

Rj

3fingers · 12-23-2004, 11:11 AM

RJ, The backing is on my website. Only 2 of them there, as I don't keep many on my site. www.powerserg.com/Backing Enjoy it.

3fingers · 12-23-2004, 11:13 AM

hey Hiyaka! Good to see you again. That was your Cybertwin I was talking about in this thread!

02-13-2005, 07:12 AM

hi!
Have you recorded Tie Your MotherDown with the SE too. If not what was your setup for this one??

Thanks!