you really just need to read the mags, try the stuff out at the shop, and take a few risks in purchase now and then to get this stuff sorted out.
the user reviews at
http://www.harmony-central.com
are priceless in narrowing down your choices.
Rivera and matchless(now defunct) are my fav's. For an example of tone from a rivera check out david torns guitar work. A rivera will make you beleive I promise. It will also make a flextone sound artificial, even in your recordings
You have to use your ears.I havent heard the cyber twin.The yamaha dg might be what you want, or a johnson millenium(wich is used by adrian belew)
Dont forget rocktron either.
I think the mesa formula is around $700 and it has 5 12 ax7's. and 3 channels. But for that price you could also get a very competent amplifier and add a speaker simulater/atteunuater that will take its load accomplishing the same ends and allowing you to play it for other purposes as well.
A few suggestions. In the early 90's mr. soldano designed some amps for yamaha that go way cheaper then the ones bearing his name. Personally I am using an ampeg vl 1002 wich was designed by lee jackson. when I turn it up it sounds way better then
a flextone and I bought the head used for $299 4 years ago.
Really a used rivera will give you a lot.
If you dont like modelers dont get a modeling amp. But before you write them off I think that there are amps by rocktron and yamaha that sound a little better then the spider or marquis. The flextone and johnson millenium are worth a demo. I still like tube sounds.
As fun as the pod is my amp is where its at. I warn you though, If you dont have some things figured out your most likely not going to get a good tone mic'ing it for your recording. In fact its really difficult to get it all perfect between the room mics, amp,speaker, pickups. Many discriminating guitarists insist on tubes because theyve figured out how to do it. Other guitarists have happily put their tube gear in the closet.
Id reccomend a hybird of amps, speaker simulators(like the palmer) ,modelers like the pod and dg, tube pre amps and power amps for direct recording like the budda slavemaster etc.with your tube amp youll want a tube screamer or a rat and an e.q. pedal(or rack)
And a power attenuator like the hot plate by thd will help you get good tones at reasonable volume.
http://www.amptone.com -check it out and see some other tips.
cool amps?
matchless, rivera, thd, hughs and kettner, fender, budda, mesa boogie, dumble, marshall plexi, soldano, peavy 5150, bogner...
For amps its about driving the power tubes. the power tubes dictate most of the dynamics. And pre amp distortion isnt cool until youve driven the power section.
Still each of these different units has its own sound. Its gotta be what you hear. At your price you could get a few things.