| User Development Team Begins Operation By Lane Baldwin |
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One of the most important steps of the Research and Development process is to test our products to ensure they do what we want them to. It's all well and good if a product performs in the lab, but the real test is how it performs in the real world.
We've gathered an incredible amount of feedback about our products from members of our forum community. So it was natural to ask some of our Edenites to work with us more closely. Our goal was to put our new products in the hands of regular users to get their impressions. Thus, the User Development Team was born.
Based on my work moderating the forum, I submitted a list of names to David for consideration. Once I had his belessing, I then contacted the candidates to see if they were interested in helping out. To a man, the answer was an enthusiastic "Yes!" The User Development Team includes:
John "The Barbraian" Altevogt
Jeff Carlson
Vinny D'Agositino
Terry Sutton
Wes Watson
Each individual has a different playing style, and focuses on a different style of music. They are all also active forum participants. None of them are paid to do this testing; it's a strictly volunteer thing. All they get for this - other than a chance to play with the newest toys in the box - are a special UDT T-shirt and Bragging Rights.
John and Wes are both new Eden endorsers, signed in 2005. Jeff has been helping me test the Nemesis Silver Series amplifiers before they're sent out to dealers. I got to know Terry when he bought my old WT800. Vinny has become known on the forum as "Mr. Twelve" for his avid enthusiasm for the D212XLT cabinet. He also has the distinction of being our first Hometown Hero. (We'll tell you more about this program in the near future.) In addition to coordinating the group's activities, I get to test the new units, as well. So, I guess you could say I'm a UDT member, too. At least, David has promised me a T-shirt.
Our first test unit was the new Nemesis N8 practice amplifier. Each UDT member had several days to try it out in the comfort of their own homes. One member even took it out for a church gig with pleasing results. Below are a few pictures of the UDT members with the N8. In the future, we'll publish further reports on the activities of our latest (not-so-) secret weapon - The Eden User Development Team.
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