Is Behringer working on a Tonto clone?
German company posts image of famous synth on Facebook.
Malcolm Cecil (right) and American producer Robert Margouleff of the pioneering electronic music duo TONTO circa 1974. Image: Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images
Behringer has posted photos on Facebook hinting that they might be working on a modular synth. One such post shows Tonto, the legendary room-filling synth responsible for the sound of many a 70s hit.
No actual details were given – there was only a short caption: “Are you ready for this?”
Are you ready for this?
Posted by Behringer on Sunday, September 8, 2019
Tonto, or “The Original New Timbral Orchestra”, is best remembered for its contributions to 70s classics like Stevie Wonder’s Superstition, Boogie On Reggae Woman and You Are The Sunshine Of My Life. The synth was the brainchild of Malcolm Cecil, an English bassist and Grammy Award-winning record producer.
The massive, curved device comprises a combination of Moog synth modules, ARP 2600s and a number of custom modules designed by composer/builder Serge Tcherepnin and Cecil himself.
At press time, it’s unclear how, when, or indeed if Behringer is going to distil the six-foot-tall, 25-foot-wide instrument into a singular device, or if the company is working on modular synths at large.
Stay tuned to Behringer’s Facebook page for future updates. For more gear news, click here.
