I've owned several tube amps, and this is my favorite for tone, etc. by far. May get similarly good sounds (or better) out of a Savage Amp, but they are equally pricey. If you like the look & want something between Marshall & Mesa with it's own unique tone, definitely go play one. Responds amazingly to dynamics of attack.

I've had this amp for a couple of years now. Bought it used as a gigging amp for about half the normal price (H&K are generally too expensive). I normally don't buy used, but I'm glad I did. At the normal cost I never would have taken the time to experience this killer amp. The clean is very clean and glassy; it shimmers enough that it really doesn't even need reverb. The distortion with the boost switch on is somewhere between a Marshall and a Mesa in tone/grit, with lots of fullness and power. It's a tube amp, so you gotta turn it up to really feel the impact. The presence knob can really shape your tone from hyper metal to a smooth velvety wall of sound. It never loses its articulation either. It is lacking the serial effects loop and midi, and the input jack is a little weak, but that can be remedied easily enough. You're paying for a very unique, pure tube tone...

I had this amp since 04. Still learning how to use it. If you're worried about it not crunching like a mesa, put a tube-driven tone booster in between guitar and amp input.(not thru effects loop!) This will drop your jaw! If you've haven't heard one of these, then you just don't know. Was going to buy a mesa recto but didn't want to be a lemming. Saved a few more bucks and got an amp that will never be outdated.

I've had this head for almost a year now, and I still cant get over the beautiful tone this thing can produce, it's clean channel is crystal clear, and the overdrive has the thickest heaviest tone I know of, though it is a little noisy. This Amp is Beautiful and Powerful, don't be fooled by the weak tone in the sound samples, this head is REALLY raunchy.

oh my...when lived in boston a few years back a music store which shall remain un-named here had one of these babys...and it was my amp of choice everytime i'd go there...i had forgoten how huch it was, but for an all tube 100 watts swichable ohms sick sound and look (the blue lights rock my world) i't my amp of choice. i don't own it cause it does cost a bit, but i would expect to pay it for an amp of this quality and magnitude, so it's not that bad. truely an amazing amp.