Your next amp - profiling, modeling, or the real deal?

[pureantigravity]

I'm a tube aficionado with a cheap shitty little 10 watt solid state amp.
The choices for a new amp are daunting.

Princeton Fender Reverb?
Marshall, or clone ?
A boutique or DIY kit?
A Peavey Classic?
Tube? Solid State? Hybrid?
A modeling amp (ex. Yamaha THR or Positive Grid Spark, or Boss or other)
+ or maybe just add pedals to get required tone (even pedals cost a bundle new).
+ maybe a load box/attenuator to play at low volumes and get the full sound.


Or a Profiling Amp like a Kemper (big $$$$$) + whatever sound system to make it all work.
Or just fuck it because it doesn't really matter and even a shitty amp at low volumes, clean, is all that is required to live a happy life.

Costs - all different.
Sounds - subjective (I always like real tube 'chime' and/or the warm mellowness it brings).
Convenience - can it gig (not me any time soon), can it bedroom (a must for me), can it play in a small jam session with others?
Simplicity - will the equipment distract from the fun of plugging and playing, or will it enhance it?

So many choices!
I'm just starting down this wormhole as I get back into playing since EVH passing (RIP Eddie!).

What decisions have you made lately about your playing setup?
How have your leanings changed?

[N1CK.]

Cost and complexity aside, Fractal Audio. Hands down the best and most versatile tones I've ever heard. But yea, costly and complex.
Last tube amp I owned was a Mark V. Loved it at 1/2 power. If I ever bought another it would be the 25w version.

when I was young I ran an ADA into a JCM800 50w, with pedals in front and a noise gate. That was a killer combo for rock/metal.

[ShoNuff]

I was recently in the same dilemma. Was looking for a tube amp that still sounded decent at low volumes. Saw a smoking deal on a Fender gtx 50 modeling amp and have been really enjoying it. I can create tones that I would never personally purchase a single pedal for. But I have discovered a few that I likely will if/when I move back to a tube amp. I typically would use a compressor, some sort of overdrive and a looper. Now I'd add an octave pedal for looping bass lines, a flanger and delay. YMMV, but for now I'm glad I took the plunge into the modeling amp world.

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