Bias your amp as soon as you get it otherwise the amp is underwhelming out of the box. Set the bias correctly even and the amp sounds the best. The stock ruby tubes are actually pretty good out of the box, I did swap the stock tubes for Tung-sols and it definitely gave alot more sound to the amp that i perfered. (You can mix and match the power tubes to different types than just the stock 6l6, i find the 6l6 the best for this amp, but el34 are good as well depending on what flavor you want)I use this amp primarily for studio use and it kills 5150 type of amps in versatility. You can get a plethora of different sounds. This amp does not need a overdrive but it can handle boosts and or overdrives very well. My favorite feature is the gain shaping options to really dial in the distortion character and the boost function is great for adding in a little more saturation focused on the higher mids.The clean channel is not over looked and delivers the goods.This amp isn't for everyone some perfer 5150 sounds, this gives you a hot rodded Marshall sounds met with Mesa type sounds and it's own 5150 type of sounds (but not exactly close but in the ballpark of 5150 style amps).After putting in the work with a tube swap and a bias, this amp is a monster and has plenty of gain necessary especially when it's biased even.This amp is assembled in China, but don't let that steer you away from it.. (Although my footswitch that came with the amp however came defective with a short in the cable where… read more it meets the houseing and would not function without disconnecting the signal from the amp. I didn't want to return the whole amp after falling for its sounds compared to other amps i have had in my studio. I contacted Zzounds customer service and they were able to reimburse me with a gift certificate to replace the defective footswitch, that's awesome customer service.)I will say this amp isn't made for everyone, especially if you perfer straight forward classic 5150 sounds (you may perfer the Randall Diavlo that costs less than this) If you want a Fortin Natas this amp is the closest you'll get to it with a little over 1/4th of the cost. I may contact Mike Fortin in the future in the interests of modding it personally to get it closer to the Natas in terms of transformers/chokes etc., till then this monster of an amp delivers the goods in terms of heavy music live or in the studio. Definitely made for someone who wants go have the options to tweak their sound and tone. I have yet to have a problem with the amp, my band mates are very impressed with quality of the sound when used at rehearsals compared to their 6505 and mesa rectifier they are used to hearing, and both my guitarists want one for themselves for live applications. Couldn't be happier with an amplifier.

Musical Background:
17 years of guitar bass recording and indie producing.

Musical Style:
Metal music primarily, but also rock and punk. read less