I have actually been preferring the tube recto on my 2 channel Triple lately. Diode can almost be too tight. Tube can bring more chug, depending on the cab.
How many effects do you use? Do you use a lot of types, or many different settings/presets?
I have been going through this also. I like having multi-effect units where everything is one box, but I have really been thinking about how I really only use about 2 settings, so I am starting to wonder...
As many times as I try to use the Orange channel, I can never get a long with it. I think it is too smooth and has too many lower mids. It starts sounding too much like Foo Fighters or something.
Cannibal Corpse, Rammstein, Meshuggah, Nevermore, Korn, Limp Bizkit, Testament, etc.... pretty much...
I had a few Block Logo heads for years. I always loved them for the fat low end, but got kinda sick of the grating upper mids after several years. Now I only have the 50W 6L6. I have considered getting the 5153 100W Stealth. I have wondered how much bigger it would sound than the 50W.
I have read opinions online of people saying the Grand Canyon 412 despite being oversized and ported, that it really didn't have much bass. That has made me leary about ordering one, but I haven't tried one myself.
Its kind of funny, but I have noticed that I have built, modified, or fixed almost every piece of gear I own. From modding or building tube amps, to tons of pedals, to fret levels on guitars. I have very few pieces of gear I haven't touched in some way.
That is another reason I like the Heavy Top, Skinny Bottom type string sets. I think they balance better since the wound strings are naturally bendier.
They just mad they feel stupid for spending so much $$ on something they dont like.
I get the same feeling when I try a new meal at a restaurant that tastes like crap, lol.