All four of my tube rigs are 100-120w. I think I just like big iron, big bottle amps, and I'm partial to EL34s. I'm still only ever playing at club volumes or less though. An amp can be 100w and still be designed with a usable master volume. Pairing them with the right cab goes a long way too...
I used an NS2 for years before trying the ISP stuff, and eventually sticking with a Zuul. The NS2 worked just fine for me. There's a bit of coloration, but nothing you can't address by tweaking your EQ. IIRC I needed to add back some of the highs.
I love whatever effect Dave Murrey uses when soloing on some of Maiden's slower and moodier sections. A little modulation on clean tones, like the intro to "Hey You" by Pink Floyd as well. That, or a full-on Steal Away/Unchain the Night flanger tone, lol.
Headfirst Alta. Channel switcher, covers the landscape of British tones I like with lots of flexibility, dual masters, effects loop, NFB and Depth controls, MIDI for switching channels and voicing options, big iron EL34, smaller builder with integrity. Current production, not unobtainium, but...
Meh. Not something I'd buy, but I don't see an issue with Kiesel doing this as long as they're not infringing on IP. I doubt they'd do it if there wasn't a market for it.
My tastes gravitate more towards the Yeti. I ended going with their 2203 though, and just using pedals for hot rodding it.
Whether you go Yeti or Chupa, IIRC there are just a handful of basic components that differentiate them. Nik will even tell you which ones you need to change out to convert...
I think Jake E, Lee still uses some form of NMV. Either a Marshall or one fo the two he's had endorsements with. George Lynch bounces around, but seems to prefer big iron Marshall (or Park). These guys are just doing club-sized gigs.
With the two amps I primarily gig, I can pull a pair and limp by on 50w if I have to, adjusting the impedance accordingly. That's the plan if I ever lose a power tube at a gig. I think part of it depends on how gracefully the tube dies. I think I'd prefer to leave the socket empty until I can...
Of the two, I liked the ISP better. That said, I racked the few pedals I do use, and ended up with a Zuul instead, which I like better than any of them. So that's my preferred rackmount noise reduction option.
I buy from Reverb, FB marketplace, otherwise the usual online sellers.
As far as selling, amps and guitars are usually local only, so craigslist or FB marketplace. Otherwise Reverb, TGP, or gear-specific Facebook groups.
It seems like most companies use boxes that barely meet the minimum of what's needed, and they lose at least some of their structure after one trip through the system. Plus shippers seems to be increasingly careless, which is probably the result of trying to shuttle a larger volume of packages...
Try to relax. You can still play hard without tons of tension. The stronger your fingers are, the easier it is to apply pressure without tension. Just look at classical guitarists and violinsts, even pianists. If you've spent years reinforcing a heavy-handed approach, it's going to take a lot of...
I have a 2006 LPC that I think was around $3200 new. I've played the crap out of it, probably falls under the category of Very Good Condition, and I bet I could still get close to what I paid for it.