The head was also not completely simple. The fabric was very stiff and not much flexible, I had enough with it. Mainly stretching, my fingers were bleeding :D. But I was happy with the result. Retolexing was probably more difficult, or better to say time consuming, especially removing old glue...
I bought an electric stapler just because of 2 cabs and I don't regret it.
It's not difficult, but it's not exactly easy either.The most important thing is to constantly stretch the fabric strongly, before each staple. And stretch in a way that no ripples form. Align the pattern to the edge...
Nothing interesting in the shops. I refuse to pay over a thousand Euros for a guitar from Indonesia with FR Special. I have nothing against Indonesian guitars, I have one with FR Special myself and it's fine. But I bought it new for 400, not 1400.
https://robrobinette.com/Tube_Amp_Reading.htm
Merlin Blencowe's Designing Tube Preamps for Guitar and Bass is IMHO the best book regarding the topic. Highly recommend.
You should change monitors, make acoustic treatments, buy the best audio interface out there, some mic preamps... Then come to ask again.
Or, save your money for now. Identify and isolate the problem point. Just play some familiar track in a high quality (CD rip, download, whatever) through...
IDK. Personally, I don't see anything wrong with the construction of that amp. Many other companies do the same and nobody criticizes them. It's a final product, not a mod platform. Series production with a relatively large amount of German handwork. Here in Europe, the price is comparable to...
I happened to have this combination a few years ago. Nice, very interesting sound. But alnico cream sounded a bit "sandy" with a higain amplifier. Redback + G12EVH is significantly better, or at least I like it more. Otherwise, Redback doesn't sound dark, it is just so that it does not sound shrill.
I had the Morse, it's a great amp with huge amount of tonal options, I really liked it. However, I was never able to dial it to be downright aggressive, which is not a problem with the Artist. I also have the Savage SE and in a way I like the Artist better.
I tried the Duncan AHB-2B. I sold it right away. Annoying midrange, clucking like a flock of hens. Regarding to EMGs, I have a 57/66 set in my Charvel SoCal, running it at 18V and I am completely happy. I use 81 as well, but I like 57 more, it's smoother.
I never said that energy cannot occur in other genres. But I don't like bands without energy, which hide under the metal label.
However, turnstile is metal AF :)