I found and picked up an original 2-input BE100 a few weeks ago and I'm absolutely loving the tones out of this amp. My board is 4CM with a TC G-System running 4CM. Since the amp can't switch from BE to HBE, I have everything running into the BE input, the TC switching between Clean and BE set...
BIAS sounds good but has the worst feel of any modeler I've played - at least on the ipad, can't speak for the desktop version. Kemper with the new firmware is the exact opposite end - it's getting good enough that it's hard to tell.
My tube amps aren't going anywhere, but if I had to tour, I...
V1 Koko is my favorite pedal ever, mine is never going anywhere. I haven't found an amp yet that can't be made more versatile with a Koko in front of it.
I recorded with a TSL once on a friend's demo and got some decent tones out of it. Not Marshall's best effort by any means, but you can get it to cut through a mix easily and it does well fattening up lower output pickups on the 2nd channel.
Probably wouldn't choose to record/gig with one if I...
PRS has really hit their stride lately IMO. They are definitely putting out their best guitars now - worked out a lot of usability kinks (like the rotary knobs and control layouts), the new pickups are lightyears ahead of their old designs, tone, sustain, etc etc. New neck profiles are a big...
I just went back to my TC G-System that had been collecting dust for a couple years. It's definitely nice not having to tap dance anymore. Just wish there was still a working software editor for it.
I've never liked the screw-in trem arm on the Gotoh - always felt the collar screw on the OFR is a better design. But apparently the Gotoh's are more consistent in terms of quality.
On that budget, I'd swap out the speaker in the combo (V30, Creamback, Lynchback, WGS, etc) and use the remainder on something like a Suhr Riot to get into Metal territory.
Seconded, I've yet to find a 2x12 that sounds better than the Port City. And that being said, I actually like the regular better than the oversized - tighter on the bottom end, sounds like a good aggressive 4x12 and is easy to move around.