I remember having a big hard-on for one of those several years back. I did a lot of research, listened to all the clips I could etc.. and I just never got the sense that it will do the tight high-gain metal that I think you are talking about; which is pretty much why I never picked one up. I think it would cover 80s-style metal, but nothing beyond that. Same case with the MESA v-twin.
Of course, never having picked one up I could be off-base here. Hmm, I don't think that this really helps you much but since I typed it up already I'm gonna hit "submit" anyway