Unexpected NAD - 97ish Mesa Tremoverb 2x12

[LPMojoGL]

I had no intention of buying an amp today, or any time this year, really.
This ad popped up on Google (like the sneaky knows me or something) for a Mesa Tremoverb 2x12 combo at a Guitar Center 20 minutes away. That's DFW talk for 5 miles away.
I've recently been intrigued by the Tremoverb.
I've tried a couple of TVerb combos and heads in the past. Didn't like them, at all. I don't think I understood how to dial them in.
I've since had a couple of Multiwatts, Rev Fs and a Rectoverb 25. I dig the Recto thang, but always end up moving it on. And then missing it, repurchasing...
My whole day's plan changed when I saw the ad pop up for this one, close to home.
I started reading about it on all the forums. I found out the pros n cons, the serial numbers to avoid due to LDR issues, probable mods if I decided to keep.
Despite the negative stuff, went to check it out.
She's a bit beat up, cracked leather on the handle, rust on the metal handles, ding on the grill cloth and plenty of scuffs in the tolex. Not bad for a 30 year old amp. I'm not bothered by such things, but do note them for resale purposes.
Spent 20 minutes making sure all of the switches, pots, lights and jacks work. Everything works perfectly, like someone used and took care of this amp.
This one sounds really, really good, even at low TV volume, plugged straight in. Hell yeah.
Take a look around back, and what do I see? This was ultimately the deciding factor that pushed me over the edge to buy...
Someone replaced the Mesa V30s with, get this, Scumback Scumnico 65w speakers!!! Dude, those are like $300 a pop after tax and shipping. They sound amazing. Usually I'd want to plug an open back 2x12 combo into a 4x12. No need here. Plenty of low end, clarity and punch.
First tone I tried to nail:

 

[Hiwatts-n-Gibsons]

I have a weird counterintuitve love/hate relationship with V30's. Most versions I love for clean to mild overdrive, but hate for high-gain tones, especially once I get the volume up high. The only exception was the OG Marshall Vintage speakers from the early '90s. Those I just love clean, dirty, or filthy.

I owned a Tremoverb for about 27 years, and my favorite speakers with it for general playing were Fane AXA12's with Celestion Heritage G12H 55hz in an X, or alnico Coffee Can SRO12's by themselves. For metal it was EVM12L's.

 

[dave74]

Bet that sounds really great in the room. Lots of growl and bark from those speakers. With my tremoverb head I really like my favorite combo of the mesa V30s and k100s.