Re: 100W Non-Master Amplifiers Scare Me...
I love those amps like old Marshalls, Mojove's, and other non mastervolume amps.
There's only one problem.....they're made for one purpose......sitting in a rehearsal space or stage, next to a loud drummer, where you plug in, turn it up, and tear the roof off the joint. For every other application, you have the WRONG amp.
If you want to use an amp in your home, rehearsal space, and stage, you should really buy a master volume amp with a gain control.
If you fit into that category, you should only buy an amp that delivers good tone at low levels and high levels.
My solution is to have a tube amp that kicks ass in every loud situation, then also own a modeling amp that I can use at home at every volume. It's silly for me to compare a tube amp to modeling amp, because I like them both. I can have fun with the Valvetronix head at home, but it never leaves my music room. When I want real tone at high volume, it's tube amp all the way!
I think the smartest thing is to have 1 nice cab, then buy a great tube head and a great modeling head. Modeler for home practice.....tube amp for putting next to a drum kit.