Re: Not sure if I should go british or american.
I have been using Mesa amps for several years now. One of my favorite amps to use at some of my gigs is my Mesa Maverick 212 V30 combo from the mid-1990s. This is a two channel, 4xEL84, "Class A" amp. I'd put the construction ahead of anything I've seen come from either Fender or VOX recently.
I don't think either the DRs or the AC-15 come with a loop (and that might not be an issue when recording), but the Mavericks loop is pretty handy for live use. Or, you can switch it completely out of the circuit. A big advantage for the Mesa.
And the Maverick is anything but a one-trick pony. Naturally, with it's Brit-inspired power section, you'd expect to have some VOX-like "chime" on tap in the clean channel, and it's in there. But...since the Mesa's tone controls are SO effective (especially the mid-range), you can get really close to the more muscular, scooped tones of a Twin Reverb.
And the LEAD channel is totally fun, too. The CLEAN channel has enough range of gain that you can get some lovely pushed "bluesy" tones. They claim that the channel switching also affects the voltages to the power amp, essentially creating two different amps in the same box. I believe it! The LEAD channel works well throughout the range of the GAIN pot, but has a decidedly different feel. In the upper range of the pot, while the Maverick doesn't have the gain of the Mark Series amps, it still sings. If I need more gain, Santana-esque "woman tone", my board's DOD Bi-Fet Preamp can "kick it up a notch". With one of my Les Pauls, I can really nail that Duane Allman "Live At The Fillmore" tone--pure Marshall Plexi. I like to use it one top of my 212 V30 Horizontal Recto cab, and that fills in the bottom end and adds a lot of punch...a nice manageable half stack. It's only 30 watts, but sounds bigger if I need it to, and it's still a warm sounding amp at lower volumes. And it is a terrific complement to the Mark Series Mesas I own.
BTW--it doesn't have (or need) the vast array of switching options that most Mesa have, and that's a good thing for many players. It's not an amp you'd use for metal; but for classic rock, blues, country, jazz--it works very well.
The bad news is: they discontinued this model, and there were a lot of people that were upset when they did. The one I have is one of the last ones made. I like it so much that I bought a second one used to create a stereo rig, but that gig didn't work out, so I am going to sell the second amp. You just don't see them come up for sale very often and they usually fetch $750-$900 on the used market. I'm doubting you'll find one for sale locally.
But...Mesa did come up with a replacement. Or two! One of the earlier posters talked about the TA-30. Mesa is really taking aim at the VOX crowd with this amp, but it has Mesa gain on tap, and a lot of switching flexibility. It's a great club amp, and I've seen some guys locally using them. It's definitely got VOX-inspired tone, VOX-like controls, and the combo's controls are top-mounted, like a VOX.
Still, the true successor to the Maverick is the Lone Star Special. The LSS is the little brother of the 4x6L6 powered Lone Star Classic. It has some more flexible switching options than the Maverick, especially in the power amp section. It's still has the 4xEL84 in "Class A", and two really versatile channels. If I didn't have the Maverick, I would be all over one of these. Like the Maverick, this one has AT LEAST a couple of amps inside the box, and can give you both American and Brit amp flavors.
And for gigging, this is a no-brainer. I've done the two-amp rigs, both A/B/Y and stereo, and it is a PITA to set up. One GOOD, versatile amp is all most people need.
I realize this won't get you any closer to a decision on your VOX/Fender quest, but for the money you're about to spend, it would certainly be worth looking at the LSS.
Good Luck!
Bill
