Clean sounds are clean with a little break up when played hard. The gain is usable up to some extreme levels and the tone controls actually have a meaningful effect.
The tank reverb is very, well, reverb-y indeed.
Sound wise, positioning plays a part. Being open backed means it is a little more sensitive to its surroundings. A beer crate or amp stand to get it off the floor tightens the overall sound. Being close to a wall or rear reflective surface brings the bass in and makes the sound more 'middy'.
The effects loop is quiet in operation. A footswitch is highly recommended to go between the two, very different, clean sounds and to switch channel 2 gain in and out.
I use it with a g112 extension cab to widen and reinforce the sound, both on stands, and the volume levels it can attain without tizzy breakup are more than loud enough. Need to go louder?, mic through the PA and get a monitor. Using a monitor is made easy with the line-out.
The mp3 player input makes practising along to your tunes easy.
Construction wise, all is not well cosmetically. I could play a game of 'find the screw that is actually seated in its cup' for a long time before finding one. The strap doesn't inspire confidence, the covering is thin but well applied. It is built well enough, that is all that matters construction wise.
Sound wise it is loud and clear, takes pedals well and doesn't fizz. Good small gig amp for the poor of pocket with a cab added. Gets very loud for home.
In terms of reliability, I haven't had it long enough yet. I do know that after an hours set, running into the cab at 2/3 - 3/4 volume (Using perhaps 20 watts, more than loud enough! ), the top surface and metalwork warm up but there has been no deterioration in sound. Quite the opposite as the speaker cones have loosened up over time.
May be too loud for home use without headphones but for rehearsal and first tentative gigs in too many years ( Ye Olde Krusten Headbanger ) it has proven itself highly capable and gets comments like 'Cracking good sound you've got there'
