Best amp for $800-$1300

I am seeking a 4x12 or 2x12

for this budget? Stock 800 and a good marshall cab like a 1960B or a 1960TV but be prepared to hate any of the 1960 speakers but the basketweave ones and the TV.... orange makes a great 4x12 cab if you buy the top of the line one that's not chipboard and mesas recto cabs are very good though YMMV with the stock speakers (ugh). I prefer the 2204 to 2203 not just for smaller room but because it sounds different... so that's vintage, and if you're doing the vintage 50 watt thing get a vertical input model, its one less spot the PCB can go south. Well 2 less spots, but no one uses the low gain input but Billy Corgan. If you must have channel switching get a silver jubilee of some sort (the smaller RI sounds fine) and you might as well get a matching jubilee 4x12 for it though you may wanna change the speakers. But when you wanna plug straight in and rock, the 2204 JCM800 is a do all that's not too loud even when opening the master for a little power tube grunt.... if you wanna use a pedalboard, go pumpkins and try that low gain input. It inhales a lot of effects and is an unsung part of the 800 legacy. Although setting the gain low and using the high gain input sounds sweet. I think you play a strat so that siamese dream thing is right there with a few pedals.

If you want a better than marshall cab, get a Hiwatt. Or if you wanna save some dough look at Stage Craft cabinets for marshall replicas.

In 2x12s? Dr Z zee best is nice if you want a 4x12ish sound... otherwise apples and apples.