Has anyone tried Quilter Amps?

Has Solid State Amps come of Age? I believe so.

As a big fan of the Blackstar ID:TVP series one thing it lacks is a effects loop. I stumbled across the Quilter MicroPro Mach 2 8" weighing 19 lbs.; it is 20lbs lighter than Blackstar ID:TVP I own. It has a effects loop, capable of 200w, and external speaker output so it is like having a amp head with a built in speaker for bedroom use and lighter than a tube head. So it is like bedroom to stage in one. Like the Blackstar the Quilter is not a modeler. The Blackstar has effects which I don't use which makes the Quilter sans effects another plus IMO.

Then there is Thomas Blug's BluGuitar Amp 1 like Quilter's Heads can be put on a pedal board. Both options are under $1000. Not to mention a plethora of Amp makers jump on board lately with tube emulation amps.

Needless to say I am intrigued. What I like about Modern SS amps is that you don't have to crank them to get great tone, they aren't as heavy, and you don't have mess or worry about tubes crapping out. These new emulation amps have change the game.

My interest is based on that I am old and getting older. I don't want to carry all that weight nor do I want to spend my time and money dealing with tube issues. I realise a solid state will not sound 100% like tube yet but, if I can get 90% or better coming close to a tube amp I'll be okay with that. As I have gotten older it is more about my expression and a good amp can accentuate that. I usually play clean amps anyway for the type of music I play. Occasionally I like a little dirt when I jam or play shows with friends play old school rock and blues. This is why I am interested in Quilter.

The other issue is space. Something I can store in the closet. At my point in life you acquire a lot of stuff and you just can't buy a bigger house. Besides the o'lady is not too thrilled by all the gear I have already. If she doesn't see it she won't bitch about it.

then just buy the quilter.... I've not tried one, but people rave about their tube-like clean tone and the drive sound is said to be its own thing that is very un-solid-state

just bite the bullet form a retailer with a no-questions-asked return policy

the blackstar you mentioned and roland blues cubes sound very good too, maybe 80% there depending on the setting

that said, depending the tube sound you are after YMMV, because I have never heard anything cop the AC30 sound.... but the new solid stte stuff seems to get in the ballpark of Marshall and Fender

I think the thing with Quilter is that Quilter people seem to embrace them as their own sound that's very good in tis own right versus Blackstar and Roland thata re trying to use transistors to cop vintage tube tones most players covet.... if I ever went solid state I would be looking for an amp with tis own personality

glancing back at this post just made me realize the only benefit to being widowed at such a young age; I can fill all my closets with gear and I never have to ask permission to buy myself a new toy (although its a big responsibility not to get carried away and clutter the house while draining the fun account down to nothing, so I guess spousal nagging has its place)