Modeling....been there, done that. Handy for cover bands and once your patches have been painstakingly dialed in you pray for a lack of power surges, spikes, static discharges, etc. It's nice to call up a Boston tone or a Buddy Holly tone without jumping around on a pedalboard or fooling with a rack system but......
As someone once pointed out, in the digital modeling world where does a held note go to die? It's either 1 or 0, on or off. A note decaying into feedback or kept alive by finger vibrato is a beautiful, delicate thing - similar to a burning ember. In Tubeland, the ember can be whipped back into a white-hot coal or it can be gently fanned and kept barely alive. In Modeling-land those dynamics can be approximated but never truly duplicated.
So...I'm not a tube snob but I have recognized that it's the best sound I can get, versatility notwithstanding (although my amp does a he11 of a job in that department).
My current gear:
1994 Fender Stratocaster 1957 reissue two tone sunburst, one piece maple neck, aftermarket Fender Vintage Noiseless pickups installed.
1998 Fender Swamp Ash Stratocaster - natural finish, maple neck/fretboard, white pickguard, feather light all stock and the sweetest player I've had.
1985 Carvin DC-150 - black. At least 10 pounds, heavier than a Les Paul, sustains for days with (too) hot M22 pickups, ebony 'board, brass nut. My first quality electric and has mostly kept me from loading up on expensive Gibson gear over the years.
1998 Rickenbacker 360/12 - Jetglo (black). Hi Gain (nailhead) pickups soon to be replaced with vintage toasters. 6-saddle bridge soon to be replaced with 12-saddle custom.
2000 Alvarez FD60AMB Thin Body Electric/Acoustic
Mesa/Boogie Trem-O-Verb combo
Peterson Strobostomp tuner (the best....period)
Boss equalizer, chorus & tremolo stompers
Ibanez TS-9 Tube Screamer
Boss BCB-60 pedal board
Possible additions....
http://privatereserveguitars.com/electric-guitar/2996/517061.035_060491.shtml
http://privatereserveguitars.com/electric-guitar/2996/517507.324_060552.shtml
http://rainsong.com/models/ws1000.asp
I have always wanted a Carvin guitar....but since they are an outlet, it's hard to get my hands on one to try....any suggestions on a typical model? How do you like the ebony fretboard?