I can quite happily use the DSL401 at a level that's suitable for use in the house. And it still sounds good. And just because you are playing a cranked valve amp for recording, doesn't necessarily mean that it's going to sound the nuts. Can't remember which one it was, but a quintecential grunge album was recorded with one of those 30 Marshall toy stacks - and it sounds ace. The DSL401 is well loud enough to gig with. It's played Dr Drakes and was well loud enough, and I was able to almost max it out. Though a 4x12 as Redmeat says, it sounds massive, and that was with my strat with standard Tokai pickups. Seriously Tav, if you want to see just how versitile and good sounding a low power combo is, I'll lend you mine the next time you are in Toms so you can wind it up, and hopefully save you some cash in the long run.