Solid state vs Valve...Its kinda horses for courses and personal preferance... If you play an amp in a band/live situation it kinda 'handles' a little differently than in yer bedroom; it gave me a much different idea of what works for me! ANYWAY, I reckon that peavy that Maxi has would be pretty good...am I right in saying you'd be after a sound fairly close to the Fender clean sound, Richard? I imagine the Peavy would be in that ball park.