I thought the Line6 thing was pretty much a dead issue- people used digital modeling amps, decided they weren't as good, went back to tubes, rinse, lather repeat. Although, for many applications (recording, DI and having a lot of effects in one platform), it's convenient, some digital effects and modeling are good, some are crap.
The Fender Cyber Twin was very functional and, from experience from owning one, its 1958 Bassman sound was excellent, although hearing that without a direct comparison is the point- without making the comparison, it's definitely 'good enough'. I went to a Fender clinic the night of 9-11 and the first chords from the Cyber Twin in '58 Bassman mode were almost shocking because it really captured the sound well. That amp was not easy for many people to use, though- it didn't have the typical layout and people needed to change the way they conceived the way it's controlled in order for it to be useful for them. I know someone who was considering getting rid of his because he just couldn't do what he needed and when he talked to the guy who did most of the Fender clinics at the time, hearing the explanation was like an epiphany for him.
If someone needs a variety of amp sounds, digital is an easy way to achieve it without becoming a vintage amp collector but if they want the actual sounds, the latter really is necessary.
The solid state vs tube issue has occurred several times since the '70s- people dumped their tube amps, bought solid state and decided that they liked tubes more. Those classic vintage tube amps were tossed in the dump, scrapped and for some, a cheap way to buy an amp they had recently become aware of (me) and because they're more scarce and desired, the prices have skyrocketed for some models. Once the former tube users decided they didn't actually like the sound of solid state amps or didn't want to hear phase shifter on every freaking song (like Peavey amps in Country music), they went back to tubes. Vintage amp models were reissued and in the case of the Tweed Bassman, the reissue came out in 1991-ish and has been in constant production without a break ever since then, in more than one version (the normal RI, the LTD, which stands for 'Lacquered Tweed' and the hand-wired model). They only made about 1500 Tweed Bassman amps in the form that is most popular (1957-1960) and because it was so popular as a guitar amp and because it was the model for the first Marshall amp (JTM 45,) it has become a 'holy grail' amp model.
Many thing that the tubes for guitar amps are hard to find and that they're difficult to service, but that's far from the truth. There's so much info out there that it's almost ridiculous.
The thing about tubes- for producing the sound from guitar/bass/etc, it's hard to beat the sound but for
reproduction, I think that solid state is better and more accurate. That's not saying I don't like a good tube amp- I have heard many that were excellent, but for ease of use, low maintenance and almost no impact on HVAC load, tubes can be a bit of a burden.
WRT chasing tone- the guy who did those Fender clinics has said that he wants a pedal with one knob, labeled 'MORE'.
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