evaluating guitar amps

[luteski]

What makes a musician select an amplifier to use in performance?
For me, it must have a pleasing tone, be easy to control, and work well with my guitars and my effects.  I select something with a good clean tone, lots of headroom and portability.
A combo style is nice for general use, and should be powerful enough to drive external speakers.  I started out with a Fender Super Reverb and a Tele.  I still love the Tele, but have gone thru many tube style amps.  Now I do not want to lug around any extra weight, and I want the most pure, clean and powerful bang for the buck.  So I am going with the solid state designs.  Most of the commercial amps have crap speakers and useless add on effects.
Just give me clean and clear, light weight and sparkle and sustain.
I have been picking up some nice 1 x 12 combos and doing modifications to get what I need.
Over the years I have built many tube amps, and love the tone, hate the cost of the retube.
I am loving the silicon sisters.  Big sound in small packages.