i wanna get the high end mark 2 it aparently is a hybrid of three amp tones one for steve vai mellow acoutisc sound or californian funk second is the 80s black sabbatch ozzy tone then the third does the full on metal tone. and u can variate between all three with each other setting so u can have two solid states at once. it also has a switch for half powr for when practiisng and giging. from 100 to 50w. and it is midi programamble. has a firebox i dunno what that is. its pretty awsome kit. from the sounds of it. and on the testing website they always use a strat u can hear it. as for the alex lifeson vers i wouldnt get that coz u want more versatility than sounding like him altho hes fuking ace and i love rush. i wanted to know if anyones tryed them coz i gotta wait two weeks before i can go to london and try them lol.