Sounds to me like you're expecting the wrong thing out of Marshall. Marshalls can definitely get pretty freakin' heavey, but you have to know how to work them, and low volume isn't part of the equation. I highly recommend that you try to find a Peavey 5150/6505 combo to try out. If that amp doesn't get heavey enough for you, then you just need to stop playing the guitar! (not seriously :rolleyes: ) I never... I repeat NEVER turn the gain up past 12 o'clock on the lead channel of my 5150 combo. If you want something a little smaller, and cheaper, take a look at the Traynor YCV40 and YCV50 tube combos. I can't vouch for the 40 (the 40 uses 6L6 power tubes, and the 50 uses EL34 power tubes and is voiced more like a Marshall), but I've got the 50 and it has all the gain I could ever want. You can always get an EQ pedal and/or an overdrive pedal to give you a little gain boost and to shape things a bit.