I can say I used to have a JCM 900 head, but it was lacking the overdrive, so I sold it and bought a JCM 800. The 800 blows every other amp I've ever played through out of the water.....my 800 is from '87, not the reissue. The split channel 800's don't have a great clean tone though...

A simple noise suppresor will eliminate the hum and pops...The Boss NS-2 is a decent one.