My problem was not with the quality of the vt30ad-xl, so much that as a true beginner, I had no clue what the amp models were or all the extra effects. The modeling amps kind of overwhelmed me as a newbie. More of a lack of knowledge of the models and effects. I think that they would work for a player with a little more experience and was on a budget, since you have several models and effects built into them. Guess I am just old school also and like the idea of KISS (keep it simple stupid)