All great points everyone, thanks. So this where I'm at right now. I decided that if I'm going to upgrade the guitar I would need a tube amp. So I went Sam Ash here in beautiful So Cal and picked up a Blackstar studio 20 watt amp. Love this thing. The sales rep(manager) let me use an es 339 to try out the amps. Yikes. This thing was amazing. So my plan is to try some other options to narrow down the choice and buy some time around August. That's my b-day so it gives me some leverage with the wife.