Hmmm... no pix, lotsa text...

My reccomendation:

If you're stuck on big amps for big sound, your pursuit of the ultimate strong, clean, tube sound can only be satisfied by finding an old Ampeg VT-22, say, pre-1977. I can tell you from personal experience that this beast will melt the first four rows of your audience before you crank it hard enough to cause power-tube distortion! :eek: A 120 Watt, 2-12 combo that commands respect. At 100 pounds, and no casters, it also tends to stretch your arms.

"... no more than 70 watts..." As some of the posts referred to below can show you, the SPL difference between 50 Watts and even 150 Watts is neglegible. You can safely toss power ratings aside, and concentrate on the quality of the sound you want.

Check out these links to other Guitar Tricks threads for some suggestons, and some discussons of a radical concept:

AMPS

Milliwatt Power Amps????

Personal Power Amps

What Amp??

Amps

Everybody with a guitar amp...read!

If I remeber right, you live in the Ottawa area. Poke your nose into some of the dusty corners of Used Sound on Preston Street. The place is home to some amazing treasures, you just have to visit frequently so you can be the guy who gets the prize, instead of arriving too late, and hearing all about 'the one that got away'. I moved to Calgary a few years ago, but there are some things I still miss, like Used Sound, and Songbird Music on Gladstone Ave.

Good Luck! :)
L.