Show me the part, I'll change it....and it may work (I can neither confirm or deny that)

And a big Plus One for the Marshall Valvestate amps, not much on features, but plenty clean and loud

Dante,

    It's the power transistors in those Microtube amps. That's why none of my MT 100s are in use. they go faster than the MT 200s. It's an issue I posted about in the forum over 20 years ago. It seems there is still no solution to solving why that happens. A local electronics repair shop should be able to replace that for a relatively low cost. Or, if you're feeling adventurous, you could order them from Mauser and replace it yourself. I might give that a go myself, and maybe even try to re-cap the power amps. There really isn't that much in them.

Duke,

    If you're going to go with solid state, I would of course recommend the B200S, which is probably the best sounding solid state power amp for the guitar. Then again, a lot of people swear by some of the Marshall valvestate power amps too. I still see those pop up on ebay and reverb from time to time.

   You might also check Sweetwater on their used gear pages. You never know what might come up there.

   P.S. Never tried a Matrix power amp.

Dante,

   It isn't just Gibson doing that, Fender does too. The nuts need to be grooved deeper and they all need to be set up and intonated from the factory, so that's not surprising to hear.

   The 70s were the Norlin years I think, and yeah just like CBS with Fender, they were focused on numbers and profits more than quality. I don't like the mid 70s and upward Gibsons either.

   Gibson still can't make quality guitars, so they sue everybody who can. I have one of the lawsuit guitars that I picked up a couple of months ago, it's an acoustic. I'll get around to taking some pics and posting it one of these days.

My Gibson V probably has the fastest Gibby neck, and it's light. So, I do bring that one a lot.

One thing I noticed about all the newer (post 2000) Gibbys, the nut is too dang tall. You can push down hard on your D chord and hear it going in/out of tune with the pressure

I do like guitars from the early/mid 80s - I have two Ibanez hollowbodies (ES339 size) from ''84 and '86 that simply spoil me, too easy to play, if there is such a thing.

I do stay away from Gibbys from the mid 70s because the're quality control wasn't all that great at the time, hence them attacking Ibanez with a Cease & Desist letter for making better Les Pauls than Gibson (aka the lawsuit guitars)

Nice to see you in here Duke

I'm still using my MT200, kinda wish I would have hung on to my other one now because my MT100 is only working in one channel (pretty typical of those units)

To be honest, I'm not even using the rack stuff live...I know, blasphemy

@Harley: You are correct about those 20/20 Dyna Watt amps, very hard to find and now they're very costly too

TS100 still available by any chance?

I know I am a little late to the game. Haha

Thanks guys.   

Hey Harley, I've been here buddy. I just come in hover around and look at posts.  Busy with life.  Hope you're well buddy.

Trying to build a rack rig back up slowly.  Still got my 3TM MP1 as well as my "Dukanator" that Hairston gave to me years ago.  Got a TC multi effects unit. Just looking for a Poweramp now. 

Trying to stay with solid-state if possible cause of the cost of tubes. 

Anyone try a Matrix Poweramp with an MP-1?

I live in Akron which has the biggest polymer college in the country. In fact, there is no City of Akron anymore except for three blocks. The rest is either UA or hospitals.

I've gone to the bars where they hang out and it's all DJs. No stages downtown at all. Either I have to go to Cleveland or Canton for any of that.

What they're playing in these dance bars is hardly what I'd call music, syncopated electronic loops.

Dante,

   You and I share the same mindset when it comes to guitars, we both like the slim, fast neck profiles. You would love both of my 1983 guitars as they don't have your typical Fender neck profiles.

   As for Gibson guitars, if you are looking for slimmer, more comfortable neck profiles, they only did that on the guitars from the early 60s to the early 70s. Those guitars are SOOOOO overpriced though that they are completely impractical. Since I'm such an oddball when it comes to guitars, I'll throw this out there right now. The only Gibson I would ever buy would be a 1971-1972 Les Paul Recording model. Just saying.