For Guitar, the tube rectifiers rule, but THD's reactive rectifier might be almost as good, and MUCH more reliable. They also have some plug-ins (yellow jackets) that convert the amp to lower power, which can be handy if you like overdrive without going deaf! Those babies are LOUD when cranked! I owned one for many years for bass, but I could only get my country guitar playing freinds to play through it. Too clean for eveybody else.
BTW, have you re-capped it yet? If you don't know if you need to, have it checked before you play it much. Old caps can do alot of damage.
If you decide you don't like it, get in touch with me
: : Did you ever get your Solarus sorted out? I could maybe answer more of your questions about that guy...
: I think i got it sorted out. I have 2 6550 Power tubes (I got a great deal, a matched quad for 70 dollars canadian), 1 5AR4 for the rectifier, 1 7199 (Phase Inverter?), 1 12au7, 1 12ax7. Is this right? The 5AR4 is still on order so I havent been able to try it yet. But why does mine have a tube rectifier but Mike's has a solid state? Weird huh! I love this site, people are totally willing to help out if they can. I appreciate it, hopefully I can help someone else one of these days when I learn a lot about tube amps.