[Harp-L] need some amp advice

[Garry Hodgson <garry@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

ok, i need some amp advice.  here's the situation:

i got an alesis wildfire 30 for christmas.  nice amp,
chock full of effects that are fun to play with, and
i'm gradually figuring out how to make it sound like
i want.  the problem is, it's 30 watts, and when i play
at the local blues jam you basically can't hear anything
i play (admittedly, this might be a blessing.  but let's
not go there).  i'm using a hohner blues blaster, and with
the mic volume and amp volume all the way up, when the band
is loud, as it's been the last few times, i'm nonexistent.
(on quieter nights it's ok, but needs to be turned most of
the way up).

i paid $150, and the next step up the alesis line is a 60 watt
amp with similar features for $199.  i asked about trading up,
and i can do that, but would pay shipping (~$17) and an as yet
unspecified restocking fee.

now, i don't actually know if the 60 watt amp will be sufficient,
or whether i'll end up in the same bind.  that gives me pause.
but i do like the effects, and my guitar slinging daughter loves
the thing, so there's some incentive not to lose that capability.
and i'm new enough to all of this that i don't know what i want
"my sound" to sound like, so i like the flexibility to tailor it.

my dear wife, before i heard back on whether i could return the 30
or not, suggested i should just buy the 60.  she wants me to be
happy, and knows i'm very frustrated right now.  bless her heart.
i figure i've got about $200 to play with.

so it seems like i've got a few options:

suck it up and mic my existing amp through the PA.  i'll likely
try this in the short run anyway.  this seems cumbersome, and i
had only meager results last time i tried it.

buy the 60, hope it's loud enough.  either return the 30 and
take the fiscal hit, or give it to my daughter.

buy the digitech rp300 that's been talked about here, play
through the PA, keep the 30 for practice.

i'm leaning toward the rp300 option.  i like its flexibility
and the idea of traveling light, and it's gotten a lot of good
press around here.  and this lets me use either my own amp or
the PA or even someone else's amp, as the situation permits.

so, that's my situation.  i need to decide something soon, and
would greatly appreciate any advice y'all might have.

thanks

----
Garry Hodgson, Technical Consultant, AT&T Labs

Be happy for this moment.
This moment is your life.