This thread has brought back some memories of my first years starting to play. This was my first "real" pro rig, MP-1 with a Metaltronix SP 1000 poweramp, BBE 482 with two of those ADA split cabs.
Funny, a year earlier my first "real" guitar was a flip-flop/white-pink finish Kramer Baretta, only way I was able to afford it was from a Lawsuit. This guy sucker punched me from behind and cracked my jaw bone, So he got arrested and had to send me checks in the mail for awhile.... Like to find and thank him for buying me my gear, I wouldn't had a chance in hell to buy it back then.
You gotta be a guitar addict to be fine with taking a punch for some gear!