papaflann
Inspired
I'm another vote for AxeFx + power amp + guitar cab.
Axe with an FRFR never sounds quite natural to me, but run an Axe through a Matrix power amp with a good sounding guitar cab (with cab sims off) and I'm there.
Sounds good to me man. My next option is to pick up a two rock cab and a Matrix 1000 and give that a go. That will run me about 12-1300 versus about 2500 for a two rock and cab. I've read up on some 4cm methods with a legit amp and a lot of guys enjoy that, but I don't want to limit my tonal options by committing to a two rock, bogner, top hat, div 13 etc...
By going with the Matrix and a quality cab you really can go in whatever direction you want and not have that tonal color of a certain amp....
I have never run my axe through an actual cab though, to date. I"ve only been a K12 guy...I"ve been really happy with that and my band has enjoyed having a lower stage volume via me running direct (we use k12's as mains as well). There is definitely something sexy about having a legit amp on stage though, but if you're playing smaller venues it may cause a lot of sonic interference that could be avoided via running FRFR. At recent gigs, I've just had a k12 as my monitor and run copy out 1 to out 2 and give out 1 to house and out 2 as my monitor with a house feed. I felt comfortable at those shows..I never missed a cab on stage, but after hearing that two rock, it woke me up....