Next was the ART SGX-2000 and X-15 midi controller. Still not quite a modeler, but "it has a tube inside!". I really enjoyed using the expression pedals to "morph" between tones by using assigned Modifiers because changing presets had an audio gap (imagine that!) and I hated that. I was pretty happy with that for several years and couldn't afford something new in any case. But then...
I ordered that thing from Musician's Friend and waited for a year for it to actually be released (it was "expected soon" when I placed the order).I totally forgot about the ART! The other guitarist in my band had one and I remember us going through the presets and being blown away by them. I remember thinking how the “tube thing” must be making it magical. He couldn’t afford to get a rack case after getting it, so he somehow attached it to an old side table.