You're right, with any new gear, real or bytes, it's a gamble. Even the free mesa was better then the stk Helix cab so I bought the Ownhammer, 10 bucks, where you going? The Ownhammer green 25 blew me away. Best $10 I ever spent. Completely smoothed out the Helix plexi. I'd like to try the green pre-rola 20.