Just my opinion if you have the desire and aptitude building an amp is the shizzle! First off you get a savings$$ because your building it, you can go with top notch components where applicable and it is very rewarding. You will also own an amp you know inside and out that you can work on and tune it to what YOU want not the factory.
I have my old 60's Fender that I have refurbed and tuned up which are a joy to play. Then I have a DeLuxe 5E3 and a Dumble ODS clone that I have built and they are without a doubt spectacular amps. The 5E3 can run 6k6's for 7 watts low power situations or 6V6 for 15 watts and the ODS runs two 6V6's or 6L6's for 22 or 35 watts respectively. It really is a great thing to crank on a box you built! Heres a link to my album of builds if you wanna look around.
http://s13.photobucket.com/albums/a2...ite/?start=all
Git-tires EC Custom Strat, Gibson ES-335, Custom built Tele, Fender Highway 1 P-Bass, Martin 000-28EC Acoustic, Gibson SG Classic
Hearin aids-AmphsCustom hand built 5E3 Magic Markie Mojotone Amph, Fender Blackline dripedge 69 Princeton Reverb, 69 SF/DE Vibro-Champ, 64 Blackface Deluxe reverb, 64 Princeton 6G2 Fender, D'Lite ODS 22, Rumble 60 Bass amph
EffectsBoss CH1 Chorus, Boss DD-3 Delay, Vox wah, Tonebone Classic, TS-9 modded, Bad Bob,Sweetsound Mojo-vibe, Boss RC-20XL Loopstation, Peterson Strobstomp, ZYS pedal, Keeley Comp, Boss LS-2, Zendrive, Menatone Howie