That's too bad that the clean sound isn't working out for you.

I wouldn't be surprised if you could trade that amp straight up for somebody's Hot Rod Deluxe or even a DeVille. You might try advertizing it for a decent trade. It is a good amp and might get the attention of someone wanting those nice overdrive channels and that hot sound.

You know what you want, but the Mustang III I don't know about, in terms of being a serious alternative. Reportedly the Mustang III and above have been exhibiting the "fizz" sound design problem, more often than not - if you can believe what you read.

I don't know how much the Mustangs cost around you, but Marshall is discontinuing the JMD-1 modelling amps and they are selling around here for less than half the original internet price. It might be a good deal by you. It models only Marshall amps and has four clean channels amoung its models. You might try it out and see if it gives you the clean you want. The deal is pretty awesome and the amp is intense. I have the two by twelve combo and like it. It has four EL34 power tubes to really shake the house, but sounds very decent turned down really low - quite different from the HRD turned down low. Can you turn the HRD down low? Mine is like a kill switch - from no sound to loud, with no low volume taper to the louder sounds. It starts out loud. It is a great amp though, none the less.

I guess if you like clean, a Fender is a real good choice. I would just be skeptical of the Mustang III, but that is just me. I was skeptical of the Vox "Chromies" for years and finally got one, a VT30 that I totally enjoy.

In the end it is probably best to do what you really want to do. That seems to be what makes people happy and motivates them.

Good luck with this. Too bad that Club 40 didn't cut the mustard.

Then again there is nothing, seemingly, like a nice Fender clean sounding amp. Get the Mustang if you want to, needless to say, but I would probably look around for a tube Fender more like the Hot Rod Deluxe that really has some reserve power to shake, rattle, and roll.