Had a bit more time to play tonight - and to do some basic testing.
 
I think I'm getting to appreciate the red channel/ultra gain.
In Lead One mode.
Lead Two seems a bit too modern heavy for me.
 
But then there's quite a few things to mess with, such as that Tone Shift switch and "Resonance". I seem to always prefer a more natural type of sound, with more mids and less treble and presence, and reasonable amount of bass. 
 
I get the sound I want but I seem to be keeping the treble and bass knob a lot lower than I used to on my old amps.
 
I've also started messing around with the SM57, recording little bits and trying to get to know my cab and its speakers. 
 
Fun times! :)
 
Oh and I got a call today - they've received my foot switch. :)

The tone controls on Marshall's are typically very interactive. Try and do some weird things with them, like turning the presence up full while turning the bass and treble to zero. Now use the midrange control as a single tone control for that channel. It worked for the old metal panel super lead models. The DSL and TSL amps have a lot of options for tone shaping and creating your signature sound.
 
I just fired up my very first JTM 45 build. Man, it sounds so good but I can't get the volume above 1 in my apt. As you've pointed out Marshall clean tones are great, particularly through a 4x12.

A friend who's into modding amps and all that good stuff suggested that I might want to try a different type of tube, mentioning ECC832/823.
 
But in all honesty, I'm not even touching those things. I already have more than enough options, and I don't feel the need to modify that uber gain sub-channel to make it usable. I already have an awesome clean sound, great Plexi type of gain and excellent JCM800 type of gain on Red Channel, Lead 1. That's all I really need.
 
If I really wanted to take advantage of that Lead 2 sub-channel, I'd probably want a different guitar or a different type of pick-ups. Whatever those metal dudes are using nowadays. But I love mids so much...
 
As you mention, those controls are very interactive, and one of the reason I was so dead set on buying a Marshall is that I feel comfortable around them, and those controls allow me to work out all kinds of sounds which are still "my sound".
 
 
 
 

When you eventually retube just give me a shout and I'll give you the skinny on what's available. You can actually pay very different amounts for the same tube and the only thing different is the label. Stock tubes these days are usually Chinese.
 
12AX7, 7025, ECC83 and ECC803S used to be all slightly different but today the distinction is very fuzzy.

So I finally dropped by to grab my footswitch today.
 
Last Friday, when he couldn't find it, the clerk mentioned that he could not order the footswitch separately, but that they order a new amp and give me the footswitch that came with it.
 
I'm sure you see where this is going but I can't say that I really paid attention to what he was saying - my brain recorded the entire thing, but processed only the relevant info - footswitch would arrive this week.
 
Only when I had the box in my hands did it hit me that the person who would buy this new amp they'd ordered would be missing the footswitch. And a clerk will probably have him waiting for 20-30 minutes while trying to find it... And he'll probably end up repeating the exact same process.
 
But I guess I should focus on the fact that I'm a privileged customer - not only did I get a footswitch, but it came in a box, and with a manual for the amp. Only, the amp is actually the 40W combo, but, hey...
 
 
 
 

At least you got yours , that's the important thing 
 
Kenny

Don't sweat it.  Our Social Security program is based on a similar model.