I too, started on Fender...a Bassman with the huge matching cabinet and a Digitech Chain Reaction plugged into the front of it.
It sounded amazing, but I was 15 years old, and it did not belong to me.
I never really was able to capture that sound again (until... read on).
I had some audition time with a Hi-Watt stack and it was awesome, but I could not afford it and it really did not have much gain, although I was only 18 at the time and did not really know much about the product line so really did not know how to set it up.
Then I had some crap amps, including a Kustom stack that had two 100 watt heads and two matching 4x12. This was total crap too.
I took everything I owned to a local shop (huge, unbelievable shop known to the likes of Eric Clapton etc.), except my Roland Cube 60, which was the first amp I ever purchased and one that I still have, and traded it all in.
I played everything they had, Marshall, Orange, Vox, Saldano etc. and of course Mesa Boogie.
I fell in love with the Tremoverb.
Money was tight and I ended up with two new Marshall 1960B 4x12, a Peavey CS800 and a Digitech GSP2101 Pro. All of this new gear was cheaper than the **** Mesa and matching cabinet, and I know...I did not even consider the combo...what a mistake but, I really was gassing for a stack. In all fairness this rig was a joke, but it really sounded AMAZING, although it is NOT a Mesa, by any stretch of the imagination.
After about 7 years of gigging with that rig I stopped playing gigs and the 9-5 took over.
I sold it all except the Digitech, which my son uses with the Roland.
I did not play at all for many years.
Years later I had the time and money and decided I wanted to get the band back together and revisit all the original material we wrote and write some new stuff, but I knew I had to have the Tremoverb (and the Jem7VWH, which I also demoed with the Tremoverb 10-15 years earlier.
I bought back one of the Marshall 1960B 4x12 (from a friend) and bought two MINT used Tremoverb Combos, plus a TC Electronic GMajor and an FCB1010.
I love this setup and will never sell it, although I have thought of a Mark V, but have not auditioned one yet. I now have an RC, AC-Comp and a BB-AT in front and love them too.
I continue to add to and improve my rig and I love it...never looking back.