As a dedicated pre- it has everything you need. I have been using one for about 12 years (still haven't had to replace the internal battery) and I have put it through hell so to speak. If you use it alone with a good solid power amp of your choice, it definitly cuts through the noise. I have played blues to metal, electric and acoustic. With 100 midi patches available I have never run out of room to store my sounds. Team it up with a good effects processor and your ready to create some serious music. On stage it is very easy to tweak the sound for the room acoutstics, if its a coleseum with never ending echo or a small intimate bar where you might want to tone it down a bit, no problem. I think one reason it is so easy to tweak is because the sounds that it produces are very clear therefore no bad overtones or background noise to fight. So basically as a stand alone pre- it sounds great, but with some sugar on top like (your favorite effects) it sounds awesome!!!

I like the fact that you can store all your favorite sounds or group them together however you like and all you have to do is call up the number. Another nice feature is being able to run a direct line out to a monitor or a mixer without having to use a main speaker output.

Its lasted me 12 years.

As with any high quality component its going to cost $$$

Never had to.

Its a great looking "rack"