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I agree....DON'T GET DISCOURAGED!!!

As cool as tube amps are, they play by the rules of electronics.  Sometimes
you get a dud.  It's probably a tube that has a short or a "fusion" issue.  I
bet when they get it fixed, it will ROCK and deliver that Creamy, rich sound
you want.

Tube amps rule, although I use a solid state, I have played through tube amps
and they ROCK the WALLS!  Hang in there and things will get better.

VOX makes good s**t.  And they WILL stand behind their products.  They will
get it fixed and you will be happy.  I just about guarantee it.

Hang in there, my brother.

You can get clean and distorted licks outta a Les Paul.  I love mine and find it one of the most versitile guitars on the planet.  I can crank out the Heavy Metal, The Hard Rock, Uh....the "in between stuff" whatever that is and even the Blues.  I don't do Country, but I've heard some of my buddies produce a good twanky-tune from my Les Paul.  I have no problems playing some of Van Halen's stuff, Metallica or STP on my LP.  Love it or hate it...a Les Paul just can't be beat.  I prefer the Gibson Les Paul's, but "some" of the Epi's are good.  I love all the Epi Zakk Wylde models I have played (and damn it, I want one so bad!), but some of the other Epis are a little off.  I admit you will over-pay for a Gibson LP, but you will get a hand-crafted finish and a human to do QA on it.  With an Epi, you get a mass-produced ax with no QA.  However, it's up to you whether it's worth the price-drop or not.  Either one you choose, you will be getting a quality solid-body guitar with great tone and playability. 

As far as an SG...I have played one and it ROCKS.  But (for me) I like the feel, weight and presence of a Les Paul.  Personally, I think a Les Paul will leave an SG curled up in the corner...crying.  But then again...it all depends on the player.

Did I mention I wanted ALL the Epiphone Zakk Wylde models?

Sorry.  I think I am going to be sick.

Rock on!

I like them a lot.  I have a Breedlove Atlas series and (to me) it smoked the Martin's and Taylor's I played at Guitar Center.  Of course, guitars (maybe acoustics a little more than electrics) are the players' choice.  I love Martin and Taylor, also Takamine (I own two) and there are many more that are top-notch.  I was sold on Breedlove, when I played it, because of the action, the look and the sound.  The sound was amazing and the construction of the guitar is superb.  Even though mine is Korean-made, I love everything about it and have never regretted my decision to buy it.  Breedlove is a relatively new company in the guitar world and they have a lot of extremely good counterparts to stand beside and I think they are doing a fine job.  But don't listen to me, go check one out yourself, play them against a Martin, Taylor and even a Gibson...then you decide which one "sounds" the best.

I think you ought to get the guitar you want the most (if that's possible).  Decide what kind of songs you want to play (or enjoy playing) the most and get that type of guitar.  If you get an acoustic, then you can get an electric later on (see riddler's post) and vise-versa.  I can't tell you which one you need to buy first, mainly because I don't know what you like to play and what you like to hear.  And...even if I did, I still would be off in telling you what "I" think you need to get first.  You seem to be a well-versed player and I believe whatever you decide on will be just great.  It's just a catalyst to the next stage of playing.

Good luck and have fun deciding what you want.   

.....Uh.....I do have one suggestion though.  Get a bass, get an acoustic and an electric (on credit!!)

There's music I don't really like and there is music I like that others do not, but with people who are musically-inclined...there will be a "bridge" somewhere.  It may be hard to find, but even with major differences, people who love, cherish and play music can find that bridge, cross it and find a mutual bond that lasts forever.  Uh....what?  Did I really say that?  Not trying to be philosophical or anything, I just think people who play music and understand it, even at the most basic level, do have a bond others do not.

Unfortunately, there's nothing I can do about the racism.  But I can say that if we ever get together...we won't let any of those people in to hear us play!!!! 

Wow, what some great replies here.  I too have gotten into and been through a slump.  I quit playing for a a couple of years due to some changes and I find myself struggling to just get back to where I was.  Although where I was isn't really all that good...I've found it not like riding a bicycle.  I am trying to push myself to reach that platau I was at before I quit and it is hard.  There's nothing else I can suggest that hasn't already been suggested here.  I do find that getting together with friends help me some.  It doesn't matter whether they are better, the same or more novice that I...I always learn something.  It's a good thing to get together any time you can.  And I believe I stayed more motivated when I was going to clubs and bars, listening to bands play.  Any way you can stay musically-motivated is a good thing and will help you.  I used to try and learn a new song every month (at least) with tab or by ear.  That helped me some too.

You seem to have a desire to play and that is all you need.  You'll find it.  You'll do it and you will like it.  Try something new.  Hell, try something weird.  You have the skills you need to experiment.  Get down your guitar and do something you have never done.  It doesn't have to be a song.  Bring chords together that you know...in a different way.  Experiment with pull-offs or hammer-ons within the chords you know.  Let your fingers go wild!!!  LOL!!

You'll find it man.  Stay in there and keep rockin!!  Let us all know what you did and understand that we all share your concern.  It's the fear we all have of "that place" we get to sometimes.

Or...at least I do.

I envy you!  ;-)

What do you like?  Rock?  Country?  There are many fairly easy songs in both genres.

And, as rocknidiot said, Time of Your Life by Greenday is a good one and it sounds good playing an acoustic (6 or 12) or with an electric. 

Knowing what you like to play would probably help us figure out some suggestions.

Rock on, my brother!

bobby6string.....LOL!!  I'm so glad stuff like that never happens to me.  ;-)

Tone is everyting it seems with guitars.  And, as jerome.oneil stated, tube amps will require replacement of tubes from time to time.  Tube amps are so cool and sound amazing, but there are amps out there that come darn close to tube amps but are 100% solid state.  Now me having a Line 6 (a solid-state amp that emulates tube tone), I can't get too personal on this subject.  I'll just say that I'd try out tube amps and solid state amps before I made a choice for sure.  You may find that a tube amp is the sweetest thing you've heard and just what you want and you may find something all together different in a modeling amp.  Of course price plays into this quite a bit too.  Also...getting a good amp for your electric purchase, like a modeling amp, will be great for an acoustic/electric.  I play my acoustic through my Line 6 all the time (on a clean channel) and it sounds great.  I can also dial in Reverb/Chorus/Delay/Compression and so on to make it even better.  As good as acoustic amps are, you will never miss one if you get a good modeling amp for an electric and play your acoustic on one of the preset CLEAN channels.  Rock on!

I do not have an "acoustic amp" for my acoustic/electric and I've never used one in the past with various A/E guitars I've had.  While an acoustic amp is great, I find that my Line 6 does just fine.  Now, you don't want to put it on Boston, Van Halen or Metallica and plug your acoustic in and hope for a good tone.  Actually, you want a "CLEAN" sound/channel/setting.  While this will not produce the best sound for your acoustic, it will make a damn good try.  My A/E (acoustic/electric) sounds great on my Line 6 amp on a clean channel and then I have all the Chorus/Delay/Reverb/or whatever to pump in there to make it sound even cooler.  So, I say get a great modeling amp that does awesome stuff and then finding a good setting for your acoustic will be easy.  In fact, in my humble opinion, it will be better than any "acoustic amp" you can buy.  Rock on!