actually the mesa subway rocket, which is the amp i was refering to is only $500, i know cause i just bought one, i will agree that fender does have the better clean, fenders have a nice sparkle to their clean channel which does make them nice, but mesa's clean is right up there. I think the mesa has a much better tone than fender. Mesa uses better wood when making their amp cabnets which sets them with an incredible tone. Something else to consider is size, while the mesa subway rocket and the fender delux both have 1X12 speaker, the mesa is much smaller, which for me living in a dorm is something i had to take into consideration, but maybe not everyone. Anyway i hope this helps, oh yah and i almost forgot Mesas last for ever, they will never break unless you really mess up and they will work for ever