Sounds like you and I would get along just fine
My main amps are a bunch of Two Rocks (one of which is a
very Dumble-adjacent circuit), a herd of "Fenders-with-attitude" (as I've always referred to my Boogie MkIIA-Coli IIB-IIC+ faves), black panel Showman, silver-face Dual Showman Reverb, Zinky-era Tone-Master, a handful of Groove Tubes amps and a plexi PA head.
What D-style amps have you tried and liked in the actual physical?
I have tried a few different D-types. I've played with Devon Allman a couple times and he had some really nice Fuchs amps. Played one of his and it was mesmerizing. I have tried several others that have also blown me away. I have tried the Amplified Nation amp and realized it feels like my old RIvera TBR-1M - comfy like an old shoe. I'd buy one, lol. I want to try a Two Rock but there aren't any nearby. Sometimes GC in Orlando or Miami get one in. I have feelers out. Next time they do, I'll make the drive to try it out.
I also played a modified Deluxe that a guy over here has. Not sure WHO did the mods, but it was GLORIOUS. There was something VERY comfortable about how that amp responded - spongy enough to bounce when hitting chords, and single notes sustain and bloom without lot "fuzz"...what I call "clean distortion". If I could have one TODAY, it would be that Deluxe!!!
I also tried the VHT D50 thinking it could do it for me on a budget. It's not too bad, but if I am going to have a physical D-type, then I want something that is done with higher build quality. The only VHT I really like is the old Fryette-era Pitbull 100 Classic - but that is a different beast all together....
Surprisingly, my FAVORITE Marshall of ALL time is the hybrid Artist 3203 - SS preamp with an EL34 power section. I can get every tone I need with that head and NO extra effects. IF I ever get physical amps again, that one is on the top of the list.
With Fender, I have had the Bassman amps - a 58, a 65 set, and the Bassman 100 (many hate it, but it's great for bass AND tight, loud clean tones). Of course I spent my time with the silver-face Twin Reverb, but I find those to be VERY limiting. I love them clean, but trying to naturally drive one????
We opened for Anvil a few times after their movie came out and they were beginning to experience a "come back" of sorts. I was hanging off the side of the stage while Sunlord played and Lips walked over. We were rocking out to Sunlord (we had already played). After their set, during change over, we were talking amps. I was still doing Rivera - he was intrigued. Then I asked him if he was really running TWO Super Twin Reverbs with TWO double 15" cabs. He said yeah, and he cranked those amps to TEN!!!!! HOLY !@^$%$&#!@*!!#!#&%%^* his rig was punishingly loud. Yikes. Nugent did that early on, too...
I have a Silverface Dual Showman that is in a 4x10 Concert cab loaded with EVM10 speakers. My brother uses it for his surf band. That is a loud, clean amp that rings with such beauty. He's also got my 66 Tube Reverb Unit. PERFECT surf sound!!! I don't talk about that much here, but I used to surf music with him in the early 90s. The Rivera's worked great for that, too.
I remember when Bruce Zinky was at Fender. Those CS amps were awesome. COngrats on that Tone-Master. I always liked those. While not a Zinky design, I really like the Fender Super Sonic 22 also. I can get that nice, fat singing neck pick-up sound on that amp VERY easily without getting that fizz and fuzz that something like an ENGL provides.
