Actually I quite like the tone though I see where folks are coming from. If Laneys are now like this, they sound a lot better than when I tried them out(many moons ago...don't ask how many..). I know the problems I've had mic-ing, to be honest, which is why I generally give up the ghost and go for modelling. Nice one Tom...I like the fact that you always keep at it and refine where you think it's needed.
It's sometimes said on recording forums: "never monitor using headphones": I'd qualify that by adding "unless you have to and there's other people to take into consideration"! I'll use them to see where I'm at and trawl through the many takes I have to do to get things sounding decent, yet when it comes to mixing, I find that one needs air+speakers to get a truer reference. As flat as manufacturers say their phones are, as a guitarist I never quite trust them...just my tuppenceworth.
I get the feeling/intuition that the Laney will be a true, released and galloping racehorse with volume at 11 btw :)