Yeah, Mark never beat the sound he had on the first DS records. I loved the smooth Pensa Suhr sound for a long time, like on Your own sweet way on the NHB record. Now it seems a little sterile. His live Strat sound (Fender) these days I don't like at all. But each to his own.
I don't play in a proper band except in a church I attend. The church band is not very good, so it's a little hard sometimes. Wish I had some jamming buddies.
My live gear is pretty simple. The guitar is a customized Fender Highway 1 and the amp a Vox AC15C1. I'm not sure the Vox is what I really wanted, but for the money, it was the best option. I had a Peavey Classic 50 ten years ago, and that was a beauty. Except it weighs a ton ... My pedals currently consist of an MXR distortion III pedal, a Joyo chorus pedal and Boss volume pedal. There's a built in pedal controlled tremolo in the Vox that I use from time to time. I'll get myself a TC Electronic Nova Repeater delay pedal later this year. And that's all I care to get. The Vox also has two channels that I control with an AB pedal, so loads of possibilities there. I'm really a guitar-straight-into-the-amp guy, but it's nice to have at least a few sonic options.
How about you? What's your rig?
