Well, thanks. I thought $500-$600 (and 30 lbs.!) was the upper end of my budget, at least the upper end for a practice amp.

I just sit in my room and hack, hack, hack, twang, twang, twang....
I have several cheap amps. A few I bought because someday I want to give a few of my really cheap guitars away to some school, group or someone who wants t learn to play; you can't seriously give someone an electric guitar without an amp (well, I guess you "could").
Anyway, I have this old VOX - I never really considered it a "Beatles tone" amp. Of all the research I've done on it--Pathfinder 15R / V9168R--I've haven't found any reviewer associating this with early Beatles music, although it is fairly popular; strat & tele players seem to like it, in spite of being a solid state.
But, I can see now that from the posts here, and the lack of posts about a Beatle practice amp, that it probably doesn't make that much difference -- tweak your amp & guitar tones and find your best sweet spot. I'm going to back off of getting a new amp for the time being and just work with Pathfinder 15R. I appreciate all the recommendations.
Now, I have to find some decent 12-54 flatwound strings that won't cost me $30+.... Looks like D'Addario Chromes 12-52 may be it for a short scale/325.
Thanks.