Given the playing you described I think you can easily come under the $500 budget for your amp. There are lots of smaller (practice) amps that can blast you out of your room and fill a much larger one. Happily in this category there are modeling amps which can imitate the sounds of many of the larger ones. I use the Trademark 30 made by Tech 21. The company is not a well known name but my amp is well built, powerful for home use and small venues and has a range of features/settings. I got mine at a bargain from a pro musician but even at list price the TM30 is inexpensive.
Check out the specs... http://tech21nyc.com/products/amps/guitar/trademark30.html .
Use Google to check out reviews; here's a page for TM30's, https://www.google.com/#hl=en&sugexp=les%3B&gs_nf=3&gs_mss=Trademark%2030&tok=iWcZgqv9K9XmV6xFTIE6GQ&cp=13&gs_id=1g&xhr=t&q=Trademark%2030%20review&pf=p&tbo=d&sclient=psy-ab&oq=Trademark+30+&gs_l=&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.&fp=502d8373de021e1c&bpcl=35466521&biw=1280&bih=842 . Tour the music stores and pawn shops in your area to get an idea about sounds, features and prices. Surf the net and don't be afraid of EBay.
john
"It takes a lot of devotion and work, or maybe I should say play, because if you love it, that's what it amounts to. I haven't found any shortcuts, and I've been looking for a long time."
-- Chet Atkins
-- Chet Atkins
