Lots of both around here.
The 2950 will get loud on AM but the 979 can get a little louder, both are screamers, if you're into that.
If you're wanting to get into SSB and don't want to add the headache/nightmare of drifting then stay clear of Galaxy period.
I like them but I have enough knowledge to add a TCXO (Temperature Controlled Crystal-'X' Oscillator) to the reference oscillator to stabilize it's frequency on SSB, without which it will drift about a friggin' KC during warm-up, then keep drifting up & down the entire time you're talking.
The latest 2950 is quite a good sounding unit and with a nice Texas Star250/350/667 behind it, it would not disappoint.
Roger on, "The rig is only as good as it's Tech!"
- Or you could just get a Yaesu FT-857D & Ameritron ALS-500 and go for your General license so you can jabber-jaw all day from 10m-40m, and all night on 75m-80m. - But maybe that's for down the road, after you decide if you like SSB and the Gentlemen which hang out there.