Not really a distortion — a midrange lens. Set the drive low, the level high, and it turns a decent amp into a focused one. Half the blues and metal tones you love have one in front of the amp.
Mid-forwardCompressedFocused
Modulation
One knob, one job, instantly recognisable. Sitting after the gain it adds that swirling movement to a rhythm part that flat DI-style tones never get.
SwirlingVintageAnimated
Fuzz
Enormous, scooped, endlessly sustaining. Solo tone in a box — and a rhythm nightmare in a dense mix, which is precisely the trade you're making.
FuzzyScoopedSustaining