This relates to perceived level and cutting through the mix. I'm finding that while I can use very distorted presets in recording, like a Diezel Ch4, when I play with my cover band, it just turns into noise that gets lost in the mix. On Working for the Weekend, I changed from the Diezel to a Plexi 100 Watt High, and now we can hear that little chord solo and the little G riff. The distorted leads seem to cut through the mix okay, but not on rhythm. I don't know if that helps you any, and I'd welcome others' insight on this. I love playing very high-gain, distorted presets, but over the past years, have just found them not working for me live. Maybe it's related to being in a two-guitar band.