Real Mesa TC100 vs AF3 into guitar cab - looking for advice

[yoitsmegabe]

Edit - surprised u have p.a. modelling off with LxII but if it's an amp model with gain mostly in the preamp then makes sense (if it was a model with a lot of coleration / gain in poweramp section then I'd bet you'd need p.a. modelling on).

Just went back and read your linked posts from your reply. I agree with you and I'd like to add that some amps still get some of their tone from the power section even if the gain/dirt is mostly from the preamp. I took the signal from the effects out on my Mark V 90w and ran that to my matrix power amp. Cycling through the 3 modes (IIc+, mark IV, and extreme) there is only a little difference in tone. They just get slightly gainier. A lot of the tonal changes are things that take effect in the power section such as negative feedback.