For me, I run a Tubescreamer into a JCM 800...both have a moderate amount of distortion, but put together, they can produce some pretty high gain at relatively low volumes...at higher volumes, I usually eliminate the Tubescreamer.

I get my high gain from my Cube 30 at the Rectifier setting :P ehehehe

At the moment I'm running a Keeley MT-2tz into my '79 Marshall JMP 50watt 2204 head and it produces a fantastic high-gain sound.

Although it's a master-volume head I find that it sounds far better if I go into the 'low' input. That way I get a great warm clean sound with the MT-2 switched off and when you hit the pedal it's instant Metal Nirvana!

Running the pedal into the 'high' input it just sounds too much and breaks-up too much and you end up with a terrible sound.

I get mine straight from my Rocktron Chameleon Preamp....total sonic BREWtality!

I've never used pedals for gain. It all comes from a head or preamp.

Spider II is the way to go for me. The metal and insane amp models have PLENTY of gain on their own but if you want to add more the amp has a built in drive boost feature. It's nice to finally be able to just plug straight into an amp without having to worry about pedals or preamps.

i do the same thing, i use the green metal channel, with a medium amount of gain. at home i use a v-amp.

Kustom KGA65 through the clean channel and a BOSS MT-2. Phat lows and searing highs, love it.

i have a custom build booster pedal or a ds-1 which goes into my jcm 800

Jem7VWH through Mesa/Boogie RectoVerb with Recto cab. I like the "Modern" voicing rather that the Recto setting for leads, even though the latter has more gain.

I played last saturday with this
http://www.hughes-and-kettner.com/sc...&lang=en&id=11
Nice gain!

There's this control on teh front of my amp

I tend to go for preamp distortion from my amps, or if the place is big enough, power amp distortion

If I need a bit more edge to my tone, I'll front end it with a modern Boss DS1. They're harsher than the old Japanese ones, but they still retain a lot of 'that' sound.

I layer a BOSS DS-1 Ultra signal at max dist. to my GT-5s DS-1 at 5. It gives me a higher gain sound. Does anyone else do this?

For hi gain, I use the red channel on my JSX through a 1960B cab.

If I need a boost, Ill either kick in a Sparkle Drive for even more sizzle, or a MXR 6 band EQ pedal in the effects loop for a clean boost.

My Nomad's Channel 3, generally vintage but occasionaly modern for rhythm. If anyone needs more gain than a UV and a Nomad can give you, they've got some serious psychological issues.

-D

same UV/Nomad here but i prefer channel 3 modern for both rhythem and leads. I remember not liking the nomad when you posted clips but i bought one sight unseen and absolutely love the thing.