Another thing with gain/distortion sound is about what type of tubes you're running. I played 6L6 amps for years, now I use EL84 amps. Different gain sound. Also different speakers focus on different frequencies and range. That's one of the fun things with guitar, so many different variables out there to tinker with to find what you like.
Thanks so much for this information. My amp has preamp and channel volume and master Volume. When going for power amp overdrive, I am assuming you’re talking about raising the master volume and not the channel volume correct?
Those ones are tricky. If I was an amp tech I would know better but what I think is happening is this. Preamp gain is obvious as its got the name. Volume is also preamp volume and it serves the same function as the 'Crunch' button does in my vid, to bring in some preamp distortion but not as much as the Preamp knob. That would leave the Master to be the power amp. It's hard to say unless you look up the specs for the actual amp, but there is an easy way to find out though. Briefly turn each one up to about 6 and see what it does. I say 'briefly' because it will get very loud. Preamp gain will sound very distorted. Power amp gain will have crunch so if you push through the strings it sounds a bit distorted in a punch ACDC kind of way. If what I've said above is correct, Master volume will bring in strength and break up as it's turned up. The other 2 will distort.
You started out stating that achieving different sounds was all about the guitar and pickups. amp didn't really matter. Then you proceeded to demonstrate a whole variety of completely different sounds by making amp adjustments. 😁
