There's a wrong and a right type of distortion which you're probably aware of.
The Marshall JCM800 (even the reissue) has the right distortion sound, but can't let you get the clean sound, as it has no channel switching abilities.
You's need another amp for clean and an A/B box.
The Marshall DSL 100 can get very close to the JCM 800 distortion sounds and can get a deeper sound (similar to Mesa Boogie...I said similar) AND get you the clean sound via a footswitch. There's a you tube comaprison. I've purchased Marshalls almost every 3 years since 1976 until now.
I tried the Mesa Boogie Dual and triple rectumfryers and even the little combos. Lots of people would say, "did ya try the Mesa Boogie". I got tired of hearing it. I tried em. It's the WRONG type of distortion in my opinion.
Marshall has the right distortion type tone in my opinion. Don't know about the vintage moderns, but the amp needs to be tubed with at least 4 power tubes and 3 preamp tubes or else I wouldn't bother.
Rack preamps= no tone, last 100 times i tried.
