Great Ape said:
Just read this entire thread, and I sure am glad I play blues: Reverb (spring) onboard, Snark tuner clipped to guitar headstock, guitar into OD pedal, into amp...voila! Tone!
I feel you, buddy. Guitar -> cable -> amp (with amp reverb as the sole effect) is what works best for me. I have a cheap little Fender Mustang III modeling amp that's a blast to play with, but I feel like I really sound the most like me into a low-wattage tube combo. Can't justify the expense of an exotic modeler, and I lack the ears to really appreciate it anyway.