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→High-Gain Amps
In the early 80's, amps started to incorporate heavy tube overdrive in the pre-amp section using the smaller pre-amp tubes, with variable gain/drive controls. This allowed real tube overdrive, without having to crank volume to ear-bleeding levels. These started the modern trend of ''high-gain amps''. Various refinements were made, such as cascading gain stages across multiple tubes, offering heavy, saturated distortion without compromising control and minimizing noise and other unwanted warts.
Many artists still run boost pedals in front of high-gain amps, not from any necessity for more distortion than the amp can offer alone, but more due to its [[Tone#Boosts and Frequency Response|impact on frequency response ]] or other tonal/response changes that enhance the amp's distortion. Most amps have distortion voiced for a middle-of-the-road rock tone, while metal artists prefer a tighter, brighter tone that doesn't get muddy on palm mutes. Often using a boost is the easiest way to get there.
=== Modelers ===