software

I tried a Reissue Fender Blues DeVille 410 today along with a Tech 21 SansAmp GT2.
Wow, the tone of that Blues DeVille is a wonder. One of the best I ever heard.
The distortion of the Tech 21 GT2 with that amp. sounded very professionnal
like you can hear from the great bands.
They could have locked me in the store for the night and I wouldn't mind at all to play that gear all night.
I think it's hard to get better than this, don't you?

I think the Blues Deville has a slightly better tone than a Hotrod Deville, although they both have excellent clean channels. The best way to approach the lead channels is to set them as slight volume boosts, over the clean channel. To use them as true distortion channels is a mistake, as they often sound farty and grainy.

The gain sounds best fairly low, but bolstered with a high quality OD pedal.....pretty much what you did.