Hunter, I don't know how much this will help you. Very possibly none. But even if it doesn't, if you have the time to wartch it, it is fascinating.

JHS Pedals did a video called The History of Distortion. And it is just that, a history. He doesn't go through a demonstration of many pedals like so many of his videos. Although he does show representative samples of different historically significant pedals. Lots of those and maye one of those will trigger that tone in your head. Or get you closer.

At a minimum, it's interesting, informative and his videos are always fun. Not verbatim but "Now crank up your distortion and play really loud and annoy some people. That's what rock and roll is all about!"