You really don't have to to have a distorted sound at all. How well they ring out is more a matter of your pickups, other amp setting, etc. For example, my RG with PAF pros in them, I can pinch harmonics out very loud and clear anywhere on the fretboard, and the sustain for as long as necessary (so you can do all those Satriani whammy tricks I guess), but on my HM strats (which have Dimarzio Super Distortions or Super 3s on them), it can't really be done without a lot of gain.