You have to get the MarkII c+ combo by mesa boogie. It's the same distortion metallica used on "and justice for all". Besides that type of distortion you can get any type of distortion out of that amp you want. It's so brutally loud you can use it live, remember stage volume is the enemy so I don't know why people have half stacks or full stacks when they just stick a mic in front of it anyway. Why not just push that one speaker harder in a combo amp. Here is the head version shown on ebay the combo shows up on ebay every now and then just have to wait for it http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3709505661&category=43374