i go for a particular type of amp....think jcm800 modded by Forten. it has to clean up with the guitar volume control and compress. i also don't like the distortion to be too flabby. if i can't get the right feel, then i don't bother trying to eq it, i just abandon the rig.

my Singtall Krinch preset is the standard i start with, and if i can't duplicate that sound and feel, it's over for me. if i can get that feel, then i can eq it to sound like all sorts of other rigs.