Not sure if this is a side note or answering the basic question. But
you might check out a new product called the Redeemer from Creation
Audio. At the risk of totally blowing the technical description, It's a
brand new kind of circuit that takes the original signal from the
output of the guitar and drives the current to make it a low impedance
signal. My understanding is that it is NOT an active buffer amp, but
something new with no transformers to match up. Basically you can drive
a really long cable without signal loss or go straight into a direct
(mixer) input with a full sound. It makes a BIG difference. Makes amps
sound great! Makes direct guitar sound great! And I think it costs
around $150. Well worth it. You can have one installed directly in the
guitar, or there is also a stompbox version (my preference for
recording).
Cheers,
Lij