Have you considered a FRED? One of the guys in one of my former band installed one in his soloist and it was great for 80s metal, hard rock, shredding, etc. Just sounded real "alive", for lack of a better term, with a loud 50 watt Marshall. I don't know what the rest of your rig is like, but I have installed it for many a rock guy who does more chops oriented playing and they have always been happy with it. I don't really have any experience with the AT-1, so maybe someone who DOES will chime in.