Help! need to get Santana tone on a budget ( i know, almost imposible but still)

Hey everyone, first post here. So i have a gig to play and i don't use amp anymore, rather preamps plus a little class d power amp that is enough for monitor only (i'm going direct to PA from a Torpedo Two Notes CABM),and preamps. Currently i'm using a micro pedal format pre, tube powered (AMT Vx clean) but as the name suggests, is more on a vox ac30 tone. I've tried a couple more pedal preamps and can't get close. My options (due to budget) are: -Mooer 008 pre (Mesa MK III digital modeled pre) -Mooer 010 pre (Two Rock Coral amp modeled pre) -Some Zendrive oriented overdive plus my current pre

Have you had some experience with any of these? I would like to know what you think. PD: i know, i know, there is suppossed to be a nice 100w tube amp, but can't afford it. But i need a closer solution to what i have right now. thanks in advance!

"Preamp pedals going into a Two Notes Cab M"

See, that's the problem to start with. If you want to get the Santana tone you have to start with the proper gear. Carlos Santana used Dumble-style heads with rack stereo delays. And what do those Dumble heads have that the preamp pedals don't? That's right, tube power section. You can't replicate the feel and response of the real deal.

Yes, I know the tube amp market is out of control right now due to the ongoing tube shortage; however, if you're not using the proper equipment, then no matter how much time you spend trying to tweak the pedals, you won't get that sound. My suggestion is to sell those pedals and the CAB M, and save up for the real amps. If you can't stretch for the real Dumble, then at least go with the Synergy SYN-1 or SYN-2. You can easily get an AC30-style tone with the Morgan AC module, and for stereo delay, you can't go wrong with either a Strymon TimeLine or an Eventide TimeFactor.

Preamp pedals are convenient and all, but they all use the same FET technology and therefore sound and feel rather sterile and lifeless compared against the real deal. You can try adding more pedals to try and fix this; however, you cannot add what isn't there. The same can be said for the modellers and profilers - they all use similar DSP chips trying to sound like the real thing but then they all cut corners in the feel and response of the real amp, not to even mention how subpar the effects on the modellers are. (Believe me, I know this from my experience with the Failure Audio Crap-FX III. Absolute useless piece of garbage that frankly, I highly do NOT recommend anyone play through it if they care about respecting the originality of the guitar tones.)

I know tube amps will be expensive, but it would be unrealistic for me to recommend subpar gear to try and achieve a certain tone. You get what you pay for.

I think if I were in this situation I would pick up a less popular combo like a Mesa 22 caliber for older Santana or a nomad for the rectifier era, either or... then re sell as soon as I was done with the gig before it inevitably breaks like all Mesa amps eventually do.

There was also that rectifier studio rack awhile back with the "rectory directo" ads in all the trades. Slap that sucker into your 2 notes and you can probably cop those cheeseball Smooth licks all day out front of a suitable band.

EDIT There are some really unpopular mesa models that can be had for good prices if you've got a mom and pop store with a solid used section in your area. If you're in the eastern United states atomic music in MD is avoid bet for less desireable but very functional mesa gear. They always have a half dozen mesa combos around... the daddy's junky chain in new england will usually have some decently priced boogie gear in each location and those dudes really haggle, no need to pay sticker price. Stay off reverb and ebay, not real world pricing at all.