This discussion [from my experience] is specific to "tube amps" and not just the Spider Valve, but since I'm running a Spider Valve it applies...

Here's the situation:

I play  an ESP EC-1000 with active EMG pickups into a Spider Valve MK1 on the high gain "Chuggasaurus" amp tone through a Randall 4x12 cab in a small [aren't they all] practice space.  The band is a 5 piece, the drummer is LOUD, which means the guitars and everything else are LOUD.

The built in noise gate is always on.  I always check.  But none the less, no matter where I stand, no matter what I do, the amp feeds back like crazy.  In fact, every single tube amp in this room has done this.

So I get a noise gate.  I tried several and eventually returned them all only to keep the rack mount Rocktron Hush Super C.

And here's my discussion:

I have always found I plug the rack mount noise gate into the effects loop with minimal success.  I eventually get frustrated, run my guitar directly into the NG, and then out to the front of the amp.  This doesn't seem right to me on a piece of rackmount equipment.  And it looks retarded.  Furthermore I actually looked up the Rocktron Hush Super C manual.  It's very well written with a big section where each page is a diagram of how you could hook it up.  Several pages later you get to the simple "guitar+amp scenario".  And sure enough they show the NG in the effects loop.  They never suggest to run it up front like I am doing, and have always done.  At this time I'll add that the NG is VERY effective at the front of the signal chain.  At the risk of killing all sustain.

My question:

Does anyone else play high gain tones at high volume (I'm talking LOUD drums dictating your volume) and run a noise gate?  If so,

1. What brand
2. What model
3. What basic settings
4. What is the signal chain
5. What is your experience
6. Any other helpful tricks to keeping a high gain tube amp clean but not dead

The following has been tested and shown to make no improvement:

1. Stand somewhere else
2. Get a different power source or a power conditioner

The following is not an option:
1. Turn the volume down (drums are effing loud, mmmkay)

Thank you for your help.  This is my biggest gripe leaving the world of classic Line 6 (HD147 & Vetta 2) and going back to tube amps.

J