Direct Recording with Zoom 3000

[Tiziano Scapoli]

Hi folks,
I purchased a Zoom 3000 guitar effector, hoping to get more tube like and Van halen like stuff out of it on direct recording
(guitar with seymour duncan at the bridge > zoom > yamaha mt100 4track)
ok clean sounds do good if edited (presets are just crap as usual with zoom so far) but distorted ones ...awwwwwwww.....can't get anything usable..i'm back to my zoom 9002 for those.
Also got a Boss Metal Zone that sounded great in the store but useless at home even through the zoom.
Anyone got any idea of what i may be missing in the chain or may be doing wrong ...or am i just hopeless with this stuff.
Is GFX-8 any better?
Any suggestion is welcome.
(Eventide or G-Force are out of my pockets reach).
thanks a lot to everyone who will help.
Tiziano from Italy