I am all too well versed in the difficulties associated with active electronics and distortions/fuzzes, and thought there might be others who are interested in this topic.  I noticed today that Zvex effects is now releasing a distortion pedal with adjustable input impedance.  Seems like this could be useful to some folks:
http://zvex.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=4075

Here is an alembic Further with overdrive and it's a better sound than i've got out of my Orion with overdrive. Although its heavier than I'd be going but still it shows possibility.

Interesting video.  Do you know if the distortion is from a pedal, or is it from the amp?  Is the pedal being used as a clean boost to overdrive the amp, or is the pedal itself producing the effect?  Some effects seem to be pickier than others as well.  My fuzzes with vintage transistors hated active electronics, but my cheaper distortion boxes (and I do mean cheap), sounded pretty good with them.

I'm not a guitar player, but..even being an Alembic........it just sounded like any other old giutar with huge overdrive!
 
Sorry!!!!

Yes Georgie_boy, I agree but with my Orion guitar I haven't even been able to get that far in terms of getting a decent overdrive sound.
 
No need to be Sorry.
Jazzyvee :-)

Why is the camera sideways? And just playing power chords, and shredding doesnt prove much at all. Let's hear some melodic passages, and listen to the sustain and overtones....