There's too much gain on the second example, compressing the signal and adding sustain, and not enough attack on the dry sound, which will mask the delay tails. It's also muddier, which will also not help.
The sound itself is not what I will be using. It was just a quick example as I am using direct profiles through a cab and needed a quick way to record a demonstration as a few people asked for one.
Yeah, less gain will help. But it's the first repeats you hear well enough, when the gain is at it's strongest. I just wanted the repeats to stay at a consistent level and not trail off.
That said, I do think backing off on the gain is gonna be the most effective course of action in achieving more clarity as there is no way around the fading repeats (short of pulling out my trusty Boss dd6 anyway)