[KerryCalvert]

Thanks everyone for the replies. Very useful information.

I did take the advice to look at other guitar modeling software and demoed Amplitude 5 plugins. I found it to be superior to Guitar Rig 5 and 6.

They have a new product called Axe I/O which looks interesting and may be a solution to the humming, dropped sound, and signal quality. So I purchased it, and will report back when it comes in.

I also dusted off my Fender Deville amp to test my guitar to confirm that my problem is with the DI use. The guitar sounds great with the amp and pedals that I have.

My interest in DI recording/playback is because I live in a condo, and the Fender overpowers and annoys the neighbors. So I want to be able to practice and record in silence, but with decent tones that approximate the analog setups.