I have to agree with the other commenters here...brash & harsh are exactly the opposite of my experience with the L-200TL i put in my MIM Telecaster Custom. I mostly play through a 50 watt Marshall 2550 head. My non-effected sound is mildly overdriven through the amp. I suppose you could classify it as a Malcolm Young level of distortion. The L-200TL provides me with a very smooth, natural, thick, and articulate tone. When i need a boost for solos, i kick on an Ibanez Turbo Tube Screamer and the sound is...well, i have to use this word again...smooth. Smooth as silk, you could say. I also use a few fuzz pedals and Bill's pickup handles them quite well also.

So yeah, i guess we would need to know what your exact gear setup is to give you some insight into the tone issue you're having.