Getting the most crunch out of your Mark IV?

[Morbid]

Hey guys. I've got a Mark IV A, and I love this amp. My only complaint, is I've never felt really satisfied with the crunch of my rhythm playing.
My normal guitar is an Ibanez RG1620X with DiMizario Evolutions. I'm getting ready to swap the bridge EVO with a Steve's Special, as I've always felt like I get more crunch with my JPM, but still not quite enough.
The only time I've ever managed to get a great amount of crunch from my Mark IV, was when I was willing to sacrifice the liquidy lead tone that I originally bought the amp for. If I had to choose, I'd of course choose to have the liquid lead tone I love so much, but I figure there must be a way to have both.

Currently the tubes in my amp are 6L6 GC STR 420's, but the older 'coke bottle' style, like so (the one on the far right);

Anyway, hope you guys can help Thanks!

 

[ibanez4life SZ!]

When I had a Mark IV, I set it to get the aggressive crunchy rhythm tone I wanted, and them I used an overdrive to boost it for the liquid lead tones.

Worked like a charm for me!

 

[stephen sawall]

The Mark amps are not crunchy. I would recommend using a pedal in front of RHY 2.

 

[Nitrobattery]

Run a pair of pair of EL34's on the outside 8)

 

[Morbid]

The Mark amps are not crunchy. I would recommend using a pedal in front of RHY 2.

I'm inclined to disagree. Getting a crunchy rhythm tone is more than possible, but I've had difficulties getting a crunchy tone without losing the sweet smooth lead tone.
Besides, listen to Dream Theater's Systematic Chaos, or Another Dimension from the Liquid Tension Experiment 2 CD and tell me Mark's aren't crunchy.

Thanks Nitrobattery, I was actually considering that.

 

[stephen sawall]

I agree ..... but I was thinking AC/DC. The classic English crunch sounds that come from a amp with no master volumes. :mrgreen:

 

[Nitrobattery]

The Mark amps are not crunchy. I would recommend using a pedal in front of RHY 2.

I'm inclined to disagree. Getting a crunchy rhythm tone is more than possible, but I've had difficulties getting a crunchy tone without losing the sweet smooth lead tone.
Besides, listen to Dream Theater's Systematic Chaos, or Another Dimension from the Liquid Tension Experiment 2 CD and tell me Mark's aren't crunchy.

Thanks Nitrobattery, I was actually considering that.

I was floored the first time I tried that with my old Mark IV. I'd recommend a set of Tung Sol EL34b's. They have a lot of the characteristics of 6L6's but all of the crunch of EL34's. I found that some EL34's in the Mark IV made it sound kind of unbalanced with the 6L6's. The Tung-Sol's should do the trick.