Mark III help, question won't fit in title

[xT00BZRG00Dx]

Is there any way to give the Mark III usuable clean and high gain metal tone at the same time? When I turn Volume 1 past 5, which I need to do to get enough gain on the lead, it has power tube saturation, and getting them both to sound good is impossible. How could I solve this?
Solutions I was thinking:
MXR 10-band EQ to give the clean good tone
Getting an OD and rolling back volume 1 and Lead Drive and turning on the OD to give it enough gain


Do those sound good? Any other ways to do it?

 

[milamatik]

I do it like this:

Amp Volume is at 7, for the clean parts I set down the guitar's output volume with the guitar's volume knob.
Works fine...

greetings

Mila

 

[JOEY B.]

My experience with Mark III's had channel 1 staying fairly "clean" until Volume 1 was turned past 7 on the dial. If you have not replaced the tubes, I would recommend a new set of SED Winged "C" power tubes. If you have a Simulclass model, try the SED EL-34's in the outer left and right sockets. They have a good tone and do not sound as "gritty" as some of the other brands. You can get them from Doug's Tubes or The Tube Store that will be in the proper range for the fixed bias Boogie. Either of these places will also be able to set you up with some good preamp tubes, as well.

One other thing to note is your use of EMG active pickups. If you can find a comparable guitar with a GOOD set of passives, give it a try, noting where your amp starts to break up in channel 1.

What cab and speaker(s) are you using?

 

[xT00BZRG00Dx]

My experience with Mark III's had channel 1 staying fairly "clean" until Volume 1 was turned past 7 on the dial. If you have not replaced the tubes, I would recommend a new set of SED Winged "C" power tubes. If you have a Simulclass model, try the SED EL-34's in the outer left and right sockets. They have a good tone and do not sound as "gritty" as some of the other brands. You can get them from Doug's Tubes or The Tube Store that will be in the proper range for the fixed bias Boogie. Either of these places will also be able to set you up with some good preamp tubes, as well.

One other thing to note is your use of EMG active pickups. If you can find a comparable guitar with a GOOD set of passives, give it a try, noting where your amp starts to break up in channel 1.

What cab and speaker(s) are you using?

I'm using a Randall XL 4x12 with V30's. Later this year, I am changing my pickups. I'm getting a DiMarzio Evo 2 in the bridge and a DiMarzio Air Norton in the neck. I am also retubing fairly soon, with SED Winged C's and the suggested preamp kit for Boogie's on the Dougstubes site. I am also considering getting a Fender Bassman or Roland JC-120 for cleans if I can't figure out the Mark III to do both.

 

[edgecrusher]

You should be getting a great clean tone after new tubes and the Dimarzios. I also recommend having them wired up with a 3 way switch "Petrucci style" with the center position split coils; it sounds awesome for clean tones!

 

[xT00BZRG00Dx]

You should be getting a great clean tone after new tubes and the Dimarzios. I also recommend having them wired up with a 3 way switch "Petrucci style" with the center position split coils; it sounds awesome for clean tones!

Thanks! I'm also planning to get coil-split (the thing that allows my neck to turn into a Single Coil)

 

[scottieL]

try setting it up for the good hi gain stuff and dialing the GEQ as a cut to mellow it out for the cleans or just roll off the volume or get some less hot pickups.

 

[tony777]

You should be getting a great clean tone after new tubes and the Dimarzios. I also recommend having them wired up with a 3 way switch "Petrucci style" with the center position split coils; it sounds awesome for clean tones!

Thanks! I'm also planning to get coil-split (the thing that allows my neck to turn into a Single Coil)

If you get the VLX91 pickup switch you can wire almost anything on your Ibanez. I use this one to wire the tone knob to work in the positions I use for clean, and roll back the tone knob. This enables the possibility to have the treble settings at 10 even pulled, and a V shaped GEQ always on, and the tone knob at your guitar takes care of the bright reduction.
The result is awesome, great crystal clear clean sound, and maximum amount of gain at lead channel.

 

[EleventhHour2139]

I had a similar predicament, which I solved by rolling off my volume and switching to my neck pickup (85) when switching to a clean sound. You could also set the volume on the MXR low, run it before your amp and switch it on when you switch to clean. A boost (or your MXR, you would just run the volume on it high instead of low) would also work, if you run your V1 low and hit the boost when you switch to whichever channel you use for higher gain stuff. However, although it was a bit of a pita, I was able to get a very nice clean tone using my method, and this using the reverb on my Mark III (which suits my needs quite well). YMMV, best of luck.

Also, fwiw, I enjoy your clips. Your lead tone/playing is quite impressive!