I'm with you on that. I keep my "clean" tone a bit gritty and I typically am happy with it (when those are my intentions). I've kind of given up on trying to make the clean channel sound clear/clean while maintaining the right amount of level/volume to match the distorted channels when i switch between them.

I've been debating on buying a tubed rackmount preamp to use for my clean channel, but I can't find any that I can use/try out first hand. I figure a preamp would be easier to lug around verses another head. At this point it's not a big deal since there are a few other pedals/pieces of gear i wanna buy beforehand. But it's definitely something I want to add to my setup sooner than later.

Also, if anyone has any recommendations on pre's, let me know.

 

My recommendation would be to buy a different amp all together to play clean and run it simultaneously with the regular amp through a signal splitter. That way you can adjust it manually until it is somewhat level with the regular amp.

Last band that I played with that's what I did. In fact, I had three different amps LOL (one high gain with the EQ for soloing, another high gain with the EQ for playing chords, and a third one for just playing clean).

I used the a Morley three way splitter (George Lynch model) to connect to the three amps, but could also active which ever amp I wanted in any combination. It was pretty cool.

In regards to what's a good clean amp, with that set up I used an old Fender Princeton that had been modded by a local amp tech. It had one of the most amazing clean tones ever. But I sold it after I quit the band cause I needed the money, hehe.

 

I could never do three amps. I have considered doing two, but it's just that much more to carry. I figure if I'm already carrying around a rack for my fx, why not just clean that up a little bit and slide in a preamp. This way I don't have to take up more physical space in my truck and on stage plus I won't have to have another road case built.

Truth be told, a part of me would love to just sell everything and buy one 2x12 combo amp with a small pedal board and call it a day. But then I go jam for a bit and I wonder how I could have ever even considered getting rid of any of it.

...I do that with my 8 sometimes too...I think "maybe its time for something new?" and then I go for a drive that ends up being one of the best drives i've had in a long time and I'm ashamed of having even considered replacing my 8 with something else.

 

Haha, I hear you. I just did the three amp thing for a while when I was playing with this particular band. But that was a **** load of stuff I had to move around all the time

I'm not actively playing in a band anymore, so I sold most of everything and kept the bare minimum I need to practice and to survive on a small gig. So all I have now is my guitars, Robert Kelly modded pedals inside a small pedal board that I can easy carry with one arm, and my Mesa/Boogie combo amp.

At times simplicity is the best policy. I do regret selling some stuff, but again, why keep something that I don't need anymore

 

my old Tele matches my new R3...lighting doesn't do it justice



Country rig:
Tele > Polytune > Java Boost > Timmy > TC Tap Tone > MXR analog Chorus > Fender Twin or AC30/TB

Rock rig:
Various Les Pauls > Polytune > Phase 90 > Analog Chorus > Catalinbread DLS > Fulltone FD2 > Boss DD-6 > Budda SD30 2x12 or Bogner Shiva

Good times \m/

 

I don't have an RX8, but you did say Cars and guitars so.......Nothing special as far as guitars go. Just started playing again a few years ago after not playing for almost 30 years. Played in a band in the late '70s, mostly King Crimson, Van Der Graf Generator, Stranglers etc.