Having trouble keeping my Road King mk 2 Clean

[JazzMac251]

The clean channel does not stay clean with my Les Paul Standard (no mods). The manual suggests keeping gain between 10:30 and 12:00 for "sparkle" and "improved headroom". I have mine set at about 9:30 and I'm still getting a little breakup no matter what tube combo I have selected. At such a low gain setting the tone is really starting to suffer too.

Presence knob: 1:00
Bass: noon
Mid: 3:00
Treble: 1:00

Clean or Fat mode.

Is that just the way this amp is? Kind of a drag if you ask me. I would think with 4 6L6 tubes pumping out 100 watts, there would be headroom for days. :huh

[beckerman]

Which channel specifically? For example, channel 1 in Tweed mode with the Mids crancked like that is increasing gain.

For channel 1 and 'sparkle' cleans, I'll set it in Clean mode, 4x6L6, gain around noon (usually less) bass, treble and presence to taste but definately keep the mids at or below 10 o'clock. The volume knob is usually around 2-3 o'clock with the master around noon.

[JazzMac251]

Which channel specifically? For example, channel 1 in Tweed mode with the Mids crancked like that is increasing gain.

For channel 1 and 'sparkle' cleans, I'll set it in Clean mode, 4x6L6, gain around noon (usually less) bass, treble and presence to taste but definately keep the mids at or below 10 o'clock. The volume knob is usually around 2-3 o'clock with the master around noon.

Thanks for the suggestions. I'm using channel 1 Clean or Fat. If I were to get anywhere near noon I would be getting overdrive. I'm shooting for Fendery cleans.

Update: This helped significantly. Thanks!

[JazzMac251]

Which channel specifically? For example, channel 1 in Tweed mode with the Mids crancked like that is increasing gain.

For channel 1 and 'sparkle' cleans, I'll set it in Clean mode, 4x6L6, gain around noon (usually less) bass, treble and presence to taste but definately keep the mids at or below 10 o'clock. The volume knob is usually around 2-3 o'clock with the master around noon.

This did help, but I'm still not getting the Fendery cleans I'm looking for. Hmm...

[grunge782]

I'd set it to fat mode, turn down the mids, up the bass and lower the volume on your guitar. Also play softer. I thought the Road King got some very nice cleans like that especially with some reverb.

[JazzMac251]

I'd set it to fat mode, turn down the mids, up the bass and lower the volume on your guitar. Also play softer. I thought the Road King got some very nice cleans like that especially with some reverb.

Yeah, turning down the guitar volume is always an option, but I don't understand why that should need to happen in "clean" (or fat mode). Clean doesn't mean "clean with some drive". I mean C-L-E-A-N clean. If i want OD i'll switch channels or add a pedal.

Hard to think that Mesa wouldn't feel the same way.

[gibson08]

Try the bass and treble (more treble=more gain on mesas I have had) below 12:00, and the mids down a touch, might help,,,,
FWIW I had a RKII and it was always gritty, so its gone now.