Just an FYI - I can't determine without seeing your guitar, but having pickups really close to the strings can actually reduce sustain. I've experimented quite a bit with pickup positioning and found that closest is not always best.

I also have a pretty cool solution to these issues, which also makes amp sims sound better, but I'm pitching it as a product idea to a company...we'll see what happens.

Also something people forget is that Pickups are magnetic, putting them too close to the strings actually pulls the strings in and affects the strings tuning/intonation, reducing the strings vibration time and sustain quite a bit.

Hey, guys.
In the end decided the problem?
I also have a soundcard  Scarlett 18i6 and she overload at minimum gain on   DiMarzio Evolution 7.
But EMG are not clipping
Included in all Inst
Sorry for my English,
best wishes!

ivametal
Hey, guys.
In the end decided the problem?
I also have a soundcard  Scarlett 18i6 and she overload at minimum gain on   DiMarzio Evolution 7.
But EMG are not clipping
Included in all Inst
Sorry for my English,
best wishes!

Welcome to the forum. What is your language?
 
Are you using the "Line" or "Inst" setting on the 18i6?
 
I can use the "Inst" setting now with the exact same guitar with no problems. When I posted this I was new with Sonar and computer recording so I didn't know better.
 
Watch the lights on the front of the interface when you play. Do they turn red? Or do they stay Green?
 
That is the most important part.
 
Then try recording something in Sonar. If the track "clip" that is recorded does not go above 0db (which will make a white vertical line on the clip) then you are not actually clipping from the interface.
 
When recording really the ONLY thing you have to worry about is the interface (18i6 clipping). The red clip signal in Sonar on the tracks only indicates that the OUTPUT from the track is clipping. So you just turn down the track Gain or track Volume fader.
 
So watch the "clip" being recorded. If you do not see any vertical white lines or HEAR any clipping you should be okay.
 
If you DO see that then you have to change something. You should always try to use Inst setting for guitar but if it ALWAYS clips like that then try the Line setting (you have to change that in the Mixcontrol software). Then you have to turn up the Input level knob on the 18i6.
 
Otherwise you can get something else to plug your guitar into (like a Line 6 pod or something you can turn the volume down on before it hits the interface... and usually with that you want to use the "Line" setting).
 
So...
 
Red light on the Focusrite interface AND a white line or distortion on your track recording means your interface Clipped. You need to fix that.
 
Red lights in Sonar or Scarlettmix don't always mean your recording is clipped. Just the output and you can just turn down the Gain or Volume fader of the track to fix it.
 
Hopefully that makes sense. Ask any questions you need.
 
Cheers.

And for now... if the Dimarzio clips on Inst even when the knob on the 18i6 is turned all the way down switch to "Line".
 
You can also use a mixer or some other hardware with volume control in between the guitar and the mixer to control the volume so it doesn't clip.
 

Hello, Beepster, i'm from Russia!)
Thx for answer.
I used inst and lights on front panel turn red, but gain knob turn all down.
Problem like yours.

ivametal
Hello, Beepster, i'm from Russia!)
Thx for answer.
I used inst and lights on front panel turn red, but gain knob turn all down.
Problem like yours.

Okay...
 
Switch to "Line" setting when using the Dimarzio and turn up the Input level knob...
 
OR
 
When using "Instr" setting turn down your guitar volume a bit (I don't like doing that)...
 
OR
 
On "Inst" setting use a guitar pedal or something that can be set to have no effect but can turn down the volume (like a drive pedal that has Input and Output but you can  turn down the drive/effect so it has NO effect... then adjust the input/output). It is hard to find effects pedals that add NO effect. If you have a simple volume pedal that might work.
 
OR
 
Use something like the MOTU Z-Box or a Direct Input (DI box) that is made special for guitar. Put that through a mixing console so you can control the volume. Use the Line setting on the 18i6 or one of the line inputs on the back of the 18i6 to accept the input from the mixer.
 
Really though the easiest is option one (just switching the 18i6 multi input to Line) IF it doesn't degrade the signal too much. Test it out and see if you like the sound. Otherwise you will have to put something in between the guitar and the interface like a mixer or another device that can control the volume.
 
Cheers and greeting from Canada.

Thx, beepster, may i choose another soundcard, my friend can give me tascam us-144
 

ivametal
Thx, beepster, may i choose another soundcard, my friend can give me tascam us-144
 

If you want but the 18i6 is really good. You just need to get control of your input volume.
 
Your guitar pickups are too "hot". The "Line" setting should work.
 
The only real reason for the "Inst" setting is to bring up the input volume for "passive" pickups.
 
Your Dimarzio pickups are probably "Active" pickups so they output much more volume and do not need the "Hi-Z" volume boost that happens when you switch to the "Inst" setting.
 
Try it out.
 
Seriously if your soundcard (the 18i6) works well with Sonar (like mine does) then changing soundcards might cause WAY more problems.
 
You just need to control input volume. You will probably have the same problem with the Tascam.