Well heres goes, im running one of the cheaper Ibanez RG's (i think a RG170 or something not exactly sure) into a Marshall MG30DFX and I dunno just doesnt seem to give a punchy distortion. Well anyways was looking through youtube yesterday and came accross a dude that only uses a MG15 but gets a pretty awesome distortion that gives pretty nice crisp palm mutes etc. (my palm mutes always sound pretty dull on the thick E string)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oc8Gl_d1Foc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KSZXuA-9x4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFXdbmJWqY4
So i'm wondering a few things.
Will getting a distortion pedal help me get a more crisp distortion? Or are the EMG's he's got loaded helping to give that type of distortion. Or maybe I just need to save for a higher end guitar? (been looking at higher end RG's and ESP Alexi-600, what do you guys think of that esp.)
Im tuned to dgcfad atm and my settings on my amp are: 7gain, 6 bass, 10 contour, 6 treble. (Also using the bridge pickup)
Any ideas?

If you go for the Alexi (Which you should) don't get the ESP get the LTD there is nearly no difference between the two.

New amp.
get a better one before changing other stuff

Id say chances are hes using the distortion o n his effects pedal to get that sound. No point looking at a new guitar or amp when you can just get a decent distortion pedal thats got a good metal sound, and you've saved yourself a lot of money

The EMG's he's got are giving him the distortion he wants apart from that he's probably got a good amp. Also alot of people on here will probably tell you not to buy EMG's but its your choice.

Try moving the pups closer to the strings, but not too close.
A TS9 & Boss GE7 may also help out

i cant believe no one has asked this;
what settings are you using on the marshall?

If you want the "New" sound with lots of low end;
Low 10 Mid 0 High 10
Thrash
Low 7 Mid 7 High 10
those are the only two settings I use.

Gain 7
Bass 7
Mid 7
Treble 8


yep