Setting input gain with high output instruments

Hi, I know there’s a whole discussion about setting the right input gain for plugins, with a lot of people having run their plugins with the input too hot from trying to sit just below clipping on the interface. My issue, which I haven’t managed to find any answer to in any of these threads, is that a number of my instruments have extremely high output levels (mainly my Ibanez RGMS8 and Dingwall NG3-6 on my preferred preamp settings), and setting the input gain on the likes of a Focusrite Scarlett to 0 without a sort of pad results in clipping on the input. I’ve tried a number of options, inluding engaging the -10db pad on the interface and trying to set it to just below clipping then adjusting the plugin’s input, and upgrading my interface to a PreSonus Quantum HD2 which has a maximum input of +21dBu as opposed to the Focusrite’s +12.5dBu and adjusting similarly. I suppose my issue is, there doesn’t seem to be a means of hitting the “sweet spot” on the plugin input with my interface, which seems to be a big part of people finding sounds they like. Can I expect to get my plugins sounding as good with such high output instruments and trying to adjust levels, or is it just not feasible when the instruments clip at the input level the plugins were calibrated at?