looking for hot rodded marshallesque tone - mesa stiletto or budda superdrive?

[MrHat]

hey guys, been a long time since i've posted here.

i've currently got GAS for a head with a hot rodded marshall sound. I've been looking closely at both the mesa stiletto and the budda superdrive 30 & 45. I was pretty set on one of the Buddas for a while, then i got to thinking about the stiletto, maybe one of the series I. I definately will be buying used, trying to spend no more than $1200 on the head. Anyway, I like the way the Buddas sound, but i havent gotten a chance to play the stiletto yet. Do any of you have any opinions of these amps, what are the pros and cons of each. and also anyone have clips of the stiletto?

and lastly, i'm open to suggestions on any other amps you want to suggest. just make sure they're in the hot rodded marshall vein, channel switching, and have effects loops. thanks

 

[chcjunior]

Re: looking for hot rodded marshallesque tone - mesa stiletto or budda superdrive?

The Soldano Hot Rod 50+ has a nice hot rodded marshall tone to it. The only drawbacks to that amp is the sound is somewhat compressed, and the cleans are marginal at best.

I'd suggest a Rivera Knucklehead 55R which is what I'm playing these days. Truly lives up to the billing of a Fender and hot rodded Marshall in one. Great, great, great tone whether you're playing clean or dirty. They can had for a really good price if you want to go the Ebay route.

 

[suislidE03]

Re: looking for hot rodded marshallesque tone - mesa stiletto or budda superdrive?

http://www.chrissnider.net/temp/green_crunch1.mp3
http://www.chrissnider.net/temp/green_crunch2.mp3
http://www.chrissnider.net/temp/red_titegain1.mp3

 

[OlinMusic]

Re: looking for hot rodded marshallesque tone - mesa stiletto or budda superdrive?

The Buddas always sound more Plexi to me
Havent heard Stiletto series 2

if you want a rodded Marshall - as far as I know get a Marshall
Consider a Splawn (from what people tell me) and I love Bogners!

 

[SwedeNuck]

Re: looking for hot rodded marshallesque tone - mesa stiletto or budda superdrive?

+1 on Splawn stuff if you want hot-rodded marshall.

 

[SFW]

Re: looking for hot rodded marshallesque tone - mesa stiletto or budda superdrive?

Rivera M100.

 

[JeffB]

Re: looking for hot rodded marshallesque tone - mesa stiletto or budda superdrive?

Lots of good suggestions here...

Splawn..Rivera..Stiletto...I like all three..and I'd suggest VHT as well.

I'd also suggest Voodoo and David Bray or ou very own Jeff Seal if you want a current MArshall modded.

That said, I really like the Stiletto, and I'd prolly go with that over Splawn or another Rivera....The Rivera is a little too loose at times compared to a "real deal" marshall and not quite as agressive and the Splawn is very, very, tight & aggressive.....too tight IMO. I like a slight "slop" like you get in a 2203 but not TOO much.The Stilletto is somewhere between the Rivera & Splawn and you can also tweak that "sponge" feel with it.

 

[MrHat]

Re: looking for hot rodded marshallesque tone - mesa stiletto or budda superdrive?

thanks for all the suggestions so far guys, i think i really need to go find a stiletto to play. i still like the budda alot, though i am definately going to look into some of the ones suggested, mostly the riveras.

can anyone comment on the clean channels of the stiletto and the splawns? the rivera sounds appealing if the clean channel is really fenderish.

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: looking for hot rodded marshallesque tone - mesa stiletto or budda superdrive?

The VHT Deliverance KT120H is a brownsound machine...tried one the other day....smoking hotrod Marshall on 4 G12H's Celestions....just as fun on 4 V30's.
Yowsa.

 

[MikeF]

Re: looking for hot rodded marshallesque tone - mesa stiletto or budda superdrive?

The Splawns clean channel shares the gain control with the drive channel so crystal clean isn't happening, but with the volume knob backed off it's usable.
I tend to just roll the knob down on the dirty channel. With a nice pup it cleans up pretty well.

If you need a true, as in blackface, clean channel with a great Marshall tone in the same amp then Jeff Seal is the man.

I don't know about the stilettos but I'm real curious as Boogie has done some damn fine cleans in the past.

 

[OlinMusic]

Re: looking for hot rodded marshallesque tone - mesa stiletto or budda superdrive?

Get a custom job like the Jeff Seal amps
He can LITERALLY give you a FENDER circuit and a Marshall circuit in one on a JCM800 2210 Chassis

The Stiletto, at least series one, was NOT a success. Riveras are quite respectable if you are doing country and R&B and want to get some Marshall Mojo.

Otherwise, those are NOT Marshalls, nor do they capture the essence. You realize this when you play rock music up against a real 800 or Plexi and get eaten. While Boogie Mark's do lead really well, I think Marshall, Bogner, VHT, Blockhead, and Orange really capture the ballsy feel.

 

[Rocker35]

Re: looking for hot rodded marshallesque tone - mesa stiletto or budda superdrive?

Splawn Quick Rod - no contest!!!

 

[Rocker35]

Re: looking for hot rodded marshallesque tone - mesa stiletto or budda superdrive?

Sorry there is - Custom Audio Electronics OD100!!!