Mesa Stiletto Ace

[Jeff_H]

Talk to me about this amp? I had never heard of it, until very recently. I absolutely detest the Rectifier series, but this amp seems to do some damn good cleans, and some very Marshall like OD with some interesting options for sag or tight....ect. Footswitchable solo boost.

What's the scoop, and what's the cost...I'm talking head version here?

 

[SpeedDemon]

Re: Mesa Stiletto Ace

I was looking at this thing too. Any info would be appreciated.

 

[Jay 77]

Re: Mesa Stiletto Ace

I just looked at it recently in a store but because I'm dirt poor I didn't bother to play it. Price tag was $1850 Canadian. I hear it comes close to a Marshall sound, but apparently the DSL is still much tighter. It would be interesting to A/B them if possible.

 

[Luke Duke]

Re: Mesa Stiletto Ace

I've been watching out for one since its debut at NAMM, but I still haven't seen one. You can tell by the description they are trying to make Marshall Killers.

Luke

 

[JeffB]

Re: Mesa Stiletto Ace

I hear it comes close to a Marshall sound, but apparently the DSL is still much tighter.

I'd disagree with that statement. The Stiletto can be setup to be super loose...more like a JTM45, but it can get super tight with the SS rectifier and tite voicing.

Jeff...it's Mesa's version of the "ideal" british rock sound (i.e. marshall). The originals were VERY hard to get a good tone out of...you really had to fiddle with them alot. I absolutely hated it the first time I tried one. But all the stilettos were re-voiced a bit, and made more user friendly.

It can do a vox type sound as well as a gamut of Marshall type sounds from JTM-ish to Modded DSL. Its not EXACTLY like a Marshall (or a vox) but I'd LOVE to have one and its right at the top of my want list for tube amps along with the Marshall VMs (assuming they sound good). The Stiletto is a bit more aggressive like a rectifier, but doesnt sound anything like a rectifier..if that makes sense. The amp is brutal, but in a good way. It can "do" plexi, but its a more agressive plexi...like a modded version.

I've been able to get some fantastic tones out of the Ace combo (and much more easily since the update by MESA). And MESA's are built far far better than anything Marshall puts out these days. Its just a very versatile rock/hard rock combo that actually has alot of GREAT sounds as opposed to just OK sounds like many versatile amps have.

I thought the older one sounded better through a Peavey fiddyonefiddy cab and C-75 marshall cab the shop had rather than the MESA V30 Rectifier cab. But the Ace combo sounds great just like it is. It has a V30 in a closed back but it sounds FREAKING HUGE for a 1x12. (haven't tried the ACE head )

I used to have a link to some great version 1 Stiletto clips. LMS if I can find them.

 

[DankStar]

Re: Mesa Stiletto Ace

I'm getting totally lost on the stiletto "series." I know there was an original, a deuce, an ace....are there more? I played one of them (I think the original - in head form) at a store and I loved it, but I snooped around here and people seemed to hate it. I thought that was weird.

 

[JeffB]

Re: Mesa Stiletto Ace

I'm getting totally lost on the stiletto "series." I know there was an original, a deuce, an ace....are there more? I played one of them (I think the original - in head form) at a store and I loved it, but I snooped around here and people seemed to hate it. I thought that was weird.

Think of it this way...

Ace=50w
Deuce =100w
Trident=150w

They are all still being built, but originally it was just the Deuce and Trident and there were no combo versions. The D&T were revoiced and are labled as series 2 now (or version 2). There was never a series/version 1 Ace: it has the version 2 voicing.

 

[Jay 77]

Re: Mesa Stiletto Ace

The review on the Ace I got must've been on an original one because the guy I talked to said it was good, but nothing special. If anything he said it didn't live up to the hype. And at $500 more than a similar product from Marshall, I don't know that it's worth the plunge.

That being said, I wouldn't put 100% faith in other people's opinions. If the amp gives you "your" sound, and you can afford it, why not take a shot?

 

[DankStar]

Re: Mesa Stiletto Ace

Think of it this way...

Ace=50w
Deuce =100w
Trident=150w

They are all still being built, but originally it was just the Deuce and Trident and there were no combo versions. The D&T were revoiced and are labled as series 2 now (or version 2). There was never a series/version 1 Ace: it has the version 2 voicing.

ahh, thanks! hmmm "revoiced." that doesn't sound like they nailed it on the first run, huh!

 

[SoCalSteve]

Re: Mesa Stiletto Ace

The Stiletto Ace. Everything I could want in an amp. The clean channel can be rich, fat, and warm in "Fat Clean" or tighter with less bass in "Tite Clean". Crunch is duplicated in both channels which is a nice plus if you don't want to be completely clean and can switch into channel 2 for more gain in Crunch or a different mode.

I can get some great tones just in channel 1. In Fat Clean with the gain all the way up and humbuckers you can get some fat, vintage overdriven tones. There are some different feels you can get with the Diode/Tube Rectifier switch as well as the Spony (Variac'd) power setting. I've got a .pdf of the Guitar World review if you'd like me to e-mail it to you. The reviewer describes it very well. Also, this one if you haven't seen it:
http://www.musicplayers.com/reviews/guitars/2006/0806_MesaBoogieStilettoAce.php

I've had the amp for a month now and am completely thrilled/satisfied with the tone of it. I've always swapped tubes/speakers in every amp I've had but this one's perfect right out of the box.

BTW, if you get a chance to try one, it would be a great benefit to download the manual and read how the controls interact and even copy a couple of the factory sample settings (Big Clean and Brown Crunch) to get a good tone right off the bat. Mesa has the best manual I've ever read.

 

[SirJackdeFuzz]

Re: Mesa Stiletto Ace

I heard some very goog quality home recordings with the 50watter, and i have to say, it sounds like a very nice all-round amp !

Would love to play the ACE in (((STEREO))) with the new Fender SuperSonic

 

[Jeff_H]

Re: Mesa Stiletto Ace

I found a review of it last night on Youtube, by one of the Guitar Magazine's. I'm pretty intrigued by it. I would go for the Head, not the Combo.

Let me start out by saying I have NEVER been a Mesa fan, even the old Mk series....just not my sound. However, what I have been able to dig up on this amp is pretty interesting. I like the idea of being able to switch between SS and Tube rectifier, and sometimes I think what I find lacking in my Marshall's lead tone is a tighness and compression. I LOVE the rythym tone of my Marshalls, but am always searching on the lead tone. And sometimes a tighter more focused tone for rythym wouln't be a bad thing.

I have always just written Mesa off because of the Rectifier series, but I may have to look harder at these. I am going to go out and try one at Guitar Center when the back feels up to it.

The bottom line is there are so many good amps out there for under $2k, and I THINK the head version of the Ace runs about $1500, but there is no Mesa pricing online.

Steve.....I'd love to look at that review. My e-mail is below.

jhaggard@carolina.rr.com

 

[philthis]

Re: Mesa Stiletto Ace

I tried the Ace combo (2nd generation) and I thought it realy had some great tone. The one I tried had 2 speakers. It was a great sounding combo. The tight was tight but you could set it up to sag alittle if your into that whole thing. I also liked the differant voiceings and the versitility it had. What I realy liked was that for a el34 amp it had enough gain as well and very nice clip. Your solo's had plenty of punch and sustain. Its my favorite Mesa amp. I want to a/b box one with a fender bassman.
:beerchug:

 

[cvansickle]

Re: Mesa Stiletto Ace

I've got the Stiletto Ace head, had it for a little over two months now. I run it through a 412 cab. Hands down, best amp I've ever owned, and that history includes three other Mesa amps.

The Clean Gain setting is Plexi inspired. The dirt channel stays tight and focused. It takes pedals well and sounds great with my rack gear too. It's here to stay!

 

[Aceman]

Re: Mesa Stiletto Ace

GAS. Just GAS. Lot's of it! One of those and Lonesatr and I could find peace, but perhaps not quiet...

 

[Jeff_H]

Re: Mesa Stiletto Ace

This amp is killing me. It's a damn Mesa, but it's killing me. I have amp gas like I haven't had in a long, long time.

 

[LooseCannon]

Re: Mesa Stiletto Ace

Wouldn't you rather getting a Splawn for the same price?

 

[philthis]

Re: Mesa Stiletto Ace

This amp is killing me. It's a damn Mesa, but it's killing me. I have amp gas like I haven't had in a long, long time.

I'm not a big fan of the low, muddy, 6L6 mesa rec tone ether but this stiletto ace combo amp realy was a great amp for the money. The cleans were fine but I am a big fan of the Fender Bassman thick clean tone so that is why I want to A/B box this amp with the fender to get great distortion and cleans and at this price range its affordable to get two amps that do what they do very well. For me paying 4,500 of more for an amp that claims to be a Jack of all trades but still not quite perfect seems a huge waiste of money.
:beerchug:

 

[Mr. B]

Re: Mesa Stiletto Ace

Played one about 3 months ago. It definately seemed to have endless tone possibilities, but the shop I played it in is pretty uptight, so I couldn't really open it up. Andy Timmons is playing them and the Lonestar amps now. Thats enough of an endorsement for me right there. I like his tone more than anyone playing right now.

 

[frankencat]

Re: Mesa Stiletto Ace

This amp is killing me. It's a damn Mesa, but it's killing me. I have amp gas like I haven't had in a long, long time.

Jeff, I know you don't like the Rectos and I was right there with you until I plugged into a Rectoverb. Man this amp is SO sweet!!! I have had all kinds of amps including Soldanos, vintage Marshalls and two Bogner Shivas which up to now have been my all time favorite amps but this is fast becoming my new favorite amp. Yes it can do the "cookie monster death metal" stuff on the modern channel but that is just a very narrow portion what it does and definitely not what it does best IMHO. There are so many sounds in this amp and most of them are the classic rock sounds that we know and love. I put a set of SED EL34's and some Tung-Sol 12ax7's in mine and have played it side by side with a Splawn QR, Budda SD30, Cornford Hellcat and a Fender Supersonic (which I just sold) and I am completely blown away by this amp. Then just for giggles I opened it up expecting to find the usual rat's nest and was again blown away by the simplicity and worksmanship. Instead of the bottom of the barrel stuff thast you find in newer Marshalls and such I was greeted by orange drop caps, beefy pcb's with flying leads out to the controls and nice beefy trannys all dressed and tidied up like you would expect in a much pricier amp. All I can say is that my mind is changed forever about these Mesa Rectos. I don't know about the double or triple rectifiers but the single rectifier rectoverb is up there at the top of my list. Do yourself a favor and check one out. I too was developing some gas for a Stiletto which looks like a killer amp. But this one has put my gas on the back burner big time! Peace -Frank