Mesa Stilletto

[some_dude]

Someone sent me this quote off the ESP guitar forum. I of course have no way of verifiying if any of this is accurate, but if even half of this is true, it's time for me to start saving for another amp.... :32:

wow. first let me say i am not a huge boogie fan-- i think they make great amps for the most part but they're just not my thing. i'm more of a marshall guy (well, technically a bogner guy now).

BUT, after playing the stiletto, i can say with confidence that marshall is in SERIOUS trouble. the stiletto is ALL OVER the JCM2000's, and i've owned and loved the TSL100, so it's not like i hate the JCM2000's by any means. there's just no contest. game over, boogie wins. i never thought i'd say it but it's true-- marshall is going to have to step it WAY up.

first of all, the stiletto isn't a super high gain amp. it has plenty of gain, but not as much as the rectifier, herbert, uberschall, etc. it's more along the lines of an ecstacy gain-wise, and it has a similar (sort of) vibe in that it has a lower-mid voicing and a lot of clarity. but where the ecstacy is smoother and more refined, the stiletto is bolder and more in-your-face.

each channel has three dramatically different voicings. channel one has "fat clean", which was a bit dark for my taste, "tight clean" which i liked better because it had more "spank" to it and really starts to "bark" when you lay into it, and "crunch" which was my favorite-- depending where the gain (or your guitar's volume knob) is set it goes from the who to ac/dc. very plexi/hiwatt-ish and very cool.

channel two has "crunch", which was pretty similar to channel one's crunch, "tight gain" which was my favorite-- think marshall jubilee, and "fat gain" or something like that which was definately more for single note playing-- darker, thicker, more compressed, and oddly enough, a touch less gain than the "tight gain" setting. although i'm not much of a lead player, i could see why a lead player would love this setting, because single notes sounded MASSIVE and punchy. very cool, but a bit too loose and dark for rhythm stuff IMHO.

overall, you can hear a touch of "boogie-ness" in the tone, in a good way, but they really nailed the vintage marshall vibe, down to the "kerrang" of the plexi-era amps. pretty incredible actually. it takes a bit to find the magic in this amp, but not long really, especially compared to most of their other amps.

sorry if this sounds like a mesa boogie ad, but i was just totally impressed and surprised, and i know there's a lot of people on this board who are curious about this amp, so i had to report in with my first impressions. i wouldn't be surprised if this amp became just as popular as the rectifiers, and i guarantee marshall will be forced to respond with a new line of amps, because if they don't they're going to have a hard time selling JCM2000's.

 

[aleclee]

Re: Mesa Stilletto

So you're saying it sucks less than the Lone Star? :smack: Dunno that the phrase "the stiletto is ALL OVER the JCM2000's" does much for me. To my ear, the 2000s have nothing that I like about Marshall tone and everything I dislike. :blackeye:

Being someone who appreciates the bark of an EL34, I will make a point of checking one out when I get the chance.

It sure has taken Mesa a long time to roll out an amp that was introduced back in January...

 

[some_dude]

Re: Mesa Stilletto

So you're saying it sucks less than the Lone Star? :smack: Dunno that the phrase "the stiletto is ALL OVER the JCM2000's" does much for me. To my ear, the 2000s have nothing that I like about Marshall tone and everything I dislike. :blackeye:

Being someone who appreciates the bark of an EL34, I will make a point of checking one out when I get the chance.

It sure has taken Mesa a long time to roll out an amp that was introduced back in January...

I know what you mean about the "ALL OVER the JCM2000" type language, but I have been on boards where everyone writes like that.

I figured it'd be something along the lines of an Ecstacy, or a VHT.

As for the time it's taken, I've read that they've rolled it out at a few NAMM shows to get player opinions, and about a month ago someone pointed out on another forum that the control layout on the Mesa site pic changed.

Either way, I look forward to both hearing post release comments, and actually hearing it in person. I'm a 6L6 person my self, but I've always wanted an EL34 amp to compliment it, I'm just not that hot and horney for Marshall, and I can't afford an Ecstacy....

 

[Hot _Grits]

Re: Mesa Stilletto

Interesting. Will definitely try it out when it comes down here. I only really like the mk1 and blue angel as far as mesa goes, but they make wonderfully built, well thought out amps.

 

[JALIN]

Re: Mesa Stilletto

Now if I heard the term "all over the JCM800" tone you would have me sold on one. How does it compare to the JCM800?? I didn`t really care for the JCM2000 line nor the 900 line.

 

[JALIN]

Re: Mesa Stilletto

Here is the original thread from HC.

 

[\m/(00)\m/]

Re: Mesa Stilletto

i gotta try the stiletto out sometime!

 

[B2D]

Re: Mesa Stilletto

I wonder if the Mesa store up in hollywood has them yet? I'll have to try one out in a few weekends when i go up there to try a hotplate.

Actually I was HOPING that the stilettos would own JCM2000's big time and I'm HOPING this will be a kick in the pants to get Marshall to make some better stuff.

 

[JALIN]

Re: Mesa Stilletto

Actually I was HOPING that the stilettos would own JCM2000's big time and I'm HOPING this will be a kick in the pants to get Marshall to make some better stuff.

What?? The MF350 not good enough? :laugh2:

 

[B2D]

Re: Mesa Stilletto

What?? The MF350 not good enough? :laugh2:

The "MF" in MF350 is supposed to stand for Mode Four... or MotherF***er depending on how much you like it. I think it stands for "Monstrous Farts" :laugh2:

No no no i actually thought the MF350 was pretty good for an SS amp but I WANT MY TUBES DAMMIT!!

In that thread the Boogie rep reportedly had a "Prototype" and said they'd be out Mid-Late october. Last time i talked to a boogie rep they said they'd be out mid-late July... hmmm

I think that the date is being pushed back because apparently when Mesa had their demo Stiletto at the last NAMM show the response was kinda mealy-mouthed and lukewarm/unenthusiastic so I guess it went back to r&d for more tweaking. I guess they're just making final adjustments before production/shipping.

I gotta say thats a big mark of credibility... they didn't wanna put out something that wasn't up to snuff.

 

[some_dude]

Re: Mesa Stilletto

I think that the date is being pushed back because apparently when Mesa had their demo Stiletto at the last NAMM show the response was kinda mealy-mouthed and lukewarm/unenthusiastic so I guess it went back to r&d for more tweaking. I guess they're just making final adjustments before production/shipping.

I gotta say thats a big mark of credibility... they didn't wanna put out something that wasn't up to snuff.

I wish some other companies would do more of that....

 

[some_dude]

Re: Mesa Stilletto

Now if I heard the term "all over the JCM800" tone you would have me sold on one. How does it compare to the JCM800?? I didn`t really care for the JCM2000 line nor the 900 line.

What, the

i'd say it's more like a plexi and a JCM800 gang raped a rectifier and the stiletto is the bastard offspring.

part not good enough for ya? :laugh2:


:joke:

 

[B2D]

Re: Mesa Stilletto

I wish some other companies would do more of that....

Yeah... like a certain british company except no one's got the balls to say boo about their stuff.

What, the "i'd say it's more like a plexi and a JCM800 gang raped a rectifier and the stiletto is the bastard offspring." part not good enough for ya?

Oh come on man the recto was totally asking for it. Did you see the dress it was wearing? :laugh2:

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Mesa Stilletto

Does anyone know how much the selling price will be? I'd wait 3 months till the first one or two pops up on Ebay. This has been the first Boogie that really has my attention. I'm not in the market for one, but I definitely want to hear it, as I do all good, highend tube amps. If I had one, I'd want it in Black leather.

 

[B2D]

Re: Mesa Stilletto

Does anyone know how much the selling price will be? I'd wait 3 months till the first one or two pops up on Ebay. This has been the first Boogie that really has my attention. I'm not in the market for one, but I definitely want to hear it, as I do all good, highend tube amps. If I had one, I'd want it in Black leather.

AFAIK it'll be around 1599-1699 depending whether you want the Trident or the Deuce model.

Forget black leather... black Crocco and METAL!!! http://www.mesaboogie.com/Product_Info/stiletto/stiletto.htm

 

[Grandor]

Re: Mesa Stilletto

I'd like to hear and play through one.
But I wouldnt say I'd be jumping to go buy one, but then again - i never believe what ppl say till i try it for myself.
Kinda like when my mate Zac said not to knee myself in the head...


Ouch.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Mesa Stilletto

The more I read about them, the more they look appealing. The entire goal is to have a full-featured amp, but still have incredible tone. Mesa has always been close, but just a bit short in many ways, even though the Rectifier is a classic in it's own rite. It looks like this amp may turn out to be a true winner. I may have to go over to the Hollywood Mesa store and listen to it. I also like that store because it has about 8 different brands of boutique guitars. Tom Anderson's affiliation with the Mesa store really helped boost his business, in the beginning. Same with Schecter's Custom Shop.

 

[Stratcat]

Re: Mesa Stilletto

I also think the new Mesa amps are not that great. Laney makes some great all tube amps that are now available at http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=guitar/search?c=6271&c=6272&c=6273

 

[Hot _Grits]

Re: Mesa Stilletto

The more I read about them, the more they look appealing. The entire goal is to have a full-featured amp, but still have incredible tone. Mesa has always been close, but just a bit short in many ways, even though the Rectifier is a classic in it's own rite. It looks like this amp may turn out to be a true winner. I may have to go over to the Hollywood Mesa store and listen to it. I also like that store because it has about 8 different brands of boutique guitars. Tom Anderson's affiliation with the Mesa store really helped boost his business, in the beginning. Same with Schecter's Custom Shop.

Yeah, but 'on paper', the Lonestar is a monster too. I hope you're right, but based on my experience with the lonestar I'll remain optimistic yet sceptical.

 

[Grandor]

Re: Mesa Stilletto

Yeah... like a certain british company except no one's got the balls to say boo about their stuff.

I always take the **** out of them, 'cause out of all of their offerings I have only ever found 2 good and 1 decent amp.
The jubilee and jcm800 were good and the tsl100 head was decent...