NAD: Ace in the hole! Mesa Stiletto Ace 2x12

[Fender_Punk]

So I had the shop agree to $600 USD cash out the door, but then for some weird reason I couldn't withdraw my money from any ATM so I ended up taking it for $675 out the door, on the credit card. Thank you to everyone who's been talking down these amps as it enabled me to get one for a bargain! I actually paid ($100) more for my Express 5:50 when I bought it used last year.

Its actually a 2x12 and while it doesn't have a footswitch included, it doesn't matter much as I plan to keep it in the house and mostly use for recording. It also is by far my heaviest amp which is the main reason I'm unlikely to gig with it.

Having an Output knob as well as a Master volume for each channel makes this a tameable beast!

You guys were right. This amp can nail the Marshall sound while also being able to do the classic Fender clean and Mesa Recto sound. Makes me realize that the Burn channel on my 5:50 Express is more of a Mark III/Mark IV sound than a Recto sound.

If anyone has suggestions for aftermarket foot-switches for the channel select and solo on/off, let me know!

 

[beaubrummels]

Congrats! Nice one! Cosmetically aged a bit, but sound is paramount. Nice

 

[Mincer]

It would totally be worth getting it re-covered. A great amp at a great price...congrats!

 

[dave74]

Also remember that even with nothing in the loop your send-level on back is still active as an additional volume between the pre and power sections, unless the loop is bypassed totally of course.
Setting the send-level lower will lend more "cushion" to the volumes on front for lower level home playing.

 

[Fender_Punk]

It would totally be worth getting it re-covered. A great amp at a great price...congrats!

No way! It's "Road worm" man, that makes it even cooler! In all seriousness, the front isn't too bad and it's likely going to be a home-studio amp, not a gigging amp. Peavey Classic 30 will be the main gigging amp.

Also remember that even with nothing in the loop your send-level on back is still active as an additional volume between the pre and power sections, unless the loop is bypassed totally of course.
Setting the send-level lower will lend more "cushion" to the volumes on front for lower level home playing.

Thank you for this very helpful pointer. The Output knob is also a great built-in attenuator. Any other tips are welcome and appreciated!

 

[dave74]

I've always wanted an Ace 50w head, but I just have enough stuff already it will probably never happen.

You basically just got a free closed-back 212 with this deal.
With a female to male speaker cable you could use the cab section with other amps too. Did this come with stock mesa v30s?

 

[dave74]

No way! It's "Road worm" man, that makes it even cooler! In all seriousness, the front isn't too bad and it's likely going to be a home-studio amp, not a gigging amp. Peavey Classic 30 will be the main gigging amp.



Thank you for this very helpful pointer. The Output knob is also a great built-in attenuator. Any other tips are welcome and appreciated!

Between the channel volumes, send-levels, and outputs there are many different shades of response. Everyone knows about the tone/gain-stack interactions of the rectifier/stiletto amps, but there are also big variations of tones and response you can get from playing around with all the various volume stages.

 

[Fender_Punk]

UK V30s. :bling:

I may replace these with Eminence Wizards or Governors if I can find at a good price.

 

[Securb]

That is a beyond-sweet amp. Perfect size to fit in the car if you want to gig or jam and super versatile with tone. That is the best Boogie porn I have seen on here for a while.

 

[GuitarStv]

That's a hell of a deal on a really underrated amp. The cleans really surprised me when I tried one. I don't think they work all that well as a bedroom amp, and that's probably where the bad rep comes from - without getting the volume up they can sound a little thin.

Great score!

 

[beaubrummels]

UK V30s. :bling:

I may replace these with Eminence Wizards or Governors if I can find at a good price.

I think you might lose some of your Marshall sound if you do that, but ok.

 

[PFDarkside]

Great amp, I love how they load it with V30s and a closed back.

 

[Fender_Punk]

I think you might lose some of your Marshall sound if you do that, but ok.

Really? The Eminence Governor is very similar to a Vintage 30. I would say it's an improved version. I doubt it would take away that Marshall flavor, just augment it slightly.

I could see how putting a Patriot series eminence speaker like the Swamp Thang or Cannabis Rex would take away that Marshall flavor.

 

[Demanic]

Really? The Eminence Governor is very similar to a Vintage 30. I would say it's an improved version. I doubt it would take away that Marshall flavor, just augment it slightly.

I could see how putting a Patriot series eminence speaker like the Swamp Thang or Cannabis Rex would take away that Marshall flavor.

Makes me want to try a Swamp Thang/Wheelhouse combo.
That's definitely a sweet score. I think that I would only change one of the speakers. Vintage 30's pair well with a few other speakers. T-75's for sure.

Sent from my SM-A115A using Tapatalk

 

[Ascension]

Really? The Eminence Governor is very similar to a Vintage 30. I would say it's an improved version. I doubt it would take away that Marshall flavor, just augment it slightly.

I could see how putting a Patriot series eminence speaker like the Swamp Thang or Cannabis Rex would take away that Marshall flavor.

IMO the Eminence Govenors would be a downgrade. Be aware Mesa does NOT use the much cheaper Chinese Vin 30's that most others do. Those will be the real deal Brit Suffolk Vin 30's if original.

 

[Aceman]

The Koolkat KK SL2 fotoswitch is what I use.

Works perfectly. You want the foot switch.

 

[Aceman]

That's a hell of a deal on a really underrated amp. The cleans really surprised me when I tried one. I don't think they work all that well as a bedroom amp, and that's probably where the bad rep comes from - without getting the volume up they can sound a little thin.

Great score!

Yeah - it can play quiet, but it needs to run at a certain level to really shine. Not insane loud, mind you, but not chill Sunday night in an apartment level either.

 

[Fender_Punk]

Yeah - it can play quiet, but it needs to run at a certain level to really shine. Not insane loud, mind you, but not chill Sunday night in an apartment level either.

This is true, and thankfully, something I can manage! It honestly does sound glorious as is, and I'm not a big fan of V30s.

I bought two Celestion UK Neo Dogs before moving, and put one in the C30. Once my stuff arrives I might put both Neo Dogs in the Stiletto and try a V30 in the C30 (as it's much smaller and lighter to begin with). If I do I'll do a before/after as there's not a ton of content on these amps, especially regarding speaker swaps.

 

[Securb]

When I bought my Carvin, it looked a little beat up. I glued the loose vinyl down and then filled in the seams and cracks with an automotive vinyl repair kit. It looks perfect.

https://www.amazon.com/Permatex-817...pair+kit+with+iron,automotive,109&sr=1-4&th=1

 

[Fender_Punk]

Makes me want to try a Swamp Thang/Wheelhouse combo.
That's definitely a sweet score. I think that I would only change one of the speakers. Vintage 30's pair well with a few other speakers. T-75's for sure.

V30 + G12t-75 is definitely a tried and true recipe for success.

IMO the Eminence Govenors would be a downgrade.

I'm genuinely curious, why do you take this position? UK vs USA made speakers.