Mesa Stilleto Duece??

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PentatonicPunk

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Ok guys, even though I am pretty much a Marshall ( ok modded) fan at heart, I cant help but be drawn to some of the great clips I have been hearin of the Mesa Stilleto. I figure it is the most "marshall esque" amp out of the Mesa line , but I have NEVER been a Mesa fan. Couldn't ever warm up to the rectifier series at all. Any thoughts on this amp???
 
I found the Stiletto's to be a little nasty sounding, they wear out your ear after a while. IMHO the Electra Dyne is a better sounding amp, although it doesn't have as much gain. All you need for the ED is a Tube Screamer.

The Electra Dyne IS really the Boogie amp for Marshall guys, the Stiletto isn't.
 
Thanks Dan , I will have to check that one out as well. It seems to have a pretty simple 800 like tone control layout which is cool, I dont want to have to know how to launch the space shuttle in order to dial in a good sound!
 
Is the Stilleto hate a matter of power tube bias? I mean adjusting the bias!! :lol: :LOL:
 
Death by Uberschall":79qkij0d said:
Is the Stilleto hate a matter of power tube bias? I mean adjusting the bias!! :lol: :LOL:
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ive been in the studio with marshalls and stilletos...the stilleto was less rich and thinner
 
I liked the Stage II MUCH better than the Stage 1 I played at GC. I agree with Danyeo though; the Electra-Dyne is far better sounding than the Stiletto Deuce, Trident, or Ace regardless of which version it is.
 
Stage I does vintage English crunch sounds pretty good. Stage II is a little more modern sounding. They sound pretty similar.

To get the best sounds out of these amps the treble and presence need to be set lower than you would on most amps. The range is so all the different voicing switches can get good results.
That and what tubes are in it well make a lot of difference in the results.
These amps really like to be turned up. They just do not sound that great at lower volumes ..... just like the vintage amps it was designed after.
All of this must be considered to get good sounds from one.
They are in there.
Look at some of the stuff Andy Timmons and others have done with one.

The Electra-Dyne is a much more modern voiced amp.
 
stephen sawall":2exsmzbt said:
Stage I does vintage English crunch sounds pretty good. Stage II is a little more modern sounding. They sound pretty similar.

To get the best sounds out of these amps the treble and presence need to be set lower than you would on most amps. The range is so all the different voicing switches can get good results.
That and what tubes are in it well make a lot of difference in the results.
These amps really like to be turned up. They just do not sound that great at lower volumes ..... just like the vintage amps it was designed after.
All of this must be considered to get good sounds from one.
They are in there.
Look at some of the stuff Andy Timmons and others have done with one.

The Electra-Dyne is a much more modern voiced amp.
Click to expand...

clips
 
Not sure where all the hate comes from but the Stiletto Deuce Series II is an awesome amp. I have KT77's in mine and run it with my M/B TR in a W/D set up and its awesome. Its the perfect compliment to the TR and together they cover the tonal spectrum really well. You can also dial in some killer cleans and like Andy Timmons mentioned it takes pedals really well. While it doesnt kill my desire for a Fortin Cali it certainly covers enough Marshallesque territory to tide me over. If you havent tried one I suggest you do before you right it off. Great value for the buck. :rock:
 
I've played a stock Explorer through a Stilletto through a Marshall cab. Damn good thrash sound IMO.
 
The Stiletto is one of the best amps Ive ever owned. Ill admitt I hated it for the first month or two I owned it. You really have to understand the isms of the amp to dial it in. Its not easy. But like Stephen said, its in there. I really really regret getting rid of my trident.

They have awesome lead tones. The gain is tight and usable from low to high. The clean has a great feel too. Ive never understood the hate.
 
We had Andy Timmons come into the store and do a clinic a couple times and he used a Stiletto and another boogie amp right off the showroom floor and yup.....sounded like Andy....Was awesome!!
 
I have to disagree with all the hate. I've got a Stage II and I can get a very convincing Marshall tone out of it and it took no time at all. The eq is alot more sensitive than a Marshall though. I think it's one if the better Marshall like tones out there from a production amp. :thumbsup:
 
Lp Freak":2sxnhp3b said:
I have to disagree with all the hate. I've got a Stage II and I can get a very convincing Marshall tone out of it and it took no time at all. The eq is alot more sensitive than a Marshall though. I think it's one if the better Marshall like tones out there from a production amp. :thumbsup:
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I never played the stage II. I don't hate the stage I but it had it flaws. You had to keep the treble and presence low and it needed volume. I found Fluid drive to be a waste though. I still feel the Electra Dyne is a better sounding amp.

Yngzaklynch had a Deuce II but i know he didn't like it.
 
i really liked my stage II Trident. super tight amp for a Mesa, like VHT tight.


they are voiced super high in the mids, and there's not much if any low end to them. or atleast they ain't gonna thump.


i might try one again some day and send it to Trace for a depth mod.
 
danyeo":272mnw7p said:
Lp Freak":272mnw7p said:
I have to disagree with all the hate. I've got a Stage II and I can get a very convincing Marshall tone out of it and it took no time at all. The eq is alot more sensitive than a Marshall though. I think it's one if the better Marshall like tones out there from a production amp. :thumbsup:
Click to expand...

I never played the stage II. I don't hate the stage I but it had it flaws. You had to keep the treble and presence low and it needed volume. I found Fluid drive to be a waste though. I still feel the Electra Dyne is a better sounding amp.

Yngzaklynch had a Deuce II but i know he didn't like it.
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To each their own. I'm not here to make anyone hate or like an amp. But like Dan said, the Electra-Dyne is a much sweeter amp than the Stiletto and I've ownes both Stage I and IIs. Played the the Ace as well. They are decent amps but at the end of the day I couldn't stop tweaking. Just couldn't gel with the amp. About 3 months ago I tried the Electra-Dyne combo and was blown away by how musical it was. I would need to boost it, but that goes for a lot of amps I like. The ED is a sweet amp that covers a lot of ground convinceingly. I've read that it has to be turned up to get the most of it, but again that goes for a lot of amps. I put the ED in the same class as the Budda SD80 and the Bogner Shiva. YMMV.
 
I'm yet to check out the Electra-Dyne so I can't compare. Sounds pretty sweet though. You guys are right about the Stiletto though, it could use a little more bottom.
 
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