I just bought (trying) a Mesa Stiletto

[sws1]

I've been growing a bit frustrated with my Bogner Ecstasy Classic, primarily because it doesn't sound "marshall" enough, and the cleans are pretty weak.

So I started to look to see what other multi-channel Marshall-ish types of amps are out there. No nu-metal detuned stuff for me.

Well I tried out the Stiletto Deuce at Guitar Center and decided to take it home to try my with Bogner 2x12 w/ V30s.

I have to say that so far, I'm really liking this amp. Takes a bit of time to dial in the best tone, but when you get it, it sounds really good.

I find it hard to switch guitars, and not play with the dials to sound good. What's good on 1 guitar, sounds wierd with another, or too bright, or too dark. The smart thing to do is probably to make notes of what settings sound good with each guitar so that when I switch, I get tweak as needed.

Yeah, some people will say that it's not a marshall, and not a JCM800, and not a plexi, etc etc, but I didn't want a non-MV amp, and while the Stiletto is only 2 channels, you get 5 separate tones, with a bunch of ways to tweak each. I suspect alot of the people that don't like this amp, either (a) aren't really into Marshall tones and prefer Dual-Rec types stuff, or (b) didn't spend time setting the dials properly.

I have to say it "feels" very different than other amps I have. When you back off the volume on the guitar, you have to back off more to clean up that on other amps.

2 completely different cleans, both of which sound very different when pushed hard. Some awesome bluesy stuff in here. An awesome crunch channel that can get metal-panel similar tones up to a brown sound and beyond. Real nice crunch. A tight gain that when dialed in sounds very SLO-ish. And then a smooth compressed gain that is also flexible.

Of course, things could change over the next week, but so far, it's much closer to the ideal for $1000 less than my Bogner.

 

[LSchefman]

I thought the one I played briefly was a cool amp, and I liked it better than the XTC as well - and I think the XTC is a nice amp.

Mesa stuff is underrated here, IMHO.

Also, it's really cool looking.

 

[Thelonius]

Don't forget to DL the PDF off of Mesa's site and try out their presets. Someone a few months back posted clips of the amp using each preset and all I can say is WOW if the Stiletto came in an 18watt I'd be all over it.

 

[sws1]

Originally posted by Thelonius
Don't forget to DL the PDF off of Mesa's site and try out their presets. Someone a few months back posted clips of the amp using each preset and all I can say is WOW if the Stiletto came in an 18watt I'd be all over it.

The presets are in the manual that are part of the package.

I also have to say that this is comes very well packaged, with lots of nice goodies: tube covers, head cover, manual, sticker, gig bag for cables, etc. Very nice.

 

[sws1]

Originally posted by Thelonius
Don't forget to DL the PDF off of Mesa's site and try out their presets. Someone a few months back posted clips of the amp using each preset and all I can say is WOW if the Stiletto came in an 18watt I'd be all over it.

OH - and if you turn up the Stiletto to the volume level of my 18 watt, it sounds killer. Don't assume 100 watts is too much. It rocks at that volume.

 

[ned911]

There are some Stiletto settings at GrailTone.com under Amp Tone Settings.

Read the manual, if the tone stack on the Stiletto is anything like the Lone Star Special the amount of gain will determine the impact the tone controls have.

 

[sws1]

Originally posted by ned911
There are some Stiletto settings at GrailTone.com under Amp Tone Settings.

Read the manual, if the tone stack on the Stiletto is anything like the Lone Star Special the amount of gain will determine the impact the tone controls have.

That is true. At high gain, the treble and presence work a bit, the mid a bit less. At lower gain levels, they do alot more.

And there's some great tones at lower levels. I got something similar to the tone from that early 90s 1-hit wonder "Cumbersome".

 

[fiftywatt]

The Stiletto has gotten my interest lately. I tend to like 3 channel amps, and I know the Stiletto is only a 2 channel amp, BUT can someone comment on the footswitchable solo feature? Does it just give a volume boost to the dirty channel, or does it torque up the gain and volume for a "pseudo 3rd channel" effect?

 

[sws1]

Originally posted by fiftywatt
The Stiletto has gotten my interest lately. I tend to like 3 channel amps, and I know the Stiletto is only a 2 channel amp, BUT can someone comment on the footswitchable solo feature? Does it just give a volume boost to the dirty channel, or does it torque up the gain and volume for a "pseudo 3rd channel" effect?

I only tried it briefly. It would appear that all it does it boost the volume. From what I read in the manual, it is tied directly to the MV that is in use when using an effects loop. When the solo is kicked in, the volume jumps up as if the MV was turned higher.

I suppose if you were running at 8 on the MV, boosting would create a bit more distortion. But at very loud home volumes (pretty loud - probably gig volumes), it didn't change the tone. Just louder.

 

[Tone]

So Sws1,
How are you liking the Stiletto?

 

[sws1]

I am really liking this thing. It's been about a week and a half. My fav tone I've been able to coax is a half distorted tones circa mid-80s. It is really flexible.

Unfortunately, the only guitar that I'm still having problems dialing in is my McCarty. Something about the pickups cause a strange frequency peak that I don't like. Still messing with it.

I think this is a very very flexible amp for those that like 70-80s through grunge.

And 3 different cleans. How about that?

 

[MikeyG]

Originally posted by sws1
Unfortunately, the only guitar that I'm still having problems dialing in is my McCarty. Something about the pickups cause a strange frequency peak that I don't like. Still messing with it.

I think this is a very very flexible amp for those that like 70-80s through grunge.

And 3 different cleans. How about that?

Is it a squeaky type sound?? I was getting that too, and it was annoying ....

 

[sws1]

Originally posted by MikeyG
Is it a squeaky type sound?? I was getting that too, and it was annoying ....

It's not squeaky. It's almost like the McCarty has a very strong resonant peak in the low-mids, that creates a distortion in the wrong area. Sort of like a high-end sizzle, but it's much much lower in the frequency band. Hence, it sounds too dark.

It's not there with other guitars. I need to play around with the EQ some more. Or change McCarty pups to something less dark.

 

[big mike]

Originally posted by LSchefman

Mesa stuff is underrated here, IMHO.

Very true. I was in Hollyweird this weekend, and spent a couple hours in the Mesa store playing lots of stuff. I was pretty impressed. I've been as anti-mesa as they come, but I'll be singing a different tune now.

I truly liked the Mark I Reissue a TON! I might have to have one.

 

[trisonic]

Originally posted by big mike
Very true. I was in Hollyweird this weekend, and spent a couple hours in the Mesa store playing lots of stuff. I was pretty impressed. I've been as anti-mesa as they come, but I'll be singing a different tune now.

I truly liked the Mark I Reissue a TON! I might have to have one.

And the intangible thing (or is it?) is their superlative back up after the sale.

Best, Pete.

 

[LSchefman]

My son really wants one of those. I think he's saving up big time.

 

[sws1]

I really want to dislike it so that I can keep my Bogner Ecstasy Classic which should be better since it costs more.

But it's looking more and more like the Bogner has to go.

 

[MikeyG]

Originally posted by sws1
I really want to dislike it so that I can keep my Bogner Ecstasy Classic which should be better since it costs more.

But it's looking more and more like the Bogner has to go.

You're not alone ... I liked mine better than my Bogner Ecstasy Classic as well. The XTC is one of my favorite amps for lead playing, loved it. Not so much for rhythm, though, and the cleans are kinda weak.

For me, I sold the Stiletto because 1) it's just a bit too bright 2) the cleans were a bit flat and 3) I got frustrated because of the layout. I'd have a 3 channel affair with Ch1 Crunch for Channel 1, Ch 2 Tite Gain for Channel 2, and Channel 2 Fluid Drive for Channel 3.