Author Topic: Advice: Looking at a Mesa Stiletto Deuce Head.. (Read 8209 times)

Tusko · « **on:** November 04, 2006, 12:06:45 PM »

Heard it yesterday, getting a new amp next week and think this is it. It nails my existing Orange tone, tears into JCM800 territory with ease, and then mashes it up Boogie style, put powered by El34's!

Sweet, sweet sound.

Being able to switch the pre-amps from tube to solid state for each channel blew me away. Tight, chunky bottom end and riffing heaven! Fluid lead lines too.

It's also the mark II model with the Hollywood mod as standard. Anyone else played one? Any feedback would be muchas appreciated!

BKP Guitar is Gibson studio with Nailbomb bridge and P90 neck.

Dakine · « **Reply #1 on:** November 04, 2006, 01:16:31 PM »

I played one not so long ago.
I really liked it. Great build quality (as usual from Mesa), tweakers dream and great tone.
The gain structure just was'nt for me though.
But there again I own a Single Recto and did'nt see the need to change/add to my collection with this amp.
Just FYI, if not owning a Mesa before. My amp is built like a rock and delivers every time! It's almost 'Germanic' in it's ability to do what it says on the box with ease and aplomb and the build is equally precise.
I am keeping my Mesa, but decided on a different head to compliment it, just my taste and decision.
Good Luck :)

Tusko · « **Reply #2 on:** November 04, 2006, 03:26:06 PM »

Thanks Dakine,
My initial impression with the El34 powered head was, 'wow I`m sure I can nail the Blackstar/Swansong Carcass tone with ease'. And the clean seemed a lot nicer than a Recto, but that's my ears.

I have a 7 band eq which I can always use to sculpt the tone, and possibly pick up a DS1/MXR Wylde/TS-9 and a noise gate to cover all bases.

But I have the whole day off on Wednesday to try out amps in GAK and this was the first I heard - and my gut gave me a good reaction!

How would you say the gain on the Recto's differs? Is it the more saturated sound of the 6l6's?

Dakine · « **Reply #3 on:** November 04, 2006, 03:44:51 PM »

I would say the Stilleto is NOT a Recto so has different voicing anyway really.
My Recto will take 34's or 6L6's (6's in now) and would say it's abit darker than the 34's and stilleto.
The Stilleto is touted as a 'English' sounding amp (not so with many mesa's) and to my ears it was indeed this.
Not owning the Stilleto I have not delved too far as ease of tube changing etc. (with the Recto I just flip a switch and they are self biassing). Or truly how versatile it is, only playing it for awhile and with only one guitar.
I would say it is brighter and alittle less defined than my recto.
But, very very good for it's purpose.
If having an 'amp day', just try everything you can (telling assistants to feck off and leave ya alone) for as long as ya can. Many amps you may not even have thought of may surprise you.
The Mesa IS a class act though in quality of tone and build, it's just not the only amp in it's class/type, esp. for price range.

Tusko · « **Reply #4 on:** November 04, 2006, 04:28:17 PM »

Well, I`m getting a great trade-in price for the Orange which makes the Stiletto attainable. It's also the 50w mode on it that works for me. Bucket load of options for tone etc etc...

But, the same place do stock Framus, Peavey 6505 and JSX heads, Laney and of course Marshall.

I`m realy after a high-gain amp that has a lot of clarity, and tight sound. For instance, one of my favourite albums of all time is Down's NOLA - any amp that comes close to this gets my vote.

I also worked out Iv'e been changing amps for last six years, on average every two years. So I'd like something that can have a good clean sound, move to 70's / Stoner Rock and then rip it up Metal wise. Am I asking too much? I realise a lot of tones can also come down to pedals.

And I really want to make this amp last a lifetime, I`ll make sure my ears do the talking and not the sales-assisstant. I`m pretty lucky that a guy I know there is also a lefty player and we have owned similar gear. Guaranteed better service, and he understands I`m probably gonna try as many amps as possible.

Dakine · « **Reply #5 on:** November 04, 2006, 04:50:53 PM »

Good for you.
Shame GAK don't do more 'boutique' style amps which are in that price range.
IMO the Stilleto will go nowhere near a Recto in the all out gain stakes. It was not designed to from what I have read/heard.
Trade-In I would have thought (as with just about anything) you will be getting hosed compared to private sale.
This is only from seeing ads/reading ads on forums but it seems there are ALOT of Stilletos for sale used. There is NO way I am saying this because it's an inferior amp, just saying that either it was 'over hyped/sold' upon issue or indeed there are alot more on market and they are selling slow. TBH, not heard too many people talking about it full stop. Just saying, be smart and aware there are (it seems) alot around and for sale which to me means a better deal should be available to you (wether in store or not).

Afraid cannot comment on Down, would love to hear/like em due to Pepper but (with affiliation to Daryll and Vinne) I will not listen to Anselmo anymore, nuff said, just my personal choice.

NOT trying to get you into same amp as me but try a Rectoverb whilst there (again this takes some tweaking to get the 'sound in your head' but thats same for all Mesa's I know of). It has a VERY sweet clean, not pristine but my new amp will cover that when it arrives next week, and the two gain channels of Vintage/Modern kick some serious ass in both the 70/80's vein to modern day. Be VERY picky with the presence and bass/treble knobs (i.e. they play a BIG part in the tweaking of the Mesa) and tweak alot. It can be very infuriating that small adjustments on the Mesa make such a huge difference. It takes (or can) along time to dial in 'that sound' but once ya doo, mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm:)

Good luck and report back.

Tusko · « **Reply #6 on:** November 04, 2006, 05:24:02 PM »

The first batch of Stiletto's did get an upgrade in the form of the Hollywood mod. initially this improved the gain circuit and tightened up the low end. This started of as an $60 mod and now goes for $250 - from my research into the model.

The new versions (noted by the II on the front) have this mod as standard. It could go to show that a lot of the original heads are up for grabs, I have no idea.

GAK definately have the 2006 II head in stock. I`ll try a solo and dual head...and can possibly stretch to one if needed!

Dakine · « **Reply #7 on:** November 04, 2006, 05:34:35 PM »

Let your ears do the deciding :)

Just, with Mesa, allow enough time and patience to tweak em ALOT, you will notice how sensitive to minor changes they are, VERY diverse.

Look forward to hearing your mini epic journey :)

FELINEGUITARS · « **Reply #8 on:** November 04, 2006, 08:12:40 PM »

One major feature of difference is the frequency centre of the bass control
One the Dual rec it is an octave lower than it is on Marshalls etc
hence the earthmoving bass of the dual rec series

The Stiletto however has it an octave above the rectifier more like a Marshall and as such dials in more midrange type sounds

I find that bands that have two dual rec players do not sound as good as band where one player has a Dual rec and the other has a Marshall (or a Mesa Stiletto)
Simply because the two players arent competeing for frequency range it means that they both stand more chance of getting heard

Tusko · « **Reply #9 on:** November 05, 2006, 11:25:34 AM »

That's good to know, it's voicing issus like that that have me leaning towards the Stiletto over a Dual Rec, but I'll just try both and ultimately let my ears decide!

HTH AMPS · « **Reply #10 on:** November 05, 2006, 12:55:55 PM »

Quote from: Tusko

I`m realy after a high-gain amp that has a lot of clarity, and tight sound. For instance, one of my favourite albums of all time is Down's NOLA - any amp that comes close to this gets my vote.

I had an interview from Guitar Player or Guitar World (can't remember which) back in the day & they said that Mesa mkIV heads and cabs with EVs were used on that album.

Saying that though, I saw 'em earlier this year at Newcastle and also at Download and Pepper was using 2203 Marshalls. The other guy had a Recto though.

:twisted:

Dakine · « **Reply #11 on:** November 05, 2006, 01:09:32 PM »

According to a recent interview Pepper is using JCM 800 Reissues.
He aslo said they (he and Kirk) have still used Boogies for some recording but are now satisfied (Pepper anyway) with the JCM 800's.

Skybone · « **Reply #12 on:** November 05, 2006, 04:10:57 PM »

Quote

The other guy had a Recto though.

"The other guy" is none other than Crowbar's Kirk Windstein, who's a long term S/S Randall user. He always managed to get an awesome tone on the Crowbar albums though... ;)

HTH AMPS · « **Reply #13 on:** November 06, 2006, 11:26:41 PM »

Quote from: Skybone

Quote
The other guy had a Recto though.

"The other guy" is none other than Crowbar's Kirk Windstein, who's a long term S/S Randall user. He always managed to get an awesome tone on the Crowbar albums though... ;)

he seems to play most of the lead parts from what I've seen the two times I've seen 'em live.

the guy obviously knows his onions - Randalls f'in rule for metal.

:twisted:

JamesHealey · « **Reply #14 on:** November 07, 2006, 08:46:38 AM »

those stillettos are slowly interesting me and might be something i'd like to try at some point.