Mesa Stiletto Ace 1x12 combo

So after trying the line 6 bogner spider valve, returning to the store. Paying additional money getting a marshall haze. returned to the store. Let me say both the line 6 and the marshall sounded good at bedroom apartment levels, but both did not cut it in the band situation. In this project we play everything from heavy detuned to some cleanish stuff such as big head todd and the monsters. i was desperate and needed something good, something 50 watts or more. something tube and something that has 2 channels and clean and crunch. wanted reverb but it did not happen. I could not find anything in that price range, so i sold my 1953 tube danelectro and added that to what i already had and scored a mesa stiletto ace 50 watt 1x12 combo on craigs list.

This is an el34 amp and it rocks. clean scream and inbetween all sounds are really special. in my apartment where i can't crank it, i put a tube screamer in the clean channel and my delay in the loop and wow. i can't put down the guitar. i normally play clean tele compressed tone at home, but i can't bring myself to turn off the pedal. build like a tank. the only problem with it is that it is heavy as a tank. i am playing a tele through it. my only guitar, and it is so versital. can't wait to take it to rehearsal on monday and get that power tube distortion i hear when i turned it up at the guys house i got it. the other problem with it is that my neighbors hate me. but i digress. i still am gasing for a lindy fralin amp but no hurry there.

So this thing isn't good at bedroom levels?

I've heard the EL34 cleans are some of the best out there. How does it compare to amps with other tube types as well?

I noticed it's very percussive, but can it do that nice fat wet rock sound too?

it sounds great and clean. but a lower level i use my tube screamer and this is one highly additive tone. serious business happening.

I looked and played on one of these new in the store, and haveing played and owned a single, dual, and tripple Rec, a couple of F50's, an F100, Mark IV, two different studio.22, a Nomad 55 and a Tremoverb.

These are all great amps but I enjoyed the Stiletto Ace for its Marshall like tones and the quality of Mesa Boogie products. I did entertain the Idea I would be getting one but I can't get past paying the bucks involved with Mesa amps. I have always like their devotion to stage ready gear, it is a plus.

Enjoy it, did I mention I started with a V Twin.

Bruce