HELP! My Stiletto Ace is not working!

dwsabianguy · Jul 25, 2008

Hi, this is my first post.

I have a Mesa Stiletto Ace combo (greatest rhythm amp I've ever heard, not bad for lead when boosted) and it recently died. I called Mesa and they said it's probably that my power tubes have finally gone (2-year-old amp, original EL34s) and Groove Tubes said the same thing. I got a matched pair of GT EL34Ms just tonight, put them in, put a new fuse in, and turned the amp on. The amp turned on. I was able to use the clean channel (on Spongy) for a while, and then I wanted to try out Channel 2.

I press the footswitch to change channels, and I get about two or three seconds of distortion until the amp dies yet again. At first I think that maybe the tubes weren't quite warmed up yet, but when I swap the fuse out again (I'm using the right fuses - 3A, 120V or greater) and it blows my last fuse as soon as I turn the amp back on.

I'm hoping someone here will know what's up with my amp, since I don't want to get a new one...

songrider · Jul 25, 2008

Did you replace the Rectifier tube as well?

dwsabianguy · Jul 25, 2008

No, I did not. Should I have?

Anonymous · Jul 25, 2008

get the chassis out and check the grid resistors close to the power tubes.

they are easy to find, there must be two, they are black and there is a space in the pcb to see them instantly

i ve heard of many mesa with blown power tubes that needed to replace this resistors.

can do by your own - no big deal.

otherwise if the fuse blows again and again there is a reason for it, right?
if the resistors are fine and tubes and rec tube ok seek professionell help.

good luck

nemesys · Jul 25, 2008

dean69 said:
get the chassis out and check the grid resistors close to the power tubes.

they are easy to find, there must be two, they are black and there is a space in the pcb to see them instantly

i ve heard of many mesa with blown power tubes that needed to replace this resistors.

can do by your own - no big deal.

otherwise if the fuse blows again and again there is a reason for it, right?
if the resistors are fine and tubes and rec tube ok seek professionell help.

good luck