Just sold the ROV and bought a Stiletto Ace . . . wow!

[CaughtLikeFire]

So I liked my ROV head / 4x12 Trad cab setup - pretty versatile, decent cleans, much better quality than anything Marshall, Peavey, etc is making nowadays. But I just didn't like the "modern" overdrive sounds. Maybe its because so many record producers are overusing the Recto tone nowadays, or maybe its just not the tone for me. I wanted more bite and more of an organic sound - vintage hot or vintage hi-gain is more my style I'm finding out.

so yesterday my Stiletto Ace head arrives straight from Mesa. . . holy sh** . . . it sounds amazing . I've been playing dozens of tube amps over the past few months and this is in a different league altogether . . . combine that with the fact that it was only $899 and I'm just floored. (I guess it was worth spending 5 months as a Guitar Center employee while I looked for a new job . . . :wink: )

some of the overdrive sounds are a bit bright but I can fix that with a few preamp tubes. this thing has crunch like no other. very natural sounding distortion even at low volumes and **** can this thing cut. very appropriately named.

the Ace gets 2 thumbs up from me. If anybody else is not happy with the Recto tone anymore, the Stiletto is exactly what the doctor ordered 8)

 

[Platypus]

glad you dig the ace, I've never played a more fun amp.

 

[Stratobanger]

. . . combine that with the fact that it was only $899 and I'm just floored. (I guess it was worth spending 5 months as a Guitar Center employee while I looked for a new job . . . :wink: )

Holy crap, GC employees can get that big of a discount? $600 off of $1500? I think I need to hang out at GC more often and make some new friends!! Glad you like the Ace head, hope to get one myself soon.

 

[CaughtLikeFire]

[/quote]Holy crap, GC employees can get that big of a discount? $600 off of $1500? I think I need to hang out at GC more often and make some new friends!! Glad you like the Ace head, hope to get one myself soon.[/quote]

GC employees can purchase direct from Mesa for ~40% off. The job is not the greatest though, especially when you have a college degree and you're working your tail off for barely above min wage and being treated like you're 17. it's a temporary thing (just trying to scrape by while I make a career change). Getting the Mesa for $900 and an iMac for $600 were things I had to do just to make me not want to kill myself while working at GC :lol:

back on topic, I got a couple pairs of the STR450 tubes - the Siemens/RFT new old stock - with the amp. Just put them in and its a significant difference (which I wasn't expecting). So harmonically rich - it's great. To any current Stiletto owner, buy some STR450s NOW.

 

[siggy14]

I wanted to get a part time Job at GC just to get the discount plus hang around with other musicians. But my GC will not hire part time, only full time people which sucks.

 

[Barracuda]

. . combine that with the fact that it was only $899 and I'm just floored.

That is freakin amazing. I thought dealer prices on Mesas were 80% of list. I need to get better educated as to Mesa pricing.

 

[inkwachemis]

I used to own a Rectoverb. I have an Ace head now too. I sometime miss the recto, but never enough for me to go rebuy one again. as for the Ace, I dont see myself ever selling this amp. it's GREAT. and u are right about the powertubes. i changed out the stock ones for winged =c= el34s. noticed a significant difference for the better as well. I wasn't expecting that big of a difference too! those stock mesas are crap IMO

congrats on the Ace and the killer deal. dammm

 

[inkwachemis]

oh, and what cab and speakers u running the ace through?

 

[JamesD]

You can't beat that deal with a stick!

 

[CaughtLikeFire]

oh, and what cab and speakers u running the ace through?

The "Rectifier Traditional" cab w/ V30s that I purchased for the ROV last January. I guess it's now just called the "Traditional".

Bass response is never a problem. With my '61 Reissue SG, I actually have to keep the bass pretty low on most of the modes.

 

[CaughtLikeFire]

. . combine that with the fact that it was only $899 and I'm just floored.

That is freakin amazing. I thought dealer prices on Mesas were 80% of list. I need to get better educated as to Mesa pricing.

If you got behind a computer terminal at GC (I'm going to keep this in general terms - no $$ figures - out of respect for my current employer), you'd see the GC cost listed as not far below the customer price for any Mesa product. 80% may be pretty close. With Mesa and a few other companies, GC employees have to work directly through the manufacturer to get a significant discount.

And I'll say this too, the customer service I got from the east coast Mesa rep, Matt, was ridiculously good considering that they were making just about no $$ from me and he had 10 million other things to deal with every day. Mesa has my business for life 8)

 

[cvansickle]

Welcome to the Aces!