As the title for this topic is "Lovin' my Stiletto" I would like to show the fine people at Mesa Boogie my appreciation once again. I can't praise this thing enough and haven't even gotten into the tube swapping yet. I've had the amp since August 2006. 1x12 combo. Living in Northern MI, I had to go to New Berlin WI, to find one, and it was the only one left within 250 miles as I didn't get into the Chicago dealers. Well, the time spent was worthwhile. We play everything from VH Classic, to All American Rejects. The other guitar player has a 1983-84 Marshall JCM 800/2203? dual channel reverb. That thing, I'm sorry Marshall guys, blows in comparison. Now, if he were to have it re capped and tubed and biased, which he supposedly did, I think it would improve, but you still wouldn't get a modern sound out of it. Plus he's got a 4x12 and I think I've got him volume wise. The Stiletto for the typical weekend warrior with a small home studio is pure Ecstasy. Yes Bogner nut swingers, I said Ecstasy.
It's compact, the 50 watt platform is perfect, (the best Marshall I've ever heard was a 1996-7 50 watt 1987xl reissue, Nice but limited.), the solo function, effects loop and the 5 voicings, what more could you ask out of an amp? Keep yer reverb, and PTP, I'll take a PC board any day. That's only if reliability, affordability and sound quality are important to you. No dissing fine boutique PTPers, Im envious and wish I had the disposable funds, but I needed bang for the buck, and no other amp for my style comes within a solar system of the ACE. :!: Now, I need to find a purple jewel for the power indicator. It irritates me when I have the 2nd channel engaged and the amp has Christmas lights. Green and Red, uggh.