So after a month with my Hollywood modded Trident...

[mikey383]

I'm loving this thing even more every day. At first, I went with the Fluid Drive mode, because it has more gain. But I noticed very quickly that it gets lost in the mix in a band setting. Would be great for leads, not so much for rhythm.

So I switched to the Tite Gain mode, even though I thought it didn't have enough gain at first...then I ran my processor via the 4 cable method, where it's giving the front of the amp a little boost. I maxed the gain, and that was enough. Then I noticed that if I turn the gain down to around 3 oclock, I get less compression, and a fuller tone with a lot of dynamics, and it still gets the same amount of crunch.

Now my deal is with my cleans. I'm still using my processor for cleans, but when I switch from a clean patch to the amp's distortion, it's like a train of mids hitting you in the face.

I'll be able to work it out, but ****...this thing sounds great.

 

[rectofried]

what does the mod do and who does them? what does it suppose to improve...im looking at getting a stiletto soon

 

[mikey383]

It's only for the Stage Is. It adds some low end and gain to the Tite Gain mode, and removes some lows and adds a bit of gain to the Fluid Drive mode. Anyone with decent amp knowledge can do it, just order the parts form Mesa. It requires removing some parts, and adding a few parts to the preamp.

Stage IIs already have this done to them, so there's no need to mod a Stage II.

 

[rectofried]

thanks for the info..im looking at a stage ii

 

[cradlefish]

I recently got the Ace from a trade and I have to say that I'm really digging it! It took me awhile to get the settings I like. I'm sure I'll be tweaking more along the way as I use it more with my drummer. I on the other hand started off with the tite setting and realize that it doesn't have as much low mids as I would like. So I switched it to Fluid and definitely added more beef and thickness to the sound. I did have to back the bass off and dime the mids. So far it sounds really good!

 

[cocafan33]

hey man first off congrats on the stilleto. i myself have the trident with the hw mod. and i also love it. though i'd like to suggest you using the amps clean channel instead of a processor to get your cleans, this should help on cutting out the mids hitting you in the face. also try running the clean channel on rectifier tracking instead of the diodes and me personally i like the fat cleans more than the tight or crunch. but thats all personal preference.

 

[mikey383]

Thanks man.

The way I have it ran, I'm using the processor for the preamp into the Stiletto's power section only. I get a better clean that way. The Stiletto's cleans are alright, but I like them to sparkle, and it's the only way I can get that. I had to build a box so that I can turn the effects loop on and off, but it was well worth it.

I found out at band practice yesterday that the cleans sound better in a mix. It's not so much of a drastic difference with the mids.

The problem I have now is that my distortion is muddy. Part of that problem is my guitar's pickups, and the fact that I tune to A. I'm still working the bugs out, but it's slowly getting better. With my Schecter C1 Classic tuned to B, it sounds amazing, but not so much with my Ibanez 7 stringer with stock pickups. Time for a pickup swap.

I'd like to run my Recto and Stiletto at the same time, but that's overkill for the gigs I'm playing right now.

 

[cocafan33]

Thanks man.

The way I have it ran, I'm using the processor for the preamp into the Stiletto's power section only. I get a better clean that way. The Stiletto's cleans are alright, but I like them to sparkle, and it's the only way I can get that. I had to build a box so that I can turn the effects loop on and off, but it was well worth it.

I found out at band practice yesterday that the cleans sound better in a mix. It's not so much of a drastic difference with the mids.

The problem I have now is that my distortion is muddy. Part of that problem is my guitar's pickups, and the fact that I tune to A. I'm still working the bugs out, but it's slowly getting better. With my Schecter C1 Classic tuned to B, it sounds amazing, but not so much with my Ibanez 7 stringer with stock pickups. Time for a pickup swap.

I'd like to run my Recto and Stiletto at the same time, but that's overkill for the gigs I'm playing right now.

hm you might want to consider replacing a preamp tube then if you haven't already. check and see if it has mesa preamps if so try replacing with an electro harmonix preamp i found this did wonders for my stiletto. also why'd you have to build a box for the effects loop? can't you just turn the pedals off manually? and A is pretty low lol.

 

[mikey383]

All the preamp tubes are new. A Tung Sol in V1, JJs in 2-4, and a Sovtek LPS in V5 I think.

I had to build a box because my rig is all MIDI controlled. All the program changes and channel changing is done via MIDI, and with the Stiletto's non-assignable loop, I was getting a very noticeable lag in the channel changing. I mostly use my processor for effects on cleans, but also use it to hit the front of the amp a little harder on the distortions. I have a program made for my distortion channel, and when I would switch from clean to distortion, there would be a 1-2 second gap of silence between the change. I don't have this on my Recto, so I figured out it was because of the serial loop being on all the time on the amp.

So I build a box that I can use to switch the effects loop. It ties together the send and return when I want it off, and sends the signal to my processor's effects loop when I want it on. It's simpler than it sounds. It's just a relay, a couple jacks, and a power supply.

I figured this was the simplest solution so that I can use either amp.

 

[droptrd]

I miss my Stiletto

 

[mikey383]

I miss my Stiletto

Don't worry, it's being very well taken care of and put to good use.

If I ever decide to get rid of it, you'll be the first person I contact.

 

[droptrd]

I miss my Stiletto

Don't worry, it's being very well taken care of and put to good use.

If I ever decide to get rid of it, you'll be the first person I contact.

:lol: