Stiletto Ace Appreciation Thread

[SBG200]

I've had my Ace for a couple months now and it just keeps getting better. I've gone through probably 15-20 amps and this is the one that combines all the best qualities of all of 'em. Going through 3x12 (combo + 2x12) is unbelievable. It reminds me most of the hand-wired Canadian JCM 800 I used to have, but with an effects loop, channel switching, spongy, rectifiers, etc, etc. Can't say enough. Amazing amp!

(Thanks Joey :wink: )

 

[gwayne]

Love my 1-12 combo. In channel 1, I use the Crunch mode with very little gain. It sounds super glassy but will break up just a little if you hit the strings hard. For Channel 2 it's Tite Gain with the treble rolled back and bass full up. Sounds amazing - like the Marshall I always looked for and could never find. It's definitely a keeper.

 

[Anonymous]

+1 (actually +4) from my side

the ace is a versatile little beast, small by size but heavy from the weight. its actually more a combination between an open back "combo" and head/cabinet.

i found it a bit underpowered, the 2x12", and getting to soon screamy with painful highs when cranked so i put additional ones in stereo-parallel to move more air. now it sounds like an orchestra and kicks with amazing bottom end.

after decades with jcm and co this is what i was looking for. even for the house as a practice and "recreation" amp - i love it.
8)

 

[jman7272]

Couldn't say enough about this amp. It is THE sound that I have been chasing in my head. I love absolutely everything about this amp.

If they could improve on anything, it would be a more robust foot switch. I think the stereo jack cable thing is a bit weak.

Love this amp though.

 

[insideout]

I absolutely loved my Ace when I had it. It is a tone monster for sure. I wound up trading it back in for the Deuce head and built a cabinet. With my back issues, I just couldn't deal with trying to lift a 90 lb amp into my truck. Ironic that it's greatest strength (quality build) was the reason I had to trade it. If it was going to stay put in my studio, it would have been a long-term keeper for sure 8)

 

[cvansickle]

My Ace head is the BEST amp I've ever owned, and that includes three other Mesas.

 

[Moot]

I can't say enough good things about my Ace. I bought the 2x12 combo 'cause it's easier to find two 25 watt speakers than a 50 watt speaker.

I love the cleans - I get a great jazz tone from the Fat Clean channel and the Tite Clean really is amazing for laying guitar tracks in a busy mix.

The Crunch channels seem to cover everything from the '60s and '70s.

The Tite Gain is sweet, but the Fluid Drive is SO much fun to play! I was never a big fan of high-gain tones, but I play this all the time now.

In fact, I liked the Ace so much I also bought the Head and 4 x 12 cab.

Overall, though, I prefer the Combo; it seems a bit more "focused."

 

[Dr GearHead]

I am very happy with my Ace 1x12.

I sometimes (i.e. everytime I have to lift it) regret not buying the head and cab and sometimes I wish it had 3 channels so I could have proper clean, crunch and fluid drive avaliable on the footswitch but thats nothing a couple of pedals can't cover.

Off topic - as anyone tried the MI crunch box with their Ace, I used mine for the 1st time at rehersal last week. Very impressed, sounded similar to fluid drive mode but more open. I still prefer fluid drive for the real heavy stuff but the CB is fun for heavy rock.

 

[SBG200]

I am very happy with my Ace 1x12.

I sometimes (i.e. everytime I have to lift it) regret not buying the head and cab and sometimes I wish it had 3 channels so I could have proper clean, crunch and fluid drive avaliable on the footswitch but thats nothing a couple of pedals can't cover.

Off topic - as anyone tried the MI crunch box with their Ace, I used mine for the 1st time at rehersal last week. Very impressed, sounded similar to fluid drive mode but more open. I still prefer fluid drive for the real heavy stuff but the CB is fun for heavy rock.

Yeah, I run a CB with mine, too. Love it. I wasn't planning on using it w/the Stiletto, but I had it left over from when I had an LSS so figured I'd give it a try. I run channel 1 tite clean with the gain just past the the edge of breakup, and channel 2 crunch with the gain at around 10:30, then kick on the CB (gain around 10:00, no level boost) on either channel depending on what I need. I love how it interacts w/the Stiletto. Gives such a great range of sounds.

 

[Dr GearHead]

Yeah, I run a CB with mine, too. Love it. I wasn't planning on using it w/the Stiletto, but I had it left over from when I had an LSS so figured I'd give it a try. I run channel 1 tite clean with the gain just past the the edge of breakup, and channel 2 crunch with the gain at around 10:30, then kick on the CB (gain around 10:00, no level boost) on either channel depending on what I need. I love how it interacts w/the Stiletto. Gives such a great range of sounds.

cool, I have been trying to figure out the best way to get clean, crunch, heavy rhythm and lead sounds from a 2 channel amp, sounds like this could be the ticket

 

[MusicManJP6]

Played a Stiletto Deuce thru a 4x12 at a local music store and was very impressed! Attempted to play an Ace at the nearest Guitar Center and the dang thing was tore up! It was the only amp I was really wanting to play there too... It looked like the 2x12 version, but I could be wrong...

 

[jab]

been thrilled with my Ace too. I'm liking fat clean with gain 3:00-6:00. With humbuckers and some volume, it breaks up like a low gain crunch but is much fatter/darker in tone. Also use it with gain at noon (for pure clean channel) and lay a little AC+ gain on it for crunch, leaving Ch. 2 open for Tite Gain. Thus, I get my 3 channels.

Someone mentioned above using the MI. I tried that too, almost bought it but found the Xotic AC+ to not alter the tone as much. That MI is a nice pedal though - I could see a lot of people opting for that too.

 

[SBG200]

been thrilled with my Ace too. I'm liking fat clean with gain 3:00-6:00. With humbuckers and some volume, it breaks up like a low gain crunch but is much fatter/darker in tone. Also use it with gain at noon (for pure clean channel) and lay a little AC+ gain on it for crunch, leaving Ch. 2 open for Tite Gain. Thus, I get my 3 channels.

Someone mentioned above using the MI. I tried that too, almost bought it but found the Xotic AC+ to not alter the tone as much. That MI is a nice pedal though - I could see a lot of people opting for that too.

I've heard great things about the AC+. Yeah, the MI CB definitely has a certain tone to it. To me it sounds just like my old Marshall 2204 and is probably why it combines really well with the Marshally tone of the Ace. But it's definitely not very transparent.

BTW there's a CB on the Philly craigslist for $89! (I have no connection with the seller, just wanted to share a great deal if anyone's looking.)

 

[JimAnsell]

i love my custom stiletto ace.
one thing that is a must for the combo IMO is to loose those fizzy, harsh, brighter than hell vintage 30's, and put in some good old C90's.

they really balance things out and make it sound awesome.

 

[Bozie]

Ok, I love my Stiletto

Its got a great clean channel, I know this will sound crazy, but I bought it for that reason! Let me explain, so many amps have a good lead channel or a good clean, but not both. What sold me on the Stiletto was having the best of both worlds.
I use mine with a G2D Custom and a Classic, both nice pedals, and either a Boss GT8 or a Alesis Midiverb 4 in the loop for reverb/delay. I want a better processor for time based effects, but I'm in no hurry.

I play a Heilo Custom, a guitar built here in NZ by Ash Custom Works, it is simply the best guitar I have played in the last 20 years. They are custom made to suit you for a fair price, and are built with a lot of love, I recomend them without hesitation.

The combo of amp tone, guitar and pedals, always draws comment from other guitarists, and thats nice. Whats really important is that I love it, I always look forward to using it and I can handle any genre, thats what really counts.