Stiletto Ace vs. Deuce + Trident

[ashjn]

Anyone compared the Series II Deuce and Trident to the Ace. In theory, the 50 watt settings should sound pretty similar to the Ace...

I'm asking because I hear ALOT of great reviews on the Ace, but nothing on the Series II Deuce and Trident

 

[Platypus]

For reference:

I owned a Deuce Stage I for about a month
I've played the Deuce/Trident Stage II
I own an Ace Combo but haven't played the head

The Stage II feels like it has a lot more gain on tap to my ears and it loses a little bit of that magic low-gain territory because it's more aggressive.

Surprisingly, the Ace combo sounds more like a Stage I did than a Stage II. Doesn't make sense but it's true. I wonder how the heads compare.. maybe Barry can chime in here. I imagine the combo helps smooth out some of the aggression?

They're all good amps but I'd pick the Ace over and over in a side by side test.

 

[fbomb]

i dont know about the ACE ,check out Plats clips,they sound pretty good.
now ,i just purchased a STAGE II STILETTO HEAD this past weekend,i havent really got a chance to crank it to club levels but so far i F'in love this amp.i feel sorry for my TREMOVERB combo,i dont think ill be playin it to much.

 

[Barry]

For reference:

I owned a Deuce Stage I for about a month
I've played the Deuce/Trident Stage II
I own an Ace Combo but haven't played the head

The Stage II feels like it has a lot more gain on tap to my ears and it loses a little bit of that magic low-gain territory because it's more aggressive.

Surprisingly, the Ace combo sounds more like a Stage I did than a Stage II. Doesn't make sense but it's true. I wonder how the heads compare.. maybe Barry can chime in here. I imagine the combo helps smooth out some of the aggression
They're all good amps but I'd pick the Ace over and over in a side by side test.

I asked Steve Mueller at Mesa/Boogie this question several months ago . he confirmed they were all the same except for wattage . Having said that if you lined up five Stilettos up in a row and A/B'd them im sure there would be some difference . Keep in mind lots of things effect the end result . Guitar, strings, tubes, picking style and one of the the things that effect the overall sound alot is the room you are playing in . Being a gigging player i come across this alot . Not only does the room itself effect it but how good is the power in the room you are playing ? Tone, its basically an elusive never ending journey but its a fun one .

 

[Platypus]

For reference:

I owned a Deuce Stage I for about a month
I've played the Deuce/Trident Stage II
I own an Ace Combo but haven't played the head

The Stage II feels like it has a lot more gain on tap to my ears and it loses a little bit of that magic low-gain territory because it's more aggressive.

Surprisingly, the Ace combo sounds more like a Stage I did than a Stage II. Doesn't make sense but it's true. I wonder how the heads compare.. maybe Barry can chime in here. I imagine the combo helps smooth out some of the aggression
They're all good amps but I'd pick the Ace over and over in a side by side test.

I asked Steve Mueller at Mesa/Boogie this question several months ago . he confirmed they were all the same except for wattage . Having said that if you lined up five Stilettos up in a row and A/B'd them im sure there would be some difference . Keep in mind lots of things effect the end result . Guitar, strings, tubes, picking style and one of the the things that effect the overall sound alot is the room you are playing in . Being a gigging player i come across this alot . Not only does the room itself effect it but how good is the power in the room you are playing ? Tone, its basically an elusive never ending journey but its a fun one .

Yep definetly true, cool to know about Steve's response though. You can't really go wrong with the Stiletto, it's just a **** fine amp.