I'm sure you guys have answered plenty of posts about amps vs amps, but I'm in a bind.
I can get a rackmount mark iv head or a stiletto stage I deuce for the same amount of money ($1000, which are both pretty good prices in Saskatchewan Canada) I had a stiletto ace 212 that I sold because it was just too heavy and I wanted to get a few different guitars, so after about a year I am regretting my wandering from mesa and want back in.
The Mark series of amps has always seemed like the grail of amps to me, although I have only played it a few times, it just seems like all tones exist in there somewhere, however, I find that I almost always lean towards a british inspired sound, I love a "marshally" crunch, similar to my current DSL50. I'm not stuck on a marshall though (my DSL seems to be having some reliability issues, which is what is sending me on the new amp road). Also the few times I have tried a mark series amp I find them a touch sterile/harsh on the high gain channel sounding (likely my problem setting them)
On to the Stiletto series, the ACE that I had was pretty bright, I found I could darken it a little with jj preamp tubes and some knob fiddling, although I found it didn't have any thump to it, and it was always just a little to "raspy"/"Grating". I loved the crunch tone on channel one with tube rectifier and spongy power mode, and quite enjoyed the tite gain with an eq in the loop and a boost. I never did change out the power tubes for a set from the tube store or Eurotubes, although it was on my mind.
Anyways,
Is the mark series going to give me all I hope for....or should I stick with the stilletto, (i'm not sure if it is a stage 1 or stage 2) (other note I...am more of a basement player than a gig player (I turn it up loud enough in my house), I would love to get out and play more, but I find it difficult with 2 newer babies around )
Any and all comments welcome
Thanks
I can get a rackmount mark iv head or a stiletto stage I deuce for the same amount of money ($1000, which are both pretty good prices in Saskatchewan Canada) I had a stiletto ace 212 that I sold because it was just too heavy and I wanted to get a few different guitars, so after about a year I am regretting my wandering from mesa and want back in.
The Mark series of amps has always seemed like the grail of amps to me, although I have only played it a few times, it just seems like all tones exist in there somewhere, however, I find that I almost always lean towards a british inspired sound, I love a "marshally" crunch, similar to my current DSL50. I'm not stuck on a marshall though (my DSL seems to be having some reliability issues, which is what is sending me on the new amp road). Also the few times I have tried a mark series amp I find them a touch sterile/harsh on the high gain channel sounding (likely my problem setting them)
On to the Stiletto series, the ACE that I had was pretty bright, I found I could darken it a little with jj preamp tubes and some knob fiddling, although I found it didn't have any thump to it, and it was always just a little to "raspy"/"Grating". I loved the crunch tone on channel one with tube rectifier and spongy power mode, and quite enjoyed the tite gain with an eq in the loop and a boost. I never did change out the power tubes for a set from the tube store or Eurotubes, although it was on my mind.
Anyways,
Is the mark series going to give me all I hope for....or should I stick with the stilletto, (i'm not sure if it is a stage 1 or stage 2) (other note I...am more of a basement player than a gig player (I turn it up loud enough in my house), I would love to get out and play more, but I find it difficult with 2 newer babies around )
Any and all comments welcome
Thanks