Stiletto Dilemma

[waylay00]

Hey guys, I'm new to the forum.

Anyways, I've been wanting to purchase the Stiletto for a long time now, as it is pretty much the tone I am seeking (vintage Plexi on steroids), aside from the Fluid Drive mode.

So I was planning to pick it up last month until I discovered this talk about the so-called "Hollywood Mod" and the up and coming Series II.

This puts me in a jam. Should I buy a Series I now and possibly have it modded? Or should I wait it out and buy a Series II? I'm scared that if I buy the Series I, Mesa will again demonstrate their fickleness and pull the mod off the market once more. But then again, I am afraid that if I buy a Series II, it will be too "modern" for my tastes.

What should I do?

Thanks,
Wade

 

[musicbox]

Unless by some far off chance some backwater guitar center still has one for $850, I would wait. At this point, spending 1600 on a series one is a waste of time. If you can find one for the discounted price, then it's an excellent bargain and I wouldnt even worry about the mod.

 

[xnfx]

But then again, the series ll is already said to sound different and more modern than the series l, so it may not have the tone that you're wanting out of the series l.

 

[CudBucket]

Unless by some far off chance some backwater guitar center still has one for $850, I would wait. At this point, spending 1600 on a series one is a waste of time. If you can find one for the discounted price, then it's an excellent bargain and I wouldnt even worry about the mod.

+1

 

[jackieTHEjokeman]

Don't buy it. Even $850 is too much for the Stiletto. I really disliked mine until I got the HW mod. Wait for the series II to come out. Even then, really try it out first before you buy it. It might not even be that good either. I'm not being negative, but I am very experienced on this topic.

 

[CudBucket]

Don't buy it. Even $850 is too much for the Stiletto.

:? What a load of crap.

Wait for the series II to come out. Even then, really try it out first before you buy it. It might not even be that good either.

This would be two reasons for him to buy the Series I. It's already voiced for what he wants.

I'm not being negative

Could have fooled me.




The Stiletto is a fine amp. At $850 or $899, it's an absolute steal. The Road King is also being released as a Series II. Does that mean "Series 1" RK owners should sell theirs because it's "crap" now?

 

[jackieTHEjokeman]

Cud, do you own the Stiletto? You better own one if you dare to quote me.

 

[CudBucket]

Dare? I don't have to own one to quote you. But I do.

 

[jackieTHEjokeman]

And you can honestly tell me that you are 100% happy with it?

 

[Bluesman]

And you can honestly tell me that you are 100% happy with it?

Hey Jackie, I own it and I F#$!ing love this amp. Remember that an amp ISNT going to make you play better. If you suck at playing guitar yes this amp is not worth the money, you will be better off buying a Marshall MG for a couple hundred bucks
I am not haten , just staten

 

[jackieTHEjokeman]

If you suck at playing guitar yes this amp is not worth the money,

Dang, that was my problem all along. :roll:

 

[CudBucket]

And you can honestly tell me that you are 100% happy with it?

I don't think I've ever owned an amp that has made me 100% happy. But I do think it's an excellent amp. If you're trying to convince yourself that the mod you had done is the only way the amp can be "saved", knock yourself out. I'm satisfied with it the way it is.

 

[musicbox]

Jackie, you are a joke man. :roll:

I've owned my share of guitar amps, and I can say that I like this thing. I don't love it, but then like CudBucket..I havent really loved anything. If you don't like it, then thats your issue and fine. Your ears are probably fucked from the sub in the back of your civic anyway. After you've owned enough guitar amps, you'll realize that it's not the amp that sucks, its your playing. Ever wonder why no one can ever get the sounds of the greats? "I want to sound like knopler/hendrix/vaughen/santana". It has alot less to do with the tubes they used, or the patchcord, or even really what guitar amp they used. They would sound much the same no matter what they played, because its your FINGERS that matter. If you fingers suck, then don't blame it on your guitar amp.

 

[Broken]

Jackie stated his opinion and your jumping on him for it. Didn't the original poster ask what he should do?

If you don't agree with him fine, post what you would do but calling him a joke and implying he can't play?

 

[dylan7620]

^ agreed, tone is in the fingers :wink: you should get the good deal on the series I, as the series II is supposed to be like a JCM on steriods, not a plexi, so i think your after the series I.

 

[musicbox]

The advice the kid's giving is bunk. He says he has so much experience with this, and that the mod is the only reason to keep the amp. This is the reason this amp has such a bad rap. I have no tolerance for this. The guy wanted advice, we gave it. He doesn't need some jerk giving some two bit opinion, when he clearly doesnt know what he's talking about. Someone needs to be there that KNOWS the amp to set it straight.

Some people don't like dual rectos, that doenst mean that they are a crappy amp, and a bad value. Opinion is one thing, but spreading the kind of crap he is is another.

 

[diamondschwin]

i have a stiletto and a dual rec., each has their own, the dual rec. is the ferrari of guitar amplifiers, beautifully built, beautiful performance, and the stiletto has some of the best harmonic content i have ever heard from an amp, and it has that cascading tone, you can hear it working in on itself its quite amazing, i track everything i record with my band with my dual rec and stilleto for my guitar parts, i truly cant find one thing about the stiletto i dont like, its beautiful classic guitar tone, truly amazing.

but everyones ears are different, but i have had nothing but compliments for my guitar tone from both amps from other guitarists, bands, fans, producers, recording engineers. etc.

 

[musicbox]

its awsome how well those two amps sound together eh? fully agree on the harmonic content of the stiletto as well..

 

[CudBucket]

as the series II is supposed to be like a JCM on steriods, not a plexi, so i think your after the series I.

Where and when has Mesa Boogie stated this?

 

[lafours]

I would say if you are buying the amp to mod...than perhaps you are buying the wrong amp...But if you otherwise love the amp except for one mode....just buy it at a great price and dismiss the fluid drive mode....

the crunch channels, like mesa says are the "bread and butter" and worththe price of admission IMHO...

I bought a stock Trident and could care less about the mod...I like it how it is....if I want it to be something a little different..theres always stomp boxes to further shape the sound.....

I also own a 2004 3 channel dual rectifier and a 93 2 channel rectifier....recto owner and user for 12 years now! The stiletto is easily up there with the recto..just different..different is good!