This is my review on Harmony Central, I've gigged both the modded one and the old one, and I love the old one!
Product: Mesa/Boogie Stiletto Deuce Head
Price Paid: UNKNOWN
Submitted 08/16/2006 at 08:35pm by me
Features : 9 Do you know what year the amp was made in?
Is the amp versatile enough for you and the styles of music you play? What are those styles?
How many channels? Does it have channel switching? Effects loops? Headphone jack?
What features do you wish it had? Why? Are there features you never use?
Where do you use this amp? Does it have enough power for you?
Feel free to enter any other features (stereo, tube or solid state, etc.).
You know the score, read the reviews...
Sound Quality : 10
What kind of sounds can the amp make? How much variety?
Is the clean channel distorted at high volumes? In what settings?
How brutal is the distortion?
What guitar and pickup styles are you using it with?
How does it suit your music style (and what is that style)?
Is it noisy? On what settings, and in what environments?
Now, here it gets interesting. I have been demoing the only one in the uk with the mod, sanctioned by Boogie and road tested by me, as I own a Stage one and have sold a few too via my job for a major music retailer. I have regularly gigged one set with with the old one, ie mine, and another set with the new one, ie the test bed from the distributor. Now don't believe anything you read on here, make your own mind up, I have. The original is a beautiful amp, not without its issues, ie tight gain not having enough bass, and fluid drive needing some controlling, but it has a fabulous character of its own, and I have sold a few amps through people coming to my gigs and saying, wow, I want one! They rip the heart out of a TSL100, don't believe what you read, but they are not a hugely high gain amp as a stage one, ie without the mod, but put a tube screamer on it if you really feel the need, though you shouldn't as it has tons for everyone except the most rabid of gain monsters! They have so much character in fluid drive, one of those sounds that as you walk away 20ft it blows you away, as distinctive as the first time you heard a Mk 1 cranked up full for the first time, but different in character, obviously. Now the modded one has much more gain, more bass on the tight gain to satisfy the Marshall brigade, and less bass on the fluid drive, to keep it tight, along with lots more gain again. Now the new model will satisfy the more traditionally Marshall minded types, it certainly out performs the TSL, which I owned and play along side as our rhythm player uses one, sweeter, warmer, more vocal quality too. But, the original version is a different amp, and I am happy to use this over the modded one as it has so much more character than any el34 amp i have ever heard, wonderful for a lead player who wants a soulful expressive sound and one that lets the player come through, no massive high gain to hide behind, plenty there of course, but enough distinction to feel the dynamics. On the other hand, the new one is sweet, warm, fluid and more tightly controlled, less hot rodded old marshall. Just personal taste, and I wish I could have them both!
I think what I am saying is, don't get hung up over there being a new model coming up soon, they are different amps altogether, there is no disadvantage to the old model, merely a different sound, make your own mind up if it is for you without waiting months for the new one, the original is a thing of wonder. As is the new one, but a different, higher gain, more Marshall but better and sweeter sound, but more generic, if that is ever fair to say about boogie, which sings its own song! 10 for both, but for different reasons.
Reliability : No Opinion
Can you depend on it? Would you use it on a gig without a backup?
Has the amp ever broken down? Because of neglect of regular servicing (as in tubes), or just plain neglect?
Bang on, never a problem in 150 gigs for the original, and no probs in 12 for the new one.
Customer Support : 10
If you've dealt with the company, how helpful/friendly were they?
Ever try and get it repaired? Was the repair done under warranty?
Were you able to findan authorized service center easily?
How long is the warranty?
Awesome, Westside, who distribute the amps are the most helpful guys on the planet.
Overall Rating : 10
How long have you been playing? What other gear do you own?
If it were stolen or lost, would you buy it again or get something else?
what do you love about it? What do you hate?
Did you compare it to other products? Which ones? Why did you choose this one?
Anything you wish it had?
Anything else you'd like to share?
I am stuck on boogie now, having used tons of gear over the past 28 years, it is the best available imho. I use PRS, Anderson, Gibson and Fender, and they all sound as they should, no generic fuzz, the guitars shine through.
Listen for yourselves, the old one suits a more vintage tone and exudes class, the new one is more generic but sounds smoother and fights back less. I prefer the old one but who knows what you will think. But, I certainly don't get the real negativity on here about it, it's just different. And sheer class!
