The Deuce II recap

[Laskyman]

So I have 1 day with the deuce and here are some opinions from this very short period of time: (honeymoon spoiler)

1) This amp may be one of Mesas finest: Each mode is truly full of character, and each mode completely lets your guitar sound shine. Singles and Hums- both play nice and you can really hear and *feel* your guitar with this amp.
2) The EQ on both channels is user friendly, and powerful. You can shape your tone nicely- so much that after I play out this weekend, I may sell my 10-band MXR. My Roadster needed that EQ- the Stiletto so far just wants to be left alone....
3) My fulltone clyde wah NEVER sounded more musical- this amp takes nice pre-effects very well.
4) The volume knob on all of my guitars is like a third channel. I have been looking for the sound that I have now on channel 1 crunch , slightly broken up, but clean as well, with the volume knob on the guitar dialing in (or out) the dirt. Try as I might, I could never get the Roadster to do this on any channel in any mode the same way this Deuce can without the grain showing up.
5) The Deuce is very touch sensitive- super dynamic and expressive. Also- the dirty channel is urgent in a way that the Rectifiers aren't- and all without boost or an EQ in the loop. And there is WICKED SICK MAD gain on tap- I have tight gain with the gain at 11-12 oclock and it slays.
6) This amp kills any Marshall I have ever played (JCM 800/900, DSL, TSL, MG). I know there a lot more great Marshalls that I haven't played, but you wont see me out looking for one anytime soon- this Stiletto will do.....

So, in closing-for all of you who have been hinting at the things I just wrote down, "I get it. I understand now."


Former Roadster owner,
"Make Mine Mesa"
Laskyman

 

[mightywarlock]

I have to disagree with one statement.

I have always used an MXR EQ in my Dual Rectifiers effects loop.
i tried it in the Stiletto in the past and didn't feel it made much of a difference. Especially as much as a recto.

BUT...

i tried it again this week in the stilleto and ya know what...it really did make a positive difference, especially on the higher gain channels.

I find, just like a Recto, it tightens up the gain structure even more, and you can overdrive the amp just a little bit more with the pedal as well.

I say keep the MXR!

Ya never know when you might want to experiment!

 

[jab]

I'd say don't ditch the EQ just yet. My Stiletto always seems to sound better with it on - gives it a little more girth. Sure is tempting to lighten the load though and get rid of a pedal.

 

[Old BF Shred]

I agree.....you may just wanna hold on to that EQ.
I run a Pod XT in the loop of my Ace and it's EQ section adds some low end that is a nice addition, although if I always ran my 4x12 (which I can't always do) I would not need it so much.

I had said in an earlier post that the Ace responds nicely to volume control on the guitar and also to the tone control...more than I'd noticed on my other amps, including the Triaxis.

Yes I am a big Stiletto fan...
Now imagine it with "better than stock" tubes....SED =C= el34's and some nice vintage Telefunkens (or RCA, Sonotone or Amperex) in v1 & v2! 8)

If you haven't yet, wait 'til you do! You think you like it now, do you? :shock:

It just gets better!
Good luck

 

[Paulie]

Not to pile on, I agree with the responses here - keep the 10band eq. The MXR is a nice piece - I use one with my Deuce most of the time. I say most of the time because, like you, I think the Deuce sounds great without it and occasionally leave it out of the loop. But I always end up putting it back.

 

[Laskyman]

I'll keep the EQ- Its just too cool to not *have* to keep it on. I rebuilt the board - everything is looking and sounding tight- now to play with the rest of the team....

what reverb are you all using (if any)? I am looking at the Hardwire reverb- any suggestions?

Laskyman

 

[jab]

not using a reverb, not that I wouldn't like it, but my pedal board is big enough as is. I put a slight slapback delay on my 'always on' tone - it repeats 2-3x but barely audible. That's my substitute to give the tone a little space and it keeps me from needing a reverb pedal.

 

[Geiri]

Try the line6 verbzilla.

It sounds amazing with the stiletto. I had a verbzilla and an echopark together in the loop and the sound was so much richer and well three dimensional.

People can say what they want about line 6 but these two pedals are like the stiletto in a league of their own.

 

[KH Guitar Freak]

Sweet, congrats...

Now I'll have to see if I would need my EQ that much now after changing the V1 preamp on my Roadster to a Mesa SPAX7 preamp. It basically tightens up the amp, and the EQ pedal was initially what I used to kinda tighten up the amp by playing around with the frequencies. None the less, I think me being a Metallica fanboy would eventually still run the Roadster with the EQ pedal... :lol:

 

[Jmango]

I'll keep the EQ- Its just too cool to not *have* to keep it on. I rebuilt the board - everything is looking and sounding tight- now to play with the rest of the team....

what reverb are you all using (if any)? I am looking at the Hardwire reverb- any suggestions?

Laskyman

I have used both a Lee jackson Mr Springgy as well as a VanAmps Soul-Mate. They BOTH are incredible reverb pedals.

The VanAmps is 300 bux and the Mr Springgy is 200. Not really a hundred dollars worth of difference, but I wanted to try the VanAmps so I got it.

I actually have a BRAND NEW Lee Jackson Mr Springgy with a Lee Jackson 9v power supply. I have literally never even touched it or opened it since Lee sent it to me this past Friday (long story)... I'd sell it for $165.00 shipped for the Mr Springgy including the PS.

Either way, check out the reviews -they are both regarded as really top shelf reverbs for those amps that lack an internal one.

Good luck and welcome to the Stiletto family.

 

[Laskyman]

I'd sell it for $165.00 shipped for the Mr Springgy including the PS

Thanks- I just won a Hardwire/Lexicon reverb, but if it doesn't do what I need it to do- I will PM you...