pandeirobatuacad
New member
Hi guys, here' my review of Mesa/Boogie Stiletto Ace. I'm not a serious player but more so having fun experimenting with different tones and sound - how the knobs interact with each other.
Features:
Satisfaction Level - 9.8
This is a 50w 2xEL34 tube amp, that comes in either 1X12 or 2X12 speakers, mine is 2X12. 2 Channels are available, each with 3 modes. Channel 1 - choice of "Fat Clean", "Tite Clean", "Crunch". Channel 2 - choice of "Crunch", "Tite Gain", "Fluid Drive". Both channels allows you select either dioide or tube rectifier independently. With regards to the knobs, gain, treble, mid, bass, prsence, master can be set independently for each channel and in addition, there's a master "out" and "solo" knob - comes with a two swicth footspedal for channel/solo selection. Power can be set to "spongy" to lower the output to brown out the sound. The only thing missing from this amp is the "reverb" which to me is relatively a minor issue.
Sound:
Satisfaction Level - 10.0
This is my second Boogie amp and I've been comparing with the other one (Mark III simul class combo) side by side - quite a difference given the two EL34's on Stiletto Ace and two EL34's + two 6L6's on Mark III.
In general, the tone is rather bright, could be because the speakers/tubes are realtively new but not bad at all. Each of the sound are distinct instead of getting blurred as in some amps and that's what I like about Boogie.
I've been experimenting the tones of this amp with both my PRS Custom 24 (PU changed to DiMarzio Al di Meola model, both neck and bridge) and PRS Custom 22 (PU changed to PRS HFS and Vintage) - the amp is extremely versatile. If you want a crystal clear tone, you've got it in Channel 1. Add a little crunch to it, would be a great tone for rock-type backing.
For the solos, obviouly go to Channal 2. If you want a VOX type sound, you've got it. If you want a classic Marshall type sound, you've got it (Channel 2 Crunch or Tite Gain). And of course, if you like the Boogie sound, you've got it in the Fluid Drive although slighly different from the trademark Mark series. In each Modes though, even at high gain the sounds are clear and sounds rich in tone. Each note can clearly be identified instead of being blended or blurred and on top of that, the sustain seems to last forever although this could be because of the combination with my guitar/PU.
As with any Boogie amps, it takes quite a while to find the sweet spot you like - tone setting is crucial, I can tell you this ain't a plug and play type of amp. And I can tell you, the amp is extremely loud, does not sound like a 50W. Same goes for my Mark III which is 15W/75W simul. I have a feeling that Stiletto Ace or the Mark III (both in combo) could beat a Marshall 100W stack.
Others
Satisfaction Level - 9.9
Boogie amps are darn heavy...this one weighs probably 40kg, easily. Thank god the wheels come along with it otherwise I'd have problems moving it around! But being heavy means that there's no compromise in it constrction whatsoever and I often hear that Boogie amps outlives the owner. True enough the Mark III (doesn't come with the wheels though!) I have is from 1989 and it is trouble free up to this date, all I have done is replacing the tubes. Manuals are comphensive with recommended settings, along with R. Smith's (Mesa/Boogie's President/Designer) insight on tube biasing and vaccum tubes.
Other considerations for me was the JCM900, JVM410, JCM2000(TSL100) but what made me choose Stiletto was the versatility and the tonal quality.
Overall, I am extremely satisfied with this amp I'd give it a 9.9. Why not a 10.0? Simply because you never know what will happen, right? Although I have a feeling it'll become a 10.0!
Features:
Satisfaction Level - 9.8
This is a 50w 2xEL34 tube amp, that comes in either 1X12 or 2X12 speakers, mine is 2X12. 2 Channels are available, each with 3 modes. Channel 1 - choice of "Fat Clean", "Tite Clean", "Crunch". Channel 2 - choice of "Crunch", "Tite Gain", "Fluid Drive". Both channels allows you select either dioide or tube rectifier independently. With regards to the knobs, gain, treble, mid, bass, prsence, master can be set independently for each channel and in addition, there's a master "out" and "solo" knob - comes with a two swicth footspedal for channel/solo selection. Power can be set to "spongy" to lower the output to brown out the sound. The only thing missing from this amp is the "reverb" which to me is relatively a minor issue.
Sound:
Satisfaction Level - 10.0
This is my second Boogie amp and I've been comparing with the other one (Mark III simul class combo) side by side - quite a difference given the two EL34's on Stiletto Ace and two EL34's + two 6L6's on Mark III.
In general, the tone is rather bright, could be because the speakers/tubes are realtively new but not bad at all. Each of the sound are distinct instead of getting blurred as in some amps and that's what I like about Boogie.
I've been experimenting the tones of this amp with both my PRS Custom 24 (PU changed to DiMarzio Al di Meola model, both neck and bridge) and PRS Custom 22 (PU changed to PRS HFS and Vintage) - the amp is extremely versatile. If you want a crystal clear tone, you've got it in Channel 1. Add a little crunch to it, would be a great tone for rock-type backing.
For the solos, obviouly go to Channal 2. If you want a VOX type sound, you've got it. If you want a classic Marshall type sound, you've got it (Channel 2 Crunch or Tite Gain). And of course, if you like the Boogie sound, you've got it in the Fluid Drive although slighly different from the trademark Mark series. In each Modes though, even at high gain the sounds are clear and sounds rich in tone. Each note can clearly be identified instead of being blended or blurred and on top of that, the sustain seems to last forever although this could be because of the combination with my guitar/PU.
As with any Boogie amps, it takes quite a while to find the sweet spot you like - tone setting is crucial, I can tell you this ain't a plug and play type of amp. And I can tell you, the amp is extremely loud, does not sound like a 50W. Same goes for my Mark III which is 15W/75W simul. I have a feeling that Stiletto Ace or the Mark III (both in combo) could beat a Marshall 100W stack.
Others
Satisfaction Level - 9.9
Boogie amps are darn heavy...this one weighs probably 40kg, easily. Thank god the wheels come along with it otherwise I'd have problems moving it around! But being heavy means that there's no compromise in it constrction whatsoever and I often hear that Boogie amps outlives the owner. True enough the Mark III (doesn't come with the wheels though!) I have is from 1989 and it is trouble free up to this date, all I have done is replacing the tubes. Manuals are comphensive with recommended settings, along with R. Smith's (Mesa/Boogie's President/Designer) insight on tube biasing and vaccum tubes.
Other considerations for me was the JCM900, JVM410, JCM2000(TSL100) but what made me choose Stiletto was the versatility and the tonal quality.
Overall, I am extremely satisfied with this amp I'd give it a 9.9. Why not a 10.0? Simply because you never know what will happen, right? Although I have a feeling it'll become a 10.0!
