Lets talk amps...

[clifffclaven]

Something was wrong with it or it was dialed in poorly...muddy is not an issue with the Stiletto...if anything, it can be a bit too bright. Aside from my old one (which is the one John owned), I've played several others...muddy is not a trait of that amp.

well, maybe "muddy" isnt he right word... "flabby" maybe? i dunno. just couldnt get a nice tight 80s kinda rhythm tone out of it, especially on the low e. Then again, im not a huge fan of mesas in general.

[toddstaples]

well, maybe "muddy" isnt he right word... "flabby" maybe? i dunno. just couldnt get a nice tight 80s kinda rhythm tone out of it, especially on the low e. Then again, im not a huge fan of mesas in general.

The Stiletto is a amp you gotta open up to appreciate. At bedroom volumes it gets buzzy, but comes to life as the volume increases....

[jgcable]

The Stiletto is a amp you gotta open up to appreciate. At bedroom volumes it gets buzzy, but comes to life as the volume increases....

Ditto... mine had a little flab when it was stock. After the stage 2 mod it was not very flabby. Sounded better as you turned it up as most all Mesa's do. Very solid amp though.

[Bert]

I don't understand some of the modern mesa hate around here. Personally I think rectos sound killer for what they do. I've never tried a Stiletto nor heard any bands that use them, but from your description I'd love to check one out.

[jgcable]

I don't understand some of the modern mesa hate around here. Personally I think rectos sound killer for what they do. I've never tried a Stiletto nor heard any bands that use them, but from your description I'd love to check one out.

There are basically 3 types of Mesa lovers.
Marks
Recto's
Stiletto's

The unusual think is its only one of these.. its never a few different ones.
A Stiletto sounds like a high gain JCM800 but with more bottom end.
Personally.. I love the modern Mesa Rectifier tone. Its versatile and to my ears.. it almost always sounds great regardless of the settings.
Marks are hit or miss depending on the model.
The Stiletto to get is either a Series 1 with the Series 2 mod or an Ace which already has the Series 2 mod done by the factory.

[roodyrocker]

A friend of mine who is an authorized Mesa repair tech has a Stilleto Trident. He did the mod to it but it sounded muffled so he he put it back to stock. His only complaint with the amp is that he feels it could use more gain. So he slams the front of it with a Marshall Gu'vnor pedal.

[jgcable]

A friend of mine who is an authorized Mesa repair tech has a Stilleto Trident. He did the mod to it but it sounded muffled so he he put it back to stock. His only complaint with the amp is that he feels it could use more gain. So he slams the front of it with a Marshall Gu'vnor pedal.

I thought it had plenty of gain but I have heard players say that a Rectifier doesn't have enough gain!!
It certainly doesn't have as much gain as a Rectifier. I would say the gain level is on par with a DSL100.

[Strangletooth]

A little late to the party, but... I won't say we all told you so.. (all of you)

Once you go MTS, you'll never go back to anything else, there's just no reason to! I can only say positive things about it, and Pete as well.

I sold my RM100C to TheRossness a month or two ago and I believe he had a couple of spare mods he was selling, may want to drop him a PM.

I had a Brown, 1086 and Mr Scary and they were the shit for anything I needed. I loved dialing in the Brown to get that old Plexi tone, it was nice and I certainly miss that amp, but way too much for me for tinkering around the house!

It's funny that so many tones and options can come in such a small package!

Good pick John, I'm sure you'll be pleased for quite some time! I wouldn't hesitate on a combo either when you can afford it, smaller gigs, practice, etc, obviously you can swap mods between the two and it's a lot easier to lug around and you won't sacrifice much tone, 2x12 closed back, mic'd?

As for Mesa's, they've always been like Les Paul's, every one of them sounds different from the last or the next, I've had at least 3 of them and none of them lasted longer than a week around here!

[chrisolson]

Once you go MTS, you'll never go back to anything else, there's just no reason to! I can only say positive things about it, and Pete as well.

I'm about to join the MTS Brotherhood. I'll be picking up the KH this Sunday. I'm selling my Single Rec and trading in a couple other things. Can't wait!!

I was poking around on Pete's site last night and heard his Soldano & Mk Series mods - HOLY HELL!!! AWESOME!! Which module do you need to have to get those mods done?

Anyway, I'm thinking this is the ultimate amp for gear whores - you get tired of it, get a new module, and *PRESTO* - NEW AMP! Hopefully it'll save me some money in the long run.

Who's using EL-34, and who's using 6L6's? Any recommendations? I'll probably get a multi-meter and bias it just a bit cold. I like the softer tones.

[lhrocker]

I like 6L6's on the outside and E34L's on the inside with the 6L6's biased normal and the E34L's slightly hot. What a sound!!!

I'm about to join the MTS Brotherhood. I'll be picking up the KH this Sunday. I'm selling my Single Rec and trading in a couple other things. Can't wait!!

I was poking around on Pete's site last night and heard his Soldano & Mk Series mods - HOLY HELL!!! AWESOME!! Which module do you need to have to get those mods done?

Anyway, I'm thinking this is the ultimate amp for gear whores - you get tired of it, get a new module, and *PRESTO* - NEW AMP! Hopefully it'll save me some money in the long run.

Who's using EL-34, and who's using 6L6's? Any recommendations? I'll probably get a multi-meter and bias it just a bit cold. I like the softer tones.

[toddstaples]

El34's here...... biased 37.5 across the board

[Hellbat]

My current combo amp uses 5881 (6L6 equivalent right?) tubes in the power section and I know it can run EL34s with bias adjustments. I love the amp like it is now but I was just curious what tonal difference would I see switching to the EL34s?

[chrisolson]

I like 6L6's on the outside and E34L's on the inside with the 6L6's biased normal and the E34L's slightly hot. What a sound!!!

El34's here...... biased 37.5 across the board

Sounds like I'll be spending more money...

[toddstaples]

Before I purchased mine, I went back and forth. The regular RM100 and had 6l6's. The Lynch Box was $100 more and had EL34's. The easiest way to describe the differences was the 6L6 amp was more "mesa" while the EL34 amp was more "marshall". I went with the Lynch.
I know thats the obvious answer but thats really what I heard when A-Bing them thru the same cab..

My current combo amp uses 5881 (6L6 equivalent right?) tubes in the power section and I know it can run EL34s with bias adjustments. I love the amp like it is now but I was just curious what tonal difference would I see switching to the EL34s?

[jgcable]

I'm about to join the MTS Brotherhood. I'll be picking up the KH this Sunday. I'm selling my Single Rec and trading in a couple other things. Can't wait!!

I was poking around on Pete's site last night and heard his Soldano & Mk Series mods - HOLY HELL!!! AWESOME!! Which module do you need to have to get those mods done?

Anyway, I'm thinking this is the ultimate amp for gear whores - you get tired of it, get a new module, and *PRESTO* - NEW AMP! Hopefully it'll save me some money in the long run.

Who's using EL-34, and who's using 6L6's? Any recommendations? I'll probably get a multi-meter and bias it just a bit cold. I like the softer tones.

Get an SL+ module and Pete can mod it or.. you can get his SLO clone module that even looks exactly like the front panel of an SLO. I think the MK series is his own.
I want the Mr. Scary, the Super V, the Vox Top Boost, and the 1087.
Actually... I want all of the modules. Did you hear the Brahma?? Damn...