All user reviews for the Mesa Boogie Stiletto Ace 1x12 Combo

This amp is a mega masterpiece of amp goodness. It has all the same features and tone as the black standard and emerald both with a British Marshall bluesbreaker style front. You get the standard black tolex and then you have the wheat grille that looks very Marshall-esque. The same tone and features are all there just in a much cooler front.

I love this amp because it takes the best of what I enjoy in an amp. The sweet midrange of a good British amp and the heavy thickness of a solid built Mesa Boogie.
My favorite amps from Mesa have to be the Recto's but this is an amazing amp. It does what Marshall has failed to do in getting a huge versatile amp. Everyone has to modify Marshall because they have a good starting point with the JCM 800's, JMP's, and Plexi's. However, you have to get them modified to sound like anything off of your favorite record.

This amp is basically the standard of Mesa's British tone. It is an absolute stellar combo and heavy and pile bricks. You can't get a bad tone out of this amp. I'm sure someone will try but Mesa really has done their work to make it idiot proof. This amp has a custom tolex covering that is an emerald green covering and wheat gold grill. Same features as the black standard but just in a nice custom green color.

UTILIZATION


Specifications:

* 50 Watts, Class A/B Power / 2xEL-34, 5x12AX7, 1x5U4
* Fixed Bias for Consistent, Maintenance Free Performance
* 2 Fully Independent Channels with 6 Modes (Channel 1 = Fat Clean, Tite Clean or Crunch (Cloning Channel 2), Channel 2 = Crunch, Tite Gain or Fluid Drive)
* Channel Assignable Dual Rectification with Recto Tracking™ (Diode or Tube Tracking – Patents 5,168,438 & 7,193,458)
* Independent Gain, Treble, Mid, Bass, Presence & Master Controls per Channel
* Bold/Spongy “Variac” Switch (Patent 5,091,700)
* Output Level Control (over all channels when activated)
* Footswitchable Solo Level Control – Patent 6,724,897 (over all channels when activated)
* All-Tube FX Loop with Send Level Control (over all channels when activated)
* True “Hard” Bypass Switch that removes FX Loop, Output Level & Solo Level Controls from signal path
* Slave Out with Level Control
* External Switching Jacks for Channels 1, 2 & Solo
* 2 Button Footswitch (Channel 1/2 & Solo)


SOUNDS


This amp will feel a little smaller in the tone that the 2x12 simply because there is less air being pushed. The tone will be there but feel more contained. If you are recording you wouldn't even know the difference.

This is a rockers amp. You will blown the hinges off the doors when you crank this thing up. I have been on the wrong side of this amp a few times where it just lit me up and thump my chest. The best feeling I got with this amp is a Les Paul and clean boost like pedal in front of it. This amp gets that pounding feeling but a full bodied warm tone. I find this amp not to be much of a lead amp per se but rather a solid rhythm guitar player amp. It doesn't cut through as much as I would like if I was the only player in the band, but it does thicken the walls of the sound for the band quite well.

OVERALL OPINION

At new these amps come in right at around $1800. Not a bad price for a solid sounding and build combo amp. The cosmetics alone are worth the price of admission. I think this is the best looking stiletto that they have put together. The combination of the wheat grill and black tolex is a dream come true.

This amp is no slouch at all. You feel the pain of this amp when you get this thing cranking. I really like the deep thick tone that it has and being built by Mesa Boogie you know that it is going to knock over some heads. It will be a big amp to compete with if you have another guitar player in your band. Great for rhythm playing though.

This cosmetic look of this amp supports the overall feel and tone of the amp itself. The tone of the amp is the exact same as the black standard. You get all the same features, tone, and feel of the black but just in a cooler looking cabinet. The tolex is a light brown and wheat brown grille cloth. They match each other quite well.


I love this amp because it takes the best of what I enjoy in an amp. The sweet midrange of a good British amp and the heavy thickness of a solid built Mesa Boogie. My favorite amps from Mesa have to be the Recto's but this is an amazing amp. It does what Marshall has failed to do in getting a huge versatile amp. Everyone has to modify Marshall because they have a good starting point with the JCM 800's, JMP's, and Plexi's. However, you have to get them modified to sound like anything off of your favorite record.

This amp is basically the standard of Mesa's British tone. It is an absolute stellar combo and heavy and pile bricks. You can't get a bad tone out of this amp. I'm sure someone will try but Mesa really has done their work to make it idiot proof.

What I like about this about also is that it takes pedals very well. Throwing a tube screamer of some like a clean boost and you will have this amp sizzling. This amps has many features that are prominent to Mesa such as the Recto or tube switching and the sponge/tight setting which changes the variac an

UTILIZATION


Stiletto ACE Custom Brown and Wheat Amplifier 1x12:


Handbuilt in Petaluma, California
(as are all of our products)
50 Watts, Class A/B Power / 2xEL-34, 5x12AX7, 1x5U4
Fixed Bias for Consistent, Maintenance
Free Performance
2 Fully Independent Channels with 6 Modes (Channel 1 = Fat Clean, Tite Clean or Crunch (Cloning Channel 2), Channel 2 = Crunch, Tite Gain or Fluid Drive)
Channel Assignable Dual Rectification with Recto Tracking™ (Diode or Tube Tracking – Patents 5,168,438 & 7,193,458)
Independent Gain, Treble, Mid, Bass, Presence & Master Controls per Channe
Bold/Spongy “Variac” Switch (Patent 5,091,700)
Output Level Control (over all channels when activated)
Footswitchable
Solo Level Control – Patent 6,724,897 (over all channels when activated)
Fully Buffered FX Loop with Send Level Control (over all channels when activated)
True “Hard” Bypass
Switch that removes FX Loop, Output Level & Solo Level Controls from signal path
Slave Out with Level Control
Fan Cooled (combos only)
External Switching Jacks for Channels 1, 2 & Solo
Aluminum
Chassis
2 Button Footswitch (Channel 1/2 & Solo)
Slip Cover

SOUNDS

This amp will feel a little smaller in the tone that the 2x12 simply because there is less air being pushed. The tone will be there but feel more contained. If you are recording you wouldn't even know the difference.

This is a rockers amp. You will blown the hinges off the doors when you crank this thing up. I have been on the wrong side of this amp a few times where it just lit me up and thump my chest. The best feeling I got with this amp is a Les Paul and clean boost like pedal in front of it. This amp gets that pounding feeling but a full bodied warm tone. I find this amp not to be much of a lead amp per se but rather a solid rhythm guitar player amp. It doesn't cut through as much as I would like if I was the only player in the band, but it does thicken the walls of the sound for the band quite well.

OVERALL OPINION

This amp is no slouch at all. You feel the pain of this amp when you get this thing cranking. I really like the deep thick tone that it has and being built by Mesa Boogie you know that it is going to knock over some heads. It will be a big amp to compete with if you have another guitar player in your band. Great for rhythm playing though.

The custom look to this amp is what sets it apart from the standard black issue unit. You get not only a great sounding amplifier, but also a fantastic looking one as well. The color combo fits the style of this amp really well in my opinion. It is a raunchy tone but not really over the top like other Mesa Boogies. So the flavor matches the voicing in a tolex custom dream

If I were a rhythm guitar player in a band I would look to this amp. It is rather inexpensive to be hand built. At new they come in at around $1700, but you can find them fairly inexpensive on the used market right now. I would recommend some to try this amp out against other Mesa's if that is the tone you are going for. This amp may not be for you if you are used to the Rectos or the Mark series. It has the similar characteristics to Mesa but it is its own beats.

This is the exact same amp as the 2x12 version but with one less speaker. You get all the great tone and features but just a smaller size and smaller weight. Plus it has all the great Mesa Boogie feel that is inherent in most of there high gain amplifiers.

I love this amp because it takes the best of what I enjoy in an amp. The sweet midrange of a good British amp and the heavy thickness of a solid built Mesa Boogie. My favorite amps from Mesa have to be the Recto's but this is an amazing amp. It does what Marshall has failed to do in getting a huge versatile amp. Everyone has to modify Marshall because they have a good starting point with the JCM 800's, JMP's, and Plexi's. However, you have to get them modified to sound like anything off of your favorite record.

This amp is basically the standard of Mesa's British tone. It is an absolute stellar combo and heavy and pile bricks. You can't get a bad tone out of this amp. I'm sure someone will try but Mesa really has done their work to make it idiot proof.

What I like about this about also is that it takes pedals very well. Throwing a tube screamer of some like a clean boost and you will have this amp sizzling. This amps has many features that are prominent to Mesa such as the Recto or tube switching and the sponge/tight setting which changes the variac and loosens the amps or tightens the power section of the amp.

UTILIZATION


Stiletto ACE Amplifier 1x12 Black Standard
FEATURES

Handbuilt in Petaluma, California
(as are all of our products)
50 Watts, Class A/B Power / 2xEL-34, 5x12AX7, 1x5U4
Fixed Bias for Consistent, Maintenance
Free Performance
2 Fully Independent Channels with 6 Modes (Channel 1 = Fat Clean, Tite Clean or Crunch (Cloning Channel 2), Channel 2 = Crunch, Tite Gain or Fluid Drive)
Channel Assignable Dual Rectification with Recto Tracking™ (Diode or Tube Tracking – Patents 5,168,438 & 7,193,458)
Independent Gain, Treble, Mid, Bass, Presence & Master Controls per Channe
Bold/Spongy “Variac” Switch (Patent 5,091,700)
Output Level Control (over all channels when activated)
Footswitchable
Solo Level Control – Patent 6,724,897 (over all channels when activated)
Fully Buffered FX Loop with Send Level Control (over all channels when activated)
True “Hard” Bypass
Switch that removes FX Loop, Output Level & Solo Level Controls from signal path
Slave Out with Level Control
Fan Cooled (combos only)
External Switching Jacks for Channels 1, 2 & Solo
Aluminum
Chassis
2 Button Footswitch (Channel 1/2 & Solo)
Slip Cover

SOUNDS

This amp will feel a little smaller in the tone that the 2x12 simply because there is less air being pushed. The tone will be there but feel more contained. If you are recording you wouldn't even know the difference.

This is a rockers amp. You will blown the hinges off the doors when you crank this thing up. I have been on the wrong side of this amp a few times where it just lit me up and thump my chest. The best feeling I got with this amp is a Les Paul and clean boost like pedal in front of it. This amp gets that pounding feeling but a full bodied warm tone. I find this amp not to be much of a lead amp per se but rather a solid rhythm guitar player amp. It doesn't cut through as much as I would like if I was the only player in the band, but it does thicken the walls of the sound for the band quite well.

OVERALL OPINION


This amp is no slouch at all. You feel the pain of this amp when you get this thing cranking. I really like the deep thick tone that it has and being built by Mesa Boogie you know that it is going to knock over some heads. It will be a big amp to compete with if you have another guitar player in your band. Great for rhythm playing though.

If I were a rhythm guitar player in a band I would look to this amp. It is rather inexpensive to be hand built. At new they come in at around $1700, but you can find them fairly inexpensive on the used market right now. I would recommend some to try this amp out against other Mesa's if that is the tone you are going for. This amp may not be for you if you are used to the Rectos or the Mark series. It has the similar characteristics to Mesa but it is its own beats.

I love this amp because it takes the best of what I enjoy in an amp. The sweet midrange of a good British amp and the heavy thickness of a solid built Mesa Boogie. My favorite amps from Mesa have to be the Recto's but this is an amazing amp. It does what Marshall has failed to do in getting a huge versatile amp. Everyone has to modify Marshall because they have a good starting point with the JCM 800's, JMP's, and Plexi's. However, you have to get them modified to sound like anything off of your favorite record.

This is a great little 1x12 combo that has the ability to go into a 4x12 cabinet. So you get a combo for small jamming and clubs and then the option of plugging it into a 4x12 or 2x12 cab for bigger gigs.

This amp is basically the standard of Mesa's British tone. It is an absolute stellar combo and heavy and pile bricks. You can't get a bad tone out of this amp. I'm sure someone will try but Mesa really has done their work to make it idiot proof.

What I like about this about also is that it takes pedals very well. Throwing a tube screamer of some like a clean boost and you will have this amp sizzling. This amps has many features that are prominent to Mesa such as the Recto or tube switching and the sponge/tight setting which changes the variac and loosens the amps or tightens the power section of the amp.

UTILIZATION


Stiletto ACE® Amplifier
FEATURES

Handbuilt in Petaluma, California
(as are all of our products)

50 Watts, Class A/B Power / 2xEL-34, 5x12AX7, 1x5U4

Fixed Bias for Consistent, Maintenance
Free Performance

2 Fully Independent Channels with 6 Modes (Channel 1 = Fat Clean, Tite Clean or Crunch (Cloning Channel 2), Channel 2 = Crunch, Tite Gain or Fluid Drive)

Channel Assignable Dual Rectification with Recto Tracking™ (Diode or Tube Tracking – Patents 5,168,438 & 7,193,458)

Independent Gain, Treble, Mid, Bass, Presence & Master Controls per Channe

Bold/Spongy “Variac” Switch (Patent 5,091,700)

Output Level Control (over all channels when activated)

Footswitchable
Solo Level Control – Patent 6,724,897 (over all channels when activated)

Fully Buffered FX Loop with Send Level Control (over all channels when activated)

True “Hard” Bypass
Switch that removes FX Loop, Output Level & Solo Level Controls from signal path

Slave Out with Level Control

Fan Cooled (combos only)

External Switching Jacks for Channels 1, 2 & Solo

Aluminum
Chassis

2 Button Footswitch (Channel 1/2 & Solo)

Slip Cover

SOUNDS


This is a rockers amp. You will blown the hinges off the doors when you crank this thing up. I have been on the wrong side of this amp a few times where it just lit me up and thump my chest. The best feeling I got with this amp is a Les Paul and clean boost like pedal in front of it. This amp gets that pounding feeling but a full bodied warm tone. I find this amp not to be much of a lead amp per se but rather a solid rhythm guitar player amp. It doesn't cut through as much as I would like if I was the only player in the band, but it does thicken the walls of the sound for the band quite well.

The tone will be smaller in the smaller cab. When ever you play through a 1x12 cab versus a 4x12 it will always feel smaller and compressed. It will open up if you run the output speaker to a bigger cabinet.

OVERALL OPINION

This amp is no slouch at all. You feel the pain of this amp when you get this thing cranking. I really like the deep thick tone that it has and being built by Mesa Boogie you know that it is going to knock over some heads.

If I were a rhythm guitar player in a band I would look to this amp. It is rather inexpensive to be hand built. At new they come in at around $1699, but you can find them fairly inexpensive on the used market right now. I would recommend some to try this amp out against other Mesa's if that is the tone you are going for. This amp may not be for you if you are used to the Rectos or the Mark series. It has the similar characteristics to Mesa but it is its own beats.

This is a recent model all-tube combo amp from Mesa Boogie, designed to evoke the tones of British amps (most obviously aimed at Marshall) while still having that Mesa Boogie preamp flavor that they're known for. It has:

-Two channels, each with three modes (Fat Clean, Tite Clean, and Crunch on clean channel, Crunch, Tite Gain and Fluid Drive on lead)
-50 watts of EL34 power, with a tube or solid state rectifier, selectable for each channel
-Full power or "Spongy" mode, which is a simulated "Variac" kind of effect
-One 12" Celestion V30 speaker
-Serial effects loop with adjustable level, hard bypass available
-foot switch for channel switching a solo boost


UTILIZATION

Unlike many Mesa amps, with their myriad of controls and dials, the Stiletto Ace, while still feature-filled, is a relatively easy amp to dial in. Setting the EQ dials at noon results in a punchy, even tone that's heavier in the midrange than its Recto brothers, but still very pleasing to the ear.

What's nice with this amp (besides the versatility) is that it can get an amazing, chimey clean tone that's sometimes difficult to get with EL34-based amplifiers. It also excels in the mid-gain and high gain tones, covering the gamut from clean, classic crunch, 80's style high gain, and even can reach thrash metal levels of gain. This all without the assistance of any pedals.

The ability to dial in a mixture of tones over the two channels is fun. For example, a spanking clean tone on channel 1, and a crunch tone on channel two. Or perhaps you want a crunchy tone for rhythm, and a singing lead tone for solos? No problem. Simply dial in a pleasing crunch on channel 1, and then a Tite Gain tone on channel 2.

The manual is still a must to read (and enjoyable too, I might add) as it allows you to truly get comfortable with how the dials effect each other, recommended settings, and explanations of how everything works within the amp.

SOUNDS

The guitars I've used with the Stiletto are:

-PRS SE Singlecut Korina
-Fender Mexico-made Stratocaster
-Ibanez JS2000
-Ibanez RG421 (hard tail)
-Ibanez SC420

It takes nicely to all of them, however it seems to really favor the PRS and the strat. With the PRS and the Stiletto set to Tite Gain with the gain at noon, it is as close to I've ever come to a pure, amazing rock tone, enough so that I let out a bit of a laugh when I hit an A chord, because it sounds that good.

With the amp set to Crunch, the classic neck/middle selection on the Strat sounds awesome.

I can't say there are any sounds I "hate" on this amp, per se. However I will tell you that I won't likely be using Fat Clean very often, as it's a bit thin compared to Tite Clean.

In high gain settings, it still manages to maintain note definition, even when hitting first position full chords. Providing you don't dime the gain, it maintains a very musical, usable overdrive.

OVERALL OPINION

I would have happily forked over full price for this amp, however the price I got it for seems like a steal. I simply cannot imagine a better amp for the money. The versatility is there, the tone is there, and the durability is there. The only thing I can vaguely say that is negative about this amp is the weight. At a shade over 60 pounds, this is one hefty beast, one deserving of its included casters.

If this thing ever gets lost, stolen, or otherwise, I wouldn't hesitate to replace it.