Mesa Electra Dyne or Royal Atlantic owners??

[napalmdeath]

How do they stack up to the Stiletto, especially in the bottom end and aggressiveness?

I'm really close to finding an Electra Dyne head, to mate with my V30/T75 loaded Randall 4x12. The Royal Atlantic seems to have more bells and whistles, but I'm finding, (to my ears), the Electra Dyne sounds a little warmer/more aggressive. I like it's simplicity, as well.

 

[skoora]

I only played a RA briefly but I would say the ED is definitely a warmer, thicker amp than the Stiletto. It won't give you traditional Marshall tones but is still a fun sound on it's own. I never got one because I could never dial in the upper mid/treble bite I usually want in a rock tone but for some it may scratch an itch that a traditional Marshall type amp doesn't. Who knows, with the right boost it might kill. The RA didn't impress me so I never tried one again after the first demo. Definitely remember it being fizzy or not raw/tight enough on higher gain settings. It's been a while since I tried one though. I'm a long time Stiletto deuce II owner.

 

[napalmdeath]

I only played a RA briefly but I would say the ED is definitely a warmer, thicker amp than the Stiletto. It won't give you traditional Marshall tones but is still a fun sound on it's own. I never got one because I could never dial in the upper mid/treble bite I usually want in a rock tone but for some it may scratch an itch that a traditional Marshall type amp doesn't. Who knows, with the right boost it might kill. The RA didn't impress me so I never tried one again after the first demo. Definitely remember it being fizzy or not raw/tight enough on higher gain settings. It's been a while since I tried one though. I'm a long time Stiletto deuce II owner.

Yeah, I've owned the Stiletto Deuce twice. One of my favorite amps. I mostly like that it has that British tone, but with the Mesa twist. A more pissed off, low mid type of tone.

I always used a boost with it, and surprisingly, with every boost I've owned, boutique & $99 dollar variety alike, my trusty Zakk Wylde OD that I've had for about 11 years, simply unleashes beast mode in front of the Stiletto. I intended, (and assume), it would shine with the ED or RA as well.

 

[braintheory]

I've AB'ed a stiletto duece ii and RA and much preferred the stiletto. The RA was too polite in comparison, while the stiletto was more raw and aggressive. That being said, I'd still take an older jmp2203 or JCM800 over any stiletto and that would be even more raw and organic

Like skoora said the ED is a warm, thick and dark sounding amp

 

[napalmdeath]

I've AB'ed a stiletto duece ii and RA and much preferred the stiletto. The RA was too polite in comparison, while the stiletto was more raw and aggressive. That being said, I'd still take an older jmp2203 or JCM800 over any stiletto and that would be even more raw and organic

Like skoora said the ED is a warm, thick and dark sounding amp

What's the Stiletto Ace, just a 50 watt version of the Deuce?

I'm surprised about the RA, especially since Morton of Lamb Of God was sporting one both live and studio, (tracked with a Mark V, of course).

 

[braintheory]

I've AB'ed a stiletto duece ii and RA and much preferred the stiletto. The RA was too polite in comparison, while the stiletto was more raw and aggressive. That being said, I'd still take an older jmp2203 or JCM800 over any stiletto and that would be even more raw and organic

Like skoora said the ED is a warm, thick and dark sounding amp

What's the Stiletto Ace, just a 50 watt version of the Deuce?

Yes. Then there's also the 150 watt version called the trident which I owned for a bit (stage ii). It was a very nice amp, but I got other amps later that sent it packing

 

[mchn13]

I've only played on an ED a couple times, but I tried to trade one of my dual rectos for it several years ago. Thought it sounded like a mix of recto/Vht/hint of marshall. Only played it boosted but it was crushing.

 

[some dude]

How do they stack up to the Stiletto, especially in the bottom end and aggressiveness?

The Electra Dyne has a huge bottom end. Enough to burry my Dual Rectifier. It's a dark amp. People say it has a lot of low mids, but another way to look at it is that it doesn't have a lot of upper mids. It fills up a lot of space while leaving that region free.

The Electra Dyne does get a little wooly at low volumes and (IMO) needs to hit stage volumes before it starts to open up. I found it useful for driving a sonic wedge between the bassist and the other guitarists Marshall type amp. The Electra Dyne would cut through the other guitarist by not competing with him for the same sonic space. Could solo and everything underneath him while he held the upper midrange.

The Electra Dyne doesn't have as much gain as the Stiletto. Basically peaks at JCM800 levels on the high gain channel and the low gain channel is around Plexi levels.

The Stiletto I had for awhile I remember being very bright. If you're looking for aggressive, the Electra Dyne is a different kind of aggressive. More Rectifier low mid chunk than pissed off top end crunch.

I've never played a Royal Atlantic.

 

[skoora]

I wouldn't mind trying an ED again with a few pedals and possibly a 10 band for the loop or in front (kill some bass going in, boost the upper mids etc). The RA was just too meh to care to experiment. It's funny, I was also underwhelmed by the Triple Crown. Would still want to monkey around with an ED. But of course ED is no laughing matter...

The Ace is a 50 watt stage II stiletto.

 

[Mudder]

Love my Electra Dyne for everything up to hard rock, classic metal. It's not tight enough without a boost for more modern stuff, but once boosted is awesome. I can't compare to a Stiletto, but I will vouch for it's versatility and quality.

 

[bigangryguitar]

I got a stage 1 stiletto trident a few months ago and with a boost it’s as good or better than anything I own or have played. One of the best clean channels out there too. Takes a while to figure out but one you do it’s one of the most criminally underrated amps ever.

 

[some dude]

I wouldn't mind trying an ED again with a few pedals and possibly a 10 band for the loop or in front (kill some bass going in, boost the upper mids etc). The RA was just too meh to care to experiment. It's funny, I was also underwhelmed by the Triple Crown. Would still want to monkey around with an ED. But of course ED is no laughing matter...

The Triple Crown grew on me. I initially got it because I needed something that did a better job of playing lead in a classic rock band than a Dual Rectifier, and it did good at that. Over time I've started dialling it in less classic and more for my tastes and IMO it's fucking amazing.

Takes a bit of fidding though. If you dial it in like a typical Mesa it's going to sound bland. Took me awhile to break old habits and start experimenting with more extreme positions on the EQ.

 

[sg guy]

-STILETTO-owned one briefly,.. sounds like MESA's template for a high gain Marshall was a JCM 900, too "thin" sounding for me.
-Royal Atlantic-a good little amp with some cool features, needs more wattage & gain... But!!! with out a doubt the best power reduction /attenuation circuit ever created,... Bar none, be it built in, around, or a stand alone unit.... If MESA doesn't make it available, someone else should...
-(steal there design and do the people a favor for crying out loud)- AND THE R.A. SOUNDS ITS BEST WITH IT WIDE OPEN!!.. The bad,... Heavy leaning on the attenuation shorten's power tube life.... apparently this is frowned upon by its targeted demographic, -(the "must be a light weight, low wattage, have Fender cleans combo")-
Tele playing tan pants. As for me, I'll gladly sacrifice tubes & virgins for tone all night long,
-ELECTRA DYNE- the polar opposite of the other 2, "ED" is loud & sounds huge, ED's is a stripped down, no frills, one trick pony... Put the RA's power reduction system in ED... Winner Winner Chicken Dinner

 

[gibson5413]

I have owned an ED for about 4 years and I love it. It is perfect with my classic rock band. I can hit anything I want with it.If you can find a good one I would grab it. You can get them for a really good price these days.

 

[napalmdeath]

I have owned an ED for about 4 years and I love it. It is perfect with my classic rock band. I can hit anything I want with it.If you can find a good one I would grab it. You can get them for a really good price these days.

I'm leaning towards one. In the clips I've watched, and various demos, it seems to have more gain on tap than any JCM800, and sounds like a boost would get you all you can handle.

For reference, my gain styles, (as far as heavy), only get to prog-metal, thrash or LOG levels, and Drop-D is the lowest I tune. I expect, and inherently always use a boost anyway, and always use an EQ in the loop as well. I'd love another Stiletto, and maybe even an Ace would be a good choice, but the ED seems to have a big huge tone, and simpler.