Mesa Stiletto Deuce II

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PDC

PDC

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Came across a locally listed, clean Mesa Stiletto Deuce, Version II at a reasonable price.

Online reviews are polarized - most online clips are very poorly recorded (a few sound good to incredible). But I am a long time Mesa fan and have been curious about these for a long time. Open to input from forum members who have owned or played through these.
 
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I had one and loved it. I only got rid of it because a guy offered a Mark IV in trade which I could not resist.This clip represents what I remember it sounding like.
 
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The same harsh high end that I hear in Mark 3s, I heard in the Stiletto Ace I tried. Def Mesas version of a Marshall. If you don’t mind or hear the same high end I do in a Mk III then grab one.
 
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one of the few mesa's I've never played but I would love to have one. that and a rec in stereo would kill.
 
I had one about 10 years ago I liked it it sounded great but it did sound like an amplifier trying to sound like a Marshall I ended up just getting a 2203. If it's a great price I say grab it and try different boost pedals in front of it that's something I did not try good luck and let us know how it goes.
 
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PDC said:
Came across a locally listed, clean Mesa Stiletto Deuce, Version II at a reasonable price.

Online reviews are polarized - most online clips are very poorly recorded (a few sound good to incredible). But I am a long time Mesa fan and have been curious about these for a long time. Open to input from forum members who have owned or played through these.
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Owned one twice. Total beast! But, it likes beastly levels of volume too. I'd have no qualms with owning another if I were in a position to crank it. British flavor with Mesa balls. Perfect marriage of the two, but it's Mesa dominant. One of my favorite amps I've owned.

LOVES JJ KT77's.
 
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Chris6870 said:
I had one and loved it. I only got rid of it because a guy offered a Mark IV in trade which I could not resist.This clip represents what I remember it sounding like.
Click to expand...

This dude makes any/every amp sound like a ‘must have.’ I am nuts over this guys vid of the modded JVM. I do think he said he was using a subtle, transparent boost in this vid to tighten things up and smooth things out. But he definitely makes the Stiletto sound killer in this vid.
 
Racerxrated said:
The same harsh high end that I hear in Mark 3s, I heard in the Stiletto Ace I tried. Def Mesas version of a Marshall. If you don’t mind or hear the same high end I do in a Mk III then grab one.
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I’m wondering if a known darker, warmer, maybe even less gainy preamp tube like a JJ or a 5771 would tame some of the highs?
 
The channel 1 is too bright, maybe a EQ in the loop could fix that. I haven't tried it when I had the amp.
The channel 2 alone worth the amp. It is one of the best crunch tones out there.
The loop is amazing.
 
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PDC said:
I’m wondering if a known darker, warmer, maybe even less gainy preamp tube like a JJ or a 5771 would tame some of the highs?
Click to expand...
You can dial that out with the EQ. It's pretty responsive.

The key is to get the output volume up and then bring in the master. You want the power amp to be the dominant force. It's far less harsh taking that approach.
 
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turtlefingers said:
The channel 1 is too bright, maybe a EQ in the loop could fix that. I haven't tried it when I had the amp.
The channel 2 alone worth the amp. It is one of the best crunch tones out there.
The loop is amazing.
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Damn sure is. It's a crunch with some authority. Aggressive, gut-punching crunch. It really loved my old Zakk Wylde OD in front. Really pissed off crunch.

Damn you fuckers.. I'm starting to want one again.
The old matching Stiletto cabs ruled too. Massive sounding, huge low end.
 
Not sure what they go for now, but they at least were a great amp for the price (paid $800 for the stiletto trident stage II I used to have). There is like others said an inherent strident/harsh quality to the highs that imo cannot really be dialed out, just masked or subdued. It’s different than the mark iii high’s but also can be harsh in its own way. Like other boogies you gotta dial it in. If you have the means, I’d save up for a vintage jmp2203 or jcm800 instead unless you absolutely need an fx loop or clean channel. Much better amp imo for that kinda sound and better investment too probably. I still have a ‘79 JMP2203 for what it’s worth. It’s a keeper. I sold my stiletto because of when I AB’ed it with the Wizard MC I owned at the time
 
I love these amps. Remember trying out one in a local music store when Andy timmons used one in his rig.
 
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napalmdeath said:
Owned one twice. Total beast! But, it likes beastly levels of volume too. I'd have no qualms with owning another if I were in a position to crank it. British flavor with Mesa balls. Perfect marriage of the two, but it's Mesa dominant. One of my favorite amps I've owned.

LOVES JJ KT77's.
Click to expand...
Well said!
 
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Very cool amps, definitely Mesa's take on the Marshall sound. Mids for days, but more round than a 2203. Tons of gain. I've had Aces, Deuces and Tridents, and unfortunately, they all share the same negative traits as well: Harsh in the mids and highs that can't be removed without an external EQ of same sort, and doesn't have much low end to speak of.

I kept my Trident for a few years before finally deciding to let it go. Don't really miss it with my Splawns around
 
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