Stiletto Ace - Mesa Boogie

FRONT PANEL: Controls & Features (Continued)PRESENCE: The PRESENCE Control is a high frequency attentuator that is placed at the end of each channels pre-amp stageand affects frequencies higher than those of the TREBLE Control. It acts independently of the other rotary tone controls and is crucialin voicing the channel. It is a powerful global tone control. Lower PRESENCE Control settings darken and, in fact compress thesignal which works well to fatten single note solo sounds, giving them girth and focus. Some ofthe best lead sounds in your ACE will find the PRESENCE Control in its lower regions, wherea balanced, vocal response is achieved.PRESENCE BASS MIDHigher settings unleash the mighty roar of your ACE and this can be great for sparkling cleansounds in Channel 1 and more aggressive crunch rhythm sounds in the high gain modes. Be sureto taunt the beast that lurks in the CRUNCH mode of Channels 1 and 2 as the PRESENCE istruly amazing in this most agro mode.MASTER: This control is the master feed from the end of the pre-amp to the driver stage and the Effects Loop. As you can seeeach Channel is fitted with its own MASTER Control, enabling the channels relative volumes to be matched regardless of their extremelydifferent sound styles and gain signatures. The MASTER Control makes possible a wide range of sounds through its abilityto use very low Gain sounds at high volumes and conversely, high Gain sounds at low volumes and everywhere between.Again, we suggest using the MASTER Control in its sensible ranges (9:00 - 2:00). Here, the channelswill be easier to match with each other and the Effects Loop will see more reasonable signallevels.MASTER PRESENCE BASSNOTE: Because the MASTER Control creates the send to the Effects Loop, extreme settingswill cause a large signal to be sent to the Loop for that Channel. Not only may this cause possibleoverloading of the processors Input stage, but will make balancing the two channels’ Effect Sendlevel difficult.RECTIFIER SELECT: Diodes / Tube Rectifier These channel specific switches determine the type of rectification the power sectionof your ACE will operate on. The choices are the solid state SILICON DIODES which convert the A.C. to D.C. with a constant stiffer,tighter character or, TUBE RECTIFIER which brings online a 5U4 rectifier tube for a saggy, compressed powerDIODEfeel. This patented switchable choice of rectification is at the heart of being able to nail the sounds we all hearTUBEas classics and imparts a feel on the strings like no other element in a guitar amplifier. Tube rectification isCH 1FTespecially important when trying to dial-in vintage type sounds where - in the era before MESA introducedMASTERSWCH 2the world to the high gain preamp, power clip characteristics were the only way to get a heavier sound. AsDIODEthe power section tries to draw more current at higher volumes, the tube rectifiers begin to sag and compressthe sound while scooping the harder midrange frequencies, creating an ultra expressive power signature.TUBESolid state rectifiers do the opposite and deliver a steady, stiff supply of current - enabling the power sectionto crank out its rated wattage with immediate response and tight authority.TUBE RECTIFIER would likely be the choice for single note soloing where each note morphs through the vowel sounds as the dynamiccontent changes from attack to decay. The SILICON DIODES will keep bass frequencies tight and track better at extreme preampgain settings, especially when detuned or at higher volumes, and emphasize attack and urgency.The Switchable Rectifier feature is a huge part of the success of our entire Dual Rectifier line and has elevated them to their currentstatus as iconic classics.PAGE 9