I have an Ace and now, finally, I "think" I like it fine!
However, for the first 15 months after buying it, I went through all kinds of grief!! :evil:
About every 6-8 weeks, the power would cut and sound distorted. I kept replacing tubes trying to resolve it and everytime I would try something to affect the problem, it would start working OK again....until another 6-8 weeks!!
It was so intermittent that even the repair station recommended waiting until it got more consistent of a problem so they would be able to find it!!
Finally I put it in the shop and it took over 8 weeks to finally find and fix the problem!
It was a bad power supply filter capacitor that would not always hold a charge. Since I got it back, no trouble....so far, anyway.
What "gets" me is, while I tried calling Mesa about this issue, they never even offered to send me a new tube to try. No offer to cover the cost of tubes I bought to try to solve what was their problem. All expense and grief was my own problem.
So basically, for 15 months, they had my money and I had "little" or no usable amp. :?
Having "vented" all this, I realize these things happen and intermittent problems can be a pain for everyone. I know this all too well as I have been an Electronic Tech for 30+ years.
Still, it is a real bummer when this happens to (formerly?) loyal Mesa fans like you or me, and now I think I would have been just as well or better off to buy used amps that at least may have had a fairly reliable history.
After all, if I am going to go through the grief of troubleshooting/fixing an old amp, why should I have to pay for a new one.?? :?:
That's my theory now, anyway.
As far as sound quality, the Stilettos are about as good as it gets IMHO.
As long as they keep working...... :roll:
Buy one at your own risk! :shock: