ADA MP-1... Whats all the fuss about

[Kapo_Polenton]

It's hard to believe that ADA is going to give you something drastically different than what you can get with your mts

You said it right there...

 

[chunktone]

garbage... I remember working at GC in Covina California and I couldn't get a good tone out it, had to basically give them away.

Isn't no knowledge of your products a requirement to work for GC?

 

[rsm]

I was a big ADA user back in the day; I had the full guitar ( MP-1, MQ-1, B200S and 4 of the 2x12 vertical half stacks) and bass (MB-1, B500B, 2x10 and 1x15 cabs, bi-amp) rigs.

Never modded my MP-1 (I had at least 4!); eventually I went to the MP-2 (had two) which has a GEQ stage so I didn't need the MQ-1 (stayed in the MP-1 rack). Never tried the Classic. I still have my main MP-2 with noise mod and shortened power chord. I sold off the rest of my ADA gear just a few years ago.

I have the MP-2 packed away, the biggest issue is the display, if it goes it can't be replaced. It's also a pain to program patches IMO. I keep planning to take it out to try it with the Torpedo CAB, which I use with a TriAxis rig now; my JMP-1 and JFX-1 sound great with the CAB too; planned to sell them, and changed my mind

Here is an old post of mine with a pic of the rack during the sell off:

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=70584#p822042

 

[jimo]

Michael Wagener made these things sound awesome and created some great tones. But he could probably do that with a pignose. Those setting sheets are cool, thanks for posting those.

 

[atrox]

I had an MP2, which i thought was great, but ultimately went back to heads after a couple years of using it. My buddy had an MP1-Classic, which i thought was terrible compared to the MP1 and MP2.

They just have a really nice, tight sound. I still have the MIDI footswitch laying around taking up space. I wonder if it will work with any rig.

 

[petejt]

not sure on those, haven't messed with those settings yet. i cant remember where i downloaded those from.
here's a vid of paul using his:

Haha that was funny!

here's some more nuno info from micheal wagener:
http://www.gearslutz.com/board/high-end ... fitti.html

you can do a search on gearslutz just like here...put mwagener into the author box, then type in nuno or whatever you want. it appears that wagener documented EVERYTHING...i've spent hours creeping his posts for info.

Thanks for the Wagener stuff.


I remember Wagener confirming in a thread here on Rig Talk that he did use a Lexicon Primetime rack unit for a flanger effect in Metallica's The Thing that Should Not Be (Flemming Rassmussen did produce that album, but Wagener did do some stuff on it).
But I'm confused on which part. It's obvious that a weird metal-pipe scratchy whooshy flanger effect was used on the outro of that song. And I suspect there's a light "trilling" flanger effect on the acoustic intro of that song. But somehow I suspect a really low-set flanger effect on the layered distorted guitars that come in during the main riff and verses.

 

[primerib]

Original MP-1 is the way to go. Capable of very good OD and gain stuff

 

[lll]

EDIT: the following advice only goes for those using full-range or similar loudspeakers, or direct in, or DAW, or headphones.

The trick with these preamps, if you want them to sound spectacular, is to pair them up with a cab sim.

Many people didn't realize (myself included) back in the day that the MP-1 output isn't filtered for a speaker EQ curve.

We all thought you just go straight to a power amp with the MP-1 output...

ADA had their own cab sim rackmount devices back in the day. And if you read the MP-1 manual (RTFM!), you'd see they
suggest some EQ settings for emulating the speaker EQ curve for the output signal.

I use a 2 Notes Torpedo C.A.B. M

 

[glpg80]

One of the absolute best clean tones and chorus sounds you can get is from an MP1. It’s the exact reason I snagged an ADA effects unit that’s all analog.

 

[Rdodson]

I loved mine. I liked the Kasha Rockmod II a little better, but the MP1 was great.

The Peavey Classic 60/60 6L6 power amp was IT for those. Ran it into 2 4x12s via Alesis Quadraverb. Huge. If I'd only known about the greatness of greenbacks back then instead of the ubiquitous 75s.

 

[panhead]

the thing sounds like when Gilbert played through not like Nuno. Nuno sound is Wagner induced, I actually thought porno was a Mesa when I first heard it.

 

[sivad]

I had one yrs ago and it rocked but it also had a cool clean/chorusy tone. I was able to thicken it up with a BBE Sonic Maiximizer.

 

[Bronxgroove]

Bring up an old post because I was thinking about getting one. What would replace this today? Can you get that great 80's tone out of a some Boss stomp boxes or multi effects?

 

[Bash_Man]

Did a video of a 3TM modded MP-1 back in 2006.. still have it. some people like them, some dont. personal taste.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0KT8qkJFF8

The thing I found with the MP-1 is definitely don't go cranking the EQ, especially the Mid. Cutting the Treble helped big time with thickening the sound without sounding dark.

When I had it, I ran it along with a rocktron multieffects into a VHT 2/50/2 into a VHT cabinet. sounded even better through my Splawn Cabinet that had Eminence Governor and ManOWar speakers in X format.

Good luck

 

[Exo-metal]

I had a original 3 tube modded by Langner himself. These were far better than the stock models. The stock MP1 has set frequencies that don't deliver on their own would lend to more processing. The mod I had the MP1 smokin, just killer through a 2150. I know the MP1 w/o the switch on the top of the unit was better.

 

[stanz]

i sold them new at GC never got a good sound out of one... my studio pre and quad preamp crushed it... i dont get the fuss either.

Mesa/Boogie Quad.