ADA MP-1

[Ericlingus]

I trying to get a late 80's early 90's metal sound out of an ADA MP-1 with a mosvalve 500 poweramp and a genz benz gflex 2x12 cab. Something like Pantera, Metallica black album or Overkill's Horrorscope and for some songs, a Type O Negative sound. Anyone have any pointers. I'm not completely satisfied with the results I'm getting yet but I've been used to using modelers. I don't have a tone sample I can give yet. What do you guys think of this gear btw? Anyone else have links to tones they have gotten with the ADA MP1?

 

[Robert W]

http://adadepot.com/index.php

I have one of these and like them very much.

Setting-wise, I like to set both ODs to 10, bass around 6-ish, mids -6-ish, treble 6-ish.

I also found putting a tube screamer in front of it helps to really tighten up the bottom end as well.

 

[Ericlingus]

I find the sound to be way too thin with the bass that low. I usually have it at 12 or 16. Although at 16 there is a big jump and it does get a bit flubby without a tube screamer

 

[cobhc]

Maybe look into the many mods that can be done on the MP-1? I think they're generally more for your 80's hair metal style without mods.

 

[Slicklickz]

I bought an MP-1 when they came out,probably in '88 or '89.I eventually ended up buying a parametric eq to get the sound I was looking for.They're very noisy so I put a Rocktron Hush unit in the effects loop.I sold it when the MP-2 came out,in '93 I think,as the MP-2 had built in noise reduction and much better eq,as well as a compressor and wha and 10 different channels.There used to be a place that modded them,ADA Depot,but I think they're out of business.There's a website for the ADA stuff,with all sorts of info and mods. http://www.adadepot.com/

 

[Ericlingus]

I have a boss graphic eq pedal that I could try in the loop. Actually I just finished doing a tone test with the ADA and a tube screamer in front.

 

[kvoid]

I have two and pretty much detest them for anything but cock rock leads. One is a Mod IV Mk. II that is supposed to sound more "Marshally". I like the stock better. I've been thinking about modding the Mod IV into a 3.666. The MP-2 is in my humble opinion, a vastly superior unit (I have that thing too).

Wagener ran a PEQ-3 into the MP-1, to cut the bass, so I suppose a TS is, necessary

 

[Ericlingus]

seems like there isn't enough bass except when it is cranked all the way.

 

[Slicklickz]

I have two and pretty much detest them for anything but cock rock leads. One is a Mod IV Mk. II that is supposed to sound more "Marshally". I like the stock better. I've been thinking about modding the Mod IV into a 3.666. The MP-2 is in my humble opinion, a vastly superior unit (I have that thing too).

Wagener ran a PEQ-3 into the MP-1, to cut the bass, so I suppose a TS is, necessary

Yes I agree,the MP-2 is a great improvement,adding the noise gate,compressor,wha,graphic eq,stereo midi volume control,room eq,cab sims,etc.When I bought mine new in '93 it was around $700 at Factory Music,the big ADA retailer in the area(Boston).I sold my MP-1 for $350 so it paid for 1/2 of the MP-2.I had a Rane Pe-15 parametric eq and a BBE 462 that I used with the MP-1 as well as the Hush unit.I ran it stereo into the effects return of a Metaltronix M1000 on one side and a Marshall 2555 Jubilee on the other into 2 1969 Marshall 4x12 cabs with Greenbacks(2555) and a Marshall 4x12 with V30s and an EAW 4x12 with V30s(M1000).I still have the M1000,2555,and EAW 4x12 sitting in Anvil road cases.

 

[kvoid]

Holy shit Slicklickz, that must have been one hell of a rig back in the day I've worked with EAW PA's (KF730 & KF760 series line arrays, as well as some of their point source systems), never knew they made a 4x12!

I paid something like 500 Euros for one of my MP1's, but that came with a Mesa Strategy 500 and a homemade 2x12 with V30s to boot. The other, stock MP1, cost me 60 euros last year used And the MP-2 I got for free from a friend

 

[Terminus]

I saw a guy using a metal zone for the front end boost on one at a show before, despite that combo it sounded pretty beastly, and it was going through a Carvin power amp and Carvin 4x12 in a wheeled road case. May have been modded, I didn't ask him.