Salvation ADA MP1 Module

[gtrlw]

Anyone know if this is still in the works?

 

[Kapo_Polenton]

It came... and it went.... now it's gone

Contact JF for details as there were one or two of these out there from his shop but i think the consensus was that the real deal has more options and is sometimes cheaper to buy than the module so why bother..

 

[Jaded Faith]

I made one, but that's the only one. I won't make another either, it was probably my worst design challenge ever! :lol:

The problem with this request is on many levels. There are tubes and they only pertain to the gain stages. There is a serious lack of reliable documentation available. A huge part of the circuit (including the EQ) uses IC chips and has nothing to do with tubes at all. Trying to trace the signal flow throughout the MP1 I had during R&D was a nightmare.

In the end, the best effort I could give was setting up the gain stages and tuning it by ear. I wasn't satisfied with calling it a replica though, because it really couldn't be. The owner(s) of it have all been fairly pleased with it, but as pointed out you can get the real deal for about the same price as a module.

 

[gtrlw]

I made one, but that's the only one. I won't make another either, it was probably my worst design challenge ever! :lol:

The problem with this request is on many levels. There are tubes and they only pertain to the gain stages. There is a serious lack of reliable documentation available. A huge part of the circuit (including the EQ) uses IC chips and has nothing to do with tubes at all. Trying to trace the signal flow throughout the MP1 I had during R&D was a nightmare.

In the end, the best effort I could give was setting up the gain stages and tuning it by ear. I wasn't satisfied with calling it a replica though, because it really couldn't be. The owner(s) of it have all been fairly pleased with it, but as pointed out you can get the real deal for about the same price as a module.

Interesting. Thanks.

 

[Lovebandits]

Rob did a very good job of capturing the Ada tone!! Despite everything I think it sounds fine in OD1 mode!!

 

[JayDA]

I owned that module for about a year before I sold it. I thought it was pretty **** close, I only sold it when I got a clean MP1 for 50 bucks. Side by side I would say the module was a bit tighter and had a bit more gain.....but that's splitting hairs.....it was awfully close.

 

[SALVAGED]

I originally commisioned this mod, because I wanted to simplify my rig. When I got into MTS, I sold/traded a couple heads & preamps, but wanted all those tones in my RM4. The ADA MP-1 that this mod was based on, was slightly modded... and Rob tuned it by ear, to match the modded MP-1... which is why "cuts" a little more than the stock unit. I've owned 5 MP-1's in the past, with different mods... and this was probably my favorite one (and Rob nailed the modded unit).

True, the mod seems unreasonable when you can just buy a real MP-1 so cheap these days... but it will complicate your rig with a switching system, if you want to integrate it with your MTS stuff. Plus, MP-1's are about 25 years old now... and most are in need of a little TLC. An 80.A built on a new MTS donor, will be much more hassle-free in the long run. That was my reasoning, anyway! :lol:

Too bad Rob won't build anymore... it's definitely a usable tone...

 

[BigBrewtus]

I just picked up an ADA MP-1 myself. I was hoping it will tide me over while the RM4 gets a tune up and I still get to hammer on my Peavey Classic 60. Havent had the chance to put it throught the paces but cant wait to try for myself. I love MTS and all it has to offer but kinda cool to think of the tones I can get and with the power amp I matched it with it all fits in a nice little 4 space rack and is super light.

 

[SALVAGED]

I just picked up an ADA MP-1 myself.

They're cool preamps! I have quite a bit of mod info around here somewhere... These usually benefit a great deal, with the well-documented "noise mod". Basically, replacing filter caps with better grade components... pretty simple to do, too. Also, the volume pot on the front usually needs replaced (I might have an extra...?). Three more things that open these up... JJ's sound pretty incredible in these, really... and upgrading the opamps to OPA2604's, will give it more of an "amp" feel. There's also a rear-jack mod, that updates the rear jack to instrument-level, like the front... pretty handy. I'm sure more thoughts will come to mind, the more I think about these MP-1's...

Edit: There's also a cool transformer upgrade for these... known as the MDRT. You can order all kinds of MP-1 mod stuff here: www.marshalljmpmodshop.net

No, I don't work for that site... :lol:

 

[Kapo_Polenton]

I think if i were to find a cheap one, I'd probably leave it bone stock (except for noise mods, those are useful). The reason is, if i want to capture some of those Nuno , Bratta, or Skid Row tones, pretty sure those were on a stocker and the mojo might have been in part to the power amp Wagner used. Luckily he seemed to write everything down or have a great memory so that info is still available.

 

[SALVAGED]

I think if i were to find a cheap one, I'd probably leave it bone stock (except for noise mods, those are useful). The reason is, if i want to capture some of those Nuno , Bratta, or Skid Row tones, pretty sure those were on a stocker and the mojo might have been in part to the power amp Wagner used. Luckily he seemed to write everything down or have a great memory so that info is still available.

No arguing against that! Those are some great tones!! 8)