ADA Depot - A Forum To Support Users of ADA Amplification Gear

ADA Preamps => MB-1 => Topic started by: BoWeevil on May 09, 2014, 11:51:13 AM

Title: MB-1 Restoration Parts List Needed....
Post by: BoWeevil on May 09, 2014, 11:51:13 AM
Hello All!
I am a former MB-1 user and have just reacquired an MB-1 off of Reverb.
I'm looking to give this baby a complete overhaul, with the plan of keeping it as my FINAL preamp.
With that being said, I'm looking for a list of or a link to a supplier for all the best Mods and replacement parts I would need to get this pre in top operational condition.
I've seen the recommendations out there for the JJ/ECC83 tubes, as well as the MDRT.
Besides those, what else should I be looking at replacing?
Battery? Caps? Resistors? etc.....
Thanks, and looking forward to any and all replies,

BoWeevil
Title: Re: MB-1 Restoration Parts List Needed....
Post by: Peter H. Boer on May 10, 2014, 04:22:04 AM
Well hello BoWeevel,

I saw somebody mention that the old Depot was still somewhere on the net in the archives of something.
If somebody can point me to that I can see if I can find my old thread of the modifications done to my 2 MB-1s :thumb-up:

Welcome to your last preamp  O0
Title: Re: MB-1 Restoration Parts List Needed....
Post by: MarshallJMP on May 10, 2014, 07:05:01 AM
You can also do the noise mod for the MB-1.
Title: Re: MB-1 Restoration Parts List Needed....
Post by: rnolan on May 10, 2014, 07:14:51 AM
Hey BoWeevel,
Welcome to your last preamp  O0
   1  :thumb-up:
I've used MP1 now MP2 for over 25 years now and they are still (after all these years) IMHO the best preamps ever.  The thought of not having my MP2 cooking is not one I want to contemplate...  They are getting older though and there are some options to give them a grease, oil and bearing change, particularly to use better more modern components and replace the bits and bobs that die over time (seems to be caps mostly ??).
Peter is the guru on MB1s, so I hope you/he can dig up his posts.  MJMP is the mod master  :bow: and is sure to help...
Change tubes (always a good idea depending how old they are).  I'll mostly defer to Peter here as I don't have a MB1 but JJs are usually good (lots of fully tested re-badged JJ options, Boogie STRs, Rubys, Grove Tube etc), personally I'd give the new sensor Mullard short plates a go, they are IMHO better on guitar than JJs and should have the feq response for bass, and they are sooo 3D mmmm. Then, tubes are very subjective.
To my mind, the MDRT is a no brain-er, if you can afford it, put it in (http://www.marshalljmpmodshop.net/miscellaneous_parts_and_replacement_tubes.htm), I wish there were one for my MP2.
Battery, IIRC there is a mod for that (probably similar to the MP1 battery mod), good idea (considering how old the units are)
Caps, for any that go off over time it will be worth replacing them with better (longer lasting) more modern caps
Resistors, again similar to caps, if there are better modern components ? MJMP will know..
Opp Amps, Soli (IIRC) replaced every opp amp he could in his MP1 with newer better specked (where he could) etc and said the improvement was amaizing, this is a big(ish) job though ?
Anyway, welcome to ADA heaven, cheers Richard
Title: Re: MB-1 Restoration Parts List Needed....
Post by: kawai2g4b on May 10, 2014, 10:09:19 AM
+1 on JJs.  Just had them installed in mine.
Title: Re: MB-1 Restoration Parts List Needed....
Post by: BoWeevil on May 10, 2014, 10:15:24 AM
Thanks for the info!
As far as the MDRT goes, is there only one for the MB-1?
Title: Re: MB-1 Restoration Parts List Needed....
Post by: rnolan on May 10, 2014, 10:23:43 AM
I wish there were only 1 for the MP2, yes there is only 1 MDRT (for MP1/MB1), (Machinator Developed Replacement Transformer) go Machinator  :bow: I tried to get him interested in a MP2 version but he's way too busy...  Any one else interested in designing a new tranny for the MP2 ?