Dating an MP-1

[MarshallJMP]

Well today I was fixing an MP-1 and I don't know why I didn't think of this before but there's a way to use the date codes on the IC's to get a pretty accurate reading when you're MP-1 or any other device was made.
Most manufacturers put date codes on their IC's. If you find the youngest date and add a month or 2 you'll be in the ballpark of the manufacturing date.Now some use obscure date codes some use the plain codes.

For instance on the Z80 cpu for example you can read 9306 which means it's made in 1993 6th week.

[Dante]

Cool!

I guess that would be handy for celebrating the birthday of your preamp  :banana-upsidedown:

[MarshallJMP]

Yep good idea, we even can have a few beers with the unit to celebrate  :lol:

[Harley Hexxe]

Just don't give the preamp any beer, it doesn't hold it's liquor very well :D

     Harley 8)

[Dante]

Yep good idea, we even can have a few beers with the unit to celebrate  :lol:

Well, they're old enough to drink

[MarshallJMP]

Yep good idea, we even can have a few beers with the unit to celebrate  :lol:

Well, they're old enough to drink

Yes they are but I would wait until after the gig to get it drunk  >:D

[MikeB]

OK.  So mine says 8745.  If I add a couple of months then we are looking at early 1988.  When did they start making the mp1?

[MikeB]

Just pulled out the old transformer ready to install the MDRT (yay, at last!!) and I've found a sticker on it that says 16th of November 1988.  So not early 1988 after all.  The Z80 must have been sitting around for a bit longer than 2 months then.

[MarshallJMP]

Yes it could be but you have to take a look at all the date codes on the chips and take the youngest one and add a few months to that. I know it's not an exact science but it will get you close. It all depends how long the parts are sitting on the shelf waiting to get used.

[Harley Hexxe]

The MP-1 was first introduced at the NAMM show in January of 1987. It was the hottest new item at the NAMM that year and blew all the other Amp makers away!

   Harley 8)

[tomy]

The MP-1 was first introduced at the NAMM show in January of 1987. It was the hottest new item at the NAMM that year and blew all the other Amp makers away!

   Harley 8)

Were you there harley ?

[vansinn]

Oh yeah!  I've often thought of dating an MP..
Checking date codes (preferably before usage) is as always problematic without actually opening up before usage.
And I really find those MP's very Namm Namm..

[rnolan]

That was my first thought when MJMP posted the topic, I'm thinking take my MP2 on a date, then I read the post LoL...

So the Intel 8051H CPU in one of my MB1s is 1987.  My Anderson was made for that same NAMM show it's a 1987 build.

[Harley Hexxe]

@ tomy, No, I wasn't there. I just remember the buzz at all the music shops about how they were all waiting for the new MP-1 preamp and B200S poweramp that year. I had already begun building effects racks that year, using Gallien-Kruger for pre and power amps because they had effects loops. The dealers who knew me and what I was up to, kept telling me about the new preamp that ADA had come out with, and that I would love it. They were right.

@ Richard, I don't believe the MB-1 was introduced until the following year, it may not have been introduced until 1989 for that matter since ADA had their hands full trying to keep up with the orders for the MP-1. That little preamp changed the way everyone looked at amplifiers in 1987.

  Harley  8)

[rnolan]

Hey Harley, I suspect you are correct.  They probably use the same CPU Zialog Z80.

I bought one of the first MP1s to come into Australia (same when the MP2 came out), I was just blown out how great it was, also a B200s and a Quadverb and an 8 channel mixer, converted my Yamaha quad box to stereo