ADA Depot - A Forum To Support Users of ADA Amplification Gear
ADA Preamps => Original MP-1 => Topic started by: DannyjoeCarter on February 19, 2017, 12:35:50 PM
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Well Folks I just wanted to take a poll out of curiosity and wanted you all to share how long you have had your MP-1? Let's see who has the oldest original unit :D
As I have shared with you I have had so many problems with these older used units we bought but I'm certain they may be several on here that are still using the original MP-1 and never had an issue other than tubes - so please share! :thumb-up:
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Well I bought mine new back in 91 and I own 7 mp-1's now,also 4 mp-2's a mp-1 classic and 2 MB-1's.
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I bought my 1.38 version in the spring of '88. I was second owner and still use it today. I've had at least 10 different MP-1's and Mp-2s overt the years. Down to just 3 now. 1.38 stock (some maintenance mods), a 3.666 mod and a stock Mp-2.
I've never had a Classic or 3TM. Anyone want to trade?
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Well I bought mine new back in 91 and I own 7 mp-1's now,also 4 mp-2's a mp-1 classic and 2 MB-1's.
EPIC WIN!!! :banana-dance:
I've mine since some months...
As MJMP said to me, from serial number it's one of the latest ADA produced.
My previous one, as you know, was an old 1.38...I think it was from 1988 or 1989...I bought it used from a friend.
But I remember it had something I didn't love too much in the gain structure...it was "weak" and I had to push OD1 and OD2 hard to get good tones...maybe I mid-scooped it too much, but I was younger and metal addicted! :headbanger:
Aside from that, it was noisy a lot...maybe that unit had some issues, but Adadepot wasn't around yet! :lol:
The one I own now it's better a lot!
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Well I bought mine new back in 91 and I own 7 mp-1's now,also 4 mp-2's a mp-1 classic and 2 MB-1's.
OK you win MJMP - you are my hero ;D
This is great news and shows why you put so much love and care into these things :thumb-up:
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I have too much I know :facepalm:
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No MJMP, you can't have to many >:D And anyone who says you can't play them all at once is wrong (but you'd need a decent input splitter and a 24 ch desk LoL) Wow wall of (7) MP1s' :whoohoo!: And that's doing it simply, you could get even more creative and use MP1s in other MP1 loops (and then there's all the great ADA FXs you have >:D >:D ).
I bought my first MP1 in maybe 87 or 88 ? it was one of the first batch to come to Australia. I sold it to MikeB in ~95 :dunno: so I could buy the new MP2. My first MP2 died at a gig not long after I bought it :facepalm: (only catastrophic failure I've ever had with ADA preamps BTW). Fortuitously, Mike was at the gig and lived down the street, so he wizzed home a lent me my former MP1 for the night (go Mike, still very appreciated my friend :thumb-up: ). So I swapped that unit for a new one which is still in my live rack today, only change is new tubes. I have 3 other MP2s (I started buying them as there still isn't a replacement I like and they are getting on..). I have one in my studio rack and the other 2 gather dust (which I'm not thrilled about..). I also have 2 MB1s' they came from the US and have both been to MJMP for a refresh and MDRT transformers. One in my live rack and one in the studio rack, they both get used regularly..
I recently bought 2 MP1s, 1 240v AU model (has issues which eventually I'll solve) and 1 US model (seems to be a decent solid unit), I know little about either of them except I bought them from a guy in my home town Newcastle, one has battery mod (IIRC the 240v one). When I get some head space I'll get them both optimal and add one to the live rack and one to the studio rack.
I still need a 240v MP1 Classic, they didn't make it to Australia (as far as I know).
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No MJMP, you can't have to many >:D And anyone who says you can't play them all at once is wrong (but you'd need a decent input splitter and a 24 ch desk LoL) Wow wall of (7) MP1s' :whoohoo!: And that's doing it simply, you could get even more creative and use MP1s in other MP1 loops (and then there's all the great ADA FXs you have >:D >:D ).
I bought my first MP1 in maybe 87 or 88 ? it was one of the first batch to come to Australia. I sold it to MikeB in ~95 :dunno: so I could buy the new MP2. My first MP2 died at a gig not long after I bought it :facepalm: (only catastrophic failure I've ever had with ADA preamps BTW). Fortuitously, Mike was at the gig and lived down the street, so he wizzed home a lent me my former MP1 for the night (go Mike, still very appreciated my friend :thumb-up: ). So I swapped that unit for a new one which is still in my live rack today, only change is new tubes. I have 3 other MP2s (I started buying them as there still isn't a replacement I like and they are getting on..). I have one in my studio rack and the other 2 gather dust (which I'm not thrilled about..). I also have 2 MB1s' they came from the US and have both been to MJMP for a refresh and MDRT transformers. One in my live rack and one in the studio rack, they both get used regularly..
I recently bought 2 MP1s, 1 240v AU model (has issues which eventually I'll solve) and 1 US model (seems to be a decent solid unit), I know little about either of them except I bought them from a guy in my home town Newcastle, one has battery mod (IIRC the 240v one). When I get some head space I'll get them both optimal and add one to the live rack and one to the studio rack.
I still need a 240v MP1 Classic, they didn't make it to Australia (as far as I know).
Richard reading your response and a few others on different threads I think I'm seeing a pattern here as in, the MP-1s that regardless of their age, it seems that as long as they have stayed in use they are fine! :o
I'm beginning to think they are like the old Marshall you pull out that hasn't been turn on in 20 years and the caps smoke after a few minutes when you fire it up for the first time again.
A little story - My friend Felice in Riverside California and I were hanging out at his place during the NAMM show of 2014 and I begged him to get out his 78' JMP 50 watter and fire it up. I knew about NOT doing that if hit had not been played for a while but he did not! We got so excited about hearing it that we plugged it all in and I hit a chord and listened for a second - then went into a little solo and then it sounded fizzy then smoke came out of the grill on top of the head :facepalm:
Well I talked to him 2 weeks ago and he still hasn't bothered to get that amp fixed because he is so into playing his rack gear he doesn't care :o
My point is I think these MP-1 are the same way; digging them out of the closet after 20 years of none use is causing most of these issues.
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Hey DjC, so if you don't use it, loose it ? I could take a spiritual angle on it, everything's alive in one way or another and left alone will always seek/slip to entropy (caos)... (BTW there is probably allot of truth in this thought but it will probably spin some people out). But if you don't want you atoms (well more particularly the quarks they are made of) to runaway back into the cosmos (which is there natural inkling/predilection), you need to give them something to do that makes you happy (ie turn it on and use it). I'm reasonably convinced that quarks just want to make us happy :headbanger: , particularly the rock quarks (and RGs Metal quarks) LoL. But they do get board just hanging around. I'd extend this thought bubble as to why you shouldn't let just anyone play your guitar (not just their (sometimes) corrosive sweat, but also their vibe... So then I'd postulate it's a little bit important who owned your MP1 before you and what they did with and to it...
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(BTW there is probably allot of truth in this thought but it will probably spin some people out).
There's a lot of truth in that, indeed...generally speaking.
The curious Universe's structure that's under the surface in quantum reality tells it.
But being more down to earth, this also happens with musical instruments: everytime someone gives me a bass or a guitar to restore, especially if in generally bad shape, after my work is done...I can feel those instruments back to life.
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The problem with old tube amps is that they carry high voltage caps, which needs reforming or they can blow up in smoke. If I get a an old amp that hasen't been fired up in years I use my rheotor and slowly raise the voltage.
Here's a good article about this topic
https://www.nmr.mgh.harvard.edu/~reese/electrolytics/
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Hey DjC, so if you don't use it, loose it ? I could take a spiritual angle on it, everything's alive in one way or another and left alone will always seek/slip to entropy (caos)... (BTW there is probably allot of truth in this thought but it will probably spin some people out). But if you don't want you atoms (well more particularly the quarks they are made of) to runaway back into the cosmos (which is there natural inkling/predilection), you need to give them something to do that makes you happy (ie turn it on and use it). I'm reasonably convinced that quarks just want to make us happy :headbanger: , particularly the rock quarks (and RGs Metal quarks) LoL. But they do get board just hanging around. I'd extend this thought bubble as to why you shouldn't let just anyone play your guitar (not just their (sometimes) corrosive sweat, but also their vibe... So then I'd postulate it's a little bit important who owned your MP1 before you and what they did with and to it...
Yes absolute words of wisdom Richard :thumb-up: I believe the same way really, I have told many of my close friends that I believe each guitar I have ever made or repair for someone has it's own spirit and personality. My buddy Jason and I refer to all these MP-1s as fussy little super models and they each have their own unique personality and voicing. Some misbehave terribly and don't play nicely with other pieces of gear, much like super models and can be catty and fussy. Well I have seen all of the spirits in these MP-1 and their are a few I don't want to date ( or play ) anymore because of their spirits ;D
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Hey MJMP, great article, thanks :thumb-up:
Hey DjC, well fortuitously none of my ADA preamps behave like super models, they do all sound different though. Some are sweeter, some need a good stiff whisky LoL.
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Hey MJMP, great article, thanks :thumb-up:
Hey DjC, well fortuitously none of my ADA preamps behave like super models, they do all sound different though. Some are sweeter, some need a good stiff whisky LoL.
Oh more good advice - thank you Richard. So If I add a stiff drink into some of these units I'll get more out of them, what brand Sir :lol:
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Mmm, New Sensor Mullards LPs come to mind LoL, but a damn good question DjC. Well a couple of tequila shots for the guitarist (the one with the red Mexican hat on the lid, Sierra ??, not the best tequila taste wise but crap, it just makes me want to play :whoohoo!: :dunno: ). Unfortunately, on this journey, you don't get to "impart" your vibe on a blank new/fresh unit, the ones you have have gone where they have with their previous owners (this may sound like ugga bugga but I recon there's something in it...), over time they will (I recon) change to be more aligned with you. For now my suggested approach (makes sense to me) is to modernise the components as best you can and get them all (to the extent possible) solid. Pick the couple that you like the best and then work them and get you/your essence into them. You commented elsewhere that you didn't feel confident taking any of these MP1s' gigging yet, this IMHO needs to change, you need to get a few (at least 2) of these to the point where that isn't an issue. Gigging is what the MP1 is designed for (and needs!!!).
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Mmm, New Sensor Mullards LPs come to mind LoL, but a damn good question DjC. Well a couple of tequila shots for the guitarist (the one with the red Mexican hat on the lid, Sierra ??, not the best tequila taste wise but crap, it just makes me want to play :whoohoo!: :dunno: ). Unfortunately, on this journey, you don't get to "impart" your vibe on a blank new/fresh unit, the ones you have have gone where they have with their previous owners (this may sound like ugga bugga but I recon there's something in it...), over time they will (I recon) change to be more aligned with you. For now my suggested approach (makes sense to me) is to modernise the components as best you can and get them all (to the extent possible) solid. Pick the couple that you like the best and then work them and get you/your essence into them. You commented elsewhere that you didn't feel confident taking any of these MP1s' gigging yet, this IMHO needs to change, you need to get a few (at least 2) of these to the point where that isn't an issue. Gigging is what the MP1 is designed for (and needs!!!).
Yes this is why I'm so glad to have found this forum and MJMP so I can get out and do what I love to do using the tone that started a lot of what I do. :banana: And as I mentioned in another thread that currently I'm not even using an MP-1 due to these issues and am getting my tone from some place else but hoping that changes when we get this first unit back from MJMP ;D
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I've had my mp-1 since 1995. I bought it used in the US and found a company in the UK which used to do the transformer mods, who of course are sadly no longer doing this. It has never been serviced or had the internal battery changed. Touch wood, it will keep going for alot longer ;)
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Hey Rockhead!, they are very robust units. I suspect you'll need a new battery soon though, they (unfortunately) don't last forever albeit much longer than specked in the manual. If you haven't done so already, write all your patches (that you like and want to keep) down somewhere safe. When the battery dies, you loose all the saved patches.
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Rnolan, thanks for the heads up! I certainly will write down my patches. I am hoping to pick up another MP-1 as a back up to this one (can never have too many mp-1's) just incase. I know that i can do a midi dump with my Classics and MP-2. Is this also possible to do on the original mp-1's? If it ends up needing a service i know that i'll be sending it to MJMP.
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The later MP-1 firmware (EPROM v 2.01) supports some midi dump and load. Also there are some PC editors written (a couple of them are available on here) which let you dump/restore and also edit patches. The last one posted here was written in .net so is windows only. Also you'll need a midi interface for your PC (sound card or I/O device or USB midi interface).
"(can never have too many mp-1's) just incase" >:D :thumb-up: . I think most here would agree with you LoL. A few years ago I started buying spare MP-2s (and now have 4) as these units are getting on in life. That said, there's a few things you can do to keep them going (lots of posts and threads related to that).
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Like Rn said you need either a V2.00 or V2.01 to do a midi dump, the older V1.xx don't support midi dumps.
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Ah ok, thanks for the info guys.
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I got my first unit about 2014 or 2015 I think. If someone can find my first posts on here then that will give you a clue as to when I got my first unit. I then sold this and got a 3TM early 2016 I think. May that was in 2015? f*ck I dunno!
There was a question though that DannyjoeCarter mentioned that aint been answered yet. Who owns the oldest unit??? Can we work this out with serial numbers or something? That would be good to know.
Not who bought one first, who owns the actual oldest most originalist unit?
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yes we can figure this out with the serial numbers.
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Not who bought one first, who owns the actual oldest most original unit?
I seem to recall Chucky had a v1.37 or something like that.....earlier than the v1.38.
(It didn't have a transformer in it either....just a small mouse in a wheel) ;) kidding.
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We did do a bit of a serial number thing ages ago, not that we were definitively looking for who had the earliest, more just trying to age our/the unit. Now oldest AND most original (that's slowly becoming an oxymoron :facepalm: ) Things wear out unfortunately....
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I picked up my ADA MP-1 new in July 1989. It is ver. 1.38 and the SN is 807026.
I also bought an ADA MC-1 footswitch (SN 015554) at the same time. However, it was stolen in the early ‘90’s.