ADA Depot - A Forum To Support Users of ADA Amplification Gear
Miscellaneous => Discussions => Topic started by: BrokeDownSouth on February 14, 2014, 10:45:20 AM
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Ok, so a few weeks ago I woke up one morning with a strong desire for an MB-1. Since then I've been on the hunt to get one at a fair price. One is currently on eBay for $275 shipped, which is top-dolloar IMHO. I may let it go to see if it gets reposted at a more reasonable price.
I've already got a new 6U Rack case and some cables to wire it up to the poweramp. I just picked up an MC-1 foot controller for $58 shipped. I assume that it was compatible.
The manual recommends using 16 awg speaker cable to connect the preamp outs to the power amp. I though you'd use shielded instrument cable, but I got 16 awg shielded speaker 'cause that's what the manual said.
That's my story so far. I'm super stoked on ADA for whatever reason right now.
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Hey Mate, I would have thought $275 USD shipped was an ok price (Pete what do you recon ?) as long as it's in good condition. The MC-1 is compatible, it's the pedal the units shipped with I'm pretty sure. You can then use a 7 pin MIDI lead (hopefully that's included with your MC-1) and you plug the power adapter into the "phantom" power input on the back of the MB1 and the additional 2 pins in the MIDI lead power the MC-1, nice and tidy, no power adapters at your feet :thumb-up: .
I agree about the 16 awg cables, seems a bit overkill for line level signals and, as you say, you'd usually use good quality shielded inst cable. As long as the cables are shielded the additional thickness will probably improve the bass response a bit although this starts to get into a hotly debated topic (cables) in the audiophile world. Thicker cables can carry more current. The physics is interesting as transmission down a cable is largely an edge phenomenon (or so they say) so more edge area better transmission. Bass however tends to go down the centre (thus some speaker cables have a solid copper core to improve bass response). A guy I know spent $6,000 AUD to get 2 x 1 meter (~3 feet) RCA <> RCA cables made in the UK for his hi fi. Then, to a large degree it get subjective, some say they can here the difference. Back to an earlier question, what cabs are you going to use ? Are you going to be able to run the MB1 in stereo ? as that WILL make a difference (that I'm sure you'll like).
Anyway, it seems like the majority of us here, you've got the ADA bug ;)
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Ok, so a few weeks ago I woke up one morning with a strong desire for an MB-1. Since then I've been on the hunt to get one at a fair price. One is currently on eBay for $275 shipped, which is top-dolloar IMHO. I may let it go to see if it gets reposted at a more reasonable price.
I've already got a new 6U Rack case and some cables to wire it up to the poweramp. I just picked up an MC-1 foot controller for $58 shipped. I assume that it was compatible.
The manual recommends using 16 awg speaker cable to connect the preamp outs to the power amp. I though you'd use shielded instrument cable, but I got 16 awg shielded speaker 'cause that's what the manual said.
That's my story so far. I'm super stoked on ADA for whatever reason right now.
USD 275,- is a fair price for an MB-1 (it is after all 2 pre-amps in 1), when it is in decent condition.
I'd grab it (but I already have 2 so no need)
Peter :thumb-up:
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As for the price, I'm speaking in US context - I know things can get more expensive for you guys overseas. Looking at eBay auctions over the last 3 or 4 months not one has sold for over $200, avg ~$150.
I'm going to have to get a midi cable.
I'm looking at a crown xls1000 to power it. As for cabs, I use a Bag End D10bx-d and a euphonic audio vl-210. Yes, I'm going to play stereo, EA on the highs and bag end for the lows.
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Yeah, I got mine for around $160 myself, though it has its issues. I was lucky enough to find a ADA B500B Bi-Amp power amp for it and they match up very well. If you haven't checked Music Go Round's website, do so. Every once in a while they will have a good price for some older working rack gear...I got my MP-1 in store from one for $150.
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you don't need 16 AWG (that's about 1.5mm²),waaaaay to thick.Just use regular guitar cable or some good patch cables.
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you don't need 16 AWG (that's about 1.5mm²),waaaaay to thick.Just use regular guitar cable or some good patch cables.
Already got 2 right angle 1.5 foot shielded 16 awg cables. 16 gauge isn't too bad. The manual recommends 12 to 16 gauge speaker cable so I just went with that. NBD.
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Yeah, I got mine for around $160 myself, though it has its issues. I was lucky enough to find a ADA B500B Bi-Amp power amp for it and they match up very well. If you haven't checked Music Go Round's website, do so. Every once in a while they will have a good price for some older working rack gear...I got my MP-1 in store from one for $150.
I found an mb1 and b500b set on gbase.com. called about it and they were asking $750, non negotiable. I may just go for the one on eBay. Saving $100 ain't really worth waiting another month to me.
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you don't need 16 AWG (that's about 1.5mm²),waaaaay to thick.Just use regular guitar cable or some good patch cables.
Already got 2 right angle 1.5 foot shielded 16 awg cables. 16 gauge isn't too bad. The manual recommends 12 to 16 gauge speaker cable so I just went with that. NBD.
Just had a read of the manual, the manual advises 12 to 16 gauge speaker cable for the amp to speaker connections, not for the input. Normal good quality patch leads are fine for MB1 outs to power amp ins. For speaker cables I usually use 20 amp power cable and they don't need to be shielded.
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you don't need 16 AWG (that's about 1.5mm²),waaaaay to thick.Just use regular guitar cable or some good patch cables.
Already got 2 right angle 1.5 foot shielded 16 awg cables. 16 gauge isn't too bad. The manual recommends 12 to 16 gauge speaker cable so I just went with that. NBD.
Just had a read of the manual, the manual advises 12 to 16 gauge speaker cable for the amp to speaker connections, not for the input. Normal good quality patch leads are fine for MB1 outs to power amp ins. For speaker cables I usually use 20 amp power cable and they don't need to be shielded.
You're right, I misread that part. Yeah, I know power amp to speaker cable doesn't need to be shielded b/c there no signal gain after that point.
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UPDATE:
Just won the auction for an MB-1 last night. Waiting for it to be shipped. I received a Crown XLS1000 power amp that I purchased on eBay yesterday and started experimenting with it. I'll post some demos as soon as I can. :metal:
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Score! You are going to have a blast with it!
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UPDATE:
Just won the auction for an MB-1 last night. Waiting for it to be shipped. I received a Crown XLS1000 power amp that I purchased on eBay yesterday and started experimenting with it. I'll post some demos as soon as I can. :metal:
Great :thumb-up:
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Cool, what did it go for in the end ??
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Cool, what did it go for in the end ??
$200 + $15 shipping. I was the only bidder. It probabbly would've gone down in price again if I'd waited but I was out of patience. Not bad, It looks minty and allegedly has no issues. ???
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Still not shipped yet.... Arrgh!! >:(
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Pretty good price in the end, hope it gets to you soon.
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Awww yeeaaahhh....
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Very cool, now you can try out some of Peters patches, and share yours ! One thing maybe worth mentioning is, if the MB1 is like the MP1/2 and I'm sure it is, you need to run (develop) your patches up at stage levels to get the volumes right and then turn them down for home use etc. Going the other way developing them at bedroom levels and then turning them up for stage leaves you having to do a lot of tweaking to get them right (particularly eq wise and master levels between patches).
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Cool, what did it go for in the end ??
$200 + $15 shipping. I was the only bidder. It probabbly would've gone down in price again if I'd waited but I was out of patience. Not bad, It looks minty and allegedly has no issues. ???
Very good price indeed, remember when they were new I paid NLG 3000,- (now ca. EUR 1400,- = USD 1800,-) here in The Netherlands :o
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I seem to remember my MP2 cost $2500 AUD, they weren't cheep and cheerful, just sounded soo good.
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So I recieved the MB-1 Friday afternoon and immediatley tested it. I then popped it in my rack and took it to rehearsal. Sounded pretty good, especially since I didn't do any kind of set up. Used at another reharsal for my other band on Sunday.
I get the idea about dialing up your settings at stage volume. Right now I'm using the MB-1 with its output knob maxxed out and using the poweramp to control the volume.
I'm digging it, got my MC-1 controller set up last night. I'm building a couple of envelope filters to go in the FX loops. :banana-guitar:
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Go BDS, :whoohoo!: , a suggestion, crank up your power amp (at least 3/4 or full >:D ) and turn down the MB1 to suit (and use the MP1 master vol on each patch to suit), better gain structure and headroom (better pops/slaps) :thumb-up:
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Go BDS, :whoohoo!: , a suggestion, crank up your power amp (at least 3/4 or full >:D ) and turn down the MB1 to suit (and use the MP1 master vol on each patch to suit), better gain structure and headroom (better pops/slaps) :thumb-up:
Do you mean more hearoom in the poweramp? That crown drivecore poweramp I got seems to be able to take a really hot input signal with no problem. With the MB-1 maxxed out the signal LED's on the poweramp have never shown it clipping.
At first I didn't think the MB-1 could play well with my Stingray b/c the internal preamp on the Stingray is pretty hot, but last night I sat down and figured out how to dial down the input signal and adjust the master volume for each channel... whatever I'm rambling, but now I'm rockin' the Stingray 5 with it.
I'm gonna set up a bank of patches for my Thumb 5 and another bank for my Stingray 5. Should get a demo video up by this weekend.
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Yeah, more headroom in the power amp (like setting up a PA), glad to hear it's all coming together, a bank for each guitar is a good approach, gives you easy access to 10 patches per instrument.
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Ok cool, the power amp seems to have plenty of headroom with the mb1 at full out put but I'll mess around with that idea some.