The Mythical A/DA MP-2
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- Опубліковано 11 вер 2024
- Massive thank you to the one and only Brian Hook for sending me this A/DA MP-2. It needs a service and some maintenance BUT there's some glorious tones still on tap. Let's do it!
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Roll call for anyone who has owned any of the A/DA gear!
Hey Leon! Here you go now, you're into the only all-tube voiced pre-amp from ADA!
All you need to go with it is the MXC MIDI controller, a QUAD Switch, and a CCP Pedal, and that will open a lot more possibilities with the MP-2.
It sounds pretty damned good with the Synergy power amp, and you're making me G.A.S. for one of those even more!
I own two of these myself and they are definitely beasts as far as the range of gain to be had in them. I would recommend Mullard long plate tubes in this beast, but that's just my personal preference.
When you get that monster serviced, I'll be looking forward to more tone samples. Thanks for the kind words about the ADA Depot, and thanks for posting!
Good One!
*By the way, I own a TON of ADA gear. I just picked up two more delays from them, a 256i ( hard to find ), and another S-1000. ( I think I have 9 or 10 of them now ).
Now THAT is a rack'o'doom. Pics please :p
ADA MP 1 and an intellifex ha! Fizzy and brutal, but I do miss the chorus on the mp1 though!
Mp1 but managed to get the foot controllers that came out for the.mp2 with the expression pedal. They are stored away somewhere. I’ve not seen many mp2s around. I just read the earlier comments. Yes, those ones.
I bought an MP-2 new along with the matching MicroTube 200 power amp new back in the day. I still have them. I've seen so many videos about the MP-1 I've started to wonder if the MP-2 was less popular. I bought mine through (I think) Musician's Friend on close-out for about 50% off MSRP. This was during the height of the grunge era when the market for rack gear just tanked.
I'm looking forward to more videos on this since I never really got the most out of my rack gear back then and while I still have a lot of it, I don't use it much. That gain, however... damn...
I have an ADA MP-2, it rocks.
I have ADA Mp2 and ADA Ampulator. nothing can beat my cleans and crunches. I still gig with a TC Gmajor2 attached.
When there's more geetar you know the gear is good! Perfect time for ADA to re-release new stuff! Great sounds! Miss the old 80's gear. You've given us a great walk down memory lane with all the past videos, thanks!👍
Dang man! That noise gate is working miracles!!!
Noise gate, chorus AND a wah built in. They knew who wanted to play these.
@@LeonTodd Don't forget, they also added dedicated Tremolo, Compressor, and Real Time MIDI,(Continuous Control), assignable to any parameter to make changes on the fly, and wet/dry mix controls in each of the stereo effects loops! Also, the first ADA with Direct outputs,(recording).
Awesome idea Leon! Whenever you do get this serviced, a vid about servicing these old beasts would be so cool! What you had, why, etc,. Keep them coming my man!!
Great idea!
Still got my ADA MP-1 racked right under my Eventide H-3000 bought from an old guns and roses tech, he toured the South/Central American use your illusion tour, cool memorabilia!
That's super cool. How often do you fire them up?
Thanks for this Leon! It doesn't have a built in BBE as Vito requested, but together with a Peavey Classic 50/50 power amp it would have eaten the 90s! Interesting to finally hear the built in wah :D
Funny because the "room" control kinda does some BBE/Exciter style stuff! The wah ain't too bad hey.
Love my ada mp1. I bought it from Troy Stetina 10 - 12 years ago.
Man, that thing slays. The MP-2 always interested me more than 1 as it's what was out when I started to get interested in such things but could never afford one & now they seem to be rare. Looking forward to your comparison video.
Anyone remember Ronnie Le Tekro? I had this rack back in the early 90’s and with the wah filter and EQ features I was able to get super close to his Tell No Tales tone. I later sold and parted with my rack system due to the weight and inconvenience of moving a refrigerator rack, but I now miss it a lot.
Ronnie was amazing! Tell No Tales and intuition had so much creative playing on them. Very much a Brian May meets EVH vibe
You haven't lived until you played thru a ADAMP1 powered by a Mesa Boogie Strategy 500 cranked thru 2 stacks ;)
The hair on my neck is standing up just thinking about it
@@LeonTodd Its pretty scary like top fuel drag cars.
@@Bricklinsv1970 making those trousers flap!
@@LeonTodd And the Toof chime lol!
It's pretty damned awesome through through a B200S, and a full stack arrangement of ADA Split Stack Cabs too! That will move some air!
MP-2 happy owner here. I'm surprised it's so underrated and praised lower than MP-1. It's packed with features (noise gate, wah, chorus etc) plus 10 voicings. So basically MP-1 on steroids. I wouldn't go for MP-1. Also, I'm Kemper owner and noticed something weird. Getting better tones from ADA MP-2 than Kemper. Limitations to 10 voicings works in favour. Instead of endless tweaking you have to work with what you have got and believe me, you will find your tone eventually. With modern modellers you're tweaking and tweaking instead of playing. With modern technology we've forgotten what playing guitar is about. Thanks Leon for this episode 💓
You have to remember that guitar players in general, especially at that time were not very interested in programming anything. When Nirvana came out, basically, rack gear was on it's way out. The MP-2 is much more in-depth to edit and program than the MP-1, and that is the only reason the MP-2 lost it's popularity. It's also the reason ADA later came out with the MP-1 Classic, they returned to a more simplified user interface.
As Harley said it is trickier to edit than the MP-1. The Triaxis got the UI right IMO where they took the MP-1 "one soft key per function" idea and added a display for each parameter - very satisfying for quick tweaking.
Those are so bad ass. Ya gotta love them..
You have every amp I want!!!!! Love the vids brother!!!!
Had Both, my MP1 was a 3TM (3 tube mod), I always thought the MP2 was a much heavier (crunchier) tone than the MP1 but not as organic as the MP1
Yep, just picked one of these up for a ridiculously low price (less than £200), and it's astonishingly good. In fact, it sounds great even for more modern metal and heavy rock. Mine's paired with a TC G-Major, with a Harley Benton GPA-100 solid state power amp (don't knock it, it's a hell of a power amp). That's a brilliant, versatile rack rig for less than £500, including the rack itself and all the I/O gubbins.
Now I just need a gig.
Make please ADA MP-1 vs MP-2 !
I really want to see it as well.. It would be interesting to try record DI signal from the preamp (stage out) and use your IRs ...
I have one too. I bought one about 10 years ago, still have it. It worked for about 15 minutes and died. I still have it. planned on getting it fixed but put it on a shelf and its been there since. Nice and mint looking , might not be that big of deal to get if fixed
It does look awesome in a rack!
I've had 2 MP-2s and 1 MP-1. Still have MP-1 Classic (will never give up), Microtube 200, couple of midicontrollers and a full stack of the cabs which is 2 bottoms and 2 tops.
That's a killer rig, capable of any guitar tones imaginable! I totally agree with you on the Classic. I won't let go of either of mine.
Leon, I have an MP-2.
I couldn't use it properly because there were many other preamplifiers.
I'm learning a lot from Leon's review.
Thanks, Leon.
Hello Leon, I already had the MP-1 a few years ago and I was not thrilled with the sound of this machine. I thought the overdrive was artificial. The only things you really need Leon is your head Marshall JMP-1 - 800 - 900 and DSL of course. Nothing else.
LOL! Love how the number of clip LEDs grows with the complexity: MP1 -> MP1 Classic -> MP2.
It sounds so good, but you're playing it so thats a given! I want this rack preamps in my beloved axe fx! Thanks for the great content man!
The higher gain stuff reminds me of the Friedman HBE models in the Axe funnily enough
Yes, thank for covering the A/DA MP-2, recently I acquired one and I'm kinda lost with it.
You're not the only one. There is a definite learning curve with this pre-amp, not nearly as simple as the MP-1. This is why ADA pre-amps began to lose their place in the market at the time.
ADA Depot back in the day had manuals available for download.
They were trying to keep it alive after Jurie passed.
Great wealth of info there.
I have and Ada MP-1 original and the ADa Ampulator... with these two models together... there is nothing better for a live sound
I had mp1 in 2007. Nice
I saw an interview with Nick Hexum of 311, he said he used an MP2 for the song Down. He kept it in his live rig for years to be able to use that setting. I believe it used the wah/filter with high gain.
I asked him on cameo and he said it was the Alice!? preset.
Still got my MP1 and MP2, tbh i love the MP1 better than the MP2. The MP1 sounds more raw and tougher for metal. The MP2 is more versatile for all types of music (dependant on type of preamp tubes being used. I find that 7025 or actual SPAX12ax7 (MESA preamp tubes worked best for both the MP1 & 2). Just wish they did a noise gate on the MP1. In saying all that, sounded really good Leon.👌🤘
Thanks for the review. Killer job LT! Love these preamps! And ADA in general. Now back to turning friends on to RagDoll! Cheers!
Thankyou!!! LEGEND!
Got two of them and love them. Recorded all my metalstuff with them. Thinking about selling one and get a profiler finally.
I still have the micro tube power amp I used with my ax8, then it died.but it was fixable 😎just got it back Thursday . Great video’s Leon 👍🏻😎
That's awesome!!!
A common problem with the Microtube power amps. They keep blowing up the power transistors. I have a stack of them and most need the same thing done to them.
@@harleyhexxe9806 that’s funny ,that’s what it was ,first time in 30 years .😀
I do , My friend Chris Muzzey who played for Christian Metal Band Siloam Gave it to me. He is like a brother I never had , He is my brother for life!
I've still got my MP-2 that was a Christmas gift from my parents back in the early 90s. It sits in a rack next to the Ver 1 MP-1 I got in 2012.
I also have the B-200 power amp, but one channel is blown.
That must have been an awesome Christmas. Even cooler that you've still got it.
@@LeonTodd yeah, it was pretty cool. Looking back, I actually feel a little guilty. When I was younger, I used to put one "reach" present on my Christmas list. I had asked for a MP-1, as it had been discounted due the MP-2 coming out. I crapped myself when I opened an MP-2.
I had it for awhile, then sold my rack to my drummer (who also plays guitar) and then reacquired the rack from him a few years ago.
I had the MP2 and an Alesis Quadraverb...
The Quadraverb rocks!
@@LeonTodd it sure did. I also had the Quadraverb 2.
03:40 best sound👍 honestly the setting at earliest time is fuzzier, reminds me to Hendrix vibe, not really into high gain metal
Loving it - I want one!
Had an MP2 but sold it on , always thought it felt slightly digital compared to mp1 or 3tm .... mp1 classic also has that weird "not original ada" feel to it
Pretty savage tones! But an even better tshirt 👌
Classic!!
This sounds better than I thought it would....weird how I read somewhere that the MP1 was “better”....hard to believe after this vid 🤷🏼♂️
Neither one is better than the other, they are just different.
Everyone said that back in the day, I am glad Leon is showing how good the mp-2 is
Yeah the MP-2 certainly doesn't suck. It's like the Mark IIC+ v Mark III/Mark IV thing with Boogies.
@@LeonTodd Keep playing with it and you'll discover it can do the Dual Rectifier too!
Great toan!
Does it do the MP1 Chorus thing with Rate at 0 for an easy Enhancer/Chorus for people that hate chorus thing?
It does do that if you want. It has full control over rate and depth like the original.
How does the compressor sound?
I'm your fan. I sold my new Headrush and bought an used AX8 thanks to your videos. I love the sound of MP1 and Marshall JMP1. The great question is: A/DA MP1, A/DA MP2 or Marshall JMP1 Preamp? Which one is your favorite? Regards from Argentina (and sorry for my english)!
The AX8 JMP-1 model sounds super close to the JMP-1 so you've got that base covered. The MP-1 is my favourite for that instant late 80's tone,
Now the question is should I go find one? I have an origional MP1 on in my guitar rig and a MB1 in my bass rig. This video might have sold me on getting a MP2
Collect all the Dragonballs!!!
@@LeonTodd Enough said! I am on it.
My first rig was an ADA MP1, JCM900 and a used 4x12.
I have ADA MP -2 , I live in Missouri, USA. The buttons to scroll through patches is not working. What should I do to fix it?
I used my MP-2 from 1995 until I found an MP-1 Classic around 2015. My poor MP-2 is too delicate and fragile to use regularly now, and I share your noise issue. My Classic is with MJMP now, I can't wait to have a fully functional unit again (insert NSFW comment here).
Nice job on the vid, I'll have to check out some more. Are you a member of the Depot? If not, I can hook you up
Dante
Yeah the depot might be the nicest place on the net! Stoked to hear your classic is getting soon to by the man himself.
I had one and I have a mp 1 I have to do some work on it but they are both great
Worth restoring, they still sound awesome
sounds really i mean REALLY GOOD bro
I want part II of this video! NOW :D
Damn that thing sounds savage, why did these always get a bad rap ? Sounds awesome to me.
That opening riff btw ? It’s wrecking my head , I know I know it. Maybe it’s one of your own and I’ve just heard you play it before ...
He was playing some King's X there.
@@harleyhexxe9806 I knew it. He's always sneaking in kings X riffs.
Definite King's X vibe happening at all times in this room :D
It's actually this one though - ua-cam.com/video/7yqvNqW4FZc/v-deo.html
@@LeonTodd You're killing it on this one! I'm listening on headphones, great mix!
@@LeonTodd I knew I'd heard the riff before. It's a beastly track.
Also why isn't anyone making an updated version of the unit or one like it?
I've owend on of this and spent so much time tweaking... I kinda miss it, but somehow my Oranges achive a "similar" type of overdrive! Voice #8, #9 and #10 are very noisy (if you turn the gate of you will hear extra Hum, while voice #7, whit same aparent drive is quiter... the compressor also adds noise). I think the Chorus is better than the MP1 (v1 and classic models). The room EQ is very useful in live situations, i would program it with It at 9 oclock, and from that point I could get more options to adjust live. I've been looking to buy one of these again for more than 5 years, but never found one at a good price/condition!
I've got an mp2 that isn't working and I'm not smart enough to fix it. Anybody know who could repair one in the UK?
Thanks for the video!
Did you buy it that way, or did it die on you?
@@harleyhexxe9806 bought it used. It worked for a few days. I opened it up and it had this weird wad of duct tape inside, which I took out. Now it just makes one weird sort of wah sound, but the display and buttons don't do anything. I reckon it could be repaired if it were in the right hands.
@@jamescreswell3274 Definitely you need to send that to MJMP at the mod shop in Belgium. There's no one better on the planet to get it working the right way.
@@harleyhexxe9806 Thanks so much! I had no idea where to find someone who could repair these. I will definitely contact them.
@@jamescreswell3274 Anytime James! You should drop in at the ADA Depot, he's there quite a bit, and there are a lot of helpful folks there. Many of us who own ADA gear find a LOT of information we can't get anywhere else.
I also have an ADA MP2.... in 10 mode w/o Noise Gate... it squeals like a banshee from hell.... 9... and its fine. Changed tubes.... same thing... but I will say much like the Digitechs... ALOT of the sound comes from better sounding Tubes. I love the box... you've made me want to use it in recordings... maybe as a reamper now since I have the AXE 3...
Oh awesome! It reminds me of the Friedman HBE models in the axe but with it's own vibe
That sounds great!
MOST epic.
You ever own this one back in the day?
@@LeonTodd No, only played it in the store. I wanted one OH so bad though.
LOL.
I can only hope that the LEDs to the left are broken because this would be a false video. Like I said I don't want to look at this guy in a bad light. Cuz he's getting that thing to sound incredibly insane. Once you strike the strings those lights supposed to light.
The unit needs a repair. Input meters and super high gain channels are busted and there's a lot of extra noise
still waiting for part II !!!!
Everything ok, but I don't like that Soldano collecting dust Leon... Didn't Kirk Hammett used this ADA for soloing in live shows in the late 80s early 90s? Cheers man
Which do you like better the mp1 or mp2? I have owned the mp2 for 20 plus years and always wanted an mp1 to compare it to but never got one. Now they are too expensive.
Mp-1
Just curious here Leon. Where do you have your EQ settings for this video?
Hey Leon - not sure if you're a Windows user, but a few years back I developed a PC editor for the ADA MP-2. Handy little tool for tweaking the unit from your computer instead of menu diving for hours on end.
Demo of the editor: ua-cam.com/video/X8Mmd2sOicY/v-deo.html
Also, man, these things are noisy. I tried *everything* to get rid of the noise on mine. Replaced all caps, did several other mods, nothing seems to work. I think it's due to the design of the power supply, it just radiates EMF all over the place, I notice that just having the MP2 on makes all my other devices start buzzing like mad as well.
It's an amazing preamp with a really bad design flaw.
Dude I literally installed windows on my Mac to use your editor, I love it! THANKYOU
Hola Leon me podrías decir tu Setup en este video ?? Que caja de parlantes ?
Hello Leon is it worth getting the v1.41 eprom update?
That hum may be bum resistor. Mine did something similar. I don't recall the board number, but it was a 20 minute fix.
Pretty sure you're right, just need to get down to the local electronics store and get the right value
@@LeonTodd after doing some searching, it may be "R382" that was the culprit. I can't say for sure without cracking mine open. When my drummer owned, it had that god-awful hum and replacing that one resistor cured it.
Interestingly, when I went to triumphantly show him how I fixed it, we plugged it back into the rack and that is when one side of the B-200 blew up!
I'm about to buy one of these. Wanted one since they advertised in Guitar Player mag back in the 90's. Worth it?
They have a few issues they're prone to (like mine) so just check it's working properly first
hi leon, does it clean up when rolled of like the original Mp1?
Anyone know how to reset all the patches to factory default?
Thanks
Turned my ADA MP1 on the other day and multiple errors bummer😢not sure if it's the lithium battery? But anyway, it never sounded as good as this MP2. Thanks for the vids Leon!
Super likely that it’s the onboard coin battery. Look up ADA mod shop. They have a fix kit I believe for that. Pretty easy to do or have done from a tech.
Does ada-mp2 contain all tones of ada-mp1 exactly as they are?
Close but ultimately a different animal
You are an ADA fan now..Next step is to get a BBE Sonic Maximiser and go for that Nuno Bettencourt tone. Your ADA MP-1 3TM doesn't need a pre-EQ as Nuno used to top up the gain, cos its has plenty of gain anyway. Put the BBE on the effects loop and set the level on the back on 60% (no more, no less)!! Then set the BBE on 50/50% on bass and treble, set your gains to 5.5 and 5.5, your mids at 4-6 and your bass/treble anywhere between 4-9 (BOTH!!!)...and thank me later :) ...because you will be finding out that Nuno plays just percussive legato muted licks on his bass strings and they sound...picked :) PS: You will need to dig a noise suppressor probably though...lol :)
My first live rig was a JMP-1/G-Major/BBE rack into the fx return of an old Marshall. The BBE is a uge part of "that" sound you describe!
@@LeonTodd Yup, somehow it actually works just for that..Nothing else really though :)
Hi. Whats the year of your preamp? Thanks
Where is the part 2?
I’ve got a MP-2 MXC and quad switch. Quad switches need some TLC as they are intermittent. Does anyone know which valve is V1? Is it the one nearest the outer case or the one nearer the middle?
V1 is the one closest to the front panel.
Open up the Quad Switch and give it a good spray with some CRC zero residue contact cleaner, then give it a shot of Deoxit on top and work the buttons while you do that. It should clear up the issue. They aren't sealed switches, so they get dirty.
@@harleyhexxe9806 the two valves run parallel to the front panel on the MP2, they’re mounted on a raised board about 2/3 of the way back from the front panel.
@@markblagdon Oops! I was thinking of the Classic. I'll open one of my MP-2's and find it on the PC board, and post it here a little later today.
Okay, looking at the tubes from the front of the pre-amp, the left one is V1.
jerry cantrell tones in some presets nice
Big time, it definitely has a "Dirt" vibe on some of the voicings.
@@LeonTodd i was looking for a ada mp1 for a long time in portugal but only found the ada mp2 ... maybe ishould go for it
Sounds awesome is this been Mod or totally original bro?
Totally original!
Still have my mp1 sold my mp2 after noise issues were randomly popping up.
I never thought I'd sell it, but I ended up getting a studio pre and decided it wasn't worth keeping.
There's alot under the hood of the mp2 good luck fixing that one.
The Studio Pre is so goooood!
Sounds freakin killer man!
wonder why the mp1 is so much more famous
Exposure
when the MP-2 came along, guitarheroes were on the way out because of the Grunge trend
Probably because the MP-1 was the one that started the whole MIDI programmable rack pre-amp trend, they were the first!
Yeah the MP-1 was the first of it's kind, the musical and gear climate had changed when the MP-2 was released and they're also harder to find for cheap used. It's definitely a keeper for those Kings X/AiC style tones IMO
Bellissimo
FINALLY! lol
Is there a part 2 video?
Not yet, still trying to find the issue with it.
Have you ever tried the mp1 direct to the cab?
It doesn't have a power section so I'm not sure how that would work.
@@LeonTodd I've done it before. It's surprisingly good.
Isn't just ADA? Why are you calling it A/DA? Anyway yeah I've owned a few of the MP-1 units. Great stuff back in the day.
Originally, the logo was A/DA which stood for Analog/Digital Associates. Right around the early 80's, when they started making more rack gear than pedals, they dropped the forward slash, and came up with the new ADA logo that everyone is familiar with.
@@harleyhexxe9806 Thanks for the info!
Buzzy with that setting ...to much Gain 🙄
There’s a good midi editor someone has written. Makes editing and backing up patches over midi much easier.
github.com/ValdemarOrn/Mp2Editor
Ohhhhh this is sweeeeet
@@LeonTodd hope it fixes your EQ and gain editing issues in the short term.
Hey now! This is something I think I can put to good use! Thanks for posting the link!
Nobody ever owned the MP2, that's why they bought a JMP1 instead, because the Triaxis was so over-priced, and that's why Marshall owned the 90s as well, because the 9000 series were like...professional suicide, ultimately what happened to ADA...can you mention a MIDI preamp that sounded absolutely like crap? Neither can I ;D
*cough* part 2 *cough*
What's with your hairline flashing green when you turn or tilt your head? Is that a side effect of prolonged exposure to such fat tones? 🤔
Hahaha probably. The main video was slightly out of focus (autofocus decided to grab the stand holding my phone) so I figured I'd lean into it and add a very slight "bad VHS tape" filter
What happened to the followup video?
Still trying to get it fixed.
@Leon Todd Any settings suggestions would be be great!