Comments on: Remember the ADA? Nuno, Vito, Skid Row

By: survivor030406

survivor030406 — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 22:18:57 +0000

@ Marty, You know SRV endorsed Bill Lawrence pickups? Now known as Wilde USA. You might want to look into that.
He also used jumbo frets. Just thought I’d add some info, to help. peace.

By: DJ

DJ — Mon, 16 Jul 2012 21:23:25 +0000

yes! Billy Corgan used the ADA MP-1 on early smashing pumpkins. amazing clean tones wiith a strat… the solid state section of the preamp is real glassy and smooth.

By: SHG

SHG — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 02:22:00 +0000

I used an MP-1 for years, got absolutely killer tone out of it. Wish I’d never sold mine.

By: Eastwood6

Eastwood6 — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 15:27:40 +0000

Had an MP-1 back in the 80′s too. Along with hair ;-). They were pretty unique among rack pre-amps as it sounded like an amp, not an effects box. And they had their own distinctive tone. I remember walking past a club one night that had a band playing, the guitar player was taking a solo and I said “MP-1!”. Stuck my head in, sure enough, there were those blue soft-touch buttons. Nice piece of rig. Along with the Marshall JMP-1 and the Hafler T3, probably the best of the rack tube pre-amp lot from those days.

Yes, the MP-1 has a great clean tone, and you can dial in SRV type tones too with some tweaking. Used it with a Strat and LP, along with the obigatory Floyd loaded Charvel.

By: marty

marty — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 03:07:25 +0000

I want to buy one. Mainly for the classic 90′s rock tone, but was also wondering if they sound nice with clean/crunch using a strat? Are they able to get a decent SRV kinda tone? I’m looking for something very versatile for tones mainly not so much “effects”..

By: leftystrat

leftystrat — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 16:03:53 +0000

I have an MP-1. Great toy, great tool.
It was an important part of discovering that I really needed to be using output distortion instead of preamp distortion.

It sits in a corner with some other stuff in my bag-o-tricks.

By: Michael

Michael — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 12:43:18 +0000

I have three of them personally, two stock ones and a modded one. I still use them a lot, especially for that 80′s metal tone, but they are very versatile and will get lots of tones.

By: van Sinn

van Sinn — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 08:36:01 +0000

It warms my heart still seing articles pop up on the pro’s use of ADA gear, even all these years after ADA disappeared from the scene (and maintaining the gear on adadepot).
The MP-1 really positioned itself as a one of a kind back then, and still makes it’s presence felt ;)

By: Rich Dickerson

Rich Dickerson — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 23:40:48 +0000

I’m still using my MP-1, and I don’t ever want to use anything else! We MP-1 users intermingle and share info at http://www.adadepot.com, which has a lot of useful information regarding ADA products, as well as a forum filled with knowledgeable and helpful members. Just so there is no confusion, it should be noted that http://www.adadepot.com is a fan site and is not otherwise affiliated with ADA in any way.

By: John Davis

John Davis — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 21:40:22 +0000

Kansas guitarist Rich Williams is still using the ADA MP-1 in live performance. I had one way back when but was never all that thrilled by it. Eventually those rack systems would screw up during a gig and were a nightmare to troubleshoot on the fly.