ADA MP-1 MOD4 MkII

This review is more about the Modification than the MP-1 itself. Read up on some of the other reviews for the MP-1's features.

This mod takes the MP-1 to the "next level". It wrings out all the gain possible from those two tubes...and If you do the noise mod at the same time, you will also tame the noise level. Think about it... More gain...less noise.
Tube selection will give your MP-1 different "voices". I have tried a few and my favorite combo is a JJ TESLA ECC803S in V1 and a JJ TESLA ECC83S in V2.
I never did like trying to describe sound...But I really have never played through anything else that gave me:
Sustain AND clairity AND smooooth, non-gritty distortion.
I HAVE to give this a 10. I dont think that two tubes could sound any better.
I highly recommend using a tube amp...study-up!

Always keep a spare.
Spare tubes, spare strings, spare car keys, spare tire, spare girlfriend...opps.

ADA itself has been gone for a long time but, the boys at ADADepot.com are keeping the flame alive...and for good reason. ADA made very good stuff back in the day. (the same ADA that made the famous A/DA flanger pedal) If you have ANY problem, hit thier messageboard and read it...all of it. You may find that your problem has already been thoughtfully answered by its members. If you do post a question, leave your ego and your attiude "at the door".
These are truly good people, treat them with the respect that they deserve and they WILL help you. So, who am I?..nobody. I stumbled on thier site and discovered the MP-1 and the MOD4 MkII and I have never had a better tone and it is all thanks to ADA Depot.

...now here's the kicker, they post all the info so you can do this mod yourself for FREE!
FREE?
yea, free.
WHY?
I don't know for sure, but I think they do this for the love of music and to SHARE the knowledge of achieving great tone...better tone makes better music...better music makes this a better world IMHO.

I have been playing WITH a guitar for 18 years. I currently run an ADA MP-1 MOD4MkII, Rockman Eq's, Rockman Chorus, Rockman Echo, Alesis MX200 reverb, ADA T100S tube Amp, Pair of ADA 2x12 Split Stacks. In the last 5, my original tunes have been falling together really well but, my tone was not "album ready". Thus, starting my search for better tone.
Maybey this will put it into perspective: I have used a Rockman Sustainor for over 15 years!..well, with the MP-1 Mod4, My tone has finally evolved beyond the Rockman....it is not even in my rack anymore. And I am VERY close to MY tone.(I CANNOT wait to try the new 3TM!!!)

Same as the original. Mine was modified by Hairiston from www.adadepot.com. If you own an MP-1 already you must visit this site!
I also got the noise MOD 0.0 and the battery replaced.
Guitars I use are USA Les Pauls as well as USA Fat Stratocasters, all with Seymour Duncan pickups. BBE, Hush, Marshall 9100 EL-34 power amp, two 1960b Marshall 4:12 cabinets.

An already awesome sounding tube preamp improved upon with much higher quality componets and tweaking by the tone guru's at ADA Depot. The sound is bigger, tighter, more "3D lifelike" with more gain and less noise. Notes seem to sustain much longer as if you added a compressor/sustainer into the mix. At first I thought it was only a minor improvement over the original until a broken volume pot forced me to use my stock back-up MP-1 live for a weekend, boy did I miss the MOD 4! I also have the ADA Depot Mod 3.666 MP-1 which just isn't my cup of tea....very "Mesa" sounding, you either like it or you don't. Sounds "harsh" to me......IMO. I am however interested in the 3TM mod they also offer when it comes back into production.....

Con.......if you liked the "clean tube" channel on this unit and want to retain it then this mod is not for you, it becomes basically useless, buzzy, fuzzy, etc.....

The clean solid state remain unchanged......

Good tubes are important too, high gain rated. Try several different manufactures and decide for yourself what suits you best. You'll be amazed how different tubes of the same "model" but different manufacture will change the character of this preamp.

Would I gig without a back-up?.....NO! This is at least a ten year old preamp that is subject to failure like any other gear you use. Always carry few extra tubes too..........as you would guitar strings, picks, beer money, bail money, etc......

You won't get any support from ADA...they're long gone. They we're very helpful with a dead MP-1 I had about 15 years ago...... Nowadays your best bet is the guys at ADA Depot, you can find plenty of free advice on the message board as well as schematics, modifications picture, maunals, user patches and sound-clips.....

Love it! I loved the preamp anyway stock, this modification makes it all the better. If it were stolen, I'd find another to have modified, possibly the 3TM mod. I bought my first MP-1 in 1989 and have tried to get away from it and just use guitar/head/cabinet but I keep going back to this thing! I always get plenty of compliments on my sound............TONE FOR DAYS, WITH MY ADA'S.