ADA MP-1 - Ultimate 80's Rock Tones

[@RoccoPezzin]

that's it! that's THE tone. It might be the most requested amp in the Fractal forum hahaha and rightly so! We could probably get somewhat close by tweaking the HBE model but still It would be a sick addition imo! kickass video dude! (a real ADA MP1 has been on my wish list for years now, might as well pull the trigger and get one)

[@LeonTodd]

Rocco Pezzin it would be awesome in the Axe. The Cameron CCV isn't a bad substitute either, but it's hard to get the gain structure the ADA has just right.

[@thomascraig74ify]

I have one it’s my go to still today and Marshall jmp1

[@altemu]

i'm a strange person.....i've an ada mp1 from the late 80's here near me....and i'm watching your video smiling like a kid for this great sound and thinking "I want one of this!!!"

[@InTheSh8]

Great. I listened just through laptop speakers and immediately felt this 80's vibe. You really nailed the sound! Glad I subscribed.

[@PrincessXoph]

Oh the chorus trick... definitely a trade secret because ADA hid it right in the manual, knowing full well that guitarists never look there.

[@LeonTodd]

"What on earth is a manual?!?!"

[@joec1360]

You can't unhear the chorus trick!! It's sooo fat!!! Wonderful.

[@brettshawver2983]

Yes sir! I still have my ADA & used to run it through my Marshall JCM800 model 2205's effects loop like this. Add the Small Stone or Boss chorus & voila! Got me missing Gazzari's, the Whiskey & right now I just got a whiff of some Aqua Net with the pink label..those certainly were the days!! Keep doing the good stuff!🤘😁🤘

[@thetonekingofficial]

Great video man. THAT is the tone right there!

[@LeonTodd]

Thanks so much. It's the sound of a generation isn't it?

[@mitchelldries6628]

just picked an ADA MP-1 from my local craigslist and have it going into an ADA Microtube power amp i found at a Goodwill for $30, split into a Marshall 900 series 1960 4x12 cab in stereo mode. no ther pedals or processors, this set up SHREDS!!!!!!!

[@LeonTodd]

Now that's a bargain!

[@youropionmattersnot]

I bought one of these when they came out. It was awesome. Wish I still had it.

[@tlingen1]

That sounded awesome Leon!

[@johnroberts838]

Excellent demo, brilliant playing, the Chorus trick really gives you that extra bite!

[@LeonTodd]

John Roberts it makes everything that much more satisfying to play too.

[@MrGuitarist9891]

Instant 80s tones :) I always assumed 80s tones were marshall JCM 800s but this nails it perfectly. 80s are more digital then we sometimes think.

[@LeonTodd]

MrGuitarist9891 the MP-1 has an all analog signal chain, it's just digitally controlled. Monster preamp.

[@MrGuitarist9891]

oh ok, good to know.

[@TheBoondoggler]

I've still got 2 of them from back in the day. Nothing surpasses to my ears. A tone benchmark I still use to this day when hearing other,more modern units. They really struck gold with the unique marriage of dist clipping and EQ. Makes for endless, musical shred inspo. Also loves stereo effects. Mine share rackspace with Intellifex and Quadraverb. Cheers

[@montjamz]

I had one a these in the 80s and the main trick that wasn't discussed... is getting the massive BALLS of this unit into the rack mount...

[@d-mack7053]

Absolutely love my ADA MP-1 I actually have the settings Nuno Bettencourt used with the MP-1 given to me by his tech through ADA if anyone would like them. We can figure out a way. I sent them t Leon a few days ago.

[@chadhudson2046]

Leon, you was rippin' back in the day!

[@LeonTodd]

Thanks for reminding me about this old video!

[@Dimiguitar]

Cool video as usual. I don't think people often realize how hard it can be to play on camera non-stop like Leon does and still maintain such a "fluency", lack of errors. And yes the preamp rocks.

[@LeonTodd]

You're too kind mate! I do enough of this kind of stuff where I don't have an excuse now.

[@Dimiguitar]

Leon Todd still, most channels with gear.. (OK you do more than gear)... It's most often someone with no lead skills (not that there's anything wrong with that). This is a nice change, especially when the lead is not, you know, fapping, but has structure nonetheless. I often have your vids paying in background because of that, can steal an interesting idea or two :)

[@1thess523]

I'm not a rock guy but i really enjoy your channel, I come here for the tone 👌

[@hoosierdaddy2308]

Catching up. Man, this sounds fucking great. Out fucking standing. Perfect tone sir. Love it. Of course I played one in the 80s that wasn't mine, but with a guy I used to jam with and still think it was the best tone ever..

[@Psych_OYT]

Boy, how great is that?! As another guy here said: THE tone. Just awesome. Makes me melt on the spot. I've always been looking for the special thing made the unique color of Criss Oliva. I guess that's it! Thanks!

[@LeonTodd]

It won't surprise you to hear that Criss is one of my favourite players ever.

[@ZeFrenchiestFry69420]

He used two SD1s, not 100% sure what settings and amp though, think it might have been a Laney

[@uptheirons726]

Years ago i got a killer deal. A guy i worked with sold me an ADA MP1, and ADA cab emulator and an ART Multi Verb, and the 4 slot rack case all for $200. I didn't realise until years later what a sought after and legendary pieces of equipment i got.

[@zachammons1955]

Dude, you can seriously shred! Miss my MP-1.

[@gustavomantovani8309]

Sounds sweetly 80´s! GREAT!!!!

[@zepp3lin]

My ADA MP1 is still alive. Bought it in 1990. I mod it to 3TM with an upgrade of the transformer 5 years ago. If you want a Rectifier sound 3TM is the way to go but you sacrifice the Clean tube sound. The clean tube sounded just like the stock high gain and the Distortion Tube channel is the Mesa Rectifier sound. Awesome.

[@produccionsf2f529]

Good work! ADA forever! 🤘

[@LeonTodd]

Love it!

[@guitarmanjoe]

Yes lord, it is the real deal. I've been using one for thirty years in front of the amp and it will sound like any amp you choose. It has tubes. The amp is just clean power, the rack is your tone, midi, one button at a time simplicity, the only competition is the marshall 9001 and the mesa triaxis for twice the price. Screw stomp boxes or pedals. The amp doesn't matter, it's just power. Any power amp or clean channel just reproduces the sound of this and the effects.

[@yannjouan1544]

yeah !! great great preamp , i have one, but i m now using my AX8 . few month ago i used the ADA MP1 channel on my pedalboard .great too! thank you Leon for your videos !

[@LeonTodd]

Yann Jouan I'd love an ADA in the AX8

[@guitardave]

Yann Jouan Can you use the ADA MP-1 Channel in front of a clean channel on your amp like a normal distortion pedal? Or do you have to use it through the fx return?

[@ryanblackman4119]

What are those first couple riffs, they sound so familiar

[@Bricklinsv1970]

I have one and its still my favorite Pre Amp. You should hear one of these powered by a Mesa Strategy 500 its seriously mind blowing!

[@mulletmule]

Sounds great! I ran that rig in the late 80's. Great unit. Sold it to buy a Boogie Studio Preamp.

[@LeonTodd]

The Boogie Studio Pre is one I really want to try.

[@mulletmule]

That is still one of the best. It was designed after the IIC +

[@m0b1u5j3t]

I used to have this with a Digitizer 4 delay. Best tone I ever had. Regret selling either box.

[@LVBRock]

that's great tone!

[@richardhart8533]

That sounds fucking amazing Leon! Brutal. The chorus trick is Vernon Reids thing btw. Haha, just my third playthru. Killer.

[@kospandx]

The trick probably predates Reid, as it is used for several of the factory presets.

[@pauljackson2938]

Just bought one 😊

[@jellyroll1966]

Hi yours licks are awesome!!

[@LeonTodd]

Hey, thanks!

[@kospandx]

This thing might not be the most refined, high-minded thing ever made, but it sounds so dashed good!

[@LeonTodd]

Does what it says on the tin.

[@stonesvideos]

At 1:41 we have a seventies lick with 80ies sound (it's from "Highway star" solo) :-)

[@larajara1]

Good morning, I own an Ada MP-1 Classic and would like to know how to put it in factory mode, erase all settings and leave it as it came in its original form, can you help me?

[@Eyeofdajjal]

Oh, the Shreddening…. I’ve dug mine up today, still working perfectly fine, it only forgot all presets. I’m such a proud Daddy now. With a Hamer Centaura (ok, 1990 model, one year younger than the MP1), I can now go back in time. Like it’s nobody’s business. I like I’ve been longing for - especially since those past years of tyranny, and those to come, I’ll at least have a guitar, ac preamp and a Rivera stereo power amp to hold on to😅

[@LeonTodd]

Killer rig!

[@Eyeofdajjal]

@ the Rivera TBR-3 Hammer Stereo doesn’t have single video on KZbin. Do I feel special or alone? Nothing against your rigs. But you deserve them much more!

[@FlightSimDude]

I'm looking for the high gain 80's guitar sound . I've really been struggling with gear trying to get a good direct recording tone. I have been using a Line 6 Pod 2 for years and I want to get away from the solid state tone. It has no tubes so the tone can only get so fat if you know what I mean. One of the hardest parts is financing the gear. Most of the gear is expensive. I just got a two notes torpedo captor 16 ohm . I had to save up for that , 2 months . I have one now and it's off the list of gear to buy. So I plugged it in to my 100 watt H & K Switchblade and could not get a tone I like, using the on board cab sim and several IR's I have , it all sucked. I found out that the switchblade has a solid state pre amp powered by tubes. The pre amp sound doesn't cut it going direct. Live though the H & K sounds great. Ok so now I need either a tube pre amp or another amp all together. As I said earlier the budget comes into play. I really like the Marshall tone . I was looking at a JMP one , pretty much out of my price range. I don't really want used gear mainly because if I don't like it I can't send it back unless I get it from Used gear Guitar Center. I also looked at a Marshall JMD 1, 100 watt amp head . The same thing there , I'm not sure if the solid state part of that amp will cut the mustard . So I am now looking at a Bugera 1990 Infinium 120-watt Tube Head. I've watched several videos but it's hard to tell . Have you played one and what do you think of them ?

[@SimsCustomGuitars]

What song is this you start playing at 0:27

[@LeonTodd]

Some generic 80's style riffing

[@mottosierra1372]

Ok i was listening to a metal band live album that the guutar player used a ada and when the leads came in sonds like just something was added now im know that was the chorus trick thank you

[@nunoharris]

Hi. Whats the year of your preamp? Thanks

[@JRP3music]

Try running the ADA Mp1 through a Line 6 POD XT with an Orange amp. I have been wanting to try that with modern IR tech.

[@Terribleguitarist89]

The Mp-1 has been on my short list for a while...

[@jandeman5259]

Sounds great! Idk if i should buy one, heard they dont sound that good in person what do you think? Just go for it? Also my amp hasnt got a fx loop do you know if i can run it in front?

[@LeonTodd]

Running it in front isn't ideal. What amp do you have at the moment?

[@jandeman5259]

Leon Todd A plexi style amp so it has to be real loud to get gain out of it so i tought this maybe would do the trick

[@zepp3lin]

Skid Row guitarist running it in front of a Marshall but still it is not ideal.

[@guitarmanjoe]

Yes lord, it is the real deal. I've been using one for thirty years in front of the amp and it will sound like any amp you choose. It has tubes. The amp is just clean power, the rack is your tone, midi, one button at a time simplicity, the only competition is the marshall 9001 and the mesa triaxis for twice the price. Screw stomp boxes or pedals. The amp doesn't matter, it's just power. Any power amp or clean channel just reproduces the sound of this and the effects.

[@tomasagustinveravicentin7789]

Hey Leon, after watching this video i think think that the ADA sounds killer, i've seen paul gilbert, vito bratta, nuno and all those great guitarist using this unit, but you think you can get this tone with modern gear? or gear that you can find easily today?

[@LeonTodd]

It's definitely a classic tone from that era, but it was basically all an attempt to recreate a cranked "Brown Sound" vibe, and there's so many amps that do that nowadays. At the high end, try an Axe-Fx or a Friedman tube head, or an AX8 or Jet City JCA50H if you're on a tighter budget. Those dudes all shred so hard so i bet they'd sound great through anything.

[@etolkien3432]

WOW! I'm 27 times happy hearing this hehehe.....

[@coreyclark6505]

I just bought one of these units and it’s noisy when using any of the tube sounds. What tubes is yours running out of curiosity and how noisy is it?

[@DeadShred9]

Leon you and Robert Baker should Team up and do a Tribute to the 80's CD with all original songs !! I'm 55 and lived it and you two just seem to channel what it was Guitar player wise !!! I would buy it in a second . I have been playing since 82 and you Guys Inspire to keep playing learning and just shredding & riffing my ass off THANKS !!!!

[@LeonTodd]

Robert is awesome, love his channel. If you haven't already you'll probably dig the stuff I do with my band Ragdoll - start with Foot to the Floor and Break You!

[@bence42]

What are your gain(s) and EQ settings for this sound? And you micked a V30 and a GT75 speaker and mixed the two sound??? THX!!!

[@eddiethompson3787]

I used to have one of these units but it wasn't this tight and didn't have as much gain. Did you bump this preamp with a overdrive or boost pedal? I understand that it was common to boost the input of a MP1 with a Furman PQ3 parametric equalizer back in the 80's.

[@LeonTodd]

Straight in to the pre here

[@omcrocksman1556]

Hi Leon” You use tube??(type)inside mp1. Thank u for answer

[@Snostrebla1]

Wish there was a pedal out there that could push an amp like that🤘

[@LeonTodd]

A boy can dream :D

[@PerfectSense77]

They released it in pedal format

[@Snostrebla1]

Steve - yeah, most of the reviews I've seen say it's good but no where near the rack version.

[@srdjanbosnjak7413]

I don't know about you Leon ,but when you put presence to 0 at 3:40 it sounded quite appropriate,even in context to present day guitar tones.

[@LeonTodd]

I used it on one track on my band's latest album. Look up "Letting Go" by Ragdoll to hear it in action in a slightly more modern context.

[@srdjanbosnjak7413]

I 'll check it.Cheers

[@KenHorror]

For me the trick is using a bbe maximizer-->marshall 9200--> 4x12 greenback cab:) tonal heaven :)

[@rickaaron6230]

Please, has anyone used the pedal version to this absolutely bad ass level of tone?? I’d love to know!

[@AnZeloVanZeLXtreme]

Greetings guys! Can you suggest me a power amp for 80s rock ? I dont want something like marshall. I would prefer something close to soldano but more economy and easier to get one in nowadays. I use ADA-mp1 and intellifex Original.

[@cougar231000]

OMG that's the sound i first heard in Paul Gilbert video back when i started. Please help me, i actually found a used MP1, i'm not very practical, what power amp should i use to replicate this?? what speakers?? i dindn't get how the part of the "effect return" on the Marshall works....

[@LeonTodd]

An El34 based power amp is my preference. If your amp has an fx loop you can use it to bypass your amp's preamp and use the MP-1 in it's place. Guitar - ADA - fx return

[@cougar231000]

@@LeonTodd thanks a lot!!!

[@mjfan123085]

I had no idea what this thing was until a few days ago. Someone listed one for sale locally for $75! I did some research on KZbin and liked what I was hearing. I am currently using Helix Native as my amp and wanted something real and analog to plug into. Sadly someone else bought the local unit before me, checked eBay and they're going for $300-$400 USD! Found one for $250 with shipping. It's not $75 good but I decided to go for it. I'm a child of the 80's and I'm sure nostalgia was partly why I wanted one. Question is, do preamps need a load? Or because they're not power amps they don't need one? Can I plug the line out directly into my interface and use IR for cabinet Sim?

[@LeonTodd]

Preamps don't need a load :) They're both great prices, keep me posted with how you like it!

[@mjfan123085]

Thanks Leon, I will.

[@chrisgalebides2262]

Can u send me your settings?

[@Gregory_Molchanov]

Leon hi! Prompt where to find preset or an impulse of Blackstar amplifiers? I want GAS G sound

[@LeonTodd]

A vintage 30 impulse will probably get you close when matched with an appropriate amplifier.

[@hertz_me]

any idea where i can buy one of these in australia? is the US ebay my best bet? and would a ada going into a focus rite 2i2 then into a IR on a DAW work? or do i need some kind of a power amp?

[@LeonTodd]

SlapMehhh I'd guess ebay or reverb unless you strike it lucky locally. Two Notes Wall of Sound has power amp emulation as well as IR loading, it works pretty well that way.

[@adrian5b]

fuuuuuck that sounds so good

[@thomasdivito6221]

What's the first riff? Awesome amp. Just got one of them along with intellifex

[@LeonTodd]

Some generic 80's riffage in F#. That was my first rack rig! What power amp are you using?

[@thomasdivito6221]

@@LeonToddfor now, I'm using a valvestate 8008, as I have neighbours all around 😅 But I'm looking for a 9005/carvin ts100/ada t100s, for the future. Really love those vintage gear

[@Snostrebla1]

Will this work through a solid state amp?

[@LeonTodd]

Try it into the fx return

[@mrsg1339]

Can I have your settings for the Ada please?

[@LeonTodd]

From memory Bass 4, mid -4, treble 0, presence 6. Input drive around 5, drive 2 around 7.

[@mrsg1339]

Leon Todd thank you so much Man

[@Blainge]

Hey man, i really enjoy your Videos! I Play Metal with Midern Hi Gain stuff, But since a while i want this fucking insane 80‘s Shred Tone That i have since i Grabbed a Guitar for the First Time! I own a Lee Jackson GP1000 from 87 and a Lee Jackson Sp1000 Poweramp from 89. this Tone is very Similar because i Boost my GP with a SD-1 Pedal. But this digital Dream, the MP-1 Sounds like my fucking Dream amp! Do you own a GP1000 or ever Played one of These rare Amps? Your comparison where really greatfull!

[@LeonTodd]

Really want to try a GP. Alexi from Bodom played one for ages too so they can do a lot of stuff as I understand. The MP-1 pretty much is the sound of the late 80's though.

[@Connerlakemusic00]

bro what guitar is that i need one

[@LeonTodd]

Hamer Californian elite

[@IamTheDustDevil]

Hi Leon, quick question... Is your ADA MP-1 modded or unmodded...??? Mine is modded with the 3 tube mod & MDRT 300v transformer from adapot... Thanks..

[@LeonTodd]

Stock. Would love to try a 3tm one

[@AJCGUITAR1]

Any tips on getting this guitar tone? kzbin.info/www/bejne/d6LXeINro8h0pqc, or this one? kzbin.info/www/bejne/r2OmeKellLCiiMk&list=PLjix--h1Qui8c7bx0iQ8h5VcQgrgS5tyl&index=9

[@rccampbell460]

That is the tone I keep trying to find.

[@LeonTodd]

The MP-1 only really does this tone, but it does it well.

[@chrisgalebides2262]

what tuning are you in standard? or e flat?

[@LeonTodd]

Sounds like standard here

[@jesterraj]

ia your ADA modded?

[@LeonTodd]

Stock

[@csh9853]

not enough mp-1's to go around hahaha

[@rossettivictor]

I loved muy MP-1, sadly It went on fire while on stage...beyond repair

[@Heineken1712]

Have you ever heard of Udo Lindenberg? Dokken wrote and recorded the music to one of his album. I thought you might find it interesting since you're a George Lynch fan! Check it: kzbin.info/www/bejne/kGiQpp9nhZyAhJo

[@batmandeltaforce]

Near perfect tone for a burglar alarm.

[@1977raider]

Haters gonna hate :)

[@omcrocksman1556]

Hi Leon” You use tube??(type)inside mp1. Thank u for answer