ADA MP-1 vs Marshall JMP-1

[ghosty999]

I have a JMP-1 and finding it underwhelming when using the cleans so I've put some bids in on an ADA MP-1 to move into my main rig, and retire the JMP-1 to my studio rack.

I understand that ADA MP-1 has more "modded marshal" sound to it with more saturation and compressed when using high gain. I had one many years ago but have sort of forgotten it's characteristics.

I will be using it with a Marshal EL84 20/20 and a Marshal 1936 Vintage 2x12 with G12s.

Cheers!

 

[rsm]

I had the full guitar and bass rigs from ADA back in the day. MP-1, MQ-1, B200S, and 4 of the vertical 2x12 splitstacks. I replaced the MP-1 and MQ-1 with a MP-2 that I still own.

I liked the JMP-1, and I also had the JFX-1, but the MP-1 was more flexible IIRC...nearly everyone had a MP-1 then; I went all in on ADA.

Not sure how the MP-1 will compare to amps we have now tho'. I know there were some mods for another gain stage for higher gain which I never did.


Here's my consolidated rig, wish I kept these, especially the MQ-1 which is tough to find. Still have the MP-2. On top is the ADA MIDI floor controller.

My old full ADA bass rig

 

[lol]

I had the full guitar and bass rigs from ADA back in the day. MP-1, MQ-1, B200S, and 4 of the vertical 2x12 splitstacks. I replaced the MP-1 and MQ-1 with a MP-2 that I still own.

I liked the JMP-1, and I also had the JFX-1, but the MP-1 was more flexible IIRC...nearly everyone had a MP-1 then; I went all in on ADA.

Not sure how the MP-1 will compare to amps we have now tho'. I know there were some mods for another gain stage for higher gain which I never did.


Here's my consolidated rig, wish I kept these, especially the MQ-1 which is tough to find. Still have the MP-2. On top is the ADA MIDI floor controller.

View attachment 448090


My old full ADA bass rig

View attachment 448091

I’ve got an ADA B500B bass power amp, but I have to get the thing up and running again. It sounded really good though when it worked…

 

[SFW]

Owned both units in the 90s. The ADA MP-1 was much easier to get usable tones from. The cleans from the MP-1 sound better to me. The distortion tones are all over recordings. They sit very well in a band mix. I have thought about picking up another one, but prices have gone crazy.

 

[rsm]

I’ve got an ADA B500B bass power amp, but I have to get the thing up and running again. It sounded really good though when it worked…

MB-1 sounded great for the time; the bi-amp was big then, and ADA bass rig did it well but I could get a deep growl with a metallic bite on top...I have the Trace Elliot Transit B which is what I use for bass these days.

Back in the day I really wanted a Trace Elliot bass rig but they were too expensive. I eventually go a GP12-SMX preamp, and sold that to get a MP-11 that I still have, without the MIDI floor controller. The GP12-SMX had the two band compressor buit in; for the MP-11 I got their dual band compressor pedal, which I still have...I think it's in storage.

 

[lol]

MB-1 sounded great for the time; the bi-amp was big then, and ADA bass rig did it well but I could get a deep growl with a metallic bite on top...I have the Trace Elliot Transit B which is what I use for bass these days.

Back in the day I really wanted a Trace Elliot bass rig but they were too expensive. I eventually go a GP12-SMX preamp, and sold that to get a MP-11 that I still have, without the MIDI floor controller. The GP12-SMX had the two band compressor buit in; for the MP-11 I got their dual band compressor pedal, which I still have...I think it's in storage.

MB-1 has intrigued me for a good while now.

I've got a Trace Elliot v type 5001, but it has that bipolar bear circuit which apparently are not very reliable. Mine makes a weird buzzing noise that follows a note for some reason. I ended up putting a tech21 vt rack preamp thru the fx loop and the noise is gone so guess the issue is in the amps preamp.

I've had such poor luck with gear since I started playing bass I was VERY close to just throwing in the towel. But I am addicted to playing music so of course that did not happen lol.

 

[rsm]

MB-1 has intrigued me for a good while now.

I've got a Trace Elliot v type 5001, but it has that bipolar bear circuit which apparently are not very reliable. Mine makes a weird buzzing noise that follows a note for some reason. I ended up putting a tech21 vt rack preamp thru the fx loop and the noise is gone so guess the issue is in the amps preamp.

I've had such poor luck with gear since I started playing bass I was VERY close to just throwing in the towel. But I am addicted to playing music so of course that did not happen lol.

The Trace Elliot Transit B is worth a look. I play it directly into a powered PA with subs. Live it would probably do well with just a powered PA 15" cab; it has a DI out, and headphones out for in-ears or monitor mix

 

[jabps]

Had both back in the day, preferred the stock ADA. Even better than the stock ADA is the modded one which I owned and was personally modded by Todd.

File that in gear I wish I had kept. I was always a bit underwhelmed with the JMP-1 and the Triaxis. Ultimately I moved to one of Todd's own pre-amps before eventually moving back to heads.

 

[squealie]

I had a MP-1 in the day. Probably put 600 gigs on it between 91 and 98. So, pretty reliable except for the shitty input jack.

I have Zero nostalgia for the sound. I ran it through a Marshall 9005 power amp and 1 or 2 4x12s. A 800 model from the first AxeFx through the same rig was better in every way you can find words for.

If you've never owned one, and always wanted to sound like Nuno/Vito...well...you can own one. lol.

 

[Little B]

If you've been runnin the jmp1,and you pick up an ada,you'll most likely dig the jmp1 for a bit more authentic marshall tones and the ada excels at modded Marshall tones for sure.Thats how I use em in rack switcher and never the two shall meet.
My 3tm modded ada pushes it even further into hot rod tone.I like it for that.When I want a bit old school more realistic marshall tones I click on the jmp1.Couldnt be happier.

 

[Monkey Man]

In a pinch I'd go the MP-1; always preferred its "sound".

I wouldn't discount possibly using a Sansamp PSA-1 'though.

Waaay-more versatile.

 

[DanTravis62]

I think they both sound great. I prefer the JMP-1, but they both sound awesome - can't go wrong picking up an MP-1 if you can swing it.

 

[PDC]

I had the ADA back in the day. The ADA was cool - in small doses. But to my ear, the more I played it, the more every single preset had this 'sameness' to it no matter how different the settings. A good friend of mine had the JMP-1. At the time, I thought his JMP rig sounded way better than my ADA. I thought the JMP-1 sounded a lot more like a real amp. I am convinced a big part of the sound you get boils down to power and cabs: a good tube power amp with lots of headroom and 4x12s will make any of these now 'vintage' midi preamps sound better.

 

[Shask]

In a pinch I'd go the MP-1; always preferred its "sound".

I wouldn't discount possibly using a Sansamp PSA-1 'though.

Waaay-more versatile.

These days I would just grab a Synergy Syn- 2.

 

[boltzthrower]

The MP-1 cleans are fine, but not fantastic, so, alternative option, get a loop switcher and use a different preamp for your cleans.

I’ve never tried a 3TM mod’d MP-1, does it change the gain characteristic or is it just more gain? The stock MP-1 has way more gain than I could use and I use it for death metal. I use a TS as a clean boost in front to tighten it up though.

If you get an MP-1 and you really like it, do yourself a favor and install the MDRT transformer. And maybe the rear jack mod. https://www.marshalljmpmodshop.net/miscellaneous_parts_and_replacement_tubes.htm

 

[Uzi Nein Millimetah]

The Quad is King of All.

That is all.

 

[jabps]

The MP-1 cleans are fine, but not fantastic, so, alternative option, get a loop switcher and use a different preamp for your cleans.

I’ve never tried a 3TM mod’d MP-1, does it change the gain characteristic or is it just more gain? The stock MP-1 has way more gain than I could use and I use it for death metal. I use a TS as a clean boost in front to tighten it up though.

If you get an MP-1 and you really like it, do yourself a favor and install the MDRT transformer. And maybe the rear jack mod. https://www.marshalljmpmodshop.net/miscellaneous_parts_and_replacement_tubes.htm

I'll only speak for myself but the mod just opened up the ADA. To me the stock ADA could be kinda flat, somewhat one dimensional sounding. The mod eliminates all that, more two dimensional, more amp like. Gain structure was better, you could tighten it up more. It was just better all around.

Back then, I always wanted an amp where you didn't have to use pedals. My Marshalls I grew up on, it was always an OD driving it. Of course we were hearing all these 80's modded tones thinking these guys aren't using pedals. When the ADA came out, it really was "for me" at least the first device where no OD was required. Granted lots of guys were using OD's driving the front end but we didn't know that. Still the ADA was close, you could really dial in good high gain tones, add in the obligatory BBE Sonic Maximizer for cleans, even closer. Oddly enough I went back and forth between the stock ADA and the Gallien Krueger 2000CPL preamp. The cleans on that thing were fantastic and it had a super tight high gain structure.

Once I heard the modded ADA, from the guys who hooked my up with Todd Langner, that was it. Nothing else needed. I had Todd mod mine which eventually led me to moving to Todds preamps.

I owned a long list of pre-amps before moving back to amps and the last two were the modded ADA and the Langner. What pulled me away from those was the OG 5150.

 

[rsm]

I used ADA rigs back in the day. I sold them, except my MP-2 which still works last I checked.

I wouldn't pay too much for a MP-1 or JMP-1 today unless you want authentic late '80s tones.

I'd buy a Fractal or Helix; even the ISP Theta Pro is a better option IMO (I have the Pro and MSX, Michael Sweet versions) - and you have to use the vintage deep text menus that are even more tedious than programming the MP-1.

 

[Jakem]

Had both back in the day, preferred the stock ADA. Even better than the stock ADA is the modded one which I owned and was personally modded by Todd.

File that in gear I wish I had kept. I was always a bit underwhelmed with the JMP-1 and the Triaxis. Ultimately I moved to one of Todd's own pre-amps before eventually moving back to heads.

I tried to like the JMP-1 but could not get nice distortion tones out of it. Different voicings/modes of a Mesa 2:90 did not help it either. Triaxis I liked a lot… would be interesting to test out the MP-1!

 

[Tone Monster]

Had both. Both were solid. Neither was exceptional. That said, most preamps leave something to be desired IMO.