The A/DA MP-1 is an A Da preamp pedal, currently around $285. Close alternatives include the Dean Markley Overlord and the Amptweaker AT Fatrock. It pairs well with the JHS Smiley and the Suhr Rufus Reloaded.

A/DA MP-1

A Da · pedal

The A/DA MP-1 is a 1U rack-mount guitar preamp released in 1987 combining full analog tube circuitry with digital MIDI control. It features 12AX7 tubes, three channels including solid-state clean, tube clean, and tube distortion, 128 MIDI-programmable presets, a built-in stereo chorus, and its signature blue vinyl casing with red LCD. Voiced with a Marshall-like midrange emphasis and heavy saturation it defined the recorded guitar sound of 1980s hard rock and metal albums. Nuno Bettencourt of Extreme, Skid Row, and White Lion used it on defining records of the era.

  • midrange
  • metal
  • midi
  • hard rock
  • distortion
  • noise gate
  • preamp
  • eq

Good for

  • Live
  • Silent Recording
  • Studio
  • Silent Stage
Used$285View on Reverb

Price updated Aug 27, 2026

Genres the A/DA MP-1 is commonly used in

  • Metal
  • Hard Rock
  • Heavy Metal
    citedInferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
  • Black Metal
    citedInferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
  • Death Metal
    citedInferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
  • Alternative
    citedInferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.

Pedals that stack with the A/DA MP-1

JHS Smiley

JHS Pedals

23% match

The Smiley's clear, compressed fuzz bite stacks with the MP-1's own midrange-forward preamp gain for a thicker push.

Suhr Rufus Reloaded

Suhr

23% match

The Rufus Reloaded's high-gain fuzz-distortion stacks with the MP-1's own midrange-forward preamp gain for something denser.

Electro-Harmonix Bad

Electro-Harmonix

16% match
$58.84via Reverb

Layer the Bad's resonant, organic phase sweep after the MP-1's own midrange-forward, hard-rock gain for movement on an already-thick signal.

Caline CP-10 Hot Mushroom Compressor RED Script

Caline

11% match
$36.50via Reverb

Run the Hot Mushroom before the MP-1 for sensitive, sustained compression before that midrange-forward preamp gain kicks in.

Alexander Pedals SpaceXpander

Alexander Pedals

8% match
$189.99via Reverb

Keep the SpaceXpander after the MP-1 — the midrange-forward, hard-rock preamp gain stays intact and the silent, spring-voiced reverb trails behind it. — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)

Red Witch Titan

Red Witch

7% match

Keep the Titan after the MP-1 — the midrange-forward preamp gain stays intact and the ambient, driven delay trails behind it. — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)

Keeley Angry 4-in-1 Distortion/Fuzz

Keeley

tonal match

Keeley Angry 4-in-1 Distortion/Fuzz's own voicing points at Marshall-style amps, and A/DA MP-1 delivers it

Tone City Golden Plexi V3 Mini Distortion

Tone City

tonal match

Tone City Golden Plexi V3 Mini Distortion's own voicing points at Marshall-style amps, and A/DA MP-1 delivers it

Cheaper alternatives

Wampler Dracarys

Wampler

72% similarity
$199via Reverb

Shared character: amp, noise_gate, noise

MXR Fullbore Metal

MXR

71% similarity
$89.99via Reverb

Shared character: noise_gate, noise, hard_rock

Boss HM-2 Heavy Metal

Boss

71% similarity
$99.99via Reverb

Shared character: amp, noise, mix

Horizon Devices Precision Drive

Horizon Devices

70% similarity
$149.99via Reverb

Shared character: amp, noise_gate, digital

Friedman BE-OD

Friedman

69% similarity
$169.99via Reverb

Shared character: amp, noise_gate, hard_rock

NUX Metal Core Deluxe

Nux

68% similarity
$79via Reverb

Shared character: noise_gate, digital, hard_rock

Boutique & premium upgrades

Tone King Imperial Preamp

Tone King

93% similarity
$599via Reverb

similar tone character

Similar charactersee all similar tone character →

Dean Markley Overlord

Dean Markley

72% similarity

Shared character: amp, noise_gate, solid_state

Amptweaker AT Fatrock

Amptweaker

70% similarity

Shared character: noise_gate, effects_loop, hard_rock

Universal Audio UAFX Anti 1992 High Gain Amp

Universal Audio

69% similarity
$299via Reverb

Shared character: amp, noise_gate, digital

Source Audio Soundblox Pro Classic Distortion

Source Audio

64% similarity

Shared character: digital, distortion, metal

ISP Technologies Distortion

Isp Technologies

94% similarity

similar tone character

Black Arts Toneworks Destroyer V2

Black Arts Toneworks

94% similarity

similar tone character

See all alternatives to the A/DA MP-1 (cheaper + boutique) →

Questions people ask

What are good alternatives to the A/DA MP-1?+

The closest matches in character are the Dean Markley Overlord, the Amptweaker AT Fatrock, the Universal Audio UAFX Anti 1992 High Gain Amp. Budget picks: Wampler Dracarys, MXR Fullbore Metal, Boss HM-2 Heavy Metal. Boutique upgrades: Tone King Imperial Preamp.

What pairs well with the A/DA MP-1?+

Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: JHS Smiley, Suhr Rufus Reloaded, Electro-Harmonix Bad — The Smiley's clear, compressed fuzz bite stacks with the MP-1's own midrange-forward preamp gain for a thicker push..

How much does the A/DA MP-1 cost?+

Around $285 (live listing price, updated Aug 27, 2026).

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A/DA MP-1 — NodeTone