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Mike Pope Design MPP-1 Review

#144
thepontif said:
Well they're definitely worth the money. It's not like the DSP is a deal killer by any means. If I had one I'd just turn it off. No biggie. I played through the 112IP combined with the non-powered version of the 112, whatever that's called. It totally killed! Great rig, light, not TOO expensive, and still pretty flexible with the capability of hammering out some demanding gigs.
Click to expand...

On the IP212 and IP310 you can turn the DSP off. On the IP112 and the IP153 you can switch between DSP configurations to be used with or without an extension cab. I think Jive Sound has an IP212 for sale.
Yes they all have their own character. To me the IP112 can have a Motown old school flavor. With the Kern it's just fat tube thang. The combination of a good SS pre and the IP112/EX112 is fat and clear, pristine and warm. Yeah it's possible.:eek: Switching between great pres on an IP is like having a blind date that's always good and full of great surprises.:D
 
#145
Hey, on another note, I'm playing in Silver Spring, MD tonight with a great guitar player from here in the Baltimore area named Carl Filipiak. The place is called The Blair Mansion and we hit at 9:30. Mostly his original music. Should be great. So for any of you who are in the Balt/DC area that can make it out, it'd be great to see you.
 
#146
Wow, I just read about these for the first time and I'm seriously impressed!

Mike - I'm currently running an MTD 535 and a Chapman Stick through a Thunderfunk amp, would I be getting something sonically similar/better from one of your preamps? I'm specifically using Acme cabs for a fairly flat sound and very good low-end response and rarely mess with EQ very much.

Also, will the MPP-2 have simultaneous channels, so I could use it with the Stick? (Similar to Alembic F-2B.) It's a stereo instrument where the bass side has a similar frequency range to a 5-string bass and the melody side can range from mid-bass to high guitar. But a lot of the time I'm running mono and both sound great through a good bass rig. :)

Cheers,

EG
 
#148
I used the MPP-1 in rehearsal this weekend. Still haven't had it on the bandstand. One thing that I found was that I've probably been 'over eq-ing' in the past, since the eq section on other heads/pres weren't as effective. The Pope pre responded more like a studio pre, but yet it still retained the charactor needed for live use. I felt like I was standing in a control room, listening to playback. That is a neat feeling.

I haven't heard anything quite like this, live. It's an eye opening expierience. I think Mike really delivered.
 
#149
NickyBass said:
The Pope pre responded more like a studio pre, but yet it still retained the charactor needed for live use. I felt like I was standing in a control room, listening to playback. That is a neat feeling.
Click to expand...

Thanks Nicky. That's exactly what I've been looking for in a live sound. Let us know more post gig.

edit: Nicky, do you find yourself using your onboard preamp from you bass at all or adjusting your sound more from the MPP-1? I'm trying to decide on the onboard preamp for my next Ristola knowing that I'll be using the mpp-1 with the next bass. I love the ACG preamp but the OBP-3 pre that just went into my current bass is reminding me of how convenient it can be to have a more traditional preamp in my bass....of course it could be just that that's what I was used to for so many years.
 
#150
evilgus said:
Wow, I just read about these for the first time and I'm seriously impressed!

Mike - I'm currently running an MTD 535 and a Chapman Stick through a Thunderfunk amp, would I be getting something sonically similar/better from one of your preamps? I'm specifically using Acme cabs for a fairly flat sound and very good low-end response and rarely mess with EQ very much.

Also, will the MPP-2 have simultaneous channels, so I could use it with the Stick? (Similar to Alembic F-2B.) It's a stereo instrument where the bass side has a similar frequency range to a 5-string bass and the melody side can range from mid-bass to high guitar. But a lot of the time I'm running mono and both sound great through a good bass rig. :)

Cheers,

EG
Click to expand...

EG,
Yeah both channels get turned on and off independently. They get summed together and are controlled by a single master volume control and come out of a single balanced output. It's possible to have totally discrete stereo outs, switchable to a combined out as a modification if need be. The DI's are already set up that way. You can send each channel down it's own DI (with independent volume control) or link them so both channels go down both DI's (still with channel-specific independent level controls, though).

I can't speak with authority about your current rig or how my pre will compare, but I can say that if you want to start with the sound of your instrument and only make it better without degrading it first, my preamp will do that in spades. And it will NOT sound sterile or lifeless like a lot of "clean" preamps do. Some "clean" units sort of do what cleaning leather with alcohol does....dry things out and take away the inherent suppleness. Clean, but dead. The mpp preamps won't do that. The retain the natural "oils", or should we say "grease" in some cases, that makes the sound what it is to start with. Weird analogy, huh?

Make sense?

From a practical standpoint, in terms of how it would interface with your Stick...it's a slam dunk. It'll do what you need it to do. I could even tune one of the channels a bit differently if you wanted to try enhancing the upper register a little. That could be done after the fact, too.
 
#151
emjazz said:
Thanks Nicky. That's exactly what I've been looking for in a live sound. Let us know more post gig.

edit: Nicky, do you find yourself using your onboard preamp from you bass at all or adjusting your sound more from the MPP-1? I'm trying to decide on the onboard preamp for my next Ristola knowing that I'll be using the mpp-1 with the next bass. I love the ACG preamp but the OBP-3 pre that just went into my current bass is reminding me of how convenient it can be to have a more traditional preamp in my bass....of course it could be just that that's what I was used to for so many years.
Click to expand...

I'm finding that, most of the time, the MPP-1 EQ section is actually easier to fine-tune than my basses. Each of the EQs' center-points is musical and useful. This makes it somewhat challenging to land on "a sound." Every time I make an EQ adjustment, I find something new!

- Greg
 
#153
emjazz said:
edit: Nicky, do you find yourself using your onboard preamp from you bass at all or adjusting your sound more from the MPP-1?
Click to expand...

Well, traditionally, I've always adjusted from the amp - even before the MPP-1 - so it's not really a fair assessment to say that I don't touch my onboard pre anymore. But, even without touching the onboard, I felt like I over did it in the past. I think that this preamp can really change someone's perspective on eq'ing.

As to the different onboard pres, that's a tough one.....
 
#154
thepontif said:
It's possible to have totally discrete stereo outs, switchable to a combined out as a modification if need be.
Click to expand...

Thanks Mike, that would make the most sense, as a lot of the time, you want to run independant effects on both sides of the Stick. What is the current input impedance of your pre-amps? My current Stick is passive (Villex pickups) and requires a minimum of 1M Ohm, otherwise the top-end gets truncated. No such problems with the MTD, of course.

And do you currently have a distributor in Australia?

Cheers,

EG
 
#155
evilgus said:
Thanks Mike, that would make the most sense, as a lot of the time, you want to run independant effects on both sides of the Stick. What is the current input impedance of your pre-amps? My current Stick is passive (Villex pickups) and requires a minimum of 1M Ohm, otherwise the top-end gets truncated. No such problems with the MTD, of course.

And do you currently have a distributor in Australia?

Cheers,

EG
Click to expand...

The input impedance is 1Meg, but I could bump it up some more really easily if you want. That's a no brainer...one resistor.
I don't have a distributor there. I'm just selling direct. Hit me with an email at [email protected] if you want to discuss further. I don't want to overstep my bounds in terms of doing "business" here in the forum.

Thanks!
 
#156
Hey all,

I apologize for the lack of review thus far...but I am a proud MPP-2 owner.

The question relating to the Stick popped up. That and my use of an upright bass prmpted me to push for my MPP 2. Mind you, if there is a worse stick player on this planet I would be shocked, but none the less, the MPP2 does a great job with it. The complaints in relation to use with the stick are only small and I bet Mike can fix'em easily:
1. The DI is pre EQ Only but mike has told me already that he can fix that no problem. Cool. This would allow us stick geeks to send each 'side' of the instrument to either a seperate amp or PA channel after EQing.
2. There is no individual effects loop per channel. Not a big deal as long as you run your effects in series for the stick. I run'em in series so this is not a big deal to me at all.

The MPP with the stick has great advantages though over anything I have used. First, dual channels having completely independent EQ is great. I found the bass side of my Stick to be very 'clanky' and cold but the MPP made it warm and smooth. The biggest hurdle remains to be my playing. Don't ask for sound clips...you're not getting them yet!! I stink.

As for MPP with bass. LOVE IT. Great clean but very diverse sound. I have not found it to be difficult to EQ at all. I have several amps, an old SVT, a Thunderfunk, a GBE1200, An Acoustic 360, and even the GK MB2. All GREAT products but the MPP is the most 'musical' of them all. Smooth is something I cannot stress enough. I have used a couple of mikes onboard preamps before so maybe I am already spoiled but the MPP just takes them a step farther.

Please ask any questions you may have and I'll do my best to answer. Sad thing is that mike will probably sit there with his hands on his head thinking "This guy is a total moron!!" while reading my responses. If you want comparisons to my different amps just ask or even with differnt cabinets. I have many to choose from also but my favorite cab combo still is my 4x8 neo LDS cab with my neo 1x15" LDS bottom. Small. Light. Kickin' major a$$ and takin' names...

I'll do my best but for hardcore stuff on the product Mike is your guy and he did a great job on it.
 
#157
Well, I just put together a nice little six string to use as I'm selling my current bass to have a new one made for me....I was considering keeping this other six when the new one is made....but that one is going to be sold in Feb. to finance an MPP-1. You guys are killing me with all of these great reviews.
 
#158
freebeer said:
Hey all,

I apologize for the lack of review thus far...but I am a proud MPP-2 owner.

The question relating to the Stick popped up. That and my use of an upright bass prmpted me to push for my MPP 2. Mind you, if there is a worse stick player on this planet I would be shocked, but none the less, the MPP2 does a great job with it. The complaints in relation to use with the stick are only small and I bet Mike can fix'em easily:
1. The DI is pre EQ Only but mike has told me already that he can fix that no problem. Cool. This would allow us stick geeks to send each 'side' of the instrument to either a seperate amp or PA channel after EQing.
2. There is no individual effects loop per channel. Not a big deal as long as you run your effects in series for the stick. I run'em in series so this is not a big deal to me at all.

The MPP with the stick has great advantages though over anything I have used. First, dual channels having completely independent EQ is great. I found the bass side of my Stick to be very 'clanky' and cold but the MPP made it warm and smooth. The biggest hurdle remains to be my playing. Don't ask for sound clips...you're not getting them yet!! I stink.

As for MPP with bass. LOVE IT. Great clean but very diverse sound. I have not found it to be difficult to EQ at all. I have several amps, an old SVT, a Thunderfunk, a GBE1200, An Acoustic 360, and even the GK MB2. All GREAT products but the MPP is the most 'musical' of them all. Smooth is something I cannot stress enough. I have used a couple of mikes onboard preamps before so maybe I am already spoiled but the MPP just takes them a step farther.

Please ask any questions you may have and I'll do my best to answer. Sad thing is that mike will probably sit there with his hands on his head thinking "This guy is a total moron!!" while reading my responses. If you want comparisons to my different amps just ask or even with differnt cabinets. I have many to choose from also but my favorite cab combo still is my 4x8 neo LDS cab with my neo 1x15" LDS bottom. Small. Light. Kickin' major a$$ and takin' names...

I'll do my best but for hardcore stuff on the product Mike is your guy and he did a great job on it.
Click to expand...

Pre/Post can be done very, very easily. FX loops also possible but slightly more complicated. Seems simple...but it adds a whole additional section of circuitry due to potential ground loops.

Moron? I don't think so! Look...you had the sense to buy an mpp-2 didn't you? :eyebrow:
 
#159
bongomania said:
Wow. That seems very well-designed, it gives me "engineer wood". :p Looking forward to hearing more about it and hopefully trying one out sometime.
Click to expand...
I've had my MPP-1 for a couple of weeks now, and I thought I'd share my initial impressions.

First of all, this is a great "plug-and-play" preamp. It sounds WONDERFUL with the EQ flat -- just like my basses. This quality is very important to me. I've finally learned that amps and preamps that require a lot of tweaking to sound good are too high-maintenance to be effective in a broad range of venues.

In my opinion, the true strength of this preamp is the EQ section. There are other high-end preamps that do the "straight wire with gain" thing just fine. The Avalon U5s I used for years come to mind. Much like the U5, the MPP-1 is clean, quiet and dynamic (not at all dry or sterile). The real difference is in the almost infinite tone-sculpting that's available. There are four tone controls: treble, edge, midrange and bass. As I understand it, the edge control provides a scooped sound when it's turned counter-clockwise, and a midrange "bump" when turned clockwise. This is a powerful "instant gratification" control that requires some getting used to. I've found it particularly effective for bringing the bass to the front of the mix in difficult live settings -- both for FOH and on-stage.

Each of the other tone controls has a center frequency switch that significantly affects its function. The bass control can be "deep" or "thick," the midrange can be "round" or have "punch," and the treble control can provide "crunch" or "air." These controls are amazingly flexible and powerful. With a little bit of "deep" bass and "round" midrange, the bridge pickup on my Mike Lull M5V sounds full and throaty, with great articulation from the B string. I also love adding a little bit of treble "air" to my F Bass BN5. It really opens up the sonic spectrum of this bass without making it sound too bright.

What most impresses me about this preamp is that every tweak sounds good. With most of my other gear, the EQ section has a pretty narrow range of suitable adjustment. Although each tone contol on the MPP-1 has a wide range of adjustment, they all seem to enhance the sound of the instrument.

So is this thing perfect? Well, to be fair, there are some things that could be improved slightly. For one, it would be nice if the controls weren't bunched up so close together. And an effects loop would be a nice addition (although, honestly, I rarely use one). Also, the front panel power LED is too bright -- it makes it hard to see the front panel on a dark stage. (What's with the bright power LEDs, BTW? Epifani and Genz Benz also use these blindingly-bright LEDs, supposedly because dimmer ones can't be seen in daylight conditions. I guess I'm not convinced that I need a bright LED to tell whether or not my gear is on!)

These quibbles are pretty minor, as I'm sure you can tell. My overall opinion is that this is the best preamp I've ever played -- one I can use to sculpt my tone in very fine gradiations. It'll probably take me months or years to truly learn all of its capabilities. But I'm sure it'll be time well-spent!

- Greg
 
#160
I'm glad it's working out for you! As to the potential improvements

1) The controls are close together because the PCB on the MPP-1 is the same as Channel 2 of the MPP-2, on which the controls have to be that tight in order to fit 2 channels side by side reasonably. The other factor is that short, fat PCB traces really reduce parasitic inductance and capacitance. Part of the reason this thing sounds so open.

2) An FX loop can be added if someone wants one. It adds some I/O circuitry but it's not rocket science.

3) The LED brightness is just a resistor change. 10k in series with it would do it. It would pull less power out of the supply, not that uses much anyway...around 10mA as it's set up now. I'll likely reduce the brightness of it in the future. 10mA is a pretty common spec for an LED but these don't need that much, obviously!
 

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