Flangers, original ADA flange compared to Montomery Appl.

[murkat]

I have always had my ADA flange on my board. I set it for a chorus type effect that no other pedal yeilds. Think early frank Marino/ Mahogany Rush, Pat Traverse, Wally Stocker to name a few. It is a liquidy detuned indepth saucy tone that I use to enhance solos, bends, and wiggle stick divebombs, tremolo, vibrato. It is a much a part of my core tone as playing itself.

For years i been trying to retire my old ADA in fear someday that it not work and I will be in perptual sadness attempting to purchase another original ADA Flange, knowing someday that it will too not last... When the TZF was announced for production, I was on the list. #52. Great pedal, great "true"Flange, but did not yeild the majic of the ADA. I try'd in vein. I sold it (years ago).

Still reverting back to my old freind. Last year a builder posted on TGP to see if any interest in an ADA Flanger Clone. He built 5, and swore no more. I got on the list too late, the 5 sold in hours. Then posted #5 was up for sale due to buyer backed out. Score. I have # 5 Montgomery Allpiance 77' flanger. Touted to be an exact copy of a ADA Flange, circuit board wise. True bypass, no expression output, even/ odd Harmonics foot switchable. Nice added features. Updated, tighter tolerences in circuit design.

For the most part, in my opinion, He did clone the old ADA. Being use to the ADA and trying to work with the MA77' did make my head scratch a few times. The first thing I did was put them side by side, settingup, dial in the MA77 just like the ADA. I got two different Flange tones, One I am accustomed to and the other way left field. ( Oh, by the way, the MA77 works on 18vt ps., my danolectro 18v walwart works great.) This had me worried, exact dial adjustments did not yeild the same tone. I contacted the builder and uickly responded that the MA77 is board for board clone and explained that his build would be tighter tolerences, brand new compared to a pedal that was built over 30 years ago and tolerences would have been less extreme compared to what used now.

Okay, that seems fair enough. Back to the A/B comparison. I decided to dial the MA77 close to the ADA sonically "blind", just using my ears. I got it. It took a bit, but I got it.... smiling like a Chessire Cat. The MA77 is a true clone of the ADA.... but different..... My ADA is old, and ciruits componets have probably have fallin out of spec to some degree. But over the years, to my ears that I have grown accustomed to, its still the sing. Analog warmth, charachter, feeling that no other pedal can do. The MA77 is a clone, cloned built, but the "feel" is not. The MA77 is very "HIFI" compared to the ADA. The adjustments on the MA77 are very fine tuned, you have to really turn those knobs ever so slightly to yeild its possibilities, more so than the ADA. the transparancy of the MA77 is way more defined as well.

Can the MA77 dupe the ADA? yes. Does the MA77 sound like an ADA? welll yes and no..... Am I happy with the MA77? very much so. Did I retire the Old ADA for the MA77 ? yes and no, nothing can replace an original
If I forgot something, or you have questions, post and I will do the best I can to answer.
atb~
Jay

[DocRock]

Hi Jay,

Thank you very much for taking the time to write that post. I was very curious about those two pedals, as I've never gotten to play either.

Cheers,

Doc

[Donner]

Yeah I had one of the originals for a long time -- like many I was a big Pat Travers fan then and had to have one --- even got the foot controller --- but I never really got it to do the Travers wobble my bad....
but what a great unit and a learning experience so many bizarre sounds in that thing that I didnt understand....

I think my favorite flanger of al time is t he Ibanez DCF in stereo with the inverted outs man what an image........



I wonder if Montgomery could clone that sucker ; ]

[DocRock]

I've never owned a Flanger, but I know what I want it to sound like in my head. How hard to come by / expensive are the Ibanez ones you're referring to, Don?

[murkat]

Well, just to add more to the Flange confusion, I have a Hartman on the way as well He faithfully clone the original Electric Misstress.
http://www.hartmanelectronicstore.com/p ... oductId=24
Should be pretty cool, esp with the sound bytes he has.

[Donner]

hehehhhe --- actually my favorite flanger sound these days comes from the Flerb setting on the Holy Grail... its basically a mistress flange on the tails of the verb .... lots of fun...

Doc the Ibanez are a little scarce - but its also a digital flange and doesnt have the chewiness of a EM or ADA - different sound...