I've been looking around ebay and I see abunch of OLP stingrays for cheap are they any good and does any have any experiences with them?
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OLPs
- Thread starter loonybob123
- Start date
Wish I hadn't sold mine... After I did, I went back and was listening some recordings I did with it and realized it was a MUCH better bass than I gave it credit for.
I scored an OLP MM3 (5-string SR knockoff) on the cheap off of Ebay, and really like it. If you solo a single volume knob and crank the tone it hums pretty bad, but despite that it's still got a ton of versatility. It's really loud, sets up really well, and has better tuners than my Squier VM P.
Even my teacher (who is known to knock cheap basses) was really impressed with it.
Really solid for the money IMHO.
Even my teacher (who is known to knock cheap basses) was really impressed with it.
Really solid for the money IMHO.
cool and this OLP I saw has been copper shielded by a luthier so I don't know if that might help with the hum.
Same...
Mine definitely had the trademark Musicman clank vibe. At the time it got the best of me, but now I wish I still had it. Especially seeing as how I did a unique headstock design on it and rebranded it as Stingray 5.
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I love mine. I changed the p'up to a Nordy mm4.2, shileded the whole thing (it is dead silent), and rewired it to have a Series/Parallel switch, one volume, and one tone. I know that the one volume limits the sound possiblities, but I like it.
The neck is perfect for me...I love the sound...and the price was right. I have kicked around the idea of buying a "Real" Stingray...but then again I think why?!?!
The neck is perfect for me...I love the sound...and the price was right. I have kicked around the idea of buying a "Real" Stingray...but then again I think why?!?!
thx. It always irritated the hell out of bass players live. They could tell something was there, but had to get close to figure it out. Then they'd comment on how great my Stingray sounded and they wished they could afford one... then I'd flip it over and show them the OLP badge on the back of the neck/body.
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I've played them in stores, A/B'd with the Music man model they were copies of. Liked them just as much, for 1/10th the money.
I kick myself for selling my OLP MM5. They're hard to come by now, and the used prices on Ebay when they do show up are more than I paid for mine new. Not too many good quality cheap 30" scale 6 string basses out there.
I kick myself for selling my OLP MM5. They're hard to come by now, and the used prices on Ebay when they do show up are more than I paid for mine new. Not too many good quality cheap 30" scale 6 string basses out there.
Yup. Sand the headstock down... and creative use of waterslide decals... relacquer.
I, too, got a OLP MM2 on E-Bay for $230. It is the Natural/Maple with Tort PG.
Only 2 days in, the clover key pulled off the tuner worm. 2 days! So, I ordered some Hipshots, the MM specific tuning machines, and they didn't fit the hole pattern. The 2 smaller mounting holes lined-up, but the larger set didn't. I contacted Hipshot, who werer very cool and helpful on the phone, and they offered to take them back and gave me a Return Authorization and everything, but I decided to mount them anyway. I filled the old holes with toothpicks and re-drilled for the new tuners. It was kind of a cool "luthier" project and it came out well.
So, I have nice, upgraded tuners.
Next, I pulled the cord out of it, and it had the input jack washer and nut attached. The jack fell into the cavity, and I had to take the control plate off and re-install the jack tightly. Another "luthier" project.
Well, after I did that, the treble pot wasn't working. I pulled the plate back off, and if you jiggled the pot it would work, but it needs to be resoldered or something. I won't be the "luthier" on that one. I plugged it in to play it the other day, and it's working, although I wouldn't trust it in a jam.
Sorry for the long story, but those are examples of the quality issues.
Now, for the good points. The finish is awesome with a flamed maple that doesn't look like film. The Humbucker rocks! Awesome sound. The neck and fret are nice and it plays well.
Bottom line is, if you upgrade some of the hardware, like cheap tuners, and maybe the electronics, it's a great bass. I do like it and would recommend getting one. They are discontinued and available randomly through E-Bay, etc. I did contact the seller about the tuners, and they replied and wanted pics, which I sent, and haven't ever heard back. Whatever with them, I like the Hipshots, anyway.
S.
Only 2 days in, the clover key pulled off the tuner worm. 2 days! So, I ordered some Hipshots, the MM specific tuning machines, and they didn't fit the hole pattern. The 2 smaller mounting holes lined-up, but the larger set didn't. I contacted Hipshot, who werer very cool and helpful on the phone, and they offered to take them back and gave me a Return Authorization and everything, but I decided to mount them anyway. I filled the old holes with toothpicks and re-drilled for the new tuners. It was kind of a cool "luthier" project and it came out well.
So, I have nice, upgraded tuners.
Next, I pulled the cord out of it, and it had the input jack washer and nut attached. The jack fell into the cavity, and I had to take the control plate off and re-install the jack tightly. Another "luthier" project.
Well, after I did that, the treble pot wasn't working. I pulled the plate back off, and if you jiggled the pot it would work, but it needs to be resoldered or something. I won't be the "luthier" on that one. I plugged it in to play it the other day, and it's working, although I wouldn't trust it in a jam.
Sorry for the long story, but those are examples of the quality issues.
Now, for the good points. The finish is awesome with a flamed maple that doesn't look like film. The Humbucker rocks! Awesome sound. The neck and fret are nice and it plays well.
Bottom line is, if you upgrade some of the hardware, like cheap tuners, and maybe the electronics, it's a great bass. I do like it and would recommend getting one. They are discontinued and available randomly through E-Bay, etc. I did contact the seller about the tuners, and they replied and wanted pics, which I sent, and haven't ever heard back. Whatever with them, I like the Hipshots, anyway.
S.
