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OLP or Sterling for a fun guitar?

This is a discussion on OLP or Sterling for a fun guitar? within the Music Man Guitars forums, part of the Gear Talk category; Hey there, folks. I'm looking at picking up a nice, little fun guitar; not too expensive. I own an OLP ...

  1. #1
    darchirnoj is offline Registered User Senior Member
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    OLP or Sterling for a fun guitar?

    Hey there, folks.

    I'm looking at picking up a nice, little fun guitar; not too expensive.

    I own an OLP silhouette, but had it in "project" stage, and subsequently loaned it out to a friend for reassemble & use; may not see it for awhile.
    No biggy.

    Wanna either pick up another OLP Silo Special used, or perhaps one of those Sterling guitars.

    Any major difference? (will be purchasing used)

    Thanks,
    Jon
    Last edited by darchirnoj; 01-30-2012 at 10:00 AM.

  2. #2
    beej's Avatar
    beej is offline moderator
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    The Sterlings are miles ahead of the OLPs, imo. Great bang for the buck.
    Morse #23, '91 Morse, Y2D, 25th, HH AL, '94 Pinkburst AL, '00 White AL, Axis Sport MM90, Bongo5 HHp

  3. #3
    Jack FFR1846's Avatar
    Jack FFR1846 is offline Registered User Senior Member
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    Major difference.

    I owned an OLP Benji Maden first.

    Got a Sub-1 and then my other Music Man guitars.

    I bought a Sterling Ax20 and refinished it. It played 1,000,000% better than the OLP ever did. I've played a number of others, Silo 20?, I love the JP. A used OLP MM1 should go for about $100. A used Sterling AX40 should be about $300.

    Here's what I did on vacation in Aruba last April.......in the only music shop on the island......

    8/17/04 EBMM Axis SS MM90 trans blue (spaceball 3000)
    7/29/04 EBMM Sub1 X11376 oil/wax neck, gloss black body, faux binding, HSS w/5 way and silent circuit
    07 Albert Lee SSS Black Cherry Burst
    buncha non-ebmm guitars
    keep in mind that you are talking about four pieces of wood two pots one switch a trem along with springs two pickups and some wire.....BP

  4. #4
    patpark is offline Registered User Senior Member
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    Thank for the kind words gentlemen!

  5. #5
    darchirnoj is offline Registered User Senior Member
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    Awesome info.
    Thanks, guys.

    Jack, you mentioned that you refinished your Sterling?

    I attempted to refinish my OLP, but was surprised to see some thick sealer of sorts underneath the paint.
    I used a heat gun, but it was still difficult to remove. It wasn't glue, but it looked like that (like a thick, opaque sealer).

    Was it difficult to refinish your Sterling?

    Thanks,
    Jon

  6. #6
    edhalen's Avatar
    edhalen is offline Registered User Junior Member
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    John - Sterling - a slam dunk. You will NOT be disappointed. Best bang for the buck out there. Find one in a music store and play it. Doesn't matter if it's a SILO30 like mine or an AX. You'll see what I mean.
    SBMM Silo 30 w/EB Cobalt Strings - 10's
    2012 LP Studio Worn Brown
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    "one likes to believe in the freedom of music...."

  7. #7
    mtrejo's Avatar
    mtrejo is offline Registered User Senior Member
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    No brainer, SBMM is the way to go. They really are nice and at that price, I'm surprised everyone here doesn't own a "little brother".
    Axis - Trans Gold Quilt
    Albert Lee - True Gold - Roasted Neck - Mahogany Body - MM90's - Piezo
    Albert Lee - Classic White - Rosewood Neck - MM90's - Piezo

  8. #8
    Spudmurphy's Avatar
    Spudmurphy is offline Registered User Senior Member
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    The silo is one hell of a guitar - looks like they are making a "sub" too.
    Black Cherry Burst Albert Lee , SSS,Trem & Piezo 2005
    Black LE Albert Lee MM90 2006 with solid 9k gold knobs
    6lb 1 oz VSB SSS Hardtail Albert Lee KTS Titanium saddles 2009
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  9. #9
    TNT's Avatar
    TNT
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    The way I look at it is two different ways:

    Sterling then the Musicman or Musicman then the Sterling - take your pick!!

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