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howling wolf

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5e_1.JPG

these get rave reviews are they any good for those that have a tight budget?
i was just wondering if they are as good as some say:confused:
 
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magentaplacenta

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Jun 24, 2003
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All I have to say is you get what you pay for, regardless of if it's shoes, hookers or guitars. Don't get confused, though, because retail is for suckers.

You can have an OLP via ebay for $189. What do you think you're going to get for that? That's right, a guitar that you paid under $200 for.

I would save up because you're not going to be happy with a $200 guitar. You try to sell it, you're not going to get jack for it, so you lose $ while you try to get a nicer guitar.
 

hbucker

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Oct 11, 2002
Messages
707
Magen makes some good points. I haven't plugged in one of the MM1's but I've played one at Guitar Center. I would say they seem as good or maybe even better than anything else in that price range. Where I totally agree with the gist of Magen's comments is, don't buy the OLP thinking that you're getting a foreign version of the Axis. It just isn't so once you get past the appearance of the guitar. The neck is completely different. It has a 15" radius compared to the 10" radius of the Axis. I've read that the pickups were copied from the Axis DiMarzios but getting a good tone is all I'd count on, not getting an exact copy of the Axis. Many of the HC reviews of the MM1 are positive but fair. Many are just written, IMO, by people who have convinced themselves that they outsmarted Axis owners by buying the exact same guitar for 1/10th the price. These people are kidding themselves. I think the OLP is a good value but in no way is the Chinese equivelant of the Axis/EVH.

I'm not sure I agree with Magen on the depriciation angle and here's why. If the OLP depreciates 100% the second you buy it, you'll be out about $200. Of course it would be worth something so that 100% depreciation isn't realistic but you get my point. If you spend $1k on a guitar it could easily lose $200 in value within a year after you buy it. No guitars appreciate in value within a short time after you buy them unless they are already classified as collectable and I'd venture to guess that none of the guitars currently available on a retail basis qualify as one of these collectable guitars.

So, if it's a matter of getting something now just so you have an axe to play or waiting months or years before you can afford an expensive "nice" guitar, I'd go get the $200 axe now. From and investment standpoint (and I use that word "investment" loosely) you won't be out anything and you'll be playing sooner than later. Someday, when you have more cash, you'll buy that dream guitar you may already have your eye on. If the OLP is what you like, get it. It's very playable and seems solidly constructed. Just know that you are buying a $200 guitar, not a $1k axe disguised as a $200 guitar.

If the less expensive price range is what you are stuck with I would highly recommend looking at used guitars too. Any guitar worth having will still be good if it was previously owned. You may need to clean it up and set it up but if you know at all what you are looking for, you can get a better guitar for the same money.

good luck.
 
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ex3.8

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Aug 11, 2003
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YUP.....BUT

Owning a MIJ Squier strat that i got when i was 15 years old. cuz thats all i could afford ($600.00 canadian) back in 1983. I can tell you i added 300.00 for the floyd, $90.00 for the JB bridge pick up and i just oredered 2 singles and a humbi from bill lawrence yesterday cuz the pick ups are the worst (pickguard decoration) i have ever heard. Soooo adds up to $1200.00.
I got my silhouette special 3 months ago and even left the original strings on for the first 3 weeks:p :p :p
Anyway its probably a much better guitar that any other $200.00 one.:rolleyes: :rolleyes:
 

ebb soul

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Nov 5, 2002
Messages
147
Some of the M-1s have fake quilted maple, an old asian airbrush trick. Certain Washburns too. I am going to buy a M-5 baritone, don't see how i could go wrong as a not main axe.
I feel that overall they are worth more like$400.-500. price range than the $200. or so that you can get them for. Maybe the best value going.
I was not at first happy when I heard MM/EB licensed these.
But if I can get their version of a baritone for $200. vrs over a thousand fer th' MM, I don't see this as bad money spent at all.
Look how popular Danelectros have been over the years. These are clearly better.
 

VOLTAGE

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Oct 8, 2003
Messages
72
I want to tell you that the OLP MM 1 in only a fasimile of a real axis or EVH.
the only thing the two have in common is the body shape and headstock!
:rolleyes:
I have played them at GC and many were absolutely terrible without a proper set up:(
NOW having said that,if you are a bedroom rocker,and are just starting out or have been playing for a few years and are not in need of a guitar as great as a EBMM axis,the OLP will serve you well after a pro set up.
I do have to admit, one day me and my bud were curious about the "cheaper guitars" and when trying out the $200 ibanez's,jacksons,epi's,squiers,Ltd's then pluggin in the MM 1 it SMOKED those others for the same price.:cool:
But in all honestly,i would recomend a USED wolfgang special for a few hundred more($375-500 used) first it would go a lot further down the road if you think about it:cool:
 

hbucker

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Oct 11, 2002
Messages
707
Re: YUP.....BUT

The MM-1's with a quilt top have what is referred to as a photo flame top. You are correct, it's fake. But it's a transparrent plastic photo of a quilt top adhered to the top of the basswood body to make it look like quilted maple. Any way you slice it it's fake but I'm not sure it's bettter or worse than just a colored lacqer finish. It looks nice but won't change the tone like a quarter inch piece of maple will. I think it's the idea that they're trying to make you think it's something that it isn't that irks most folks.

I have a hard time slamming most guitars in the $200 price range. Many of them including the OLP play really well once they're set up right. It's the people who think their $200 OLP is as good in every way (perhaps in any way) as an Axis or EVH who are just looney IMO. I will say, I wouldn't be as inclined to baby an OLP as I am with my EVH. That is a plus I guess...?

Bottom line: they're not bad for the money. A good value at $200. They'd be a horrible value at $500.
 
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VOLTAGE

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Oct 8, 2003
Messages
72
Re: Re: YUP.....BUT

hbucker said:
The MM-1's with a quilt top have what is referred to as a photo flame top. You are correct, it's fake. But it's a transparrent plastic photo of a quilt top adhered to the top of the basswood body to make it look like quilted maple. Any way you slice it it's fake but I'm not sure it's bettter or worse than just a colored lacqer finish. It looks nice but won't change the tone like a quarter inch piece of maple will. I think it's the idea that they're trying to make you think it's something that it isn't that irks most folks.

I have a hard time slamming most guitars in the $200 price range. Many of them including the OLP play really well once they're set up right. It's the people who think their $200 OLP is as good in every way (perhaps in any way) as an Axis or EVH who are just looney IMO. I will say, I wouldn't be as inclined to baby an OLP as I am with my EVH. That is a plus I guess...?

Bottom line: they're not bad for the money. A good value at $200. They'd be a horrible value at $500.

I needed a guitar to be my project axe so i went to GC last night and bought one of the MM1's.
here is my honest opinion after setting it up correctly and playing it through my rig,
the OLP MM1 is very good for the money(i got mine for $189 in trans purple it was a floor model)
when compared to the "other" $200 new guitars out there,it outshines them by a good ratio.
first off it has a good acoustical tone,the "others" do not!
plugged in it has a fair resemblence to the axis with the pups set at the same height. both the OLP and axis have that crisp,clear tone in the bridge postion and the neck has that P-90 on streriods tone.
my only gripe and it is a small one is that i feel OLP or whoever actually makes these? could have used a tad better parts and offered a copy of a floyd without jacking the price up to much:cool:
here is a axe that is much closer to a real axis or EVH

MSC_INTRUDER_AMBER.jpg

here are the specs http://www.meanstreetguitars.com/intruder_specs.htm
these cost a bit more but are much closer to the read deal;)
 

Estin

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Sep 12, 2002
Messages
380
there is a OLP MM1 in purple quilt down at my local pawn shop here for like $139 i took it down for a sec and ran a few licks on it and it seemed alright for $139 if it had a good setup and good strings i think it would be well worth it. not to mention you could prolly do a few cheaper upgrades like a new bridge pickup of your choice and have a fairly decent axe. if you put on strap locks you wouldn't even need a case cause you could just hold the strap and carry it around like a duffle bag, just be sure to negotiate your corners well. lol ;)
 

X Guitar

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Oct 25, 2003
Messages
2
howling wolf said:
5e_1.JPG

these get rave reviews are they any good for those that have a tight budget?
i was just wondering if they are as good as some say:confused:

Answering your actual question , are they good for the money? I say hell yes , matching them against anything else for 200 AND getting something that feels like an Axis its a great deal .

I own 2 EB axis and 2 OLPs . Does the OLP neck feel like the EB , not even close . But I like the neck for its own merits .
I use the OLPs midified for use with my VG 88 and GR 09 .
 

VOLTAGE

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Oct 8, 2003
Messages
72
Re: Re: are OLP MM 1's any good for the money?

X Guitar said:
Answering your actual question , are they good for the money? I say hell yes , matching them against anything else for 200 AND getting something that feels like an Axis its a great deal .

I own 2 EB axis and 2 OLPs . Does the OLP neck feel like the EB , not even close . But I like the neck for its own merits .
I use the OLPs midified for use with my VG 88 and GR 09 .
i could not agree more!:cool: for the $200 they are damn good!:)
I slapped in a dimarzio tone zone and air norton in mine just to hear what the OLP would sound like with the closest pups to the custom wound dimarzio EVH ones and was quite impressed,it did NOT sound like $200,but more like a much more expensive axe!
i did my own set up to it like intonation,neck relief,pup height,bridge set up and the damn thing sounds amazingly great for what it is, a $200 import wannabe EBMM axis. :eek:
 
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