My OLP Experience

[barkatozz]

First let me say that EBMMs are way better than OLP BUT I bought an OLP bass to leave at my practice place. I liked the way it played BUT hated the way it sounded. Soooooooo I installed a Bartolini preamp. Yes I had to really hack it up to make everything fit (although you can't see it externally). Anyhow I went to an open jam that I frequent. Needless to say everyone ended up using my bass over the house bass player's bass......a Ken Smith. When I told them it cost $300 they were floored($200 bass & $100 preamp). What I'm getting at is for the money, OLP Blowwwwwwwwwwwwws away any other "cheapy" series bass out there(i.e. Squier). & for a little extra bucks could be a decent main bass for those who can't afford a real MM or a SUB. IT will never replace my MMs but would make a great backup if need be. I wish this would have been around when I started playing.

 

[SMG]

Hey,
I am curious to which Bart preamp you used. I got an OLP 5 string really cheap because the truss rod was broken. I have changed out the truss rod (Stew Mac sells one that seems to be a direct replacement) and added two stiffening rods to the neck. I found a used 3EQ MM preamp out of a 4 string Sting Ray and a Bart MM5 pickup that I plan on putting in it. I got a cool 5 string SR pickguard and now I am trying to figure out if there is a way to wire a regular three way lever to series/split/parallel so I can hook everything up. If everything works I will have a $300 (mabe a bit less) into this thing, and it should be pretty cool.
Steve

 

[Bassplyr]

I've always said the OLP guitars and basses are excellent for the money! In fact Bass Player magazine did a review on the bass and said it was great starter bass for the price and gave it high marks. The only negative was that the volume and tone didn't have a smooth increase or decrease-kind of sudden. They said it would be better to just control it by using your amps controls. And this year they have really nice new colors to choose from. You can check it out at their website: www.olpguitars.com

 

[barkatozz]

Hey,
I am curious to which Bart preamp you used. I got an OLP 5 string really cheap because the truss rod was broken. I have changed out the truss rod (Stew Mac sells one that seems to be a direct replacement) and added two stiffening rods to the neck. I found a used 3EQ MM preamp out of a 4 string Sting Ray and a Bart MM5 pickup that I plan on putting in it. I got a cool 5 string SR pickguard and now I am trying to figure out if there is a way to wire a regular three way lever to series/split/parallel so I can hook everything up. If everything works I will have a $300 (mabe a bit less) into this thing, and it should be pretty cool.
Steve

I got the first one on this page: http://www.bestbassgear.com/bartolini-preamps-ntmb.htm
I really wish basses like this were around when I first started & was strapped for cash. They blow away Fender MIMs that cost double of what these go for.

 

[phatduckk]

thyere definately good bang for the buck.
i recommend them for anyone that asks me what "cheap" guitar/bass to start with. i figure when they graduate to a high end bass or guitar they'll have EBMM on their minds