Question New Tuners and Pickup for my OLP musicman 5 string bass.

[vibhas_2310]

Hey !!

I just got a 5 string OLP and the stock tuners are terrible. Can anyone suggest where I can get replacment tuners ??

ALso, I am looking at replacing the stock pickup on the bass. Any suggestions regarding this ??

Thanks,
Vibhas

 

[adouglas]

Tuners are standard-issue stuff. Most EBMM basses use Schallers... not sure about the OLPs. They're probably low-end Schaller clones, so it'd be a simple thing to just drop real Schallers in there. The only important thing is the diameter of the hole in the peghead, which you'll need to measure. You can get new ones from the usual sources for guitar parts (e.g. Warmoth, Allparts).

Pickups are another matter. I do believe the OLP pickup dimensions are the same as the regular EBMMs, but EBMM does not sell parts, period -- you can only trade your damaged original for a new one, and the OLP pickup is not an MM pickup. There are some aftermarket MM-style pickups... do a search on "Musicman style pickup"


Or... rather than trying to make a silk purse out of a sow's ear, sell the OLP and use the proceeds, plus the money you want to spend on upgrades, to buy a Sterling by Music Man bass. The quality and sound is very good... much better than the OLPs.

Note: I speak from actual experience trying make an unsatisfactory bass "right." It's just a slippery slope. After you do the machines and pickups, you'll realize the electronics aren't that great... then the bridge... then the frets... and so on and on. Before I got Bongofied I'd ripped out the guts of my last bass and put the fanciest stuff I could find in there, looking for good tone. Spent a bunch with mediocre results. Simpler to just punt and buy a good bass in the first place, which I did. My Bongos are fabulous and bone stock.

Hope this helps.

 

[vibhas_2310]

Thanks.

The OLP is a fretless and it plays great man. I actually really like it and its got, believe it or not, A Killer B string !

So just looking into the 2 things I know for sure I want to upgrade.

I will probably buy the schaller tuners and some after market musicman pickups.

Cheers !!

 

[five7]

The tuners never bothered me but the pickup with 2 volume knobs is crap, noisy unless you have them both dimed. The necks are usually nice, probably the best part of the bass. Let us know if you change out the pickups and electronics. Good Luck!

 

[phatduckk]

I think MM uses Schaller BML tuners. u can get those anywhere.