OLP MM1F (Feb08 models with Original FR)

[Placid Casual]

Anyone know anything about these guitars ?

I have been wanting a guitar with a whammy bar for a while, quite liked the look of this particular model on eBay.

I know it's not a proper EB guitar, I can't afford one so im hoping this OLP wil lbe good enough for my needs. It was only $400US new, with postage and a hardcase it cost me £294.

I expect imort tax will knock that up to a total of around £360, but it's a nice looking instrument, with an original FR and Rockfield Mafia pickups.

I've heard good things about the normal bog standard OLP's, so I'd assume it was worth paying a little extra to get one of these imported from the US.

Apparently it's the last batch of OLP Axis copies to be made, and this particular model with the red flame top and Rockfield pups was one of 50 made.


Anyone had any experience with these guitars or read any reviews ?
I haven't found anything on them, but im expecting good things when it arrives later this week!

 

[paranoid70]

It's a nice looking guitar, that's for sure. I read somewhere that BP said that the last couple of batches of OLP guitars were more consistent quality-wise.

 

[Placid Casual]

It's a nice looking guitar, that's for sure. I read somewhere that BP said that the last couple of batches of OLP guitars were more consistent quality-wise.

Yeah, these 2008 models were made in very limited quantities and are pretty hi-spec for a cheap guitar.

I mean an original Floyd Rose would set you back about £180, the Rockfield Mafia's another £80. Just those components are already a fair chunk over the £197 I paid for the guitar.

I've read lots of good things about Rockfield pickups too, which are a fairly new brand. The Mafia's are a modern high output pickup, but still raw sounding, not processed like EMG's which is exactly what I wanted.


I don't really play any metal, this guitar is more for rock - particularly modern stuff like Muse. It looks like the kind of guitar Matt Bellamy would play, he did use an old Wolfgang EVH for some time I think.

 

[spychocyco]

I had one of the earlier models of the MM1F with the licensed Floyd, and it was a really solid guitar. It was the natural flame model. Of course, it wasn't even close to the real thing, but it was a good guitar for the price -- solidly built, had a decent sound. That's certainly a nicer-looking guitar than mine -- especially the neck, which was really ugly on mine.

 

[Spudmurphy]

Welcome to the Forum - Cardiff huh?

Cardiff guitars (official EB dealers) down the bay could have got you a good deal - still it seems you have pulled the trigger, so that little tip is superfluous now.

 

[Placid Casual]

Welcome to the Forum - Cardiff huh?

Cardiff guitars (official EB dealers) down the bay could have got you a good deal - still it seems you have pulled the trigger, so that little tip is superfluous now.

I don't think many of these OLP's made it to the UK, the model I ordered was exclusive to the american retailer I bought it from.

I did have a look on their website, and it would seem they don't have any MM1's in stock at all. I've never been to this shop though, I tend to go in Gamlins regularly as it's right in the city centre (and because it's by Dorothies - and I always go there for a chicken curry and chips when im in town )

Is this Cardiff guitars worth a stroll down the bay for?

 

[candid_x]

Can anyone confirm that those are photo finishes rather than actual wood grains?

 

[Placid Casual]

Can anyone confirm that those are photo finishes rather than actual wood grains?

I don't think it's a photo finish, it did say it was a flamed maple top.

 

[spychocyco]

OLP claimed that my model had a real flamed maple top. It was natural, and I believe that it was real. These models are a little more expensive. The quilt tops on the cheaper models were definitely photo tops.

 

[TNT]

Yeah,

I believe the the dealer is "Funkymonkey" music.

I've had several OLP's MM1's since they came out (before the Orig FR models.) Because of the "price", and my love for the Axis guitar, and the fact EBMM was involved at least in legality, I purchased these guitars so I wouldn't put fret wear on my expensive MM Axis' guitar(s) when I practice.

I fell in love with them all (but, they were NOT consistent in spec's among themselves). But, it was not a big deal to me, they all played like "dreams".

The pickups and tuners were decent, (one pickup didn't work), some frets were out of wack so I did some re-fretting on two of them.

I put FR's on them and that was all I wanted to put into them. Aside from my MM Axis's (and my Wolf's) they are my favorite guitars to play!!!

In retrospect, for the money, it's an EXCELLENT guitar, however I wouldn't put ANY money into it - it's an inexpensive guitar made inexpensively.

That guitar appears to have a real wood top. As long as the price is what you said, you can't go wrong.

However, the "genuine article" is where it's at, and is certainly worth saving for!!!!!

 

[peterd79]

i have a tobacco burst OLP MM1F that is just as solid as the day is long. Everything on it is top quality and beyond impressive for the $199 B.I.N. pricetag on the bay. It was brand new and had all the tags, and goodies to come along with it. The cap was a real flame maple top that is highly figured and was my main axe for quite some time.
I've also played a few other OLP MM1F's trying to find one that i could use as a secondary to what i had and quickly found that with the early OLP's for the most part were hit and mis with the quality control... so hopefully they changed that this year and it's become a more solid product. Maybe because it's said this is the last run of the MM1F....

 

[Spudmurphy]

I don't think many of these OLP's made it to the UK, the model I ordered was exclusive to the american retailer I bought it from.

I did have a look on their website, and it would seem they don't have any MM1's in stock at all. I've never been to this shop though, I tend to go in Gamlins regularly as it's right in the city centre (and because it's by Dorothies - and I always go there for a chicken curry and chips when im in town )

Is this Cardiff guitars worth a stroll down the bay for?

definitely worth a visit - the last time I was there he had a fantastic second hand Albert Lee there - I bleeb it's still for sale.
He carries a good range of stuff. I also got my Mesa Boogie from him.

 

[Placid Casual]

definitely worth a visit - the last time I was there he had a fantastic second hand Albert Lee there - I bleeb it's still for sale.
He carries a good range of stuff. I also got my Mesa Boogie from him.

Im sure I heard a radio advert not too long ago for Cardiff Guitars, I think it said that they buy 2nd hand guitars.

I want to get a Fender Classic Player 60 Strat - but I can't justify owning 6 guitars so I think I'm going to have to get rid of either my Epiphone Firebird or Cort Zenox Custom.

I'll be down that way tomorrow morning so I'll pop in and have a look I think.

 

[Placid Casual]

Just checked with UPS and my guitar landed in Stansted exactly 2 hours ago.

I hope it somehow manages to slip past customs, otherwise im not going to get it until next week

 

[Spudmurphy]

^
Well as an employee of HMRC I'll make sure it gets checked

 

[colinboy]

Start savings my friend for areal EB musicman.you cant beat the real thing!

 

[ShaneV]

I have an old OLP 'Silo Special' (forget the real model name) that I bought to travel with 4 or 5 years ago, rather than risk running my precious EB through airport security . I was very surprised by the quality considering the price point, easily on par with a mexican fender when I was expcting Squire quality or worse.

 

[Placid Casual]

^
Well as an employee of HMRC I'll make sure it gets checked

Go on, let it go - I'll buy you a beer


I've just checked with UPS and it says my guitar arrived in Cardiff at 4am this morning, and is scheduled for delivery today.

Im hoping that means I won't have to pay any tax, last time I imported a guitar from America it was kept by HMRC and I had a ransom letter telling me I needed to pay them £80 - or else they'd deport it to the USA - a fate I simply couldn't allow.

I paid up, but the hurt remains even to this day.


Tax doesn't have to be taxing .....

*explodes*

 

[Placid Casual]

Man, do I know a bargain when I see one.

This guitar is sensational, it's precisely what I was after and I love it!

Ok, so the ****er took me 2 hours to tune - but eventually I got it sorted and was away!
My first guitar with a whammy bar, so as you can imagine I was going pretty mad with that non stop, but the tuning held out really well. The neck is excellent, made out of one solid piece of american maple - no joins. The top is real flamed maple with a stunning vibrant red finish. Rockfield pickups are exactly what I was after. Crystal clear tones, rich harmonics and endless sustain - which combines perfectly with the original Floyd Rose tremolo!

I'm giving it a little rest now, my neighbours must be sick of hearing Knights of Cydonia - I need to learn some more songs

 

[rlarino]

I DO NOT recommend you buy one...

I bought one from a great dealer off ebay... the guitar was broken by the time it got to me... the pickup switch was screwed up.

The guitar looks great for the money and the trem was alright.

The neck was the problem. The neck was so fat and awkward it felt like a really cheap toy guitar and made me want to smash it in the street.


Luckily the seller was great and he took it back for a full refund.


I would just spend a few hundred bucks more and get a real axis (or any other MM that fits your needs). The biggest and most important difference is in the neck.


-Rob L