Members karmacowboy67 Posted January 8, 2006 Members Posted January 8, 2006 Alright, I've been playing the guitar for some 20+ years and now I find myself wanting to pick up the bass. The band is currently without a bassplayer, and sitting in a few nights using the bass of player from the other band has given me a bad case of GAS for a bass of my own. There's something about playing bass that only just dawned on me... Clearly, I'm on a budget. Which is fine if you don't happen to love the sound of a Stingray. Luckily, there are the OLP line of basses, so I'm gonna go for one of those. Any reason why I should not pick up a 5-string? And while I'm at it, does anyone have any first hand experience of how the OLP Tony Levin Signature model compares to the 'normal' OLP MM3?
Members zenfascist Posted January 8, 2006 Members Posted January 8, 2006 Stay away from OLP, they are pieces of {censored} IME. I played a couple at GC, and the input jack fell into the body cavity when I was playing the first one, and the other one had a poorly cut nut and was very noisy. But, then again, other people on the board own them and have had no problems, so it's hard to say. Go try one out for yourself and decide. Also try out the Musicman SUB line of basses, those can be had used for little more than the price of the Tony Levin sig model, and are far nicer instruments IMO. As for the 5-string, that's also a matter of personal preference. Do YOU think you'd benefit from having that extra string?
Members karmacowboy67 Posted January 8, 2006 Author Members Posted January 8, 2006 I'm pretty sure not having to tune down would be rather nice for me... tuning down means I need to apply way too much brainpower. Other than that, it's kinda nice to hear someone put OLP down. From reading about them here and there you'd think they're sold too cheap.
Members zenfascist Posted January 8, 2006 Members Posted January 8, 2006 Originally posted by karmacowboy67 I'm pretty sure not having to tune down would be rather nice for me... tuning down means I need to apply way too much brainpower.Other than that, it's kinda nice to hear someone put OLP down. From reading about them here and there you'd think they're sold too cheap. Sounds like a 5er is for you if you don't mind the wider neck and having to deal with an extra string (but you're used to 6 anyways). If you dig the Musicman sound, a used SUB is the best bang for the buck out there IMO.
Members karmacowboy67 Posted January 8, 2006 Author Members Posted January 8, 2006 Cool! Gonna look into the Sub some then.
Members Benjamin Posted January 9, 2006 Members Posted January 9, 2006 A local player had a SUB 4 string. It sounded quite good, not quite as good as the real deal, but not by that much in a band setting. I would have been happy with it.
Members NineMinuteNap Posted January 9, 2006 Members Posted January 9, 2006 Originally posted by zenfascist Sounds like a 5er is for you if you don't mind the wider neck and having to deal with an extra string (but you're used to 6 anyways). If you dig the Musicman sound, a used SUB is the best bang for the buck out there IMO. I'd look for a used Ibanez ATK before a SUB (but it might be harder to find a 5 string). Watch eBay for a while and one will turn up.
Members zenfascist Posted January 9, 2006 Members Posted January 9, 2006 Originally posted by NineMinuteNap I'd look for a used Ibanez ATK before a SUB (but it might be harder to find a 5 string). Watch eBay for a while and one will turn up. Yes, that's another option. I had the pleasure of playing one (5 string) a couple of weeks ago and they sound quite good. Also, I just checked and Musicman doesn't make 5 string SUBs.
Members NineMinuteNap Posted January 9, 2006 Members Posted January 9, 2006 a used G&L Tribute L-2000/L-2500 should be able to do a Stingray-ish sound for a decent price.
Members xdamagexx Posted January 9, 2006 Members Posted January 9, 2006 theres several thoughts about OLP... im a owner. i love my 4 stringer OLP MM2.. but then again i did up grade the pickup and preamp.(nordstrand and Barts). but i still got less money in it than the SUB option and it sounds like an old stingray.....! i got less then $400 in it. for the $ its awsome and im super pleased.. everyone that i have shown it too or that has thumped on it has been impressed... i got a good one.. i a newby so its good enough for me.. until i get betta then its in the closet and i'm gettin a 5 string Carvin. i also own a Schecter and a Jackson. i have played on everything but a (Ric) . so if u wanna start out with a bass u don;t mind getting dinged up then why not go with an OLP. i call mine, my Banger... i learned on a piece of chit Johnson bass. so when i up graded it was like riding in a caddy... my 2cents... m/
Members lownote Posted January 9, 2006 Members Posted January 9, 2006 Originally posted by karmacowboy67 Any reason why I should not pick up a 5-string? Floppy B? Neck width aside, I haven't found a low priced 5'er yet - that I would want. As for $1k+ 5'ers, I like Pedulla. MM's good too & I've heard good things about G & L & the Quake(?) bass.
Members brattbugg Posted January 19, 2006 Members Posted January 19, 2006 Its only a floppy B if the scale isnt right. I cannot stand a Fender 5 string, the 4's are great. The scale is wrong. It is thumpy rather than tight. I have a Fernandes Gravity 5, exellent! I also like the OLP 5 and 4, yeah its not a Music Man, but it doesnt cost as much either.
Members sunburstbasser Posted January 19, 2006 Members Posted January 19, 2006 I haven't cared for the OLPs I've played personally. Try them out first for sure. I liked the SUB, and at one point there were 5-string models, I think in the mass retailer catalogs and such. The ATK is an EXCELLENT bass. I'd take it over an SUB, at least the 4-string models (sorry, I'm a 4-stringer and don't know much about the 5ers!). Cort makes the GB-35, which gives you a J/MM option, for around $370 list. You could probably get it considerably cheaper than that. Corts don't hold their value at all either; you could probably find any of the GBs on Ebay dirt cheap. If you go for the GB-75, you get features that set it on par with the Stingray (pickups aside) for little more than SUB price.
Members g.ghost Posted January 19, 2006 Members Posted January 19, 2006 I would stay clear of OLP . I had the 5 string and the truss rod let go while the bass was sitting in its gig bag! I picked it up one day to play and the action had gone to 3/8 ". I tweeked the truss rod 1/4 turn and CRACK. Bass less than a year old. OLP wouldn't cover it under warrenty. $120 later I installed a replacement neck and sold the POS ! The pu seemed to hum badly as well. Maybe I just had a bad one, but I will never touch any OLP again.
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