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OLP MM1
List: $395
Apologies in advance; this review doesn’t feature a new guitar. The OLP MM1 have been around since 2001, made it here late 2002 but back then, it didn’t stir any interests among the guitar community (not that I know of). Now that it has, it’s worth looking into…
If the outline of the MM1 is all too familiar to you, that’s because it’s a licensed copy of Music Man’s Axis, which was formerly known as the EVH model (no prizes for guessing what the acronym represents). The MM1 differs from the MM Axis by virtue of its vibrato unit- it’s not a genuine Floyd Rose locking article. It’s merely a uni-directional, non-locking unit which doesn’t upset the overall aesthetics too much.
Neck/ body
For a sub-$400 guitar, the MM1 means serious business as it features a one piece maple neck, yes you read that right. It’s something a Squier or the mid-priced Ibanez models wouldn’t feature- kudos OLP! The wood grade is also something to smile upon as it contains no blemishes or flaws that would ruin the class it exudes. The profile offered here is a hybrid one; an Ibanez width coupled with a rather fat, Gibson-esque depth. Everything about the neck is immaculately finished & fitted, the tuners are very functional, no nut choke upon tuning & frets are well fitted, no sharp burrs in sight, none pricked my fingers either. Shred fans, be informed that the frets here are the jumbo make but they feel very medium to me.
The basswood body sports a film top, not a wood laminate. This is merely a layer of paper depicting a quilted maple, glued onto the surface, a variation of Fender’s foto-flame which featured on selected Japanese models in 1996. The mass of the single cutaway body is complementary to the neck & the binding’s well done, no frayed strips anywhere along the edge. The dual humbuckers, single control knob & 3-way pickup toggle switch keeps things simple here. For accuracy’s sake, the truss rod adjustment is accessible at the pickup end of the neck, just like how Van Halen wanted it.
Tone/ Playability
So the zebra finished pickups are merely there for looks because the tone didn’t kill, but it’s not too brash sounding like the Ibanez models we know, with Powersound pickups on board. Predictably, these humbuckers excel under driven performance & sound rather lacking, clean. A tone knob would be useful to trim the unwanted high ends here, both in the bridge & in the neck.
The ‘jumbo’ frets feel thin & much effort is needed if you are the shred type contemplating to do 100km/h on the fretboard. Despite being a single cutaway electric, upper frets access is virtually unhindered, especially with the shaped heel to complement your stretchings. What I like most about this guitar is the clear manifestations of sweep arpeggios- every note rings true & uncluttered. If you wish to feel & hear the different voicing of a maple fretboard because all these while you have been fretting a rosewood one, the MM1 is a budget-friendly contender, definitely worth checking out.
Last say
The MM1 isn’t a stellar guitar, I hold the Ibanez SA120 in higher stead, considering they are both dual humbucking guitars aimed at the rock-inclined & the fact that the former is missing a tone knob. The strength of the MM1 lies in its well made neck & maple fretboard, which offers a brighter top end for you, especially when your EQ setting favours lots of bass. Also, it costs less than $400, a good $200 off the list price of the SA120. You are not worse off if you choose to invest in this OLP, however, if you think it’s a good representative of a typical Music Man guitar, then you are on the wrong track.
PS: If you can’t wait for some new OLPs to make it here come mid-June 2005, the remaining one at Davis is worth getting, it’s reasonably set up & has a very straight neck. Elsewhere, you’d read players whining about a poor, out-of-the-box set up when it comes to OLP units, be assured that this particular one isn’t near-dud at all.
