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OLP MM2
List: $379
OLP (Officially Licensed Product) is currently the commissioned Ernie Ball Music Man cloner with production facilities in China. Besides the bass offerings, the company also reproduces EBMM guitars; both of which extend into the signature models. The MM2 here is a replication of the acclaimed Sting Ray bass but falls short of a faithful specification, namely in the electronics department.
Build/ fit/ finish
Before you comprehensively commit yourselves to the belief that the MM2 is simply the budget offspring of the Sting Ray, be informed that the tone wood used here is a 4-piece basswood whose unsightly joints have been comprehensively masked by the glorious laminate top. This reviewer doubts the authenticity of the maple in use as it looks too much like a photo top, especially the depth of substance in use. Nevertheless, it does its job superbly by being a captivating highlight of the instrument. As a generous gesture, the manufacturer has ensured a similar charm over at the headstock; bravo!
The neck in this instance is a North American maple variety; if there is a superiority complex to be manifested by its use, it proves to be ordinary in existence. Nevertheless, the maple fretboard was applied elegantly at the assembly plant as it displays no bumps along the edges. The same could be said for the jumbo frets; in fact, every MM2 hardware is properly fixed, devoid of any far dodgy far-eastern workmanship.
The major dissent in this department would be the plastic nut, the audition model is equipped with a stained, scratched nut; the only imperfection in an otherwise untouchable manufacture.
Despite the visual compromise as highlighted here, one thing is for sure; the MM2 has a solid build that would shame many other mid-priced basses in the market.
Rating: 84%
Tone playability
The MM2 is not an excessively hefty instrument owing to the wood used for the body. Played both sitting down & strapped-on, this bass proves to be a well-balanced unit. Pertaining to playability, the manufacturer could have provided a more rounded neck edges. On matters of finishing, the satin coat featured on the neck is excessively thin; an IKEA wood feel isn’t one to promote fluent playing to beginners & seasoned bassists alike. The pots here are also scratchy in use.
The hallowed tone of the original Sting Ray lies with its big, fat bottom end, coupled with an active 3-band EQ, it is rather mystifying that a solitary pickup is able to churn out a palette of tones. Unlike the elaborate original, the MM2 here offers its own quirk. The bass features a twin volume affair & a master tone control. The good people at OLP have decided that the twin volume here would serve one pickup coil each. What you hear coming out from the MM2 is indeed a departure from the signature Sting Ray boom; in addition to being convincingly fat & bassy, reducing the pickup to a single coil function helps churn out a more throaty voicing. The player here is rather unfortunate that the tone sweep on offer isn’t wide enough to capitalize this single coil conversion, as such no J-type midrange could be procured from the MM2.
The volume response as a whole isn’t quite balanced. A finger picked lick across the strings reveal too much suppression for the D & G strings, despite countless pickup height adjustments. It is therefore recommended that one employs a compressor in the signal chain for a more even encounter.
In addition to being the preferred choice for slap & pop enthusiasts on a budget, the MM2 would oblige pick wielders with enough clarity in the mix to hear a non-finger picked approach to bass playing.
Tone test equipment:
• Amplifier- Ibanez SW65
Rating:
• Playability- 89%
• Tone- 80%
Conclusion
Do not approach the MM2 with a Sting Ray mentality; the inexact body wood & electronics used are enough accounts to make it a tonal departure from its original counterpart. Nevertheless, there would be dimwits who would deem so by virtue of the MM2’s outline; we understand the disillusion. The MM2 would remain to be a good budget bass for those who find the humbucking tone more desirable. The sure visual attraction aside, its well-made nature & maximum playability would attract many no frills players, Sting Ray fans or otherwise. It is the perfect inspiration for entrant bassists.
Value for money: 90%
Overall rating: 88%
Likes:
• Price
• Looks
• Playability
• Tone
Dislikes:
• Stained nut
• Tone sweep could have been wider/ more appealing
• Scratchy pots
Worthy competitor
• Ibanez SRX400
