Gamble Posted January 2, 2009 Share Posted January 2, 2009 (edited) Did anyone else know about this? I just tried to visit their website and was told the "Thank you for all the years of support. The OLP brand has been retired, starting in 2009." Seems a shame if you ask me, from what I could tell they were decent quality for the money. Edited January 2, 2009 by Gamble Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MythSte Posted January 3, 2009 Share Posted January 3, 2009 i vaguely remember something about MusicMan taking back the rights to all their designs? OLP are nothing without MM! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest MoJo Posted January 3, 2009 Share Posted January 3, 2009 (edited) So does this mean anyone with an OLP has now got a collectable bass that will increase in value? Edited January 3, 2009 by bassman2790 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OutToPlayJazz Posted January 3, 2009 Share Posted January 3, 2009 I'd previously thought that they'd carry on with independant designs, but it seems without Ernie Ball they couldn't carry on. Pity, as the last generation of active Ray copies they made (MM22 & 32) were excellent basses. I almost bought one myself! Rich. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MythSte Posted January 3, 2009 Share Posted January 3, 2009 [quote name='OutToPlayJazz' post='368998' date='Jan 3 2009, 12:04 AM']I'd previously thought that they'd carry on with independant designs, but it seems without Ernie Ball they couldn't carry on. Pity, as the last generation of active Ray copies they made (MM22 & 32) were excellent basses. I almost bought one myself! Rich.[/quote] I think im going to grab a Tony Levin before they go up to the next price range, which im sure they will! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gamble Posted January 3, 2009 Author Share Posted January 3, 2009 That's the thing, I've been twiddling my thumbs wondering whether to or not and like someone said, they're probably going up in price now!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MythSte Posted January 3, 2009 Share Posted January 3, 2009 I doubt they'll go up much, but itll be enough to put them into used MIM fender territory i rekon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Musky Posted January 3, 2009 Share Posted January 3, 2009 That's a slightly bizarre move by MM. No Subs and no licensed copies - I wonder what the thinking behind that is? It's not like there aren't other copies about. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheDarkReaver Posted January 3, 2009 Share Posted January 3, 2009 I didn't realise OLP were run buy the same people as B.C Rich. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
budget bassist Posted January 3, 2009 Share Posted January 3, 2009 [quote name='Musky' post='369041' date='Jan 3 2009, 12:51 AM']That's a slightly bizarre move by MM. No Subs and no licensed copies - I wonder what the thinking behind that is? It's not like there aren't other copies about.[/quote] MM are starting up another company soon called "sterling basses" or something to that effect, made in korea and all that. And i believe OLP lost the licence a good while ago now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skankdelvar Posted January 3, 2009 Share Posted January 3, 2009 I'm sure someone here will know the full details, but FWIW, I think read it was alleged that MM had a problem with OLP's inconsistent quality control. True? Who knows... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stoo Posted January 3, 2009 Share Posted January 3, 2009 [quote name='skankdelvar' post='369086' date='Jan 3 2009, 02:31 AM']I'm sure someone here will know the full details, but FWIW, I think read it was alleged that MM had a problem with OLP's inconsistent quality control. True? Who knows...[/quote] Yep - at least that's what the official line from Sterling Ball himself was. In the same post he also admitted the later, twin pup OLPs were vastly improved, but dismissed it as "too little too late"... whether they'd already started to make commitments towards establishing their own line, or had seen the potential profits that could be made from a decent quality 'ray copy, or had just lost faith in OLP to keep the quality up once they'd got it there... who knows??? Can't see me getting rid of my MM22 in a hurry.... 'tis a fantastic bit of kit for the money Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stoo Posted January 3, 2009 Share Posted January 3, 2009 From an earlier post on here... [quote name='stoo' post='235380' date='Jul 8 2008, 11:33 PM']From what I can gather, the older OLPs vary wildly on quality so you might get a blinder or might get a lemon. To quote Sterling Ball.... [quote]Regarding OLP quality it was all over the board much to my disapointment...(why do you think I cancelled the deal?) The irony is that the last batch were made in Korea at a higher price point due to the sub leaving the markiet and they were truly great....to good but too late.....[/quote] [url="http://www.ernieball.com/forums/music-man-basses/30716-question-week-big-poppa-2.html#post485243"]http://www.ernieball.com/forums/music-man-...html#post485243[/url] [/quote] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Machines Posted January 3, 2009 Share Posted January 3, 2009 So OLP becomes just P ! I very sold my Jazz to buy an OLP MM32 to go with my Stingray. In the end I just traded my Ray for the 55-02. I tried an MM22 out in a local shop and I thought it was fantastic, soundwise fairly close to a Ray but obviously not a patch on it in build quality. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stoo Posted February 10, 2009 Share Posted February 10, 2009 Looks like OLPs replacement line is almost out.... [url="http://www.sterlingbymusicman.com/"]http://www.sterlingbymusicman.com/[/url] It's not much of a website yet, but there is a product brochure pdf thingy on there. No HS or HH basses as yet, and no maple fretboard option on the SB (Sterling equivalent) Maybe the range will expand if demand is good enough.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted February 10, 2009 Share Posted February 10, 2009 Looks like times are tough and MM are bringing it all in-house and, like other manufacturers, are going to offer their own Far Eastern budget line. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markytbass Posted February 10, 2009 Share Posted February 10, 2009 That website looks interesting, I'd like to know the prices. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simon1964 Posted February 10, 2009 Share Posted February 10, 2009 [quote name='Machines' post='369107' date='Jan 3 2009, 08:24 AM']I tried an MM22 out in a local shop and I thought it was fantastic, soundwise fairly close to a Ray but obviously not a patch on it in build quality.[/quote] I'd second that. I've played LWTAIT's MM22 and its not a million miles from my 'ray in terms of sound. Pity OLP have lost the licence, as the ones I've played have been OK, given the price range. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrcrow Posted February 10, 2009 Share Posted February 10, 2009 (edited) what did olp have which wasnt quite right to make them so cheap i have looked at them online and thought they just werent active.. [url="http://www.guitarampkeyboard.com/products.php?c=Bass+Guitars&m=OLP"]OLP seem to be available in some shops[/url] Edited February 10, 2009 by mrcrow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tait Posted February 10, 2009 Share Posted February 10, 2009 [quote name='stoo' post='404996' date='Feb 10 2009, 03:49 AM']Looks like OLPs replacement line is almost out.... [url="http://www.sterlingbymusicman.com/"]http://www.sterlingbymusicman.com/[/url] It's not much of a website yet, but there is a product brochure pdf thingy on there. No HS or HH basses as yet, and no maple fretboard option on the SB (Sterling equivalent) Maybe the range will expand if demand is good enough....[/quote] do we know how cheap these are going to be? are they going to be as cheap as the OLPs were, or are they more SUB prices? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stoo Posted February 10, 2009 Share Posted February 10, 2009 [quote name='markytbass' post='405537' date='Feb 10 2009, 05:22 PM']That website looks interesting, I'd like to know the prices.[/quote] So far, the only prediction on price I've seen was "cheaper than a thousand bucks... by a few hundred dollars" Not very specific, but it's from patpark on the EBMM forum, and he's the representative of the company that's manufacturing the new range. Hopefully that won't mean they're about $700 in the USA and £700 here though! [quote name='mrcrow' post='405553' date='Feb 10 2009, 05:41 PM']what did olp have which wasnt quite right to make them so cheap i have looked at them online and thought they just werent active..[/quote] The early OLPs were single pickup, passive, and apparently had pretty poor build quality and quality control. I *think* the early ones were made in China, but I'm not sure. They had a 3 knob control plate like a 2EQ ray, but I think the controls were a separate volume control for each coil of the single humbucker, and a master tone. The last batch of OLPs (the MM22 and MM32) were made in Korea, were HH config and active. 5 way pickup and 3 band EQ setup much the same as the proper HH Stingrays. Build quality and sound quality were much improved, and they seemed to be much more consistently made too. They were a fair bit more expensive though - between £250 and £300 new I had a MM32 5 string and now have a MM22 4 string and have been very impressed by both, given the price. The 5er had very tight string spacing (about 16.5mm) which I didn't really get on with. They both felt much better made than my MIM Jazz, but it's been over 10 years since I had a go on a genuine EBMM ray so I can't really compare them with the real thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tait Posted February 10, 2009 Share Posted February 10, 2009 [quote name='stoo' post='405569' date='Feb 10 2009, 05:58 PM']The last batch of OLPs (the MM22 and MM32) were made in Korea, were HH config and active. 5 way pickup and 3 band EQ setup much the same as the proper HH Stingrays. Build quality and sound quality were much improved, and they seemed to be much more consistently made too. They were a fair bit more expensive though - between £250 and £300 new I had a MM32 5 string and now have a MM22 4 string and have been very impressed by both, given the price. The 5er had very tight string spacing (about 16.5mm) which I didn't really get on with. They both felt much better made than my MIM Jazz, but it's been over 10 years since I had a go on a genuine EBMM ray so I can't really compare them with the real thing.[/quote] like simon1964 said earlier on this thread, i have an OLP mm22, and he has a stingray. having compared them, i got to say they OLPs bridge pickup soloed sounds VERY stingray like, although theres a little something in the stingray sound that just isn't there in the OLP sounds. still, for a quarter or the price, its worth it. i used to have a 5 string OLP, the passive version, and it was quite good, but not a stingray. IIRC, it sounded more like a precision than a stingray, but it didnt really sound like anything, it was its own bass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karlbbb Posted February 10, 2009 Share Posted February 10, 2009 I really can't wait for the Sterling range to come out (find out prices etc), as I'd love a Ray 35, natural! Now that's a gorgeous bass! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phil_the_bassist Posted February 10, 2009 Share Posted February 10, 2009 [quote name='Musky' post='369041' date='Jan 3 2009, 12:51 AM']That's a slightly bizarre move by MM. No Subs and no licensed copies - I wonder what the thinking behind that is? It's not like there aren't other copies about.[/quote] I was gonna say that they're probably gonna make a new version of the SUB line, but about 5,000,403,127 people beat me to it. Slow on the uptake? moi? never! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phil_the_bassist Posted February 10, 2009 Share Posted February 10, 2009 ...if the sterling basses are gonna not 'compromise materials or construction' A: why is it cheaper, and B: why by a Full Fat MM? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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