« OLP MM2 »

I played this bass at Sam Ash on Sunset Blvd. in Los Angeles for half an hour. It was selling for $229. Later I found a refurbished copy on Musician's Friend for $129.

The ability to adjust volume on each coil on the humbucker is a major plus for me, since I'm a guitar player without much bass technique and am used to using pickup selector switches to change tone. This also gives considerable tonal variation. I had played a friend's cheap Squier bass and liked the earthy, unobtrusive thud I was able to get, but subsequent tests with both Squiers and Precisions failed to find that tone. I was surprised to find it in the OLP. The Stingray is a classic design, as well, and the MM2 shares its stylish design.

Made in China -- don't expect much resale value. Durability is also an unknown.

Seems decent if not great. The pearl blue finish looks good.

Time will tell whether this bass can last for years the way I need it to, but the sounds I was able to get from it in-store were the best I'd heard in this price range.

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com