OLP MM1FR

Minimum. Perfect! For example, I feel that a Strat has too many knobs, pickups and switch positions.

Good clean. I get overdrive and distortion from amp or petals. Perfect.

Not applicable.

This is an update to my review of this guitar which was submitted Septempber 8, 2007. Since that time I have owned three other OLP MM1Fs and would like to share my experiences. After trying several more guitar types and models, including an Eastwood P90 Special, a Fender Telecaster '72 reissue and a Gibson SG Classic, the OLP MM1F is still my favorite guitar. I re-mounted the original pickups in that particular (first) guitar and found them to be superior the ones I replaced them with. My ears were fooled at first. I replaced the licensed Floyd Rose tremolo with a real one which was a major improvement. I next purchased a later model piano black MM1F which had an original Floyd Rose factory installed in it. This guitar was somewhat heavier and lacked the magic that the first one had and was later sold. I now own two MM1Fs which have the natural finish. These two are very different from each other. The quality of the tuning machines supplied with one of these is lacking and will need to be replaced while the other one has a set which is fine. The pickups in one of these sound very good and will stay there while the other had horrible sounding pickups which I replaced with a Dimarzio Air Norton and a Tone Zone. Both of these will get real Floyd Rose tremolos. Learning how to set up a Floyd Rose tremolo is a necessary part of owning a Floyd Rose tremolo. This involves much tinkering and set-up time but once done, it will stay done unless one changes string size or brand. The OLP guitars were bought in used condition from Ebay sellers. (OLP no longer manufactures these) I also bought a Peavey Wolfgang EXP. (similar guitar) I learned that I preferred the smaller fret wires of the OLP and the floating bridge of the OLP over the restricted movement of the D-Tuna system. The Wolfy was sold although it did sound darn good. I also ordered a real Music Man Axis and promptly returned it to the seller for refund after I found that I still preferred the feel of the OLP, especially after considering the price difference. I find that this guitar is suited most any style music from clean to distorted and all in between. It still suits my style, personality, size and feel preferrence better than any guitar I have tried and I have tried many. Insanely too many!

2007 model. Piano black. Maple neck with satin finish, basswood body, genuine floyd rose floating trem. volume, pickup selector, two humbuckers. A basic electric rock guitar.

This guitar is VERY nice for the money. I don't particlarly care for floating trems so I just blocked it for divebombing only like it's more expensive siblings Axis and EVH. I was a Musicman/Ernie Ball guitar tech from 1991-2001 and probably assembled and built at least 10-15 thousand EVH,Axis,Steve morse, sihlouette, Albert lee, and luke guitars during that time period. You could say that i'm an expert on those guitars. This guitar competes very nicely. It is NOT as good as they are by any means BUT for the low price you just can't beat this kind of quality. The fret ends are a big improvement over older models. They are slightly recessed into the fretboard, very cool. The pickups are very hot. I replaced the bridge pickup with a duncan distortion as it is a little fatter and hotter and just left the neck pickup in as it sounds really good. Not that it NEEDED to be replaced. They DO sound very good and comparable to the DiMarzio's on the MM's in output.I just prefer Duncan Distortions for that Evil George Lynch tone. This guitar has a nice fat tone in all positions and stays in tune well. Obviously there is somewhat of a tonal difference between this and my MM EVH, the EVH being far more refined, but the OLP holds it's own. I like the fact that it is right along the same lines as far as sound and neck feel but I don't have to cry if I dent it or ding it. This guitar sounds great and is great for any kind of rock and roll. Through my Hughes and Kettner Switchblade tube head this guitar just screams on dirty tones and the neck pickup sounds great for clean and dirty bluesy tones. I'm really impressed with the neck pickup, Not muddy at all. The bridge pickup could be just a little warmer but overall very good. Again, for the money I have no complaints.

The overall construction is very good. As stated before the fret ends are recessed which eliminates the sharp fret end problem. The neck is fast and comfortable and has a thin satin finish and is not the sanded oil/gunstock wax finish of the MM's. The satin finish is similar to an import Peavey Wolfgang. The finish and binding was well done with no flaws that would bother me especially for this price. The action of this guitar is comparable to the expensive stuff. Plays like butter and is easily adjustable for any type of action and string gauge with proper truss rod and trem spring settings. Intonation was dead on from the factory. The tuners have an unusually short shaft which I really didn't care for. I will upgrade those. The Floyd is real and made of hardened steel. Very cool.

I believe this guitar would stand up to steady gigging. I would upgrade the tuners. The volume pot is of decent quality. No complaints. The pickup selector seems a little fragile and should be upgraded to a more stout metal switch though it works fine. The locking nut hieght was perfect and installed nicely. The truss rod also adjusts very well. I would have a backup guitar, maybe another one of these with different pickups!

Never dealt with them.

27 years playing time. Guitar tech for 10. Tube amps(H and K Switchblade, PV 5150 combo)I think what you have here is a VERY upgradable, good sounding, and well playing instrument for a great price. Holds it's own VERY WELL with the real Musicmans and at $349.00 you can afford a small fleet of them. It IS however a lower priced and lower quality guitar and overall does not compare and does not have the mojo, "sound" and "feel" of a real Musicman. It DOES sound, play, and is better constructed than alot of other guitars priced two to three times the price. For the money it has no competition. If you are able to afford a real Musicman by all means get the real thing. But if you cant, with a few upgrades this will get you in the ballpark for alot less.

Maple Bolt on Neck, Maple Fingerboard, Basswood body - REAL Floyd Rose, Piano Black finish - pickups aren't bad for an import, though don't sing like duncans or dimarzios.

This guitar has a bright sound with TONS of harmonics in the bridge position, and a nice warm, full sound in the neck position. Perfect for pretty much all rock, though it can be hard to get nice clean tones. I've played this through a Peavey Transtube 112, as well as a modified PA tube amp, and a 10W crate practice amp - it sounds good through the solid state amps, and makes the tubes really sing. Again, the pickups are no seymour duncans, but in this price range, what do you expect?

The action is nice and low, with no fret buzz - really surprising for a guitar this inexpensive. There are a couple flaws in the binding - the pickups look cheaply made, but sound ok... The control cavity cover plates are excessively tight. Overall, a great playing guitar for the price.

I've been playing for over 10 years - I have a couple custom guitars, as well as an Ibanez rg 550, and an agile les paul copy - This guitar has action that matches the ibanez. I would definitely purchase another if it were lost or stolen - this guitar is really a lot of quality for what you pay. The pickups could be better, but that's an easy upgrade. I wish it had a second volume knob - one for each pickup. A shielded control cavity would also be nice.

2006(?) model MM1FR
Body: Basswood w/ real Flame Maple Top (Feels like another wood, tho)
Neck: North American Maple
Fingerboard: Maple
Construction: Bolt On
Frets: 22 Jumbo
Scale: 25.5"
Hardware: Chrome (good tuners, actually)
Pickups: 2 Direct Mounted OLP Humbuckers
Bridge: Floyd Rose Licensed Double Locking (installed poorly...think this was a MM1 in a previous life).

Wow! Very nice warm tone! I play through a Boss GT-3 and a Crate Stealth 100 head to a Custom Made Moss Amplification 4 X 12 (Moss no longer in business) conected through a A/B switch in order to switch to the straight tube tone or the effects mode. Sustain is very nice.

I believe this guitar was once a MM1 since the install on the locking nut was done very poorly. Fretboard looks like they used a Dremel. However, it stays in tune.

The finish is very purple (think of Prince) quilt/flame design.

Had to perform some major adjustments to the bridge and trust rod. After that, the action is perfect.

Have not played with it live. However, after playing it for 6 plus hours, I think this is quickly becoming my number two guitar! I like the feel of a short body (hope I can find a hardshell case for it!). The finish doesn't feel natural to me, but the tone is dead on!

I called OLP to see if I can order a rosewood neck, but they don't sell direct to repair shops or parts for that matter! No warranty on mine. A little bummed, but I'll live.

I've been playing guitar since I was four years old (I'm 42 now). I have several Strats, Telecasters, basses and one Les Paul. I was going to give this to my stepson....I've change my mind (it hurts his fingers anyway). For the price, this can't be beat! I'm glad I got it! Just wish it wasn't PURPLE! But, if I ever start a 80's revival group (which I won't), I suppose I'll be all set! I do hate the fact that OLP doesn't sell replacement parts. So, if the headstock snaps off, I suppose this guitar is heading for the trash dumpster.

Dual humbuckers, Floyd Rose Licensed bridge, Locking nut, jumbo frets, flame burst finish, one volume control, no tone control and a 3 way pickup selection switch. Small guitar which fits a small person like me.

Was good. Great now. For amps, I have a Roland Cube 60, a Fender Blues Deluxe and a Peavey Classic 30. Sounds mighty fine through any one of these.

Normal set-up necessary.

Normal, not for stupid destructive behavior. Locking nut and Floyd Rose whammy provide stable tuning even after dive bombing all day however, the guitar, like any, must be set up properly (including correct strings) to attain this blessing.

Don't know

I have bought and sold many guitars in my quest for the guitar which best suits my personality. I favor mostly low cost guitars such as Danelectro, but have had a few upper crust guitars such as a Gibson Les Paul Vixen and a Fender American Aniversary Strat. This OLP MM1 FR is one of the two guitars I have settled down with. (The other being a Korean made Ibanez). The guitar was a keeper just as I recieved it but I wanted to be able to go from humbuckers to a single coil sound by using a push pull volume pot. After some research I found that the Might Mite Mother Buckers offered splittable coils, a great sound and an unbeatable price. I ordered a pair or these along with a push/pull volume switch from an ebay seller. After finding the correct wiring instructions, I was able to accomplish the operation on my guitar. Plugged er in and - OH FOCK YEAH! THIS IS IT! One could add a tone pot but I never use one and thus, see no need. I may install an original Floyd Rose at some point in the future but for now, I am finally satisfied and my search for my perfect guitar has ended.

2007 model mm1f
Body: Basswood w/ real Flame Maple Top
Neck: North American Maple
Fingerboard: Maple
Construction: Bolt On
Frets: 22 Jumbo
Scale: 25.5"
Hardware: Chrome
Pickups: 2 Direct Mounted OLP Humbuckers
Bridge: Floyd Rose Licensed Double Locking

I like to play a lot of metal and this guitar comes to the party every time, it can be one angry sounding son of a gun when I want it to be and it can also be so sweet it would make the birds sing. I have not changed the pick ups and I dont plan to these pickups are exellent for the price.

When I first got this guitar from the store it was set up poorly one of the holes for the floyde rose post was drilled to big and I had to remove the floyde rose to repair it. Also the spring tension was all wrong this was not a big problem as I did this repair my self in about 30 mins but this is why I have given it a poor rating here, once it was set up it plays like a dream the action is low and perfect for me.

You could use this guitar for a live performance but you should always have a backup my backup would be another mm1f. I have only had this guitar for 1 month how ever it looks like it is durable if cared for properly

Terrible have emailed OLP twice in regards to the floyd Rose to seek information never got back to me

I love this guitar and would repalce it if it were stolen. I will be buying another 2 of them for my kids and as backup guitars. For the price you should do yourself a favour and buy one of these you wont be disapointed.

Finish- Polyurethane
Floyd rose copy bridge- floating for upbends
wide frets on a maple neck
basswood body with flame maple top
4/2 tuners(no name)
1 vol
2 no name humbuckers
1 pu selector 3 way
22 fret
no case but allen keys supplied
25.5 scale length

Very good unplugged sound,frankly i was amazed,it all seems to work together really well.Better than my 90 reissue explorer costing 5x the amount.It's that good.
Through a korg pandora muti efx the sound is excellent too ,the pu's are not the hottest in the world BUT there is good definition to the sound.
I dont think you should think 'Eddie van halen' because this really is quite versatile and pleasant.

The Transparent gold finish ( amber to the rest of us)is flawless,although a little too orange for my liking,but this is personal thing.The maple is a bit bland (not very figured) but I've seen similar on a real MM axis so no complaint really. The binding is excellent and the overall finish on the whole guitar is excellent. However compared with a nitrocellulose finish it's a bit 'clinical'I can't explain excatly what I mean but if you put this next to a gibson you'd understand.The neck on my mm1fr has a very thin matt polyurethane finish, not as nice as an oiled finish but not sticky like a gloss finish.
Fret ends are good and chinese precision on all the parts is excellent.
The action is a bit high but the neck is comfortable , I have small hands and this neck is really very nice.

I'd play this live no problem.

n/a

I own 7 other guitars from high end makers but I just couldn't stretch to a 'real' MM axis.I always thought 'If i can't have ythe real thing i won't have anything'
Frankly i'm glad I didn't in this case ...Ignore the poor mans OLP logo (why not call it MM junior ' or MM SE ???) and without knowing what this guitar is I'd have certainly paid ??600 rather than the absurdly low price of ??219 including delivery !

I can't fault this guitar and I've REALLY tried.

The guitar being reviewed is a 2005 OLP MM1F:
I am one very lucky individual... my OLP MM1F was a NAMM DEMO (apparently made in SLO)
Mine is a Real Flame Maple Top in Tobacco Sunburst (10+ on top)
Equipped with a Floyd Rose Locking Trem and NUT, with a Full Width Tension Bar, Schaller M6LA Mini Locking Tuners with Pearloid Tuning Heads.
This is 21 frets on a Hard Rock Maple Meck with Matching Headstock...
One volume knob with a 5-way selector and very hot Black and Cream Direct Mount Humbuckers.
Sounds Similar to the Dimarzio's... have not had an opportunity to look at them... but wouldn't be surprised.
The case that i have it in is the EBMM hard shell case and fit it like a glove.
I also have Schaller Strap locks

I use this guitar along side my 1980s ESP Custom Shop Strat as my Main two guitars. I play contemporary Christian Worship/Rock and has never failed me yet.
I am running a Peavey Valve King 412 Half Stack
my Pedal board is as follows:
OLP MM1F into a VOX WAH-WAH, into Rocktron Rampage Distortion, into Vintage Tube Overdrive (IBZ TS), Digitech Digital Delay, Into Rocktron Deep Blue Chorus, into an Acoutsic Modular, into an Ernie Ball Volume Pedal, also mixed in from time to time is a tremolo pedal and an octiver pedal...

With the guitar alone i can go from bright cleans to a very heavy vintage humbucker tone. Amazing... sustain is unmatched. I can get "pinch harmonics" on every fret on every string... simply that good.
add in my effects and you're left with an amazing tone to die for.

The guitar came set-up perfectly action was nice and low creating a very fast, easy to play guitar.
Pick-up height was off by about a milimeter or so but nothing to ding for set-up.
Flame top is flawlessly matched and looks amazing.
The only thing i did to this guitar upon arrival was put new string on... i'm very particular about what i play and set it up with Regular Slinkys by Ernie Ball.

This guitar has been used four times a week for the last year for live "shows" and is still looking and playing like the day i got it.
Before the purchase of this guitar i was using an original 1957 Gibson Les Paul Jr. and this quickly replaced it... because of the versatility it provided.
I always travel with at least 2 back ups no matter what i use... but this guitar has never failed me. and i've never had to go to a back up because of equipment failure...
I have changed to my 80's ESP Custom Shop Strat but that's only because i needed that strat tone and feel... otherwise i wouldn't need to.

N/A

If you're not sure what i think by now... let me tell you!

this is an amazing guitar... only on like it and amazing!

Made in China. 22 Fret maple/maple neck. The website claims "basswood body with real flame top"...you know what, it sure looks like it is! I was fully expecting a laminate top, but it looks like real maple and when I took the neck pickup and trem out, there's no telltale sighs of laminate top...amazing feature in this price range. One volume, on 3-way pickup selector...that's all. Very nice yellowish natural flame top with cream binding on top. The Licsenced Floyd Rose bridge, while one of the big selling points is probably the weak spot on this guitar as it's a typically cheap looking Floyd copy...but set up properly should do the trick. Locknut seems to function well. Comes with trussrod adjusting tool and two allen keys.

The pickups are surprisingly good for this price level. I actually bought this guitar as a home for 2 handwound piuckups I have. These pickups do the Van Halen thing so well I'm seriously considering leaving them in. If you're playing rock to heavy metal these cream/black zebra hiumbucker pickups won't dissapoint.

This is a typical Chinese made guitar. The trem was badly set up, the neck on the first one I picked up had a bad backbow with the truss rod completely loosened...unuseable neck, had to return guitar. Both the first and second guitar had fret ends so sharp, if you play up and down the neck fast a couple of times you better have some bandaids ready! The top on the first one had three significant factory finish flaws too.

The flame tops on both were perfectly bookmatched, hardware on both seemed fine. Neck pickup on 2nd one had bent frame and sat at about a 25 degree angle, easily fixed with vice grips.

Be prepared to buy a fret file and smooth out the fret ends. Also be prepared to either do, or get done a complete setup,

Time will tell, Everything seems very sturdy except for the Liscenced by Floyd Rose trem...this has me a bit worried, but we'll see. As a live guitar, I would have a backup for sure.

Website looks good, haven't had to deal with them yet though.

I've been playing since about 1973 and owned over 50 guitars including some of Gibson & Fenders finest. This guitar, if setup is very playable and sounds really good. At $279.00, with a real maple top, this guitar is an excellent value in my opinion.

If it was lost or stolen...hmm, I'd probably save up and replace it with either a real Axis or a Wolfgang. This is a great value, but I've spent about 3 hours so far getting it right, not including the run around of getting the deffective one replaced...and the bridge still isn't as right as I'd like it...but maybe after a couple hours more work :-) If you like tinkering and setting up, this is the guitar for you. It's GREAT value, but due to the work needed to get it right, I'd almost call this a kit guitar.

I just got this thing from MF. I had a used MM1 a few years back that was beat up, but flawless as a players guitar. I really missed it and bought an MM1 last month, but the quality was really lacking compared to my old one. The trem was totally useless. Totally whacked the tuning.

So I bought the Floyd version.

FR licensed trem with locking nut. REAL flame maple, book matched top, great MM1 pickups, volume and pickup switch.

AWESOME. The MM1 pickups are just fantastic. I asked OLP if I could buy them alone. They said they were designed for the MM1, and that's the only place you can get them.

It would almost be worth it to buy a regular MM1 and take the pickups out and put them in your Les Paul and scrap the rest of the guitar.

Perfect fit and finish. The maple top is fabulous.
The Floyd was adjusted from the factory for 9's. And it seemed to tune up ok for 9's, but when I put 10's on it, all bets were off. I ended up putting five springs on it. It stays in tune for the most part. The bass strings go out just a bit, but not much. Very similar to the Trem on my $900.00 American Stratocaster.

The neck was already set just right. I did not have to do a truss rod adjustment.

Once I dialed it in the Floyd, it was just awesome! no buzz on the frets. Just a high quality feel and looks to this thing. I'm very happy with it.

The guitar itself is great, but the Floyd is not made really tight tolerances. I've already got the idea to replace it with a real Floyd eventually. I may not, but it just seems a bit rickety.

Everything else seems like it will hold up.

Great!!! Todd answers his emails very quick.

I love the flame maple top, I love the Floyd for what it is, I love that it stays in tune, and I love the HOT sound of the pickups.

I have to have another one.. I wish they made blue...

I also wish the floyd was a bit better quality, but I can live with it. For humbuckers, this is THE guitar.