OLP MM3 Five-String Bass | Part Two

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Part One | Part Three

Another MM3 Needs Help

What we have here is an OLP MM3 Five-String Bass Guitar. This is my second encounter with an MM3. The first was way back in 2018, when old pal Awie sent in his for an electronics and shielding upgrade. Back to this MM3, then. Unlike Awie's MM3, this particular instrument has been modified extensively. The body has been hacked to accommodate an ESP neck pickup and modified electronics. These electronics include a three-way toggle switch, two push/pull pots and two tone pots.

Unfortunately for the current owner, the bass does not seem to be working save for an occasional weak signal from the stock Music Man-style humbucker. Heck, the ESP pickup isn't even wired to the circuitry!  After disconnecting the pickups and testing them individually; I was glad to find that both were functioning normally.

Besides these issues, the nut has been shimmed, resulting in extremely high nut action. Fretting a low C or F is extremely uncomfortable. I've taken the MM3 apart and will be addressing each of the identified problems in turn. Meanwhile, for your reference, I've listed the stock specifications of an OLP MM3 below. This should enhance your understanding of just how much this poor bass has been modified. 

 

OLP MM3 Stock Specifications

Country of Origin: China

Finish: Natural

Body: Basswood/Flame Maple Top

Neck: Maple

Neck Shape: C

Scale Length: 34"

Fretboard: Maple

Fretboard Radius: 14"

Frets: 22 Jumbo

Truss Rod: Spoke Wheel

Pickup: Music Man-Style Humbucker

Controls: Inner Coil Volume/Outer Coil Volume/Tone

Hardware: Chrome

Bridge: Top Load/Individual Barrel Saddles

Tuners: 4+1 Open Gear

4+1 Open Gear Tuners

Shimmed Nut

Maple Neck and Fretboard

Basswood Body | Flame Maple Top

Spoke Wheel Truss Rod

Top Load Bridge

OLP Neck Plate

Hacked Body

Pickguard

Stock Music Man-Style Humbucker

ESP Neck Pickup

Modified Electronics