Need Some Help/Advice

The OLP MM-1 has a very standard Strat-type tremolo bridge (bridge costs less than $20). I've played the guitar and find it "serviceable" -meaning that it is simple and has potential if you learn how to keep it in good shape.

First thing: buy a set of new strings and throw the factory ones away. Ernie Ball Regular Slinkys strings would be a good start.

Second: If you find that the bare wood neck gets dirty easily, mask everything besides the back of the neck and spray the neck lightly with clear lacquer (or put some Tung oil on it).

Third: Use a hex-key to adjust the neck angle (truss rod). The distance between the strings and the fretboard needs to be to your taste and no string should buzz.

Fourth: Go online and learn how to intonate your guitar, meaning that new strings and new guitars always are a little odd sounding if the individual bridge pieces haven't been adjusted correctly. Search for INTONATION and it's not hard to learn how to do this.

Fifth: you can later exchange the bridge for something better. In the beginning, I would even "block" the tremolo: put a small block of wood in the tremolo cavity, so as to disable the tremolo, because it will be the major reason why this guitar goes out of tune quickly.

If you buy this instrument in a store, you might be able to have a service person do all these easy, essential setups for you at no charge. And if you ever have more to spend, you'll have the OLP as a backup. Don't worry abot the "missing" tone control -your amp has plenty of adjustments. Have fun!

Hi que 552, first off the tone control won't matter if all you want to play is modern metal, that style tone is up high always,  but if you want to get jazzy bluesy you'll want one, pots are worth pennies so keep looking around.

Second your amp, how about dropping to the pocket pod and running it through headphones or the hi-fi (headphone to phono adaptors is most Maplin stores).

Let us know the style you'll want to play and we can narrow you down more. There are lots of good cheap instruments out there but unfortunately they are mixed in with alot of bad cheap instruments. Have you tried out the OLP in person? Have you had a good look round the shops near you. There's usually a bargain in most shops, particularly this time of year. Even the hugely expensive Peach guitars in Essex had a couple of LAG Jets by the door (one no doubt hugely reduced due to a pastel orange top colour!).

Even a trip out where you don't buy anything is worth it if you are new to electric. Part of the buying process is working out what you don't want. Even just lifting a guitar out of the rack and holding it lightly can give you an impression (Like if when you heft it your shoulder dislocates, or when hold it you immediately feel sharp edges).

Once you've found something you wouldn't mind swinging around ask to plug in. Listen to the basic sound, work the tone and volume, work the switch, listen for pops and crackles. Beware any shop that gives you an amp on the overdrive channel they may be trying to cover a poor tone with distortion.

Don't be afraid to put the guitar back, just let them know it was a bit jangly or a bit muddy, whatever your impression was. Usually the guitar you were most of comfortable with will come to you when you are back home not thinking about guitars. Beware checking out guitars in shops then ordering them online. Finish can vary year to year. Don't get hung up on OLP, there are many quality cheap makers.

Ideally look for a SSH strat or a double humbucker with coil tap to get a Dave Gilmour sound, although my Behringer Vamp2 (similar to Line6's pods) has a preset called Crazy Diamond that will make anything sound like Pink Floyd ;-)

it used to be that way but pawn shops now days have the price catalogs and they know the value of the instruments  and theres also the internet and im sure most of them can put two and two together  it used to be like you said

I think you're going to be shocked at how loud a 15 watt amp really is when it's sitting in your living room.

Well, I'm a proponent of tube amps, so for any amp that's not a tube, my answer is "Not as good as a comparable tube amp."  Watt for watt, a tube is going to be louder, and sound better at high volumes than a solid state amp.  You can pick up a 10 or 12 watt tube for about the same price as the Spider III.

Having said that, I do like the Line6 product lines in general.  Every Line 6 gizmo I've dealt with has been pretty well made and rugged, and while no modeling amp sounds as good as a tube, their amps do sound good.   The do modeling really well, so I don't think you'll have any problem with this amp.

What attracted me to this amp:

100 bucks: I can live with that.
15 watts:    I don't need a "gigging" amp
4 pre-programed channels
and 4 that I can toy with.

I found it to have a wide range of versatility for my needs.

Like I said I convinced the wife to let me go with a bit more costly guitar.

Been to about 10 guitar shops over the past week. Well I just came back from Guitar Center today with guitar and amp in hand.  I am very excited. I am however displeased with the service of Guitar Center. I asked does that include a setup, action intonation ect, they said YES. So I picked the guitar I wanted handed it to the guy while he was "looking" over it, had a few wrenches out and stuck em in and I went to go look at some other things while he "set it up." I thought he set it up, when I got home I started to play it and WOW something was very very wrong with it, not wanting to drive 3 hours to go back and say what the heck. I took it to one of my dads old friends that has a local guitar shop. He started laughing and said where did you get this? I told him he simply said no wonder, and spent about 30 miinutes giving it a good old tune-up. So I guess when that guy real;y was just "LOOKING" at it.

But anyway I am very happy with it and hope to be playing for years to come.

To everyone, Thank You for all the great help and advice.

Sorry it took so long to respond, been busy PLAYING!!

I got a new Mexican Strat, and a Line 6 Spider III 15w.

I LOVE IT.

Was going to look into used and the only 1/2 good used one I came across was an American and was $800  O.o   No thanks