The "Tony Levin" Model Bass
A few years ago, OLP introduced the Tony Levin model bass. I was intrigued by Tony’s comments about the planning and design of this instrument, and was in the market for an affordable fretted 5 string so I ordered one from a local dealer. In the two years I’ve owned it, I’m happy to report I’ve really enjoyed this instrument. It has been solidly performing on all my gigs with The Preons, and sounds great on my various recording projects. This is the only fretted bass I currently own; my other basses are a fretless Warwick Corvette and a fretless P-Bass.
The Tony Levin model is based on a 5 string Music Man Stingray, but this model has a slightly narrower neck profile. OLP produces these instruments in China under license from Ernie Ball / Music Man. It’s not a Stingray, but it’s a decent instrument and is a very good value. To get an appreciably better bass, you’d need to spend a lot more than the $349 suggested list price (a 5 string Stingray is priced at about $1,000 more than the OLP version). In my limited email interactions with OLP, they’ve been responsive and helpful. One a scale of 1 to 10, this instrument rates an 8.5 from me. It’s a great balance of value and features.
Here are the vitals on this bass:
- 5 strings
- 34″ scale
- Quilted maple top and matching headstock overlay
- Passive humbucking pickup
- 3 band EQ
The pickup sounds good, and with the active EQ it’s easy to dial in nice tones. The instrument’s control cavity isn’t shielded, so it was a little susceptible to hum when I first got it. Addressing this issue is a time-consuming but inexpensive chore. Copper foil can be challenging to work with; it needs to be carefully folded to overlap adjacent strips and in the process of applying it you’re almost certain to wind up with numerous tiny cuts on your fingertips. Music is occasionally worth bleeding for…
The 34 inch scale on this bass is great for me. I’m not all that big, so this is a good neck length that sits comfortably and nicely balanced on the strap. One down side of the shorter scale is that the low B string doesn’t have a lot of tension. It can get a little flappy sounding unless carefully plucked. Overall string spacing seems slightly narrower than a Stingray. It’s fairly easy to coax a solid slap or thumbed tone but you need a well-practiced targeting system in your right hand. Tapped tones are good, and balance pretty well against conventional playing.
Aside from minor neck adjustments, this bass has been maintenance-free. I replace the battery every couple of months just to be on the safe side. Here’s a handy tip: take a silver Sharpie and write the current date on the battery before you install it. That way you’ll never have to guess when you last did it.