The Peavey T-60 and T-40 story, as told by Chip Todd.

[Flat Eric]

As I am a big fan of the T's, I have documented a great
deal about them, over the last 5 or 6 years but this
feature is different, this one has a lot of input from
Chip Todd, who very kindly agreed to help me with
this feature.



Before the T Series, guitars were made in a more
traditional way - it was Peavey who pioneered the
use if duplicating machines, the sort of thing to make
thousands of gun stocks all the same and was also the
first company to make guitars with the new CNC
technology - along with several other firsts, which
Chip goes into a lot of detail about.

This was a guitar that was proudly Made in the USA
and both guitar and bass are truly great instruments
but seem to have been passed over for more
"fashionable" instruments, over the years but are now
finding many fans, who either fancy something a little
different, both in looks and performance or who no
longer wish to follow the herd.

I have found what he has said to be very interesting
and there is plenty more to come.

Being in a Blog format, the story goes backwards,
so click here and then scroll down to October 16th
- read that one, then scroll up to the next, until
you get to the latest entry.

http://flatericbassandguitar.blogspot.co.uk/

I you have any questions, drop them on here and I
will add them to the list for Chip.

Cheers.

[MNAirHead]

A set of tenured hands on a t60 is blissful

[lug]

Notice how the outline goes around the truss rod cap? That's another way of telling a very early model (Chip said they quit doing that very early because the assemblers complained that it was harder to get right and slowed them down.


One of the Zero models (Chip says there were 10 made as demos). I bought this from a friend several years back. One of my happier purchases. A bit banged up compared to my original, but still quite servicable


My original (one of the 6 digits mentioned in the article). Bought this new. I think it was the first one to sell in the Houston area. I had gotten to play an original demo when they first when out and fell instantly in love!

[spiritbass]

I believe it was 1980 when I was at the factory and laid eyes on the furniture making machine that Hartley and crew had adapted for computer control making quite a few neck simultaneously. He also had some computer controled painting/finishing stations going. It was cool to see innovation in process...

[KeithAlanK]

Thanks for the heads-up, Flat Eric.
This article is a fun and informative read, and I look forward to future installments as well as going back into your earlier blog posts.

[Calaverasgrande]

nice!
Makes me want to pick up a T40 again.
Will there be any justification given for how heavy they are?
Is dense heavy wood more conducive to machining?
Not that I'm a wimp, but the T40 is the only bass that ever felt heavy to me.

[lug]

Originally Posted by Calaverasgrande

nice!
Makes me want to pick up a T40 again.
Will there be any justification given for how heavy they are?
Is dense heavy wood more conducive to machining?
Not that I'm a wimp, but the T40 is the only bass that ever felt heavy to me.

Chip once said that it was only because of Hartley's insistence. The idea of heavier guitars having better tone/sustain was very big at the time.

[cdef]

Originally Posted by lug

...

My original (one of the 6 digits mentioned in the article). Bought this new. I think it was the first one to sell in the Houston area. I had gotten to play an original demo when they first when out and fell instantly in love!

]
Here's mine, off of eBay a few years ago. I've assumed it's a '78.

[Webtroll]

Originally Posted by lug

Chip once said that it was only because of Hartley's insistence. The idea of heavier guitars having better tone/sustain was very big at the time.

That's what everyone's reasoning was back then; Fenders got heavier, Les Pauls weighed a ton. There's also an extra part of the bass bridge where a mute system was going to be but was left out, the bridge plate still has the space for it if you look.

[mjac28]

Great information thanks I have a T-45 and it is one of the best sounding basses I've ever played I'm always on the look out for a T-40 love those basses.

[RandyMolson]

Hat's off to Chip, Flat Eric and the posters to this thread for chronicling the history of the T. I love to hear how these designs came together.

[Flat Eric]

Hi all.

Nice to see your input.
Lug - you have a couple of rarities there!!!

You and CDEF have six digit serials that are less than
mine and if you refer to the blog again, have a look at
the pic of the pots - mine are "Flat Topped" and dated
1977 - yours may have the same type of pots.
Have a look at your tuners, see if they are slightly
different - as shown in my pics.

I will be covering the choice of timber and the weight
in another post.

If anyone has any questions about the T-40 or T-60,
that you have not seen covered before, let me know
and if interesting, I will cover the answers in the blog.

Cheers.

[96tbird]

Truly pretty basses. I wish I had bought my buddy's back in about 84 when he wanted 100 bucks. At the time I thought it looked too "country", lol. Kids. It had the pinstripe, natural. Olive the SB tho'.

[pocketgroove]

I saw a black and maple one at the local trade center about two years ago for $250, and I didn't know anything about them so I thought it was too much and passed. Now, with them going for $450, a really regret it.

[lug]

Another way to tell a very early model is if it has one of these original style cases with the copper colored interior. They weren't around very long...

[lug]

Originally Posted by Flat Eric

Hi all.

Nice to see your input.
Lug - you have a couple of rarities there!!!

You and CDEF have six digit serials that are less than
mine and if you refer to the blog again, have a look at
the pic of the pots - mine are "Flat Topped" and dated
1977 - yours may have the same type of pots.
Have a look at your tuners, see if they are slightly
different - as shown in my pics.

I will be covering the choice of timber and the weight
in another post.

If anyone has any questions about the T-40 or T-60,
that you have not seen covered before, let me know
and if interesting, I will cover the answers in the blog.

Cheers.

Tuners look the same yours, unfortunately, don't have any pics of my pots.

[tkozal]

Interesting stuff. My first new bass was a T-40. Must have been 1980 or so. The Fenders I tried were crapola, and the guys at I think Midtown Music in Omaha recommended the T-40. Mine has the non-contoured body, and the wedge like case. When did they start contouring the bodies?

I will have to dig mine out of storage and check the serial number.

[Flat Eric]

Next part of the Peavey T-60 T-40 Story, is up now.

http://flatericbassandguitar.blogspot.co.uk/



Any questions you may have, that have not been covered
before, stick them up on here and I will try and answer
them in the next post.

Cheers.

[lug]

Love it, good work!

[MTMTEX]

How about a picture of the man himself, in his last shop before retiring to Corpus Christi Texas, working on shall we say a slightly lighter T60?