U.S. Peavey Club Part 5

[NicJimBass]

Head's-up ya'll- there's an Axcelerator 6 on the GC used site. Looks cool, but I'm out of cash ATM. Someone grab it and give it some love!

[mark beem]

A tuner on one of my TL-5s is slipping. Can't tune the string.. For those in the know, would these be a direct replacement for the stock Peavey tuners?

http://www.bestbassgear.com/gotoh-sealed-tuners.htm

[mech]

Originally Posted by mark beem

A tuner on one of my TL-5s is slipping. Can't tune the string.. For those in the know, would these be a direct replacement for the stock Peavey tuners?

http://www.bestbassgear.com/gotoh-sealed-tuners.htm

Yep. I've used several brands of the "Gotoh" style that fit fine.

mech

Edit: I recently had a string that would slip and go flat while playing. Upon removing the string from the tuner, the wraps of the string were broken at the bend where it goes in the tuner so only the core was supporting the tension. Checked the other strings and found one more that was in the process of doing the same. I'd check that before ordering a tuner. FWIW...the most common (although it's uncommon) failure of a mini tuner is for the "nub" on the post that goes into the gear to break. This normally leads to the string going immediately slack.

[mark beem]

Originally Posted by mech

Yep. I've used several brands of the "Gotoh" style that fit fine.

mech

Edit: I recently had a string that would slip and go flat while playing. Upon removing the string from the tuner, the wraps of the string were broken at the bend where it goes in the tuner so only the core was supporting the tension. Checked the other strings and found one more that was in the process of doing the same. I'd check that before ordering a tuner. FWIW...the most common (although it's uncommon) failure of a mini tuner is for the "nub" on the post that goes into the gear to break. This normally leads to the string going immediately slack.

Thanks mech. This doesn't seem to be the case however. While turning the key I can see the shaft rotating but after appox. 5° of movement the entire shaft slips back to the starting position.

[mech]

Originally Posted by mark beem

Thanks mech. This doesn't seem to be the case however. While turning the key I can see the shaft rotating but after appox. 5° of movement the entire shaft slips back to the starting position.

It's broke. If you dissect it I'd be interested in the failure mode. The aluminum disc covering the gear can be pried off but can't be reused. Drill a small hole and pry it out with a small screwdriver. The nub on the post that goes in the gear probably broke off.

mech

[MTMTEX]

I for one will be contacting Hartley about outsourcing poor quality components.

What the? No smiley face option on my phone??!

[CrewsControl]

I put black hardware from a Dynabass 2000 5-string on a early 1993 Foundation 5 with the super ferrites, which is really cool because it's all black with a maple neck and DR Black Beauty strings.

Unfortunately, my smallest allen key (1/16") is not small enough to adjust the saddle height. Anybody know what size I need for these saddles, and where to get one that small? I've not had this problem with any other Peavey saddle. Either the 1/16" or the 3/32" fits the tiny allen socket.

[mech]

Originally Posted by CrewsControl

I put black hardware from a Dynabass 2000 5-string on a early 1993 Foundation 5 with the super ferrites, which is really cool because it's all black with a maple neck and DR Black Beauty strings.

Unfortunately, my smallest allen key (1/16") is not small enough to adjust the saddle height. Anybody know what size I need for these saddles, and where to get one that small? I've not had this problem with any other Peavey saddle. Either the 1/16" or the 3/32" fits the tiny allen socket.

I believe it's a 1.5mm (about .059"). I don't have my calipers handy. A long time ago I took a 1/16 Allen wrench and lightly filed all 6 sides on one end till it fit. That way I didn't have to have both sizes in my kit.

mech

[smcd]

Here are photos of my fretless TL-5. If you look at it with the naked eye, it looks like phenolic resin fretboard. But looking at it with a camera flash close up, damn... maybe it's rosewood? I don't know, maybe it's because the board's so highly polished. In the photos you can see the reflection of the strings on the board.

[mark beem]

Hmmmm that's not the standard issue board.. The TL-5s had the oval inlays.

[smcd]

Fretless basses don't usually have inlays, in my experience. Which makes me think this is a factory fretless. I mean... who would drop the money to replace the entire board?? But then again, this is the only fretless TL-5 I've ever seen, so I have nothing to base it on.

[mark beem]

Originally Posted by smcd

Fretless basses don't usually have inlays, in my experience. Which makes me think this is a factory fretless. I mean... who would drop the money to replace the entire board?? But then again, this is the only fretless TL-5 I've ever seen, so I have nothing to base it on.

Yeah that was my point.. Doesn't look like someone simply defretted it..

Interesting.. I suppose there could have been a one-off custom build fretless. I'm like you, this is the only one I've ever seen. Have you tried contacting Peavey with the serial number to see if they had any info on it?

[smcd]

Originally Posted by mark beem

Yeah that was my point.. Doesn't look like someone simply defretted it..

Interesting.. I suppose there could have been a one-off custom build fretless. I'm like you, this is the only one I've ever seen. Have you tried contacting Peavey with the serial number to see if they had any info on it?

Never contacted Peavey on this. If I do, I'll have to send them belated congratulations on what a nice bass it is.

[mark beem]

Originally Posted by smcd

Never contacted Peavey on this. If I do, I'll have to send them belated congratulations on what a nice bass it is.

Its frettted brother appears to be on Ebay at the moment..

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Near-Mint-Pe...item27cdd79d49

[mech]

Originally Posted by smcd

Here are photos of my fretless TL-5. If you look at it with the naked eye, it looks like phenolic resin fretboard. But looking at it with a camera flash close up, damn... maybe it's rosewood? I don't know, maybe it's because the board's so highly polished. In the photos you can see the reflection of the strings on the board.

Definitely started life as a first gen.

If it's a factory fretless, it could be an ebony board, which was standard, that was highly polished. I've seen a few Peavey ebony boards (TL-5, Sarzo) from that era that show almost no grain and they weren't polished.

The active/passive switch has also been removed and the hole is plugged. Probably wired active only. Be interesting to know if it's a stock pre or a Bart.

Nice PU rings that look like painted metal that were made to fit the Barts and the SF ring mounting pattern.

I also don't recognize the knobs as anything used by Peavey.

I'll have to go with it being non-factory de-fret but great looking work by someone who knew what they were doing.

mech

[smcd]

Originally Posted by mark beem

Its frettted brother appears to be on Ebay at the moment..

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Near-Mint-Pe...item27cdd79d49

Wow. Twin brother, almost!

[mark beem]

I found another!

http://www.bassmarkt.de/bassanzeige....erkaufen-39695

Wow!

[smcd]

Originally Posted by mech

Definitely started life as a first gen.

If it's a factory fretless, it could be an ebony board, which was standard, that was highly polished. I've seen a few Peavey ebony boards (TL-5, Sarzo) from that era that show almost no grain and they weren't polished.

The active/passive switch has also been removed and the hole is plugged. Probably wired active only. Be interesting to know if it's a stock pre or a Bart.

Nice PU rings that look like painted metal that were made to fit the Barts and the SF ring mounting pattern.

I also don't recognize the knobs as anything used by Peavey.

I'll have to go with it being non-factory de-fret but great looking work by someone who knew what they were doing.

mech

I never looked to see what type of pre-amp is in there. I'll do that tonight. Funny thing, the stock battery cover - which is broken on 9 out of 10 TL-5's - is still intact.

Definitely was a 1st gen TL-5. Personally I wouldn't have swapped the Super Ferrites for the Bart's, but I have to congratulate the guy who did this, as it sounds like a million bucks.

As mark beem pointed out, this board has no inlays, which seriously makes me wonder whether this is a de-fret. In order to make this as it is, they'd have to remove and replace the fingerboard. Which seems like a TON of work to put into a bass at this price level.

[Templar]

Don't see why it wouldn't be ebony, but it definitely aint rosewood.

[smcd]

Originally Posted by mark beem

I found another!

http://www.bassmarkt.de/bassanzeige....erkaufen-39695

Wow!

How about that!? I wish there were more photos.