Well, I got the T 40 strung up and ready for me to make it sound horrible!
I also had to move the bridge 3/32 to the G string side. It was mounted correctly in the notch and the ferrules all lined up, but after checking the neck pocket and pickup alignment with the bridge it was clear the bridge was set too far to the E string side. All the routings and ferrule holes were spot on, everything lined up precisely, except the whole thing was too far off center. And even in the photos below, the angle the seller took the pictures from should favor the bass looking more like it should alignment wise. But if you look, it really does not.
I was faced with either moving the bridge or letting the E string ride the edge of the neck towards the body. I moved the bridge!
1 - you can kind of see it here, it kind of looks like it even with the angle of the photo but I made some close ups (to follow)
2 - you can see a little better how close the E string is to the edge of the neck and how the bridge sits off center from the pups
3 - closer still from the neck pup and fretboard. Even with the angle of the bass you can see how the E string is pretty much even with the end of the blades on the pups and distant on the G string side
4 - closeup from the bridge. Notice how the bridge is set closer to the E string than the G. The bridge was about 1/32 from being flush with the end of the pickups on the G string side.
I have never seen an early American Peavey with this kind of alignment. Hell I have never seen any Peavey bass like this. And for the neck pocket purists, the pocket is a scant 32nd wider than the neck heel (I don't care about that part though) However, I am surprised it got out of the factory like this. But it was no thang for me to pull the bridge, plug the holes and relocate the bridge. Fortunately the oval route for the strings to pass through the body was just wide enough that the bridge could slide over far enough without breaking out the router. I did slightly enlarge the holes from the bridge rout to about 1/2 way to the ferrules so the strings would not bind or be restricted in any way.
And after all this and having the neck and bridge off the bass I suspect all this adds to the idea that this bass sat in the case, in a closet for decades. The fretboard and frets barely have any wear and the same for the pickguard.
It is too late to let er rip through the amp right now, but tomorrow I will re check the tuning and intonation and give himself a run. I can hardly wait to hear it's roar to life with the Chromes! I will add some after pics in the T 40 thread tomorrow...and yes this bass is still a beauty to behold!
I also got mine for a very fair price, although mine will be white. It will actually be my first T-40 and I'm looking forward to it. Kudos!
