• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join freeLog in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Peavey T-40

I am very interested in the Peavey T-40, I have been looking at a 1980 model. Could anybody post some sounds clips and info for me? thanks -Andy

Sorry - no sound clips, but as a former T-40 owner I can say that you will not be dissapointed....I am sure sone sound clips will show up.....there is a very wide range of sounds that can be produced by one....
 
Hi guys, whats the price rate for a T-40??? I was thinking buying one but i didn't since I though it wasn't good . .. but reading this i saw I wsa wrong. I'm getting one for 267 USD ( to me depends on the exchange type since I'm mexican. thanks for the tips.

I've had my T-40 for 24 years and I always seem to go back to it. It is as versatile as the others have said, but is ideally suited for fat funk. Yeah, it's heavy and well built too. The price you'd be paying (267USD) is about average for eBay, so you're right on the money there.

I've actually seen them go for about $500, but that's rare. I say get one. You'll like it. Do some shoulder shugs to prepare yourself for the weight!

B5
 
Peavey T-40 was the first bass I ever played, back around 1985-1986, I played one in my high school jazz band. The thing I remember the most is that the case didn't have a handle (it belonged to my school) so someone had rigged a shoestring there to carry it. This led to a cool nickname ("Shoestring") but the weight of the bass plus the weight of the case -- all distributed on a shoestring handle...man, it makes my hand hurt just thinking about having to carry that thing around!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Dave Neal
T-40 info: Alot of folks seem to be asking about T-40 these days. I love T-40's and so I'm compiling this. T-40 owners let me know if you think of anything that should be added.

Everything you wanted to know about the T-40 bass:

Tone-Very Versatile, but still has a tone all it's own. Can achieve one of the best pseudo-ric tones of any non rickenbacker instrument.

Bodies-VERY heavy ash or Alder bodies, usually made of at least 4 pieces of wood. Early natural finish bodies have a thin satin finish that is much easier to wear and dent than later solid and sunburst models.

Pickups-Early models '77-'82or'83 had covered blade humbucking pickups. Later models had the blades exposed. There is some debate as to whether or not this makes for a "warmer sound" having the blades covered. Likely its more dependent on pickup hight.

Construction- Made in the USA, T-40's tend to be very consistent, well built basses. First bass ever made on CNC routing machines. Changed the way basses were made.

Neck- Gloss finished "biaminate" maple neck (two pieces of opposing grain maple) is very stable, but sometimes not particularly attractive. No separate fingerboard on maple board models. Some necks have a rosewood fingerboard. T-40's have a neck tilt feature similar to 70's fenders, but with 4 bolt necks. String width and neck profile is comparable to a chunky Precision bass.

Nut-Has a metal nut

Hardware -Sturdy, sometimes oversized chrome hardware. bridge has a sustain block and through body stringing only. Tuners are similar to Grover Titan's. Knobs, bridge and neck plate have "Peavey" or the Peavey "P" embosed over a black background.

Controls- Two switches, a three way selector switch and "mystery" phase switch. Four knobs, volume and tone for each pickup.

Single coil options-Tone knob switches from humbucker to single coil at the "7" position.

Mystery Switch-Second "mystery" switch is an in-phase/out-of-phase switch that only works when both pickups are on. Brings a nasally honking sound to the bass.

History- Designed by Chip Todd, manufactured from 1977-1987. The T-40 and it's guitar counterpart the t-60 were the first guitars manufactured by Peavey.

Dating- Peavey has a forum where you can post your serial# and get the year of manufacture in a couple of days.

Going rate- Last time I did an ebay completed auctions search (march 2007), they were averaging between 250 and 350 (with a few cheaper and more expensive) depending on condition, case, etc.

Related instruments- The t-40 the bass counterpart to the T-60 guitar. A single pickup version of the T-40 was also manufactured, called the T-45. The T-45 is similar, but lacks a pickguard and phase switch, and has a passive "special mid-
frequency rollof control"

Truss rod adjustment- requires a hex wrench that can still be purchased from peavey.

Owners Manual- available for download here: http://www.peaveyt60.com/images/Peavey T-60.pdf

Wiring diagram - http://www.peaveyt60.com/mods&hotrodding.htm

Modifications - T-40 is one of the few basses that Darkstar pickups can be fitted to without any additional routing. Some owners have experimented with various means of lightening the bodies.

Case- T-40's came with a fitted plastic hardshell case. Some early examples may or may not have come with a very heavy tolex case, or a plastic case similar to the Fender style.

Promotional materiels- All the T-60 materiel here are also features the T-40. http://www.peaveyt60.com/t-60_brochures.htm

Websites: http://www.peaveyt60.com/t-60_articles.htm has schmatics (same as T-60) info about chip todd, and early Peavey instruments, and some informative articles. Also, check the Peavey website for owners manual and related information on their forums.
 
gc5ra85ih2.jpg

I post this because I'm shy.
:D
 
How did you get that?

Is that gold hardware?

Details, Details!

All zeros. Hardware isn't gold, just crappy picxturephone camara. Bought it off a friend of mine over on Ebassist who grabbed it off of Ebay last year. I actually played this back in 76 or 77 when they were shipping it around as a demo, bought serial number 31 although it has a "2" as the first digit i.e "2000031". I think the "2" meant the 2nd production line (1rst probably being the T-60's) but am not sure. There are rumors of other pre-production all zero necks but they are supposed to have a decimal point in the number, this one doesn't.
 
T-40 info: Alot of folks seem to be asking about T-40 these days. I love T-40's and so I'm compiling this. T-40 owners let me know if you think of anything that should be added.

Everything you wanted to know about the T-40 bass:

Tone-Very Versatile, but still has a tone all it's own. Can achieve one of the best pseudo-ric tones of any non rickenbacker instrument.

Bodies-VERY heavy ash or Alder bodies, usually made of at least 4 pieces of wood. Early natural finish bodies have a thin satin finish that is much easier to wear and dent than later solid and sunburst models.

Pickups-Early models '77-'82or'83 had covered blade humbucking pickups. Later models had the blades exposed. There is some debate as to whether or not this makes for a "warmer sound" having the blades covered. Likely its more dependent on pickup hight.

Construction- Made in the USA, T-40's tend to be very consistent, well built basses. First bass ever made on CNC routing machines. Changed the way basses were made.

Neck- Gloss finished "biaminate" maple neck (two pieces of opposing grain maple) is very stable, but sometimes not particularly attractive. No separate fingerboard on maple board models. Some necks have a rosewood fingerboard. T-40's have a neck tilt feature similar to 70's fenders, but with 4 bolt necks.

Nut-Has a metal nut

Hardware -Sturdy, sometimes oversized chrome hardware. bridge has a sustain block and through body stringing only. Tuners are similar to Grover Titan's. Knobs, bridge and neck plate have "Peavey" or the Peavey "P" embosed over a black background.

Controls- Two switches, a three way selector switch and "mystery" phase switch. Four knobs, volume and tone for each pickup.

Single coil options-Tone knob switches from humbucker to single coil at the "7" position.

Mystery Switch-Second "mystery" switch is an in-phase/out-of-phase switch that only works when both pickups are on. Brings a nasally honking sound to the bass.

History- Designed by Chip Todd, manufactured from 1977-1987. The T-40 and it's guitar counterpart the t-60 were the first guitars manufactured by Peavey.

Dating- Peavey has a forum where you can post your serial# and get the year of manufacture in a couple of days.

Going rate- Last time I did an ebay completed auctions search (march 2007), they were averaging between 250 and 350 (with a few cheaper and more expensive) depending on condition, case, etc.

Related instruments- The t-40 the bass counterpart to the T-60 guitar. A single pickup version of the T-40 was also manufactured, called the T-45. The T-45 is similar, but lacks a pickguard and phase switch, and has a passive "special mid-
frequency rollof control"

Truss rod adjustment- requires a hex wrench that can still be purchased from peavey.

Owners Manual- available for download here: http://www.peaveyt60.com/images/Peavey T-60.pdf

Wiring diagram - http://www.peaveyt60.com/mods&hotrodding.htm

Modifications - T-40 is one of the few basses that Darkstar pickups can be fitted to without any additional routing. Some owners have experimented with various means of lightening the bodies.

Case- T-40's came with a fitted plastic hardshell case. Some early examples may or may not have come with a very heavy tolex case, or a plastic case similar to the Fender style.

Promotional materiels- All the T-60 materiel here are also features the T-40. http://www.peaveyt60.com/t-60_brochures.htm

Websites: http://www.peaveyt60.com/t-60_articles.htm has schmatics (same as T-60) info about chip todd, and early Peavey instruments, and some informative articles. Also, check the Peavey website for owners manual and related information on their forums.

Eilif: EXCELLENT summary! mine was black and the finish was like metal....very hard to damage.....weighed a ton as well....
 
Wow, what memories...the massive T-40 was my first "bought" bass in 1980. When I look back at how much fun I had with that bass, it really reinforces why I play music. It was fun, funky and fundamentally sound...I wish I still had it. Fortunately, I do still have it's little brother, the t-60 guitar.
 
Wow, what memories...the massive T-40 was my first "bought" bass in 1980. When I look back at how much fun I had with that bass, it really reinforces why I play music. It was fun, funky and fundamentally sound...I wish I still had it. Fortunately, I do still have it's little brother, the t-60 guitar.

There is also a fanatical following for the T-60 that rivals the T-40 lovers out there. :hyper: