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I think I found my holy grail and its a...

gm2_in_co

gm2_in_co

Sep 6, 2007
660
25
70
Fort Collins, Colorado USA
#1
Peavey T-40???!!!

I could have bought one brand new when they came out. Yes I was there when dinosaurs roamed the land. But as I recall at the time I disdained to even pick one up.

And now because I thought I saw a relatively unscathed example going for less than market on ebay, I took the plunge. Granted, I've only played it through headphones so far, but even with the corroded round wounds it arrived with, it has the sound. I can't tell that half the controls are doing anything but... it has THE SOUND.

My god is it heavy! I'd heard all that chatter about weight and dismissed it. "Yeah, yeah. I play a maple Ripper. Whatever." But let me tell you ladies and gents, this thing makes the Ripper seem like a hollow body. Let me say it once again though: IT HAS THE SOUND.

Momentarily at least, my quest for the Darkstar is abated and I've found my resting place. A Peavey T-40.
 
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#4
5StringBlues said:
But how does it sound?
Click to expand...

Maybe just a hint of growl but a very deep, deep voice without even a hint of boominess or bloom. What sets it apart from many of the big, deep sounding basses that I've owned and played is the attack. There is NO mush. Definitive without the clickiness of Musicman. Authoritative. (If I'm understanding the manual, I've quickly settled in on both pickups full on in single coil mode. Though again, it doesn't seem like many of the controls are doing anything at all.)

I'll be VERY curious now to play the T-40 out to see if that attack can hold up in a band setting. Things always sound different in the real world.
 
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#5
I did the same thing when they came out gm2.Wouldn't even look at them,they just didn't look as "cool" as the Fenders or even the Gibson Grabber\Ripper in my mind.


Fast forward twenty years,a friend brought one to a jam.A whole lot of good tones in those basses.I was knocked out!



Might want to have those pots checked out.IIRC,the T-40 had a bunch of small variations in tone depending on how you set the knobs.
 
#6
gm2_in_co said:
Maybe just a hint of growl but a very deep, deep voice without even a hint of boominess or bloom. What sets it apart from many of the big, deep sounding basses that I've owned and played is the attack. There is NO mush. Definitive without the clickiness of Musicman. Authoritative. (If I'm understanding the manual, I've quickly settled in on both pickups full on in single coil mode. Though again, it doesn't seem like many of the controls are doing anything at all.)

I'll be VERY curious now to play the T-40 out to see if that attack can hold up in a band setting. Things always sound different in the real world.
Click to expand...

I just love the attack that a T-40 delivers. It is one of those passive basses that I rather plug into the active bass channel of my amp then just the passive ... it is loud and agressive and yes, it delivers it in the real world in a (hardcore)band setting :bassist:
 
#8
Glad to see a new T-40 fan! I love my '79, but it's in such nice shape I tended to leave it at home. However, I brought it to the last two gigs, and it had me wondering why I ever stopped gigging with it. I think you're dead on about the sound. It's definitely authoratative and punchy without being trebly/clacky. I like the boom, so I tend to go with both pickups on humbucker, but one of the charms of the T-40 is it's versatility.

I have a frankenstein decade-wana-be with a pair of darkstars in similar positions to the t-40, and that's another tone that I love, but the t-40 holds it's own, in it's own way. If you want more general info about t-40's, check the link in my sig.

And the inevitable new T-40 questions...
What year is your T-40?
Is it a toaster or a blade model?
Got any pictures?
 
#9
Hey all,

Don't want to hijack, but I have a quick question for you T-40 owners:

Strings. what are you using?
I replaced the DR Lowriders on my '81 (bladed) T-40 with EB Group II Flats, and I hate the feel and the sound (and the price). I'm either going to put DR's back on or take some suggestions.
I play mostly rock through an SWR LA15 or Peavey TNT130 practice amps.

I love this bass (and my '89 Fury) - Peavey stuff is awesome
Thanks,
Steve
 
#10
What type of rock tone are you going for? I've never put flats on mine, but I like a rather round rock/country sound, so I go with Fender original bass pure nickel or Rotosound pure nickel rounds. I like the way they warm up after a week of playing, but I can still get enough bite by moving to the single coil mode when necessary.

It's not a real Hi-Fi sound, but it's the sound I like, and that the strings are fairly cheap is a nice bonus.
 
#12
Eilif said:
If you want more general info about t-40's, check the link in my sig.

And the inevitable new T-40 questions...
What year is your T-40?
Is it a toaster or a blade model?
Got any pictures?
Click to expand...

Your link/resource it great! I'll definitely contribute if I come up with anything new. One of my priorities will be relining the case as right now there is a plastic trash bag protecting the bass from the sticky foam. Maybe I'll post on that. :)

And the answers to the questions: I don't know what year it is. Your resource link was down right now. Serial number is 01221695 if anyone can tell just from that.

Toaster or blade? Not really sure I'm understanding the visual distinction but my obvious guess is "blade." From the tonal descriptions, I'm guessing if my love affair continues, I'll be questing a "toaster" version at some point.

Pictures:
IMG_0539.jpg

IMG_0546.jpg

IMG_0549.jpg

IMG_0552.jpg
 
#13
ack said:
Hey all,

Don't want to hijack, but I have a quick question for you T-40 owners:

Strings. what are you using?
I replaced the DR Lowriders on my '81 (bladed) T-40 with EB Group II Flats, and I hate the feel and the sound (and the price). I'm either going to put DR's back on or take some suggestions.
I play mostly rock through an SWR LA15 or Peavey TNT130 practice amps.

I love this bass (and my '89 Fury) - Peavey stuff is awesome
Thanks,
Steve
Click to expand...

Yeah, I'm debating strings too so its not a total hijack. ;) Like I said, the strings it came with are rusty/corroded. My goto strings are TI Jazz Flats, but I'm not feeling those for this bass. I'm normally a flats guy, but the primary overtone comes through so well already on this guy, I'm not sure I want to emphasize it even more. Though a round wound without rust might start getting "chimey" even on this bass. I'm kinda leaning to trying D'Addario Chromes as a cheap dip into that flats gene pool. I'd love to put LaBella Deep Talkin's on him but there is that whole neck through business with LaBella's which is a PIA!
 
#15
macribas said:
Glad to hear you found it Glenn! I have always wanted to try those, but never had the chance.

Now imagine it playing through a Mark Bass rig? ;)
Click to expand...

You need to get one and report back! :P Seriously though, the "sterile" Genz Benz thing now seems less an issue since I've played it out a couple times. Those nuances get lost in a gig setting. So as long as I'm not a full time practice room player...
 
#17
gm2_in_co said:
. I'm normally a flats guy, but the primary overtone comes through so well already on this guy, I'm not sure I want to emphasize it even more. Though a round wound without rust might start getting "chimey" even on this bass.
Click to expand...
At the risk of being a broken record, if you're looking for warmer strings, in a round-wound, but not Chimey, you owe it to yourself to find some pure nickel (not nickel steel) strings.

Put them on and let them warm up for about a week for warm, present, not-chimey goodness.

gm2_in_co said:
And the answers to the questions: I don't know what year it is. Your resource link was down right now. Serial number is 01221695 if anyone can tell just from that.

Toaster or blade? Not really sure I'm understanding the visual distinction but my obvious guess is "blade." From the tonal descriptions, I'm guessing if my love affair continues, I'll be questing a "toaster" version at some point.
Click to expand...

Your bass has "blade" pickups and therefore dates somewhere from '82/'83 to '87. "Toaster" pickups were on earlier models from '78-'82 The look the same as your pickups, except they don't have the blades. The oval areas inside the crome rings are plain black.

Glad you found the infosheet usefull.
 
#18
I've experimented a bit with stainless rounds and found they can work great when you're looking for the Ric-like tones these basses can produce. But my overall, can't go wrong, go-to string for these is simply D'addario Nickel Rounds. They're a little bit brighter than some other nickel rounds, but once they're broken in I find they have an overall fantastic tone that lasts quite a while. At the moment I'm using SIT's Nickel Round mainly because of an endorsement (can't argue with super-cheap) and they're also quite great, but the tone and consistency of the D'addarios slightly wins out I think. Its actually a pretty subtle difference, which is why i'm ok with the SIT's, so take that for what it's worth.
 
#20
Eilif said:
At the risk of being a broken record, if you're looking for warmer strings, in a round-wound, but not Chimey, you owe it to yourself to find some pure nickel (not nickel steel) strings.

Put them on and let them warm up for about a week for warm, present, not-chimey goodness.



Your bass has "blade" pickups and therefore dates somewhere from '82/'83 to '87. "Toaster" pickups were on earlier models from '78-'82 The look the same as your pickups, except they don't have the blades. The oval areas inside the crome rings are plain black.

Glad you found the infosheet usefull.
Click to expand...

Examples of all nickel rounds that you like? My dealer and even more so, the GC in town carry a fairly limited selection of bass strings.

I figured out the toaster/blade thing right after I responded. There is/was a toaster closing on ebay right about this time. I definitely do want to try one some time but as far as buying, I think I'll hold out for a sunburst example if I can.
 

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