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1980s Peavey Foundation appreciation thread

#23
It's a '93, and no super-ferrites, but this fretless just sings.

Fretlessbody.jpg
 
#24
Hey, cool to see the appreciation for old Peaveys. My first bass was a Peavey Fury and I've had a few other Peaveys over the years. My latest find is a '85 black/rosewood Foundation I bought off craigslist for $150.

Does anybody know the original retail price for the Foundation? Was it marketed as a beginner's instrument or toward more advanced players?

For those of you who also own vintage Fenders, which holds up better over time, the Peavey or the Fender?
 
#25
exkaos said:
Hey, cool to see the appreciation for old Peaveys. My first bass was a Peavey Fury and I've had a few other Peaveys over the years. My latest find is a '85 black/rosewood Foundation I bought off craigslist for $150.

Does anybody know the original retail price for the Foundation? Was it marketed as a beginner's instrument or toward more advanced players?

For those of you who also own vintage Fenders, which holds up better over time, the Peavey or the Fender?
Click to expand...
I think the original Foundations went for $399 to $799 ( depending on finish options) MSRP. It was in line with Fender prices from that era. It was a mid to high level bass for Peavey. The next step was the Rudy Sarzo, which was a through neck bass. Then they started to expand the bass line ( TL5, Forum, Axecellerator)

Out of 5 Ebay Foundations I bought, only one didn't need a major tweaking to return the neck to normal. Most were let go because the owners no longer ( or in some cases, never) maintained them, just left them in the case in a closet or under a bed or the basement. Same thing would happen to a Fender, treated the same way. The good news about this is: every one was able to be tweaked to the point of satisfaction. All were fully adjustable and they all play great.
I have a family shot on another thread but I presently own and use: Sunburst w/maple neck, Mahogany body w/maple neck, Black w/rosewood,matching headstock, and black rosewood fretless.
 
#26
I had two Unity Koas in the '80s. The second one I had I put Barts in , a P / J set up with the then new 3 band EQ. The sound was AMAZING !!! I was playing country so I didn't have much use for an amazing sounding Bass so I traded it straight across for a USA Fender P-Bass. I still wish I had that Bass.
 
#27
Thanks for the info.

Ny new Foundation also needs some neck adjustment. I ordered a wrench from Sweetwater, and once that gets here I'll start straightening the truss rod. What's the best way to approach a truss nut that hasn't been turned in God know how many years? I'd obviously like to avoid damaging the neck. I've adjusted truss rods before, but that was on basses I'd owned since new and never let them get too far out of whack. This one has a pretty prominent bow to it.
 
#28
What's the best way to approach a truss nut that hasn't been turned in God know how many years? I'd obviously like to avoid damaging the neck...
Click to expand...

The factory routs are really crude. So even with the proper tool, make sure the rout is big enough to seat the wrench without exerting pressure against the surrounding wood.

Especially near the top, where the wood is thin and delicate. If it's too tight, carve out more wood with an exacto knife. Don't ask me how I know this.

:hmm:
 
#30
Templar said:
The factory routs are really crude. So even with the proper tool, make sure the rout is big enough to seat the wrench without exerting pressure against the surrounding wood.

Especially near the top, where the wood is thin and delicate. If it's too tight, carve out more wood with an exacto knife. Don't ask me how I know this.

:hmm:
Click to expand...

This is good advice. Also, remember, if the neck has been out of whack for a long time, do it a little at a time. Turn it a quarter turn and let it settle in overnight before you adjust it again. If you adjust it too much at once, you can cause major neck issues.
 
#31
Allright, here are my pictures. The first are my three Black and Maple Foundations(87,92,94). I would have another 92 but Tber Jabberbox never shipped and has disappeared.
http://i360.photobucket.com/albums/oo42/bassmanrocke/HPIM0749-1.jpg
http://i360.photobucket.com/albums/oo42/bassmanrocke/HPIM0751.jpg
http://i360.photobucket.com/albums/oo42/bassmanrocke/HPIM0752.jpg
http://i360.photobucket.com/albums/oo42/bassmanrocke/HPIM0753.jpg

The next set are of the 87 Foundation/Dynabass hybrid I built for my daughter(she loves purple).
http://i360.photobucket.com/albums/oo42/bassmanrocke/Dyna2.jpg
http://i360.photobucket.com/albums/oo42/bassmanrocke/Dyna3.jpg
 
#32
Ok... here are my two foundation stories....

1. I got my foundation off of craigslist for $40 smelled like piss an cigarette smoke, rusted screws and looked like the bridge was rusted.
Well a couple of hours of clean up some new screws from home depot. The bridge had no rust. Just dirty. Put some TI JAZZ flats on it and this thing is sick.

2. I was jamming the other night (we are trying to find a drummer) and the drummer guy had a Warwick Thumb and a Warwick fretless and was totally sweating my Foundation. This thing has amazing tone.



Woody What did you refinish yours with?

Oh... and does anyone know where I could get a tort pickguard for this guy?
 
#33
Here is my "87" Foundation I picked up here from another TBer(his pic also) I was able to pick up a new TRC for it and I removed the thumb rest, great bass, plays like a dream and is all the jazz bass I'll ever need plus some. Good to see all the Peavey Foundation love :)

Brian

100_2456.gif
 
#35
Basstones: mine is just like that, except for the knobs. When did Peavey stop machining those awesome Peavey branded knobs to use these poly-U knobs instead?
Click to expand...
I am not really sure when Peavey stopped using the branded ones, I like them both so I guess its a win, win. Nice looking bass you have there, Nick :smug:


Brian
 
#36
I bought a beautiful metal flake red Foundation new in 1983, sold it many years later and have often regretted it. It was a four string and I had decided to step up to a five string so I took the money and bought... I dunno, don't have that one anymore either.
Suffice to say those early Foundations are superb basses and an excellent value. I own a late 90s 5-string Foundation which is okay but not the same as that first one... <sigh>
 
#37
One thing I love with this Peavey is how good it retains tuning.

I like to play my RBX 270, but after 2 songs, it's out of tune.

I am considering upgrading the tuning pegs (after already changing the bridge J pickup).

The Foundie remains tuned no matter what. From day to day, it's always in tune, unless I touched a tuner while moving it.
 
#40
That's pretty nice. I still can't believe how good this bass sounds.

By the way, anybody knows the technology behind the SF pickups? Magnets, wire gauge, turn count?

I am a bit intrigued as to how these pups are so much better than anything I have seen/heard on a J bass.
 

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