If it doesn't have Superferrites, get a pair of Nordstrand Big Singles and put 'em in. Otherwise, what is there to improve?
You could always add a preamp, theres gobs of room in the cavity.
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1980s Peavey Foundation appreciation thread
- Thread starter NickInMesa
- Start date
If it doesn't have Superferrites, get a pair of Nordstrand Big Singles and put 'em in. Otherwise, what is there to improve?
You could always add a preamp, theres gobs of room in the cavity.
question: you said foundations are passive. my first bass was a foundation s and it was active. was that an "s" thing?
You can lookup the serial on wikipedia.
I believe this body was stripped and oil sealed. Not a bad job.
Bridge is in need of an intunation.
Without doing a lookup.. my estimate would be fall of 87 early 88
They offered Mahogany as a custom order option. If I remember they were $225 retail with rosewood neck in this combination.
Your body looks to have low use.. unfotunately someone got bored with tung oil. To really make it pop stop by a woodworking store (no homedepot is not a woodworking vendor) pick up some lemon oil.. the start soakinig the heck out of the body.. to help the look even out, you can let it tan in the sun..
Yours looks like someone tried to improve it.. they're kind of cool with the rubber band speedomatic knobs...
Check your intonation -- should be off.
FOUNDY 5.. note a TL5 (early) is a very close relative.. dyna guts.. ferrites.. kind of like 1/2 way between dyna and Foundation...
Hopefully I've helped
Timmy
PS... I'm going to be listing 2 Foundy fretless (early and late) and a mahogany/rosewood...
thanks for the remarks.
i did a full setup (myself) just before these shots were taken. i have intonated it properly and i feel i should note that the strings on here are a custom gauge for drop C tuning which is why the Low C in the image is so much farther back than the other strings.
also i added the chicken head knobs. i think they look pretty sharp
oh and the wiring is "upgraded" i gave it new pots and an orange drop cap as well as a series/parallel switch
i also did do a coat of lemon oil, but more as a cleaning step than a polishing step.
i haven't had a chance to play it in a band setting yet but will let you fellas know how it sounds after tonight's practice
according to Wikipedia it is an '87
i did a full setup (myself) just before these shots were taken. i have intonated it properly and i feel i should note that the strings on here are a custom gauge for drop C tuning which is why the Low C in the image is so much farther back than the other strings.
also i added the chicken head knobs. i think they look pretty sharp
oh and the wiring is "upgraded" i gave it new pots and an orange drop cap as well as a series/parallel switch
i also did do a coat of lemon oil, but more as a cleaning step than a polishing step.
i haven't had a chance to play it in a band setting yet but will let you fellas know how it sounds after tonight's practice
according to Wikipedia it is an '87
My only bass is a Foundation. Two of the pots got broken, and as an experiment, I wired it up with no controls. It's a little too bright, but a very lively sounding instrument.
The early Foundation S model was passive with Schaller PJ (Dimarzio licensed) pickups. I love the one I have. Peavey later offered an active version.
Hey fishsticks, I own the same bass ( minus the chickenheads, plus the frets). The mahogany is a nice touch. I just sanded mine down all the way to 800 grit. No oil (although I was tempted and my guitar tech buddy gave me the can) and its a great finish, smooth like a bowling ball. I also "upgraded" to big block position markers ( w/some help from some paint). Its all in the Foundations video I did at the beginning of this now lenghty thread
Nope. Post pics!
Flames are not a good thing usually in a neck, but since the Foundations are made of two pieces of wood glued together, it should not matter.
I'll drag it outside tomorrow and get some pics. None of my indoor shots ever come out worth a darn.
I didn't know that about flame being undesirable in necks. I'm assuming that flamed maple is weaker.
I didn't know that about flame being undesirable in necks. I'm assuming that flamed maple is weaker.
I was told that the Foundation S originally stood for Foundation with Schallers(both the pickups(PJ) and the tuners were originally Schallers) . However, Peavey made frequent changes to the line in an effort to expand their place in the market. Originally the Dyna-Bass was the active version, but I have seen several different Peavey models where a boost only pre-amp(passive tone maintained) was installed. I even have a Unity model(neck-through PJ) that is passive but has a route in the control cavity for a battery. It is very possible if not likely that Peavey made a Foundation S that was active. In general, most Foundations were passive, but I would have no trouble believing that you had an active version from the factory.
Peaveys can get a bit confusing if you try to follow their development. The more I have explored them the less likely I am to make blanket statements; with one exception, they are all extremely well made basses that are incredible bargains.
How long did it take you to sand it down.. I'm seriously consider doing this.
I made the mistake of tung oiling it when new.. then not keeping it maintained.. have 2 discolored marks.
You do need to oil it... or will look like mine.
I made the mistake of tung oiling it when new.. then not keeping it maintained.. have 2 discolored marks.
You do need to oil it... or will look like mine.
Hey fishsticks, I own the same bass ( minus the chickenheads, plus the frets). The mahogany is a nice touch. I just sanded mine down all the way to 800 grit. No oil (although I was tempted and my guitar tech buddy gave me the can) and its a great finish, smooth like a bowling ball. I also "upgraded" to big block position markers ( w/some help from some paint). Its all in the Foundations video I did at the beginning of this now lenghty thread
Official word on the S.. it means "stereo"
Stock a Unity would have had a preamp.. it's possible it could have been ordered passive OR someone removed the guts.
Part of the variability is there was a period where they'd do just about any custom modification without high cost.
IT would have been totally likely to order a Foundation and request a Dyna preamp.... would have probably cost about $25 total.
Man I miss those days.. and all the custom order stuff I once had.
Tim
it was already sans finish: I just cleaned it up and smoothed it down. I guess a few hours over 2 or 3 days: no biggie.
