• 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 free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

'made in USA' Peavey Grind? Info required

#41
TRBboy said:
Unfortunately the shaft of the push/push pot is broken, and the knob is wedged in place with a piece of wood. Hopefully it'll work fine, it certainly seems to function okay mechanically. I had a look behind, and it's a weird pot that's mounted directly to a circuit board...... Don't know his easy it'll be to find a replacement.
Click to expand...

First off, congrats! She's a beauty! Second, I think I might know what type of pot you're referring to... I think the Music Man Bongo uses one similar... almost like a small cube that mounts to a circuit board. You can try Peavey CS first, but it may be best to post a pic here and get some help tracking one down. I was able to order one for a Bongo I used to own directly from EBMM, and I installed it myself, but the fact that it's push/pull might make it tricky to find.
 
#42
NicJimBass said:
First off, congrats! She's a beauty! Second, I think I might know what type of pot you're referring to... I think the Music Man Bongo uses one similar... almost like a small cube that mounts to a circuit board. You can try Peavey CS first, but it may be best to post a pic here and get some help tracking one down. I was able to order one for a Bongo I used to own directly from EBMM, and I installed it myself, but the fact that it's push/pull might make it tricky to find.
Click to expand...

Yeah, that's exactly what it's like! It may work okay, but I know that the fact it's not right will bother me.

It really is amazing, there are no significant dinks or anything, no fret wear, it's almost like new!

Tonight I carefully filed some of the fret edges, and the edge of the fretboard a little, because it was a bit sharp in places. Not bad workmanship, probably just how the frets have settled over the last 13 years or so.

I also polished the frets, cleaned and oiled the fretboard, re-strung, generally tightened nuts and screws, and repaired the stacked pot which had kind of faeq d llen apart a little. Tomorrow I'll set it up properly and plug it in. The intonation isn't a million miles off anyway.

It's so, so nice to play, I'm really very happy that I bought it in the end.
 
#43
ebozzz said:
They never fully went into production but it would be from early 2000. Basically, they ran an advertisement in the Peavey Monitor magazine and next thing you know, there was an import version that looked almost identical to it. So, think hard before you decide to let it go. May never see another one.....
Click to expand...

Ebozzz, could you explain to me how the controls work on yours? I've had chance to fire it up now, but I seem to have volume, pickup pan, stacked treble and bass. The push/push pot doesn't seem to do anything in active mode, but when you push it, it seems to become a passive tone control, and the stacked pot doesn't do anything. Is this right? I'm assuming it's supposed to maybe be a mid control in active mode? Also, where is the serial number on yours?

Thanks for your help! :D
 
#44
TRBboy said:
Ebozzz, could you explain to me how the controls work on yours? I've had chance to fire it up now, but I seem to have volume, pickup pan, stacked treble and bass. The push/push pot doesn't seem to do anything in active mode, but when you push it, it seems to become a passive tone control, and the stacked pot doesn't do anything. Is this right? I'm assuming it's supposed to maybe be a mid control in active mode? Also, where is the serial number on yours?

Thanks for your help! :D
Click to expand...

The description of the controls you provided basically sums up my thoughts. I've asked the same information of Peavey and they couldn't tell me anything definitely. It was like the bass never even existed to them. Several email messages were exchanged and I even had one phone conversation with one of their guitar techs, Steve Smith. He was helpful but still unable to answer all of my questions. Mine is the only 4-string that I own and I've been spending all of my time with my passive 5-strings lately. Let me play around with it today and get back to you. Maybe we can sort this out together.

Most of the American made Peavey basses that I have seen or owned have all had the serial number stamped into the back of the headstock. I mean, like an indentation and not ink/dye. It's the same on mine. What do you think of your's thus far?
 
Last edited:
#45
ebozzz said:
The description of the controls you provided basically sums up my thoughts. I've asked the same information of Peavey and they couldn't tell me anything definitely. It was like the bass never even existed to them. Several email messages were exchanged and I even had one phone conversation with one of their guitar techs, Steve Smith. He was helpful but still unable to answer all of my questions. Mine is the only 4-string that I own and I've been spending all of my time with my passive 5-strings lately. Let me play around with it today and get back to you. Maybe we can sort this out together.

Most of the American made Peavey basses that I have seen or owned have all had the serial number stamped into the back of the headstock. I mean, like an indentation and not ink/dye. It's the same on mine. What do you think of your's thus far?
Click to expand...

It's weird because the spec from that catalogue, it says '3 band active or passive eq, with push/push active treble boost'. Maybe this was the intention, but never happened? I'm also starting to wonder if mine was a pre-production prototype or something. The only number marked on it is on a sticker on the back of the headstock. I checked this number with Peavey, and they had no record of it at all!
DSC_0096.JPG
 
#46
TRBboy said:
It's weird because the spec from that catalogue, it says '3 band active or passive eq, with push/push active treble boost'. Maybe this was the intention, but never happened? I'm also starting to wonder if mine was a pre-production prototype or something. The only number marked on it is on a sticker on the back of the headstock. I checked this number with Peavey, and they had no record of it at all!
View attachment 612988
Click to expand...

That prototype word got thrown around a lot during my dialog with Peavey about mine. That is, once I finally got them to understand that I wasn't asking them about the imported version of the Grind. I'm not convinced that they actually went into actual production with the USA Grind.
 
#47
ebozzz said:
That prototype word got thrown around a lot during my dialog with Peavey about mine. That is, once I finally got them to understand that I wasn't asking them about the imported version of the Grind. I'm not convinced that they actually went into actual production with the USA Grind.
Click to expand...

Maybe not, that's got to be a strong possibility. I can't understand why they never did, it's a superb bass! Still gotta finish setting it up, but it seems fantastic. Certainly playability-wise it's one of the nicest playing basses I've ever had my hands on! Not convinced about the electronics at the moment, but we'll see. Easy enough to change out if required. It will be interesting to know if yours is the same.

Great bass though, what a shame they never made It into production. Just glad I've got my hands on one! :D
 
#49
ShenmueTacos said:
These basses seem to have the same fate as the Millennium STD. It seemed like after Peavey made that catalog that they decided to move production overseas. What stock they had of the Grinds and Milleniums were sold for cheap through places like Musicians Friend.

That being said, I'd love to have a USA Grind 4!
Click to expand...

I don't think the Grind USA made it to Musician's Friend. Could be wrong but I've only seen a few of them pop up on eBay....
 
#50
TRBboy said:
It's weird because the spec from that catalogue, it says '3 band active or passive eq, with push/push active treble boost'. Maybe this was the intention, but never happened? I'm also starting to wonder if mine was a pre-production prototype or something. The only number marked on it is on a sticker on the back of the headstock. I checked this number with Peavey, and they had no record of it at all!
View attachment 612988
Click to expand...

At that time, I think Peavey was sort of throwing stuff at the wall to see what might stick. Eventually, all USA bass production except for the Cirrus ceased.
 
  • Like
Reactions: ebozzz
#51
TRBboy said:
Well, it's here! :D

First impressions are VERY good, quality bass (apart from a few minor things. The neck profile is gorgeous, very thin with a slightly asymmetric feel. Haven't had chance to plug it in yet, but to be honest it needs a good service, setup and restring first really.
Unfortunately the shaft of the push/push pot is broken, and the knob is wedged in place with a piece of wood. Hopefully it'll work fine, it certainly seems to function okay mechanically. I had a look behind, and it's a weird pot that's mounted directly to a circuit board...... Don't know his easy it'll be to find a replacement.
Feels great on a strap, and thankfully doesn't feel too much like a 35" scale! I've never played a bass with such clear access to the upper frets, you can play chords up to the 24th completely unhindered.

Anyway, more when I've given it a good service and setup, and had chance to plug it in. :D

Oh, and the colour is lovely too, it's quite a small-flake metallic paint, but with a great depth, and a slight flip to it.

View attachment 612088
View attachment 612104
View attachment 612105
Click to expand...


Please post a video or sound clip of this bass.
 
  • Like
Reactions: warrplayer
#53
ShenmueTacos said:
My bad. I knew the Milleniums ended up on Musicians Friend. Guess I assumed they were on there since both basses were produced around the same time.
Click to expand...

Millenniums made into production in significant numbers. I will never forget the 2006 Chicago GTG when Dan Lakin told me to my face that he started the Skyline Series in response to the Peavey Millenniums.
 
  • Like
Reactions: ShenmueTacos and ebozzz
#55
It's all so weird, even if these USA Grinds were 'prototypes', you'd think they would have at least have a record somewhere of them?

Do Peavey not make any USA basses anymore? Seems a shame if they don't, but I guess it was a commercial decision, and they just weren't viable anymore.
 
#57
@TRBboy ,

Played around with the Grind 4 a short while ago. First of all, great sounding instrument to my ears. The preamp makes it very versatile. Versatile enough in my opinion to cover vintage to modern type tones. Pickups aren't bad either.

You mentioned that you had to file the frets on your 5. Never had that issue with mine. When it arrived the frets had a nice smooth rounded feel to them and that's still true. The climate where I live is pretty arid so I normally keep some form of humidification in each of my instrument cases. If I didn't, fretboard shrinkage would occur. I've seen it happen in this area when the owners chose not to humidify on basses regardless of the model/price range. I think you are in the U.K. so my thoughts are that should not be as much of as issue as it is in my region of the world. Maybe your bass came from somewhere that had a much dryer climate?

Now, for the controls. Here's my best guess. It's pretty clear on everything except number 4 below and that's where both of us are sort of stuck.....

1. Pot closest to the neck pickup: Master volume
2. Center Top: Pickup blend
3. Center Bottom (Stacked): Bass (bottom) & Treble (top)
4. Pot Closest to the bridge: This pot has the push/pull function. The In position is for the active preamp. Out is for passive operation (Bass & Treble don't work when activated). In addition, I think the pot may function as a mid-range control when in active mode and passive tone control when passive.

Finally, take a look at the following image. It isn't my bass but my serial number is placed & positioned in the same manner. This image is from a Grind 4 USA that has been on eBay for a while with no takers.....

$_57.jpg
 
Last edited:
#58
Dr. Cheese said:
At that time, I think Peavey was sort of throwing stuff at the wall to see what might stick. Eventually, all USA bass production except for the Cirrus ceased.
Click to expand...

Man, don't get me started about what they were doing around that time. I think that they really hurt their efforts to market their American Made instruments during that time with way that they chose to do business. Can of worms for me so I won't go there.... :D
 
Last edited:
#60
ebozzz said:
@TRBboy ,

Played around with the Grind 4 a short while ago. First of all, great sounding instrument to my ears. The preamp makes it very versatile. Versatile enough in my opinion to cover vintage to modern type tones. Pickups aren't bad either.

You mentioned that you had to file the frets on your 5. Never had that issue with mine. When it arrived the frets had a nice smooth rounded feel to them and that's still true. The climate where I live is pretty arid so I normally keep some form of humidification in each of my instrument cases. If I didn't, fretboard shrinkage would occur. I've seen it happen in this area when the owners chose not to humidify on basses regardless of the model/price range. I think you are in the U.K. so my thoughts are that should not be as much of as issue as it is in my region of the world. Maybe your bass came from somewhere that had a much dryer climate?

Now, for the controls. Here's my best guess. It's pretty clear on everything except number 4 below and that's where both of us are sort of stuck.....

1. Pot closest to the neck pickup: Master volume
2. Center Top: Pickup blend
3. Center Bottom (Stacked): Bass (bottom) & Treble (top)
4. Pot Closest to the bridge: This pot has the push/pull function. The In position is for the active preamp. Out is for passive operation (Bass & Treble don't work when activated). In addition, I think the pot may function as a mid-range control when in active mode and passive tone control when passive.

Finally, take a look at the following image. It isn't my bass but my serial number is placed & positioned in the same manner. This image is from a Grind 4 USA that has been on eBay for a while with no takers.....

$_57.jpg
Click to expand...
Thanks very much for that Ebozzz, very useful.

About the frets; it may just be me being picky, but I kind of found it noticeable enough to want to do something about it, but it wasn't awful. I don't know where the bass has been or how it's been looked after, only that it obviously hasn't been used much! My feeling from its condition when it arrived is that it probably hadn't been used, maintained or really cared for, for some time.

Pot 4 is still a bit of a mystery, mine definitely does nothing in active mode, but works as a tone control in passive mode. Maybe mine is faulty then.... Either way it's clearly not what they specified in that catalogue!

Thanks again man! :D
 
  • Like
Reactions: ebozzz

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back