Picked up this gem - a 1984 Peavey (Reavey) Foundation - earlier today for $400 Canadian , which is a hair over $300 $USD. That included the original case and owners manual 
For context, after 52 basses (including some priced over $2,000), I finally found my two "holy grails" with rather inexpensive Fender American Special Precisions a couple of years ago. It was almost disappointing in one way as I always enjoyed the thrill of the hunt before finding my "perfect for me" basses. That was about two years ago and nothing has changed my mind about those two basses. However, status quo is boring.
So I changed my hunting goals. I came of age as an 80's teenager and thought it would be fun to search out a decently made budget bass from that same time period. An '84 Ibanez Roadstar II caught my eye but had seen them for less than the $725 ($CDN) asking price. Then I saw this Peavey but was thrown off by the serial number starting with 01. I naturally assumed that meant it was made in 2001, and read that later Foundations were not as good as the ones from the 80s. I was still intrigued by a $400 US-made bass from a well respected company though. Especially when the seller lived just a 20-min drive away. Then this morning I did more research, and a TB post informed me the serial number was from 1984. After reading some reviews and watching some vids, I couldn't get out the door to pick it up quick enough. Well, actually, I was quick enough since I got it.
I'm totally pumped about the purchase. It's definitely been well taken of. The action is dialed in perfectly. The entire bass is free of any nicks. Even all the latches on the original case work like new. I love the tone but notice the tone knob has very little range. Full counter clockwise (10) the full treble of course. Nothing happens between 9 to 3, and then at 2 it seems to go into a super snotty snarl mode. Not what I'd associate with rolling off treble at all. No matter because with both pickups and tone at 10, I get a pleasing, more aggressive, growl that compliments my PBasses well (and that's with D'Addario Halfwounds on the Peavey. Stringing it with my fave DR HiBeams should take it to yet another level).
Enough jabbering. Here are the pics!
For context, after 52 basses (including some priced over $2,000), I finally found my two "holy grails" with rather inexpensive Fender American Special Precisions a couple of years ago. It was almost disappointing in one way as I always enjoyed the thrill of the hunt before finding my "perfect for me" basses. That was about two years ago and nothing has changed my mind about those two basses. However, status quo is boring.
So I changed my hunting goals. I came of age as an 80's teenager and thought it would be fun to search out a decently made budget bass from that same time period. An '84 Ibanez Roadstar II caught my eye but had seen them for less than the $725 ($CDN) asking price. Then I saw this Peavey but was thrown off by the serial number starting with 01. I naturally assumed that meant it was made in 2001, and read that later Foundations were not as good as the ones from the 80s. I was still intrigued by a $400 US-made bass from a well respected company though. Especially when the seller lived just a 20-min drive away. Then this morning I did more research, and a TB post informed me the serial number was from 1984. After reading some reviews and watching some vids, I couldn't get out the door to pick it up quick enough. Well, actually, I was quick enough since I got it.
I'm totally pumped about the purchase. It's definitely been well taken of. The action is dialed in perfectly. The entire bass is free of any nicks. Even all the latches on the original case work like new. I love the tone but notice the tone knob has very little range. Full counter clockwise (10) the full treble of course. Nothing happens between 9 to 3, and then at 2 it seems to go into a super snotty snarl mode. Not what I'd associate with rolling off treble at all. No matter because with both pickups and tone at 10, I get a pleasing, more aggressive, growl that compliments my PBasses well (and that's with D'Addario Halfwounds on the Peavey. Stringing it with my fave DR HiBeams should take it to yet another level).
Enough jabbering. Here are the pics!
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