• 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.

NBD: 1992 Peavey Foundation

N

NotHereNow

Aug 20, 2024
165
466
#1
Hey guys, I just had to share a NBD post for this one. I came across this bass on an online auction and after 2 minutes of “reseach” I threw down a bid and a came away the winner. About $265 after taxes and shipping for an America made bass with unique pickups. She is defined player grade, it almost looks like someone was trying to do a refinish or relic job that never got completed. But what she lack in in looks is definitely made up for in the tone department.

I am totally blown away by how fantastic this bass sounds. I’ve read some people comparing the sound to a jazz bass, but this sounds nothing like my MIM jazz with Dimarzio Pups. I have never been that impressed with my overdriven sound, but the super ferrites really shine with medium overdrive. It’s a very classic hard rock sound that I think would work well in multiple rock genres.

I don’t know what strings are on it, but the whole setup just works. I hope the strings are old and dead already and I don’t have to worry about how to figure out what they are. They look like nickel rounds but that’s not exactly narrowing anything down if I need to replace them.

Based on a serial number post I saw on TB, I have this dated as a 1992 model. It’s missing the cool triangle peavey string tree and the headstock graphics look different than any photos I’ve seen online. I’m torn on whether or not I should do anything with the body cosmetically since I love the sound as-is.

Anyways, please let me know if you have any experiences or insights to share. Rock on.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_8418.jpeg
    IMG_8418.jpeg
    4.5 MB · Views: 21
  • IMG_8417.jpeg
    IMG_8417.jpeg
    3.9 MB · Views: 20
  • IMG_8415.jpeg
    IMG_8415.jpeg
    4.4 MB · Views: 17
  • IMG_8416.jpeg
    IMG_8416.jpeg
    4 MB · Views: 20
  • Like
Reactions: Bassinthemudd, toddsterbassist, B-Mac and 23 others
#2
Play it.
When I started back on bass in my early 30s I bought a second hand T40. It didn’t last long before I traded it for a new Foundation and a small practice amp. This was at a time when all the hot rods were playing Fender and they loved to tell me how Peavey basses sounded like chili farts in an empty bathtub. I loved the sound of mine and so do the bands I joined. After a few years I traded it for an as new Dyna fiver and they really liked that one. Later I bought a ragged old P from a pawn shop, cleaned it up and sold it for a nice pile of money. By that time I was almost out of playing again so I traded the fiver for a couple of old Fenders, cleaned them up and made money on the sale, and took another break from music. When I started back Peavey was no longer making basses in the US, except for the coffee table Cirrus bass line which failed to blow my dress up even a little, so I bought an MIM J and later a US Jazz Plus, and it’s been Fender since then, but if I run across a decent Dyna I might give a 34” bass one more try before I give in and stick with 30” scale instruments.
 
  • Like
Reactions: NotHereNow
#5
Shawn Luckman said:
Had one exactly the same a yours lovely light weight, should have kept it but I preferred the 80's version more. Great basses all round my '86 is going nowhere.
View attachment 7135965
Click to expand...
Great pic, thanks for sharing. I agree the weight is great, mine weighs in at 7lbs 10 oz, making it my lightest bass by just shy of 1/2 lb. I have to admit that the matching black headstock and RW fingerboard are better looking IMO. I would definitely be keeping it black in that scenario, but since the maple FB and headstock can go with so many other finishes it keeps my refinish options open.
 
#6
NotHereNow said:
Great pic, thanks for sharing. I agree the weight is great, mine weighs in at 7lbs 10 oz, making it my lightest bass by just shy of 1/2 lb. I have to admit that the matching black headstock and RW fingerboard are better looking IMO. I would definitely be keeping it black in that scenario, but since the maple FB and headstock can go with so many other finishes it keeps my refinish options open.
Click to expand...
If you do refinish the body do it in Nitro, then play the hell out of it and all the wear marks are yours :thumbsup::cool:.
 
#8
I have an '84 Fury with the same Super Ferrite pickup, though it's just one placed in between the two on the Foundation. My very first bass was also a black Foundation like that, though it was a little bit younger than that one and lacked the Super Ferrites. I think it sounds great; I've heard others liken it to a Nordstrand Big Single. These ones fly a little under the radar compared to the T-40 but they're pretty awesome instruments. You scored!
 
#9
Nice Score!

I have a '90 Dyna-Bass, which is basically an active Foundation with the same Super Ferrite pickups. It's not in my usual rotation, but I'll never sell it, I bought it in '92! Those Super Ferrites are legit, great pickups, it currently has flats and sound great, but for a time I had DR Sunbeams on it and it sounded killer with those as well. Enjoy it!
 
#10
Curious about your strings, I did a search and found this thread on roundwound strings with brass ball ends and black silk at both ends. No definite answer, but if the strings look like they might be pretty old they could be Fender 7250 nickel plated steel strings from before 2010. The ones you can buy new have no silk and color coded ball ends now.

I don't suppose you could reach out to the seller and ask if they know what's on it?
 
#11
Sweet!

The second-gen body is a little more generic-looking than the first-gen, but those pickups are among my absolute favorites!
 
#12
Isaac_James said:
Curious about your strings, I did a search and found this thread on roundwound strings with brass ball ends and black silk at both ends. No definite answer, but if the strings look like they might be pretty old they could be Fender 7250 nickel plated steel strings from before 2010. The ones you can buy new have no silk and color coded ball ends now.

I don't suppose you could reach out to the seller and ask if they know what's on it?
Click to expand...
The auction site that I got this from mostly is donated or estate items. They say on all the listings that all items are untested etc. and they have everything from appliances, electronics, clothes, furniture.... I doubt they would know anything about the strings or this particular instrument in general.
 
#14
NotHereNow said:
Hey guys, I just had to share a NBD post for this one. I came across this bass on an online auction and after 2 minutes of “reseach” I threw down a bid and a came away the winner. About $265 after taxes and shipping for an America made bass with unique pickups. She is defined player grade, it almost looks like someone was trying to do a refinish or relic job that never got completed. But what she lack in in looks is definitely made up for in the tone department.

I am totally blown away by how fantastic this bass sounds. I’ve read some people comparing the sound to a jazz bass, but this sounds nothing like my MIM jazz with Dimarzio Pups. I have never been that impressed with my overdriven sound, but the super ferrites really shine with medium overdrive. It’s a very classic hard rock sound that I think would work well in multiple rock genres.

I don’t know what strings are on it, but the whole setup just works. I hope the strings are old and dead already and I don’t have to worry about how to figure out what they are. They look like nickel rounds but that’s not exactly narrowing anything down if I need to replace them.

Based on a serial number post I saw on TB, I have this dated as a 1992 model. It’s missing the cool triangle peavey string tree and the headstock graphics look different than any photos I’ve seen online. I’m torn on whether or not I should do anything with the body cosmetically since I love the sound as-is.

Anyways, please let me know if you have any experiences or insights to share. Rock on.
Click to expand...
Yup, that is the '92 headstock shape and logo. Love the Super Ferrites in that Foundation and love the single "slant" Super Ferrite in the '84 Gen 1 Fury that Isaac_James has even better.
I've had a bunch of Peaveys and prefer their lower end models ....Gen 1 Fury, Gen 2 Fury, T20, Foundation, Patriot to their later model year fancier basses.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Shawn Luckman
#15
Great find! 1992 is probably the last year of Super Ferrites before they switched to VFLs and then ended production. I have an '83 fretted and an '87 fretless. You're right - very Jazz-like, but with a more aggressive edge. I've found the neck pickup can do a pretty good P-bass imitation. How's the neck?
 
#16
ATLbassist said:
Great find! 1992 is probably the last year of Super Ferrites before they switched to VFLs and then ended production. I have an '83 fretted and an '87 fretless. You're right - very Jazz-like, but with a more aggressive edge. I've found the neck pickup can do a pretty good P-bass imitation. How's the neck?
Click to expand...
I think the neck is very comfortable. It's very similar to the neck on my jazz in terms of measurements, but it feels much better. Smoother is the word I'd use to describe it. My J is only a few years old and I think the peavey neck has benefited from 30 years of wearing the finish down. The nut is also cut very well on this particular bass, better than the precut tusq nut I installed on the J. Frets seem fine and no sprouting to report along the sides.

I hadn't noticed it at first, but it also appears that the neck is two pieces split along the centerline of the neck. You can clearly see two different grain patterns and a line running straight down the fret board. I don't think I've ever seen a neck like that. No skunk stripe so that must be how they install the truss rod.
 
#17
Yes, that is how they install the truss rod, but more than that Peavey knew that two pieces or more (some brands use three or five pieces) makes for a more stable neck.
 
#18
That's about the last year of the two piece neck. After that they went to a single piece with fretboard for a couple years until Fury was all done.
The scripted logo you have was a one-year thing. An unique point in time. Enjoy it.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back