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NBD! Peavey Foundation!

Smoove-Groove

Smoove-Groove

Jun 18, 2013
1,084
2,194
50
Ontario, Canada
#1
Just grabbed up on this bass. Really nice grain and very light in weight.
Sounds killer too. Came strung with flats which are great, but I'd rather have rounds on this one.
The only crappy thing is, looks like someone took a dremel or something to the bridge saddles and gouged out the slots to get the strings lower.Looks pretty nasty. The saddles are bottomed out against the plate,so I guess it wasn't low enough for them. Is this normal for these foundations to have the saddles all the way down and still have a higher action? I could most likely rotate the saddles because the undersides are slotted too. But Im thinking, the action might be too high if I do this.It's not too bad where it's at now, but it could be a touch lower.I know about the neck tilt adjustment.But I was wondering if the bridge adjustments would be enough. Anyone have a spare trapezoid bridge like this lying around they want to sell?
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#2
Very nice looking Foundation.
As you probably know already, the Micro-Tilt adjustment only needs a slight turn to change the heel angle and lower the action. Why not try that instead of messing any further with the bridge saddles? I've had several Foundations and none of them ever needed that kind of saddle manipulation to get decent action. Maybe one of the Peavey gurus from the US Peavey group can help out.

The trapezoid bridges are pretty hard to find, but I'll keep an eye out locally - I have one, but it's on my '85.

Good luck.
 
#4
Agreed, the micro-tilt adjustment is the solution. I even had to do a slight shim job on my USA Millennium to make sure I got proper string brake at the bridge. Using the micro-tilt will allow you to raise the saddles for proper set up and intonation. As stated in the previous post, a little tweak goes a long way on the micro-tilt. Nice score on the new bass by the way.
 
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#5
That's interesting. I've seen people grind the bottom side of saddles flat so they sit lower and flush against the bridge plate - just so they didn't have to cut deeper grooves into the top-side of saddles.

If I recall correctly, there was a guy on eBay selling saddles (with intonation screw and spring) for some Peavey basses. I'll try to find the link and forward it on.
 
#8
ack said:
That's interesting. I've seen people grind the bottom side of saddles flat so they sit lower and flush against the bridge plate - just so they didn't have to cut deeper grooves into the top-side of saddles.

If I recall correctly, there was a guy on eBay selling saddles (with intonation screw and spring) for some Peavey basses. I'll try to find the link and forward it on.
Click to expand...


IMO/IME having the saddles all the way down causes more problems that it solves. IMO/IME the saddles need to be at different heights for proper set up to account for string thickness and to follow the contour of the fret board. I feel the micro-tilt was a great feature on Peavey's part. I prefer bolt neck basses, especially when the neck is properly set in the pocket.

FYI: Been playing USA Peavey since the 80's. They are my bass of choice. :)
 
#12
smogg said:
IMO/IME having the saddles all the way down causes more problems that it solves. IMO/IME the saddles need to be at different heights for proper set up to account for string thickness and to follow the contour of the fret board. I feel the micro-tilt was a great feature on Peavey's part. I prefer bolt neck basses, especially when the neck is properly set in the pocket.

FYI: Been playing USA Peavey since the 80's. They are my bass of choice. :)
Click to expand...

I couldn't agree more about the saddles...and the US Peavey's. I've owned my share over the years, but I've had to pare down to 4:
'85 Foundation, '91 Sarzo, '91 Koa Unity and a '94 Forum FL. Peavey USA made some great basses - certainly worth way more to a player than their street value dictates.
 
#14
Smoove-Groove said:
Very nice!
The only thing I think could be an advantage of the saddles touching the plate would be more of the string vibration reaching the body. Instead of traveling through those small screws. But yeah.... that would still mess with the string heights.
Click to expand...

SG, if you like the feel of the bass as is just wait 'till you get the neck tilt and bridge working together. You'll get better tone and sustain and it will play like butter. Prepare tobe spoiled...lol


ack said:
I couldn't agree more about the saddles...and the US Peavey's. I've owned my share over the years, but I've had to pare down to 4:
'85 Foundation, '91 Sarzo, '91 Koa Unity and a '94 Forum FL. Peavey USA made some great basses - certainly worth way more to a player than their street value dictates.
Click to expand...

Agreed it is easy to want them all. I've got it down to one bass period, my USA Mill 5er. But, I'll admit to having gas for a real USA Grind 5 (such a rare bird though). If I ever went back to a 4 string the Foundation S would be the bass I would seek out first. Argh......gas is such a dangerous thing :)
 
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#18
Worked on the one for the high school here. Some bonehead had stapled a piece of sandpaper under the end of the neck as a shim! Neck was bowed, trussrod maxed, saddles pegged, micro-tilt worked but does not correct neck bow. The neck got put in a press(support, clamp, reverse bend the neck) and a small spacer from Stew Mac was put in to allow more adjusting. It came here as a ski ramp and left setup like my best-playing bass. It gets re-checked this week after a few weeks and a road trip with high schoolers....

Your manual is here: Invalid Link Removed
The one that came here had no truss rod wrench and Peavey doesn't sell them. I found a very thin-walled socket set with a long T-wrench that worked fine for a few bucks at the local auto parts store. It also works on the T-40 here.

Picture of the bonehead shim is attached for amusement purposes.

GREAT bass when you get them right.
 

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