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NBD: Peavey Foundation

#24
HNBD!

A 92 fretless foundation was my first bass, still have it!
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It was my dad’s bass that had been long been tucked away in a case in the basement (after he got a Zon & a Carvin) until I pulled it out of retirement around 2003.

But, here’s evidence I’d been thumping on it since at least 94!
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#25
My one and only fretless was a Foundation 2000 lined fretless. Never played it much, but it was a great playing and sounding bass. If the neck had been fretted, I would probably still have it today and not own some of the Fenders I have now.
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#28
Wavy said:
Congratulations

I hope the Foundations don't weigh as much as my '78 T-40. :) Which I didn't regret selling until seeing the asking prices just now.
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No, in fact it's a really light bass.

I got to play it a bit more last night and I have to say that I'm loving this bass even more. The neck is amazing, plays like butter, so confortable and easy.
The tone is great as well, neck pickup sounds p-bassish, bridge pickup has meat on it and doesn't sound thin at all, and both pickups give you that j-bass feel but fuller and with more body.
Now I get the hype among those who own or have played these basses. These sound and feel really good. They're amazing basses at a great value. The more I play it the more I like it.
 
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#29
marmadaddy said:
One thing I noticed about your bass is that the knobs don't appear to be original. Look at mine, it has the orignal lightning knobs.
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The OPs bass is several years after the metal “P” knobs were discontinued. His knobs appears to be original for the year model. The metal P knobs were ‘83 up to maybe ‘85, I’m not for sure. My ‘87 came with plastic speed knobs which have a rubber grip around the top edge. The OPs string tree is the “bar” type with two screws instead of the “triangle”, & the headstock logo has “Foundation” in larger font followed by “Peavey” in smaller font, where yours has “Peavey” first in larger font followed by “Foundation in smaller font. This puts the OPs bass around a ‘90 model. Yours is an ‘83-‘84 or so.
 
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#30
Tim Skaggs said:
The OPs bass is several years after the metal “P” knobs were discontinued. His knobs appears to be original for the year model. The metal P knobs were ‘83 up to maybe ‘85, I’m not for sure. My ‘87 came with plastic speed knobs which have a rubber grip around the top edge. The OPs string tree is the “bar” type with two screws instead of the “triangle”, & the headstock logo has “Foundation” in larger font followed by “Peavey” in smaller font, where yours has “Peavey” first in larger font followed by “Foundation in smaller font. This puts the OPs bass around a ‘90 model. Yours is an ‘83-‘84 or so.
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Exactly. The serial number dates my bass to 1990.
 
#32
marmadaddy said:
Nice! Interesting Peavey Foundation story time:

I bought one brand new in 1984 from Smith Brothers Music in Merritt Island FL. The guitar player in my band worked there and he told me that they couldn't keep these basses in stock, except they had two that wouldn't sell: a pink one and a purple one. He offered to sell me my choice at cost. I picked the pink one. Loved it.

A few years later, I sold it and almost immediately regretted it. From that moment on, I've had my eye out for another in the same color. It's been over 30 years. I've come close a few times, I once had a seller renege at the last second. I've reached out to a few people on this site that owned one requesting that if they ever wanted to sell theirs to please contact me before listing it.

Earlier this year I was in a hotel room in Florida the night before getting on a cruise ship for a gig. I checked my email and there was a message from someone I had reached out to saying they weren't selling theirs, but there was currently one on eBay that looked to be in good shape. I checked the listing and clicked "Buy" about 1 minute later. The bass is in absolutely mint shape and even has the original HSC.

Here's the thing though: the cruise ship was leaving from Port Canaveral. The hotel was in Merritt Island, about 1 mile from where Smith Bros. Music used to be. I hadn't been in that town in at least 35 years. So I've bought two pink 1984 Peavey Foundations, 39 years apart, and both times I was in Merritt Island, FL.

One thing I noticed about your bass is that the knobs don't appear to be original. Look at mine, it has the orignal lightning knobs. I have a set that I'd be willing to sell from a "barn find" Foundation I bought thinking I might restore, but it turned out to be unsalvageable. LMK if you're interested.

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That "salmon" bass is so hard to find. There was a time when I was collectiong foundations... now I've settled for a Black fretless, A 1st Gen sunburst, and a Sparkle red 1 st gen.

You say you've got some lighning bolt knobs? I'd be interested...

CHAINSAW CASES: a little tip, go to your local fabric store and get some stick on felt to put on the plastic door cover. Most foundations that had the chainsaw case end out with a rough spot on the back ot the neck where it rubs on the door.
 
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#36
Nunovsky said:
No, in fact it's a really light bass.

I got to play it a bit more last night and I have to say that I'm loving this bass even more. The neck is amazing, plays like butter, so confortable and easy.
The tone is great as well, neck pickup sounds p-bassish, bridge pickup has meat on it and doesn't sound thin at all, and both pickups give you that j-bass feel but fuller and with more body.
Now I get the hype among those who own or have played these basses. These sound and feel really good. They're amazing basses at a great value. The more I play it the more I like it.
Click to expand...
Are you talking like 8 lbs? Btw, what strings are you using?
 
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