NBD: Peavey TL-Five

[Philbiker]

Well, I don't think I'm going to have to worry about it. The setup on this bass just needs an intonation and it will be spot-on. And I really like it!

I hope you aren't under the impression that setting the intonation on an ABM is anything like a standard Fender-style bridge with a screw and spring holding the intonation spot. Intonation on an ABM is a ROYAL PITB. Each saddle locks. And you can't adjust / unlock them without removing the string. So you have to remove the string, move the thing a millimeter, lock it, then re-tune the string. Still off? Start untuning again. They are very high end bridges, and very expensive - you'll see them on very high end instruments. But they are absolutely a nightmare to work with IMO.

The neck feels about halfway between my G-V (fairly thin) and my G&L (chunky). I don't LOVE the feel of the glossy back of the neck, but it's not bad. So far, I haven't noticed it feeling tacky.

Personally I love a painted back of the neck. My Dyna-Bass 5 was like your TL and I adored it!

The sound is very similar to my G-Bass with the Millennium preamp in it. I definitely prefer it to the sound of my stock G-V. But, the TL has a warmth (for lack of a better word) that the G-Bass tone doesn't have.

IMO it's a combination of wood instead of carbon fiber / graphite, and neck through construction. I'll bet the GV sounds more "snappy" and the TL sounds more "Smooth". They're both amazingly great sounding basses IME.

I have another Millennium preamp coming (should be tomorrow, I think) to go in my G-V. With that, I suspect it will become my main "clean" 5-string (because of the lighter weight and the neck). But, I'll just have to wait and see, I reckon. My "dirty" 5-string is still my G&L. It has a growl that the Peavey pickups just don't seem to produce.

I've owned 4 Peaveys, still own 3. In my experience their pickups are fairly polite sounding. They sound absolutely great, don't get me wrong, but they are not going to provide a lot of "dirty" sound - with some exceptions of course.

Nice bass!

 

[mangomango]

HOT bass mayne!

 

[StuartV]

Thanks, gents. Maybe the PITB factor on the intonation is why it seems to be so far out. Regardless, I'm taking it to my tech in the morning to clean the pots and do the intonation. He can experience the "pain". And the pleasure of playing with it.

I played the TL-Five at band rehearsal tonight. Man! I love it!