• 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: Something I'll NEVER understand

Dark Horse

Dark Horse

Jul 31, 2008
11,869
21,977
Austin, TX
#1
You know, one thing that always boggles me is the extent to which some of the old USA Peavey basses (and guitars) are undervalued. I mean, come on. I just got back from a pawn shop a few minutes ago, and they had a old Peavey Foundation Bass that had been sitting there for over a year. I has a bad volume pot, needs clean up, a setup (desperately), and new strings, but overall is just a QUALITY instrument. The Super Ferrites are great pickups, it has a great feeling neck, etc..

So knowing that it has been there for ages, I talked to the store manager for a few moments, basically said "this has been here forever, needs a pot replaced, setup, etc.... how badly would you like to sell it "? To which he replied "what are you offering ?"

Well, I walked out of the store with a new (to me) USA Peavey Foundation Bass for the incredibly expensive sum of $70 ! Yep....SEVENTY DOLLARS !

Pics will have to wait till later, as my girlfriend has the camera....maybe I'll just take a cellphone pic to tie everyone over till I can take good ones.

But yeah.... $70.

So now I'm polishing her up, doing a setup, replacing the pots (only one needs replaced, but I usually just replace them all on something like this)...looks like a fun day for me !

:hyper:
 
#2
Peavey made a very bad name for itself back in the '70s, and the name Peavey has suggested "cheap and crappy" ever since. It's not really fair, since they started building much, much better gear later on, when Peavey first hit the market... Yikes! Their amps & PA gear were just *awful*. Yes, they were very affordable, but they were the... well, the Yugo of music gear back then - and that rep has lingered. So you are right - the well-built US basses *are* a steal, much like Carvin. But just don't buy on old Peavey PA head or amp (by old, I mean pre-1985)
 
#4
BigOldHarry said:
So you are right - the well-built US basses *are* a steal, much like Carvin. But just don't buy on old Peavey PA head or amp (by old, I mean pre-1985)
Click to expand...

Good advice for the most part - one thing about the old Peavey heads though - they're pretty much indestructible, so if you need a cheap, reliable backup, they aren't half bad . They (usually) won't sound as good as a Markbass/Genz/Mesa/Ashdown/etc , but if you need something to get you through the gig, they're great. They also are great for an "old school punk" type sound.
 
#7
Thats awesome any peavey i have had the chance to play or won was well worth the price. Most of there equipment stands the test of time, i picked up a peavey mark VI head and behringer cab for 300$ a year ago great head for the price and older then me, the cab not so great.
 
#11
KUNGfuSHERIFF said:
Not exactly. I have a '78 Centurion head that I use as a backup. It's still ticking 31 years after it left the factory. Get back to me in 2040 with a Behringer amp that's been gigged all that time and still works.
Click to expand...

haha all the behringers made now will be thrashed in 5 years if that i picked my head up and forgot it was pluged into my behringer cab and broke the jack right off of it , it was made of plastic that is now super glued.
 
#14
Here are bad cell phone pics. As soon as my girlfriend gets back with the camera I'll take better pics, though I'll probably wait till tomorrow. Right now I have it cleaned up a bunch - need to replace pots and string /setup...had to run out for a bit.

PF1.png
PF2.png
PF3.png
 
#16
HogieWan said:
was it marked $70? If so, you could have gotten them below $50
Click to expand...

You didn't read the initial post, did you ? :D You know, where it says ....

this has been here forever, needs a pot replaced, setup, etc.... how badly would you like to sell it "? To which he replied "what are you offering ?"

Well, I walked out of the store with a new (to me) USA Peavey Foundation Bass for the incredibly expensive sum of $70 ! Yep....SEVENTY DOLLARS !
Click to expand...


Which would indicate that I did some wheeling and dealing with him....

BTW....it was marked $159.99


:D
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back