NBD. Vintage Peavey Content.

[Eilif]

I'm very happy with my bass stable. It's been nearly unchanged for about 8 years and with real life responsibilities I've been unable to justify many additions. However, I'm a big fan of the T-40 (I've got a Natural '79) and for about 7 years now I've had my eye out for a T-45. Specifically a Burgundy or Sunburst example in my "budget" price range.

Thanks to a gentleman on Craigslist I've found one. It's in excellent shape with a couple of minor scuffs, but no damage through the finish. The metal is flawless and shiny. It included a case that's also in great shape with intact carpet and latches. This bass is really clean and has not been played much. My only quibble is that the body is a regular butcher block, though when I'm playing my arm does lay over the most egregious join. I do love the really strong grain though.

Came with a set of Fender Tapewounds which seem make the E string a bit louder than the rest, but I'll probably switch them out for a set of Fender Pure Nickels. Now I've just got to figure out exactly what the mystery mid knob does.

 

[dedpool1052]

Nice bass.
Here's a pretty good demo of one going over the various sounds

 

[Crusher47]

Sweet bass! Enjoy!

 

[Dr. Cheese]

Man, that sounds great and I wish I had one!

 

[Eilif]

Thanks Folks,
I just downloaded the manual from peavey and it looks like the middle knob functions very much like the tone/coil-tap combo knob on my t-40. I'm going to watch that video right now.

 

[Eilif]

Minor update. Checked the Serial # and it looks like this is from the first year of production, 1982!
This and making comparisons to my '79 T-40 tells me a few things about the T-series basses.

-It seems confirm that the T-45 always had blade pickups, plastic nuts and contoured bodies. 3 features that are different on the eary T-40's (toaster pickups, metal nuts and slab backed bodies), but were incorporated into later t-40's
-This suggests that perhaps plastic nuts (like this one has) and were probably standard on the T-Series basses by '82. I'd be curious to know if anyone has an '83 or later T-40 with a metal nut.
-The T-45 has 21 frets to the T-40's 20 frets.
-The Body on the t-45 is a smidge shorter and a few mm's thinner. The cutaway is deeper and the lower horn is correspondingly moved towards the butt of the instrument. The horns are slightly slimmer as well on the t-45.
-The overall length of the t-45 is just a smidge shorter than the t-40.

I'd also be interested to know if the contoured body was changed on the T-40 before, at the same time as, or after the T-45.

 

[yakmastermax]

The wood is beautiful!

 

[Eilif]

The wood is beautiful!

Thanks!
At first I was a bit turned off by the mismatched grain, but it seems to be a common thing with these early T-45's. The later sunburst examples don't seem to be quite as mismatched, but they also don't have a strong grain pattern, maybe they aren't ash bodied?. I really like bold woodgrain and I find it's growing on me.