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Ordered another Peavey

egroeg

egroeg

Jul 20, 2021
221
1,314
#1
I recently got a 1989 Peavey Foundation S and am thoroughly impressed with it. So much so that I decided to add another one to the collection. Moving a guitar to make room. I have a 1 in 1 out "rule". Getting harder to do, lol.
Anyways I was going back and forth a 1984 Foundation and a 2001 USA Millenium, both used online at GC. Was a little skeptical of the active electronics on the Millenium but was leaning towards it because it was simply gorgeous. Really was having a time picking one. But then I found out the Millenium has a 35" scale. So I picked the Foundation. Really was a win/win situation either way.
The Foundation is tobacco burst or what I think is called rust to black burst? Appears to have a 4 or 5 piece flamed maple body. Thought that was cool/different looking. I'm expecting it to be heavy, the only other maple body I have is a 84 Kramer Pacer Imperial and it's heavier than most Les Pauls.
Has Super Ferrite pickups. So now I'll have the "set" Foundation S with the P/J pickups and the Foundation with the SF pickups.
I have a thing for 80s and 90s guitars and basses. This'll be #10 from then. Probably done buying for a bit now as I really don't know what I'd get rid of now, oh well 1st World problem.
Anyways here's some pics from the ad.
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Screenshot_20260711_191410_Chrome.jpg
Screenshot_20260711_191440_Chrome.jpg
Screenshot_20260711_191459_Chrome.jpg
Screenshot_20260711_191516_Chrome.jpg
 
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#6
Excellent find and it has the flying P metal knobbies! Those SF basses have such a broad range of possible tones but can be humming beasts when the pickups are soloed. Some nice flames there and know it was a happy accident as Peavey for the most part never cared about figured woods back then.
 
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#8
egroeg said:
I'm expecting it to be heavy, the only other maple body I have is a 84 Kramer Pacer Imperial and it's heavier than most Les Pauls.
Click to expand...
I expect you'll be surprised :)

Serial number and that 6 piece body suggest it's 'Naturalite '.

Towards the end of 1983 Peavey were playing with timber options, start of 1984 they had trademarked the term "Naturalalite" for their mix of gum/white meranti/cottonwood/walnut. It was a move to easier to source and machine materials, that they were lighter was a bonus :-)

Natural T40s were switched from ash to hackberry at the same time.

Peavey being Peavey, there was no way they were scrapping printed manuals to reflect the change :laugh:
 
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#9
kodiakblair said:
I expect you'll be surprised :)

Serial number and that 6 piece body suggest it's 'Naturalite '.

Towards the end of 1983 Peavey were playing with timber options, start of 1984 they had trademarked the term "Naturalalite" for their mix of gum/white meranti/cottonwood/walnut. It was a move to easier to source and machine materials, that they were lighter was a bonus :-)

Natural T40s were switched from ash to hackberry at the same time.

Peavey being Peavey, there was no way they were scrapping printed manuals to reflect the change :laugh:
Click to expand...
Naturalite? Never heard of that. Glad to hear it's lighter than I was expecting. Looks cool, I thought it was flame maple. I've never been one to get hung up on what wood my guitars and basses are made of.
Now I'm kinda hoping it's gonna be light.
 
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#11
egroeg said:
Naturalite? Never heard of that.
Click to expand...
No real reason you have heard of it.

It was just Peavey putting a name to a common practise, laminate bodies are nothing new. When the term failed to draw in the crowds it got dropped for " select hardwoods". Benefit of going vague was they didn't have to explain what "Naturalite" was and they could change materials as market prices fluctuated.

Scanned from the Peavey Guitars book.

Naturalite 4.jpg
 
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#13
mikeswals said:
I dont understand 1-in 1-out self imposed "rules". At this point if you have 3/4/5 instruments, the 1-something already doesn't nake sense.

Get get the dang bass if you want it. Theres no laws in how many one wants to have.
Click to expand...
I did get bass. 1 in 1 out is just something I do to keep from having what I consider too many. People do all kinds of stuff other people don't understand, different strokes.
 
#15
egroeg said:
Naturalite? Never heard of that. Glad to hear it's lighter than I was expecting. Looks cool, I thought it was flame maple. I've never been one to get hung up on what wood my guitars and basses are made of.
Now I'm kinda hoping it's gonna be light.
Click to expand...

Interesting Foundation there, with the multi-lam body. Nice find. It's an '83-'84. Looks like maple to me. I've had a couple with two-piece bursted flamed maple bodies, your is the first I've seen with that many body pieces. Dunno what other's ideas of "light weight" might be, but I'll be very surprised if it comes in under 9lbs. Love those early Foundations, have had a dozen over the years. Only one under 9lbs (8.5lbs). All the others were 9-9.5 lbs. Not ball busters, but not feather weights either. Put it on a scale and report back....curious minds 'n all! Cheers. :thumbsup:
 
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