Peavey Basses

[ctmullins]

So Anyway, I was going to make the same Carvin comparison. I've always thought all Peavey/Carvin USA models were well-made and undervalued, especially on the used market.
Mississippi VS California....Peavey's are Pick Up Trucks and Carvin's are Convertibles.

America loves pickups waaaaaaaay more than convertibles....

 

[jjk2007]

I was on the edge of making a post about my first gen TL-Five I’ve had for the last 8-9 years now and saw this thread when it started the other day. I’ve had all sorts of basses in all my years of playing and the TL-Five is as finely crafted as the majority of them. I’m not sure what all the different manufacturer's had going on back in 89, but the angled headstock, ebony board, concave body, neck thru carve and maple top they used were all top notch. They do have a thin and narrow spaced neck (which some love….some don’t….I don’t mind) and I’m not fully up on my history, but I think the pickups are basically the 4 string size put onto a 5 string body, which I’ve heard people have some minor complaints about, but was later addressed on the 2nd gen model. I have swapped out my stock preamp for a Tone Monster which seems to work well in this bass but I wouldn’t call it a huge upgrade….just another flavor of good. I’ve posted about this bass before as I bought it from Stu Cood (CCR) after he had used it when playing for Southern Pacific. Peavey gave him two…this one and a blue one. He modified the blue one but said he used this one the most as it just fit the mix well and played like a dream. I agree!

 

[crazycloud]

That TL5 looks sweet.

 

[Major Seven]

I have never understood why USA Peavey basses are so inexpensive on the used market. They’re well made, play well and sound great. I think it’s perception more than reality affecting them.

Shhh. Quiet.

 

[jjk2007]

That TL5 looks sweet.

My guess is Peavey picked out one of the better figured TL’s they had on hand to send Stu. The flame on this one pops nicely.

 

[Luther]

What am I missing about Peavey basses? They have some really dirt cheap ones and then insanely expensive ones. Nothing in between.

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I love my USA Millennium Plus 4.

 

[Larryfales]

What am I missing about Peavey basses? They have some really dirt cheap ones and then insanely expensive ones. Nothing in between.

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I grab the older USA models up whenever I get the opportunity. If you get the chance the late 80s Foundation and Furys with the pinstriped headstocks

are truly amazing instruments.

 

[ATLbassist]

I've saved three Super Ferrite Peaveys from Goodwill over the past several years - the latest one being a mahogany bodied Foundation. I'm a Mississippi native, so Peavey gear will always be a bit nostalgic for me. But definitely don't sleep on those 80s USA basses! It's funny - like others, I thought they were just middling beginner gear until I actually started playing them. Now I have 6! Plus, it's always nice to tick off the gear snobs.

 

[Kenova]

I have '87. Peavey Patriot (mahogany). It's bass I played most live of all of my basses, it was mid tier bass in line up but it's better built then my USA Jazz bass.

 

[MNAirHead]

So... hopefully I can help (assuming this is a legit question)

The bass production went through phases...

1. "working band's gear at a working man's price"... made in america
2. Our American student guitars are student priced
3. Our American instruments compete with other american instrumetns
4. We figured out how to accurately make botique comparison instruments consistentl
5. 5 we can assemble instruments in the USA that guitar center can sell
6. We can make American quality instruments over seas
7. We make starter budget instruments overseas
8. We can test the market for nostalgia
   
   IF you can find the "we can do production line botiques" or " our copies of American basses are just as good" that has not been owned by someone who hacked it, they are incredible when setup correctly.
   
   I own $$$$ snob bases... Am down to about 7 american peaveys. My preferred model is exactly like it's 3 other siblings.
   
   My preferred model is easily on par with my snobby European true custom botiques... my plain 4 strings are on par with my snobb USA fenders.
   
   The problem is that they were sold low price and shipped with a tool kit... kids would dork them up... sit them in a corner etc. ... like any instrument, you really want one that wasn't intentionally messed up and damaged
   
   ----
   
   Guitar collectors snap up some transition to international designs as this was the roots and foundation good quality assurance of Asian instruments.

 

[Giffro]

2nd Model 1991 active Peavey Dyna 5 Bass with the flat top humbuckers, not the Super Ferrites.
They were used for a short time since the passive and active VFLs were in development and replaced them. (1st model had Super Ferrites.)
It has been a magnificent workhorse bass since the 90's to current date career and I will never sell it.

 

[Runnerman]

What's special.....a few things.....

The toaster pickup
The Super Ferrite pickup
The VFL pickup
Fantastic in house pre's
Quality construction on USA made models
Koa and Mahogany bodies that sing
I could go on.

 

[MNAirHead]

What's special.....a few things.....

The toaster pickup
The Super Ferrite pickup
The VFL pickup
Fantastic in house pre's
Quality construction on USA made models
Koa and Mahogany bodies that sing
I could go on.

You forgot people thinking we're stupid for saying "my fury is better than my USA P"... and "my millenium is better than my european botique" and "I'd buy a random mail order USA peavey... not sure I'd do that with most folks dream basses"

we should get little awards for being the champions of fact nobody cares about.

bad news... some mole in the room let the word out, we no longer find foundations, furies and other USA stuff in dumpsters, yard sales and goodwill --- prices also left the $25 range

 

[JimiLL]

I bought my 1999 Peavey Cirrus for about $1000 a few years ago. I want for nothing else.

Me too. Carlo walnut 5

 

[dabbler]

... Donated to a couple churches, a school and sold at a significant discount to students. ...

Kudos to you for investing in our up and coming musicians!

 

[UNICORN BASS]

I've never owned one, but when they first came out i played several. I was outraged by the price but that passed as soon as i played it!

 

[JoeyFab]

My "good" bass is a Peavey Cirrus 5. Got it lightly used back around 2010 for about $700 with case. It's not a USA model; it's made in Indonesia, but it does have the graphite headstock, VFL pickups, and 18-Volt preamp. It's my fav because it's so versatile in tone, compared to my others (Yamaha RBX-775, Jackson X Series Spectra SBXM IV, Sterling by Music Man SB14, Schecter Diamond Series Stiletto Elite 5). GREAT value and performance, IMHO! Not-quite-boutique tone and quality for a very reasonable price. The newly released ones are CRAZY expensive! (The pic was from back in 2015 at an outdoor festival called FARMAGEDDON...my hair is much shorter now and, no, I don't wear cargo shorts onstage anymore. However, I DID blow up the G-K cab behind me at that gig!) Still play it routinely. (And yes, that IS my bassface!)

 

[Nuisance]

Of all the basses I have parted with, my sienna burst '79. I should have never sold it.

This is why I no longer own my T-40. Loved it.....but hated the weight.

 

[MNAirHead]

This is why I no longer own my T-40. Loved it.....but hated the weight.

they told me it was nuts when my sienna burst with Fretted (and fretless - same serial number) sold for $850


I hated that bulky turd

 

[Brandon Shea]

I grab the older USA models up whenever I get the opportunity. If you get the chance the late 80s Foundation and Furys with the pinstriped headstocks View attachment 7421273are truly amazing instruments.

One of these just popped up at a shop near me... I think I might have to stop by to try it out! The price seems too good to be true.