Peavey Sarzo bass question

[MNAirHead]

Howdy..

Cool basses.

Some of the Verdine Whites are rumored to have barts. On this bass, it does not appear to me to be a CNC route.. either the pickup installation or "router" was not accurate...

(I'm assuming the pix are good) note the 3 tabs do not line up.. to do the CNC, it's common to scan the part and then have CAD/CAM place the cuts.

Not a bad install.. not a production run.

During this era, it is within the realm of possibility to have a favor done in Merridian...

I'd error on the side of an aftermarket alteration.

-------

The "Starwars" logo is later.... the classic logo is earlier.


Nice basses.. guess an obsessive guy would extend to Verdine Whites, Unities and TL-5s

--------

I'd guess that it wouldn't be a Sarzo owned bass --- he's a bright enough biz guy to sell them to Hard Rock or Planet Holywood.

Nice basses --

Tim

 

[deedub72]

Howdy..

Cool basses.

Some of the Verdine Whites are rumored to have barts. On this bass, it does not appear to me to be a CNC route.. either the pickup installation or "router" was not accurate...

(I'm assuming the pix are good) note the 3 tabs do not line up.. to do the CNC, it's common to scan the part and then have CAD/CAM place the cuts.

Not a bad install.. not a production run.

During this era, it is within the realm of possibility to have a favor done in Merridian...

I'd error on the side of an aftermarket alteration.

-------

The "Starwars" logo is later.... the classic logo is earlier.


Nice basses.. guess an obsessive guy would extend to Verdine Whites, Unities and TL-5s

--------

I'd guess that it wouldn't be a Sarzo owned bass --- he's a bright enough biz guy to sell them to Hard Rock or Planet Holywood.

Nice basses --

Tim

Thanks for the info! As for the TL series I have a TL Six but it is up for sale.

 

[MNAirHead]

is the one with barts really an upgrade?

 

[Ebelow]

Hi, I had one! On your first posted photo the bottom one with the original Peavey pickup. And with the Sarzo autogramm small Peavey logo the end of headstock, that is the real origin!
the top one is origin to but to me seems like the Bartolinis is just someone put them there as I can see the factory original cut out from the body. also peavey always use own pickups. The top could be a later edition as someone TBers already told, since that Peavey logo came after the first one I say after the bottom of your pics bass, could be after 1992.

 

[Jester's Fury]

Nobody looking to buy your TL 6 up north D, sorry..... And why Didn't you say you had 5 of these bad boys!? I'd like to see how one stacks up against my BB1200S. I'm in HRL for the time being, but there's no work for me here.

Hope you're feeling better too!

As for these basses, I don't know much more than what MN already stated, but they look fantastic!

 

[deedub72]

Nobody looking to buy your TL 6 up north D, sorry..... And why Didn't you say you had 5 of these bad boys!? I'd like to see how one stacks up against my BB1200S. I'm in HRL for the time being, but there's no work for me here.

Hope you're feeling better too!

As for these basses, I don't know much more than what MN already stated, but they look fantastic!

Thanks for checking around, looks like the TL is sold just waiting on payment.

 

[deedub72]

is the one with barts really an upgrade?

I think it is, to me the bass seems to have a little more punch than the others. Also, that bass is not as heavy as the others, not to say they are heavy basses, this one is just on the lite side.

They are great basses, this one just out shines the others.

 

[MNAirHead]

Follow up...

Are both 9v systems?

Have the preamps been changed?

 

[deedub72]

Follow up...

Are both 9v systems?

Have the preamps been changed?

It is a 9v, not sure about the pre? I got it this way and have never opened it up.

 

[MNAirHead]

Just want to do real comparisons.

IN full disclosure.. I own basses with barts .. and bart preamps.;.. they do seem to be punchy with the correct setup

 

[MAGUS®]

I've owned 2 RS basses, the first being the mid red colour, and presently, i own a T-Black ( official peavey model colour ), which is the darkest red colour. There was a much lighter red version too. My rear preamp input adjuster screw never lined up with the cavity cover hole on my first bass, and neither does it with my current bass,... or at least it didnt, as the preamp has now gone

The specs

wide aperture ceramic pickups

active 3-band 9v EQ with +/- 8dB (50Hz) bass

peak/notch mid-control (100Hz to 2 kHz with notch centers at 300Hz and 1.5 kHz)

Treble centred at 2.5kHz with +/- 12dB

Mini-toggle bypasss witch for active and true passive (no battery required)

Treble/active control operates as passive tone in bypass mode

User set pre-amp input control in rear cavity


My current axe , the T- Black

My previous RS - the middle colour red model

And this is the 3rd red coloured model, the lightest shade of the 3 officially released colours

To my own tastes, the Ceramic Pups in this bass have blown away just about every other HB bass pup i've heard. I wouldnt swop these for Barts for love or money, as there would simply be no improvement


PS - if anyone knows where i can grab another full spec onboard Preamp, cos i wrecked mine years ago. AFAIK, they fitted the same preamps in the Dynabass

 

[MNAirHead]

They do look like the same layout as a TL or Dyna.

Are you looking for something that will fit?

I may be interested in pulling a TL preamp.. unfortunately haven't pulled the board on a Sarzo to see what it's marked at.

 

[Korladis]

I agree with the poster who suggested pulling out one of the pickups to see if there are extra screw holes underneath. If so, the bartolinis may have been added later. If not, it was probably a custom one-off that came that way.

 

[mech]

PS - if anyone knows where i can grab another full spec onboard Preamp, cos i wrecked mine years ago. AFAIK, they fitted the same preamps in the Dynabass

DynaBass, Sarzo and early 5 knob TL-5 preamps are the same.

mech

 

[MNAirHead]

Last time I checked Meridian didn't have any sitting around.

Unfortunately trashed actives of this era don't really come up .... periodically a defretted or monsterfied will.

 

[MAGUS®]

Thanks for the info on preamps guys. I checked the images for Dynabasses, and only certain models have the 5 pot + passive / active switch pre.
As you say, the TL-5 looks identical, and of course , any RS Trans will fit too

Yeah i'd be dead lucky to find a preamp floating around on its own for sale. Like you say, maybe a devalued one / defretted / frankenpeavey

I guess its a long shot , but i occasionally check bass forums, and have been for a few years. Ya never know

Airhead - i used to have a .pdf of the RS preamp board but i managed to lose it , so i cant help in that area

 

[MNAirHead]

There are some of the preamps that have this config... folks that install preamps usually pick the wrong one first...

bass/mid/hi.... pickup selector pot.... volume..... I know some barts use mini pots.. this may be an easier option.

 

[MAGUS®]

Good point about picking the wrong preamp

I did some looking around for identical pre's to the Dyna/TL5/RS and came up with a company by the name of Knoll.

They seem to make one that works, but the cost is big

 

[MNAirHead]

OPINION -- I own basses with different preamps.. .. I'd be buying a used mistake.

I've yet to find a preamp I couldn't dial in a useful sound.

I own a bass with a knoll --- nice but not that nice.


In USD it's common to find these in the $50 range.

 

[MAGUS®]

I'd heard good things about the Knolls. I think an Aguilar could fit the bill, but like anything in the UK, the prices are hiked up beyond what is acceptable. Americans wouldnt stand for hiked prices, but the Brits just pay up while giving out a feeble whinge

The only way i'd get a pre of the sort that i need is to find one in the USA, used/2nd hand of course. Trouble is, most private classifieds sellers wont post to the UK. Its usually only businesses selling new gear that post international