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Peavey T-40 Club Part 2
- Thread starter Bryan R. Tyler
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So my T-40 dream has turned into a nightmare...
I bought my T-40 on CL. When I tried it out I noticed that the action seemed high and it needed a neck adjustment but overall it seemed in good shape.
Once I got it home I started noting that the neck pick up seemed to be cutting out periodically. Which I was not overly concerned about. I figured it just needed a good once over by a tech. The thing is over 20 years old it's bound to have some minor issues.... Then I found the big one....
I knew from the beginning that the neck needed an adjustment. So I take the cover off the truss rod and realized I needed a special wrench to adjust the truss rod. So I order a wrench online. Once the wrench arrives I give the truss rod a quarter turn and let it sit for 24 hours. I Check the bass again the next day and decide to give it another quarter turn. I started to turn the truss rod and it locks up. It is maxed out...
I'm going to take it to a good tech in my area but I'm pretty sure I have to get a new neck or try to heat the neck up to reset it....
I bought my T-40 on CL. When I tried it out I noticed that the action seemed high and it needed a neck adjustment but overall it seemed in good shape.
Once I got it home I started noting that the neck pick up seemed to be cutting out periodically. Which I was not overly concerned about. I figured it just needed a good once over by a tech. The thing is over 20 years old it's bound to have some minor issues.... Then I found the big one....
I knew from the beginning that the neck needed an adjustment. So I take the cover off the truss rod and realized I needed a special wrench to adjust the truss rod. So I order a wrench online. Once the wrench arrives I give the truss rod a quarter turn and let it sit for 24 hours. I Check the bass again the next day and decide to give it another quarter turn. I started to turn the truss rod and it locks up. It is maxed out...
I'm going to take it to a good tech in my area but I'm pretty sure I have to get a new neck or try to heat the neck up to reset it....
Don't get too dismayed too early. It took me about a month to get my T-40 playable and probably another month before it became the amazing, slightly scary beast it is now.
There are lots of reasons why you're seeing what you're seeing with the neck and its trussrod—and a number of ways that it might be brought back to proper camber by a good tech. [BTW, this topic turns up repeatedly in the very enjoyable YouTube channel by fellow Canuck Dave in "Dave's Fun World of Stuff".] Start here.
So I took my T-40 to my local guitar tech. He said that the truss rod was still functional but the neck had serious humps that were not going to be fixed with the truss rod. It needs new frets and the neck needs to be reset with heat to get it straight.
Looks like it can be saved. My guitar tech said he would take pics for me.
Looks like it can be saved. My guitar tech said he would take pics for me.
What a surprise to see my mug gracing this thread. Would you kindly accept me as a member? I have pictures.
The first is essentially the same bass I had as a young player when I didn't really know what I had.
The second is the actual bass I had as a young player.
The third is the first T40 I got when I began my nostalgic buying binge. I seriously overpaid for this one but it still had the plastic film covering the pick guard and I was willing to pay for a truly mint condition instrument.
It's funny, but I paid about half as much for the natural one and it is in nearly as good condition as the white one.
The first is essentially the same bass I had as a young player when I didn't really know what I had.
The second is the actual bass I had as a young player.
The third is the first T40 I got when I began my nostalgic buying binge. I seriously overpaid for this one but it still had the plastic film covering the pick guard and I was willing to pay for a truly mint condition instrument.
It's funny, but I paid about half as much for the natural one and it is in nearly as good condition as the white one.
A NEW T40 STABLEMATE!!!!!
I have lusted after a "one-year-only" (1982, according to Scott Groves) WHITE T40 since I first saw one. Lo and behold, my local music store (Encore Music in Nacogdoches) had just gotten one in yesterday. Within seconds of seeing it, I was trying to figure out how I could get it home before someone else scooped it up at the low price they had marked on it. Being cash poor at the moment didn't help.
I considered a couple of Squier VMs I had snagged cheaply during the MF "Blowout" at the end of their model year, and offered up a possible trade. The owner Dana agreed to my terms, and he and I both got something we needed more. A good trade is one in which each party goes away thinking they got the better deal!
I got it home, put it through its paces, and am satisfied. It plays great, and just needs a little "Quitrol" on the pots to make it perfect. It will also acquire the obligatory set of Fender 9050 SS flats. The only non-stock parts I could find were the two toggle switches, and someone has replaced the metal nut with a plastic one. I should be able to rectify those minor problems easily.
Here's my new T40 Family Portrait:
Life is GOOD! In addition to these, I have an extra T40 body, and two necks that need work. I'm thinking about trying to build a "Hot Rod" T40 with maybe two Guild Bi-Sonics in place of the missing original Peavey humbuckers. Maybe some body lightening and a wild custom pickguard as well. We shall see.....
I have lusted after a "one-year-only" (1982, according to Scott Groves) WHITE T40 since I first saw one. Lo and behold, my local music store (Encore Music in Nacogdoches) had just gotten one in yesterday. Within seconds of seeing it, I was trying to figure out how I could get it home before someone else scooped it up at the low price they had marked on it. Being cash poor at the moment didn't help.
I considered a couple of Squier VMs I had snagged cheaply during the MF "Blowout" at the end of their model year, and offered up a possible trade. The owner Dana agreed to my terms, and he and I both got something we needed more. A good trade is one in which each party goes away thinking they got the better deal!
I got it home, put it through its paces, and am satisfied. It plays great, and just needs a little "Quitrol" on the pots to make it perfect. It will also acquire the obligatory set of Fender 9050 SS flats. The only non-stock parts I could find were the two toggle switches, and someone has replaced the metal nut with a plastic one. I should be able to rectify those minor problems easily.
Here's my new T40 Family Portrait:
Life is GOOD! In addition to these, I have an extra T40 body, and two necks that need work. I'm thinking about trying to build a "Hot Rod" T40 with maybe two Guild Bi-Sonics in place of the missing original Peavey humbuckers. Maybe some body lightening and a wild custom pickguard as well. We shall see.....
A NEW T40 STABLEMATE!!!!!
I have lusted after a "one-year-only" (1982, according to Scott Groves) WHITE T40 since I first saw one. Lo and behold, my local music store (Encore Music in Nacogdoches) had just gotten one in yesterday. Within seconds of seeing it, I was trying to figure out how I could get it home before someone else scooped it up at the low price they had marked on it. Being cash poor at the moment didn't help.
I considered a couple of Squier VMs I had snagged cheaply during the MF "Blowout" at the end of their model year, and offered up a possible trade. The owner Dana agreed to my terms, and he and I both got something we needed more. A good trade is one in which each party goes away thinking they got the better deal!
I got it home, put it through its paces, and am satisfied. It plays great, and just needs a little "Quitrol" on the pots to make it perfect. It will also acquire the obligatory set of Fender 9050 SS flats. The only non-stock parts I could find were the two toggle switches, and someone has replaced the metal nut with a plastic one. I should be able to rectify those minor problems easily.
Here's my new T40 Family Portrait:
Life is GOOD! In addition to these, I have an extra T40 body, and two necks that need work. I'm thinking about trying to build a "Hot Rod" T40 with maybe two Guild Bi-Sonics in place of the missing original Peavey humbuckers. Maybe some body lightening and a wild custom pickguard as well. We shall see.....
Nice! I have a black 82' that I call Darth Vader. I want a white one some day to be Luke Skywalker.
Thanks! I'm gonna have to get a black one some day. If I do, I'm going to order one of those black-and-white checkerboard pickguards to put on it!
Wonderful stuff @eldoryder
I've been after a white T-40 as well. Last year Flat Eric,an English fella with many T-40's,announced he was thinking of selling up and would interested parties contact him.
Told him to put me down for a white one. Just need to sit tight until the time comes
I've been after a white T-40 as well. Last year Flat Eric,an English fella with many T-40's,announced he was thinking of selling up and would interested parties contact him.
Told him to put me down for a white one. Just need to sit tight until the time comes
kodiak!!!!!!!! Are you freakin' KIDDING me? Flat Eric is selling off????!!!
Jeez, that guy has a marvelous selection of flawless, museum-quality vintage Peaveys. His blogs have pictures of the most heartbreakingly beautiful T40s I have EVER seen. I have used his writings as serious research and a definitive source for my burgeoning Peavey collection. I cannot believe he is actually considering letting them go. (Sigh!) Distance and low cash reserves is what will keep me from ruining myself financially to try and get in on a "once-in-a-lifetime" chance to own a piece of his Vintage Peavey GOLD.
Jeez, that guy has a marvelous selection of flawless, museum-quality vintage Peaveys. His blogs have pictures of the most heartbreakingly beautiful T40s I have EVER seen. I have used his writings as serious research and a definitive source for my burgeoning Peavey collection. I cannot believe he is actually considering letting them go. (Sigh!) Distance and low cash reserves is what will keep me from ruining myself financially to try and get in on a "once-in-a-lifetime" chance to own a piece of his Vintage Peavey GOLD.
A NEW T40 STABLEMATE!!!!!
I have lusted after a "one-year-only" (1982, according to Scott Groves) WHITE T40 since I first saw one. Lo and behold, my local music store (Encore Music in Nacogdoches) had just gotten one in yesterday. Within seconds of seeing it, I was trying to figure out how I could get it home before someone else scooped it up at the low price they had marked on it. Being cash poor at the moment didn't help.
I considered a couple of Squier VMs I had snagged cheaply during the MF "Blowout" at the end of their model year, and offered up a possible trade. The owner Dana agreed to my terms, and he and I both got something we needed more. A good trade is one in which each party goes away thinking they got the better deal!
I got it home, put it through its paces, and am satisfied. It plays great, and just needs a little "Quitrol" on the pots to make it perfect. It will also acquire the obligatory set of Fender 9050 SS flats. The only non-stock parts I could find were the two toggle switches, and someone has replaced the metal nut with a plastic one. I should be able to rectify those minor problems easily.
Here's my new T40 Family Portrait:
Life is GOOD! In addition to these, I have an extra T40 body, and two necks that need work. I'm thinking about trying to build a "Hot Rod" T40 with maybe two Guild Bi-Sonics in place of the missing original Peavey humbuckers. Maybe some body lightening and a wild custom pickguard as well. We shall see.....
That's lovely! An excellent addition to your stable.
I few possible corrections. I don't think the one-year theory for white is correct as mine was dated to 1980. As for the nut, '82 is around the time that they switched over to plastic/nylon nut so it may be original. The switches might also be original, but I really don't know. A rounded top switch did replace the previous design in the second half of production. Unfortunatley, I know that alot of T-40's had their switches replaced so I can't tell you for sure. You might have to open it up to find out.
Regardless a very nice score on a bass that, while probably not as rare as you thought, may turn out to be be more "original".
I had a similar bass that actually ended up loaded with darkstars for a while. What's the weight on yours compared to the ash models? Painted T-40's were made with Poplar (excepting a couple early alder examples) which is supposed to be lighter than northern ash, but my self and others have found that they often seem heavier than their natural brethren.
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May I have a number, please. Bought this and it should be here in a day or two. Seller's pic. Serial # puts it as a 1981.
That is sweet! I'm not sure I've ever seen a Black Toaster T-40 with rosewood board. A very nice subdued look.May I have a number, please. Bought this and it should be here in a day or two. Seller's pic. Serial # puts it as a 1981.
Dat's purty. I'd like to find a Sienna Burst with a rosewood board. Mine has a maple board, but it just doesn't look as nice IMO.
[/QUOTE]The only non-stock parts I could find were the two toggle switches.....[/QUOTE]
That sure is a nice one. A look at the soldering on the switches should tell in they are original. I'd bet they and the top nut are.
I don't remember seeing one either. Look at the saddles. Not a speck of corrosion I can see....no rusty pickup mounting screws. The pickguard needs to be replaced. Too many extra screws. Paid more than I really wanted to with no case but I let a really nice red one with a rosewood board slip by a while back while I dithered around about the price. I've kicked my butt about it ever since.
That sure is a nice one. A look at the soldering on the switches should tell in they are original. I'd bet they and the top nut are.
I don't remember seeing one either. Look at the saddles. Not a speck of corrosion I can see....no rusty pickup mounting screws. The pickguard needs to be replaced. Too many extra screws. Paid more than I really wanted to with no case but I let a really nice red one with a rosewood board slip by a while back while I dithered around about the price. I've kicked my butt about it ever since.
