Peavey T-40 Club Part 2

[Minirehak 212]

Really awesome score, they didn’t know what they had! The early “patent pending” models are the most desirable ones in my opinion, so you got a real gem. Of the three T-40s I’ve had - natural/maple ‘82, white/maple ‘80 and my current black/maple ‘79 - the older ones have sounded better to me, especially my 79.

I honestly couldn't believe it when she said I can take it home. The t40 is probably one of the only vintage basses that I've wanted. This thing sounds amazing though. I've only played my 5 string fretless Warwick Corvette for the past 2 years, and switching to this is a whole different beast. Definitely gave me some much needed inspiration

 

[Charley Umbria]

has anyone rewired a t40?

it has my favorite neck of all my basses

I just want the full range of single coil tone, and the full range of the humbucker tone

I actually don't like the way it is setup electrical

any thoughts on how I can accomplish this?

I've never rewired a T-40, but I did put a set of T-40 pickups into a P-Bass. Full details and photos are here.

The controls I settled on were master volume (push/pull for neck humbucker), pickup blend, phase switch, and master tone (push/pull for bridge humbucker). With the knobs in the down position, the pickups are in single coil mode, with the outer coils active.

As @ZachM said above, the interactive nature of the T-40's controls definitely contributes to the instrument's distinctive sound. T-40 designer Chip Todd used to recommend cutting each pickup's red coil tap wire, which would leave the pickup in permanent humbucking mode, but allow all of the pickup's high overtones to come through. The push/pull switch on each of my pickups essentially does the same thing. I'd say that there's a little more top end available, compared with the original T-40 wiring, but not enough that I'd rewire a T-40 to get it.

My goal with the "P-40" wasn't to make a lighter T-40, but to do something similar to Mike Lull's PT-4 or the Blacktop Precision: a P-Bass with two powerful humbuckers and a fairly conventional control scheme.

 

[Giffro]

 

[A9X]

^^ Wow, another Aussie T40. Never seen another apart from my 2 in the flesh locally.

 

[Cafiveoh]

So I just picked this one up tonight. It's an 81 and does need some new strings but she sounds great even with those rusted ones. Lol

Came with the original HSC as well. Soooo can I get a number?

 

[eldoryder]

Wow.....REALLY nice. Original control instruction decal even! I sure wish someone would reproduce those. They would look great on one of the new WD pickguards.

 

[Cafiveoh]

Wow.....REALLY nice. Original control instruction decal even! I sure wish someone would reproduce those. They would look great on one of the new WD pickguards.

Thank you!! It was a deal too good to pass up. She said her brother in law hadn't played it for a while and it really does look that way.

 

[Marc DLarosa]

What's up with this?

 

[BassikLee]

That's a little shelf to hold a snack until after your set

 

[Marc DLarosa]

That's a little shelf to hold a snack until after your set

Heck... I could put an entire Lobster tail on that. No wonder I put it in the closet 20 years ago, and forgot about it (EDIT; besides the 12.25lbs). On the bright side... She stayed pretty minty. LOL!!!

 

[lug]

What's up with this?
View attachment 4066565

I would have said it got hit by a car, but I don't think anything short of a tank would do that.

 

[Marc DLarosa]

I would have said it got hit by a car, but I don't think anything short of a tank would do that.

More like... "I left it in the closet too long, and it started GROWING."

 

[Cafiveoh]

Heck... I could put an entire Lobster tail on that. No wonder I put it in the closet 20 years ago, and forgot about it (EDIT; besides the 12.25lbs). On the bright side... She stayed pretty minty. LOL!!!

I thought mine was heavy at 11.3 pounds (well it is) but yours takes the cake!!! That is WOW heavy...lol

 

[Marc DLarosa]

I thought mine was heavy at 11.3 pounds (well it is) but yours takes the cake!!! That is WOW heavy...lol

Yeah... It's gotta go. I'm gonna be 53 years old soon. Don't even wanna play it sitting down.

 

[Cafiveoh]

Yeah... It's gotta go. I'm gonna be 53 years old soon. Don't even wanna play it sitting down.

I'm 51...just picked it up last week...had it professionally set up, put a new set of strings on it and I love the sound...BUT it's definitely the sit down and play bass.
I'm glad I found one, and the price was an absolute steal but I can completely understand why these aren't seen on tour much

 

[Marc DLarosa]

I'm 51...just picked it up last week...had it professionally set up, put a new set of strings on it and I love the sound...BUT it's definitely the sit down and play bass.
I'm glad I found one, and the price was an absolute steal but I can completely understand why these aren't seen on tour much

Tour? From My bedroom to My music room is only about 70 feet...

 

[BassikLee]

I refer to my ash T-40s as "chiropractor heavy". I have two of them, and two painted ones. The painted ones are rumored to be poplar. I know they are a good bit lighter than the ash ones.

 

[ZachM]

I refer to my ash T-40s as "chiropractor heavy". I have two of them, and two painted ones. The painted ones are rumored to be poplar. I know they are a good bit lighter than the ash ones.

I can confirm this, both of my colored T-40s (a white/maple 1980 and my current black/maple 79) were both a little over a pound lighter than my 1982 natural. The black one in particular is the lightest at just under 10.5 lbs, which leads me to think they got heavier as a whole over their production.

 

[UNICORN BASS]

I can confirm this, both of my colored T-40s (a white/maple 1980 and my current black/maple 79) were both a little over a pound lighter than my 1982 natural. The black one in particular is the lightest at just under 10.5 lbs, which leads me to think they got heavier as a whole over their production.

Don't we all.

 

[MetcalfBass]

Just scored a ‘79 today and was looking for some string recommendations. I mainly play a precision with Chromes, so a super long set of those is my first thought. TI flats are another option, as well as DR Hi Beams.

For context, I mostly play alt rock/grungish type stuff in a fairly loud three-piece band.

Thanks in advance for any insights/reco’s.

EDIT: ‘79