Peavey T-40 Club

[pepelaici]

Wait till you drop your '85 T40 tail first on your big toe with no shoes on ... >_< 'Solid' is not exactly the first thing that comes to mind when that happens. LOL!!! Though its the reason why you are making up 'colorful' metaphors as you hobble away.

I once read that T-40 basses were build like a Sherman Tank... And it's tru !!!!!!!

 

[kingpin2512]

Milo your #62. Glad we're your first club.

 

[milothefultz]

Very nice.

 

[roxtar]

The T-40 has been my first bass, my bass for the last 5 years, and, unless something changes, my bass for a long time to come. I recently got around to really tuning it to my liking...tightening up the truss rod, adjusting individual sting actions, etc. and the thing sounds golden. Only thing that's happened is that the flimsy little pickup switch snapped off, so I just soldered the underside of the switch to the two-pickup position. Love it!

 

[davidgsanpablo]

Spanish:
Hola amigos, soy español y tengo un Peavey T-40 de 1982 (01013907) con el uso y el paso del tiempo se han ido deteriorando algunas partes, las clavijas y los selectores, además la pastilla del puente se le pudrió y se le instaló una Dimarzio single todo lo demas sigue intacto.
Recientemente conseguí los diagramas (Gracias AlvaBass) y me puse aver si conseguía arreglarlo.
Fui a una tienda de electrónica y compre un selector de 2 posiciones y otro de 3, el de 2 funciona bien pero el de 3 no he conseguido que haga su trabajo, el que trae de fábrica es especial?
Se que hay los de On-Off-On y los de On-On-On ¿cual es el que se necesita para el T-40?
Muchas gracias y perdonad la mala traducción.


English:
Hello friends, I am Spanish and I have a Peavey T-40, 1982 (01013907) with the use and the passage of time have eroded some parts, plugs and selectors, plus the bridge pickup is rotted and will be installed a single Dimarzio everything else remains intact.
Recently got the charts (thanks AlvaBass) and I managed to fix it if aver.
I went to an electronics store and buy a switch positions 2 and 3, the 2 works well but the 3 that I have not done their work, which brings the factory is special?
There was the On-Off-On, and On-On-On is what you need for the T-40?
Thank you very much and forgive the bad translation.

 

[Basstovsky]

You want the On-On-On 3-way switch, that lets you have the neck alone, both pickups together, bridge alone pickup selection.

 

[wildhorse]

i plan on joining this group very, very soon.

with the t40 currently on hold for me, pending payment (payday's friday.)

i want it right now.

Looks exactly like my 83 T-60 only with 2 less strings.

 

[Band Dad]

Has anyone recreated the T-40 body in a different (lighter) wood? I've heard that Peavey used a heavier type of Ash for these when it was thought that the heavier wood was necessary for good tone.

For what these are going for (I'm hoping to score one soon that is offered at $180), I thought it might be worth looking into a lighter body.

I did see a thread that had T-40 owners making quite the show of chambering and such to lighten the load. Cheers all.

 

[EagleMoon]

I always thought it would be fun to take all the T40 guts and maybe the neck and put them in a lighter bass to see how it sounds. But then it wouldn't be a T40 anymore.

 

[Band Dad]

I was thinking that an ash or alder body in the manner of a Warmoth might retain the essence and the original intent of the T-40, while making of it a more user-friendly instrument. So often, I see T-40s on the chopping block for the simple reason that they weigh too much.
I think that most of what a T-40 "is" happens to be an assemblage of parts, rather than any one component; the body for instance.
On the other hand, I wouldn't know. It may be that the T-40's body, burdensome as it is often purported to be, is the true carrier of the instrument's spirit. But any attempt to lighten the load would be a step in the right direction. Has anyone done this? Your results?

 

[king_biscuit]

From people I've read who have directly compared them, hotter but very similar in tone.

I spoke to Chip Todd about this yesterday, actually. He told me he designed the blade pickup to be hotter, so that the pickup could be adjusted a little further away from the strings.

 

[mndean]

I had a T-60 back in the day, which I nicknamed "The Butcher Block" as it was even heavier than the Ibanez guitar I had and was in natural finish. It was not comfortable for even long rehearsals as I was of average height and very thin back then. I got it for nearly nothing and it was a very reliable slab, but it was definitely my #2 or #3 guitar. I doubt it could've weighed more if the body was made of poured concrete. I admire anyone who can take one of these old Peaveys and play a two-hour gig with it.

 

[dangnewt]

I was thinking that an ash or alder body in the manner of a Warmoth might retain the essence and the original intent of the T-40, while making of it a more user-friendly instrument. So often, I see T-40s on the chopping block for the simple reason that they weigh too much.
I think that most of what a T-40 "is" happens to be an assemblage of parts, rather than any one component; the body for instance.
On the other hand, I wouldn't know. It may be that the T-40's body, burdensome as it is often purported to be, is the true carrier of the instrument's spirit. But any attempt to lighten the load would be a step in the right direction. Has anyone done this? Your results?

This is a great idea.

I wonder if Peavey would consider a reissue - given that the originals are so affordable they would probably have to manufacture it overseas. But if they offered a T-40 with a lighter body and maybe the option of either the original chunky neck or the modern Peavey neck, I know if the street price were less than $300, I would buy a modern-necked, lighter version T-40 BXP in a heartbeat.

 

[T-Forty]

I'd buy a T-40 reissue in a second even if it were made overseas.

 

[lug]

LeCompte has a T-40 variant. I think it uses DarkStars:

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[Clarkster]

what kinda strings do you play on your T40. I use bass boomers and they sound great but it's hard to find other strings that are long enough to reach the nut.

 

[Basstovsky]

I put on GHS Precision Flats. I was surprised to find I can get some rather aggressive tones out of the bridge pickup even with them being flats. Very nice strings, made for up to 36" scale basses so fit almost perfectly on the T-40.

I also had Fender rounds on there (at least I think thats what they were, black silk on both ends) and they just made it past the nut.

D'addarios definitely do NOT fit unless you get SUPER-long scale strings. Don't make my (first) mistake!

 

[T-Forty]

I've got some Dean Markley Blue Steels on mine right now. They sound good and I had no issues with length.

 

[bigbzbassline]

DR Hi Beams will fit and they not only produce a meaty growling tone, they seem to last longer than most other popular brands. Great for slap pop too.

 

[Clarkster]

I wonder when Peavey started putting fret boards on the T-40's. Mine is a '79 and there is no laminated fret board like most guitars are made. I read somewhere that the two piece neck was routed and the truss rod inserted before is was glued up. I saw one on ebay that was seperating from the base end of the neck and I can see the glue joint in mine if I look real close.