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Peavey T-40 Club

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#627
Here is mine arrived last week, Just as nice as I remember them ! here is a little review I posted in another forum. This bass is exactly how I remember it when I bought one new when they first came out. Very well built by late 70's standards far better in fit and finish compared to a late 70's Fender, it certainly plays better than any 70's Fender I have ever owned or played. I have the action very low not one buzz or rattle. The neck profile is similar to a 70's Jazz but a little more refined and not as beefy with a flatter radius that a Fender, string bending is easy, also the medium jumbo frets are dressed very well. The bridge is massive and I am sure it in part adds to the sustain of this bass, notes ring forever. I am not sure if I got a alder or ash body on this bass solid color should be alder but it is heavy (the name T-40 reminds me of Soviet tanks, apt it is built like one) I saw a vintage add for one of these and the line read something like "For those who demand more than Precision", great sales line and this bass sure does offer a lot more than a P bass. Even in the late 70's P basses were still dominant over the J and this bass was built to take them both on. The pickups are the heart of this bass two massive Humbuckers that you can split the coils on and throw in and out of phase, this bass can go from a full throaty mudbucker like roar to the snap of a J and even very Ric like tones both clank and warm. For very little $ you can get your self a nice well built USA vintage bass with tons of tonal options. They are heavy though, it seems to be their only flaw
T-40003.jpg
 
#629
YEE-HAW!!! Just got mine 2 days ago, and it's in mouthwatering conditioning!! Once I learn how to upload pictures, I'll post one. Never was a big techie:hiding:.

Seriously, mine looks almost new. The case is in VG shape; I'd say almost EX. Inside the case, I found the case key, the owner's manual, and a Peavey catalogue/order form dated 1981 (I'm guessing the bass is an '81 :D). I even found the plastic sheet that came with it when it was new, still in great shape (you know, the one that covers the pick guard)!! :eek:

I think I paid a little more than I should've, but this thing is beautiful. I'll need to spend a lot of QT to figure out all the controls and tone possibilities!

Oh and I'll take a number, or not (I know whose got a T-40)!!:D

OK, so I won't be buying anything else for a long time...
 
#634
bottomfeedins said:
... I'm thinking of putting some Steve Harris flats on mine. Any opinions out there (I've never used flats on anything before)?
Click to expand...

TI Jazz Flats worked great on my T-40 in the studio. I was never too thrilled with my recorded roundwound sound, and the flats turned out to be just the ticket. I'm keeping them on there for some upcoming sessions.
 
#636
T-Forty said:
Are there any pickups aside from Darkstars that will drop int a T40 with little or no modifications?
Click to expand...

Um... why? The originals are great pickups and should not need to be replaced. In fact, they're the main reason why you'd buy a T-40 in the first place. But any physically smaller ones can be made to fit, of course, although you'd want to make a new pickguard for them.
 
#638
Two things,

1. Apparently I should join this club. I was given a 1979 T-40 for free! The only condition was that the pickup selector wasn't working.

I brought it in to get it repaired and I just assumed they would do it right, I never knew that the T40 was so complicated... He put a new pickup selector on it...that only has two positions... up and middle.

This actually gives me a unique sound because it, in essence, made my neck pickup a P-style Humbucker (when in the up position) and when in the middle position, it only uses my bridge pickup...and only one coil. The phase selector switches which coil I use.

I have three settings (excluding Tone > 7 settings)
a) dual coil neck pickup
b) single coil bridge pickup
c) other single coil bridge pickup

I kind of gives me a jazz and precision bass sound. When in the A setting I have a deep, full p-bass sound, and when in eather of the single coil selections (B or C) my bass has a really bright J-bass sound.

2. It's actually pretty cool. Regardless, I am looking to have this wiring issue fixed soon. Does anybody know where (preferably online) I can find a pretty accurate 3-way pickup selector switch?
 
#640
smithal3 said:
I brought it in to get it repaired and I just assumed they would do it right, I never knew that the T40 was so complicated... He put a new pickup selector on it...that only has two positions... up and middle.
Click to expand...

They are rather complicated by passive bass standards. The T-40 is wired just like its six string sister the T-60. See below for a link to the T-60 wiring diagram. Hope that helps.

http://www.peaveyt60.com/mods&hotrodding.htm
 
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