For me, weight isn't much of an issue at all. I dont care how heavy the bass is. If it sounds and feels good, i'll play it for hours. I've got strong shoulders and a strong back due to carrying around a SAW and 1,000 rounds on my vest all day.
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Peavey T-40 Reissue
- Thread starter jmarnett
- Start date
To be honest, I'd love to see a reissue. A lighter body would definately be a plus, and maybe a rethinking of the wiring. Personally, I rewired my T-40 so the phase switch (pretty much useless for what I play) is now a coil-splitter and the tone pots work like every other passive bass. The tonal options are a lot better, at least in my opinion, when you can take full advantage of the tones of each pickup. I might add another switch so both pickups have independant coil splitters...or just add push/pull knobs to split them. Other than that, I'd be curious as to what Peavey would do to such a classic bass.
I'd love to see a reissue, but I don't see the t-40 as a bass that could be reissued and made in the USA at a competative pricepoint because of it's parts and it's features.
Parts:
The T-40 uses all kinds of non-standard parts. The pickups, knobs, bridge, and neck plate are all special parts, most of which are cast and embossed that would add tremendously to the bottom line cost of the bass.
Features:
The T-40 is heavy, with an electronics layout that is esoteric to say the least. These are not hightly sought after features.
Reissue basses work because they tend to be as, or less, expensive than the sought-after original. A USA reissue would likely cost over $1000 USD, and it's just not that-sought after to be worth a production run.
What I would like to see, and what could probably sell is a T-40 inspired bass. To sell and be profitable today, it would probably have to have lighter wood, slightly smaller body, and a bit less chrome, but it could retain two humbuckers, some manner of coil tapping, Vintage curves (none of that modern pointyness) and the comfortable medium thickness P-bass width neck T-40 players love.
If it were made, I know I'd want one. I'd just love to see any vintage inspired bass from Peavey that wasn't pointy-horned and skinny-necked.
Parts:
The T-40 uses all kinds of non-standard parts. The pickups, knobs, bridge, and neck plate are all special parts, most of which are cast and embossed that would add tremendously to the bottom line cost of the bass.
Features:
The T-40 is heavy, with an electronics layout that is esoteric to say the least. These are not hightly sought after features.
Reissue basses work because they tend to be as, or less, expensive than the sought-after original. A USA reissue would likely cost over $1000 USD, and it's just not that-sought after to be worth a production run.
What I would like to see, and what could probably sell is a T-40 inspired bass. To sell and be profitable today, it would probably have to have lighter wood, slightly smaller body, and a bit less chrome, but it could retain two humbuckers, some manner of coil tapping, Vintage curves (none of that modern pointyness) and the comfortable medium thickness P-bass width neck T-40 players love.
If it were made, I know I'd want one. I'd just love to see any vintage inspired bass from Peavey that wasn't pointy-horned and skinny-necked.
I know! Let's build a T-40 reissue! What a great idea! But let's make it a little lighter and while we're at it, we can update the profile a little bit. Oh and those sexy new veneers would really make it pop! How about updating the electronics. We could put in a preamp and make it active! And let's build it in some overseas sweatshops so we can keep the costs down and...
Oh wait! What happened to our T-40?
That's what I'm sayin about the weight, been there done that, and still am doing it.
I love my Peaveys(Foundations are my vice) but I realize I am in a relatively small group. The demand for vintage Peaveys, while strong in some of us, is not wide spread. I would love to see a modern interpretation of the T-40(or simply a reissue), but I don't think it would be a good move for Peavey. If Peavey were to produce a reissue of the Foundation, which is my favorite bass right now, I doubt I would be willing to buy one as I don't think they could produce them for the $150 or less that I'm used to buying used ones at. I am pretty sure most T-40 lovers would be in the same boat. Part of the allure of old Peaveys is their extremely low cost matched up with their extremely high quality. If Peavey were to make reissues only half of that equation could be repeated.
Great way to say in few words, what I struggled to say in many.
I would guess that a T-40 Reissue, with all the correct parts would (even if made overseas) cost well over 800 bucks and possibly more. I can't see many of us putting down that kind of scratch when an original USA verison can still be found in good condition for 400 or less.
Even if the corners cut to make it cheaper were mostly cosmetic (more basic bridge, knobs, tuners and neck plate, plastic pickups, etc) would it really be a T-40 anymore?
Still, I stand by my earlier statement that a T-40-influenced, vintage-styled, passive, double humbucker, wide necked instument would sell, it just wouldn't be a T-40.
