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Peavey T-40

Boneless

Boneless

Inactive
Jan 2, 2007
1,238
1,564
Monopoli (Bari), Italy
#1
hi everyone,

just bought a '79 t-40:

Link Removed

paid 450€ for it with shipping and a hard case (maybe a bit too much, but here in Italy they're rare, and it is in excellent condition, so I was willing to pay the extra amount).

I have some problems though (minor, I guess):

- the E string sounds compressed and lower in volume compared to the others, is this a common "problem" on T-40s or not? I must say that the strings that came with it seem to be not long enough, I suppose they're Rotosound strings (red silk at both ends), anyway the "silked" part of the strings is sitting on the nut at the moment, I guess I have to find longer scale strings. Do you think this may be the reason for it, or did you have to do some particular things to your bass prior to playing it? (I know it sounds like a dumb question, but still...)

- pickups are very high, only a few mms below the strings, they actually act as a finger ramp :hmm: is this normal? I don't know how these pickups are supposed to work, if they are actually supposed to be this close to the strings, I read in a review that this is the way the bass is usually set (the G string - no, not THAT G string :D ok, bad joke :hiding: - touches the pickup when I play on the upper register, though...). Would you tell me which is the ideal pickup distance from the strings?

- the overall volume is quite low (compared to my chinese MM copy with a SMB-4a pickup, it has half the volume), I thought these pickups were supposed to be quite hot :confused:

I am not an expert in setting up basses (I just setup mine "randomly", just messing on my bass till it works for me :D ), so if you give me a hand I would greatly appreciate it.

Sorry for the long thread! :D
 
#2
I dont know about the rest. But when I lowered the action on my Peavey I had the same problem w. the strings sitting on the pickups in when I got closer to the bridge.

The screws on either side of the pickup will lower/raise the pick ups, and quickly so that is really nice.
 
#5
I've never noticed the pickups being particularly high on my T-40 - certainly never so high that they would actually touch a string.

It definitely sounds like you need some longer strings also.

The low volume and the problem with the E string seem odd. My T-40 is quite hot and consistent for all strings.

Regarding the low volume, make sure that the phase switch is not set in out-of-phase position, when both pickups are selected. (The phase switch is the 2-way switch near the tail of the bass, in case you didn't know.)
 
#6
Nice T-40. You have an early "toaster" model bass, probably pre 83. The output of the toaster pickups is a touch lower than the later "blade" pickup models, but it shouldn't be as low as you report. My '79 Toaster t-40 has higher output than most other passive pups I've played.

-Despite the lower output, I would start by lowering the pickups a bit. T-40 pickups do tend to ride a bit higher than others, but they shouldn't be that high.

-Check your switches. Do you have the Phase switch engaged accidentally?

-Trim back the silk windings. I use fender strings and the silk always stretches a bit over the bridge. A razor blade and/or a lighter will cut/burn off the excess. The string metal should be sitting right on the metal of the nut, that's part of what gives the early model t-40's (t-40's from later production had a plastic nut) alot of the ric-like ring that some folks report being able to get with t-40's.

-If the "compression" continues, then a change of strings is in order.

-If that doesn't solve it, then you may want to take it to a tech to have the saddle and nut checked, and the electronics examined.

Best of luck.

As always, for more T-40 info, check my sig.
 
#7
One more thing, Peavey t-40's were designed to function with minimal or no neck relief, and to have the string angle adjusted with the neck tilt function. putting relief in the neck like a regular instrument may bring the strings extra close to the pups when playing in the upper registers. Check the downloadable peavey manual (there's a link in the link in my sig) for more information
 
#8
thanks, eiliff, great info.

so, do you think it is actually possible that the pickups have to be rewired? i am probably just exaggerating, but I really think the output is quite low (to achieve good volume, I have to crank the gain on my Little Mark all the way), sounds strange to me :confused:

anyway, I just think I'll change the strings, actually, hard to judge a bass with old and badly mounted (guitar-like) strings :smug:
 
#9
Hi Boneless, When I got my T40 the wiring was back to front... that is the pots for the neck pickup were working the bridge pickup and vice versa. Also the phase switch was disengaged. Pickups rewired? possible... on mine... definitely and the prev owner did not think it was anything but original.

There is something wrong if you have to crank your little mark "all the way". I have a LMK II and never ever had the gain that high. I'm no expert but that sounds wierd to me.
 
#10
Definatley change the strings first. If after that you want to check the electronics, and if you can read pickup schematics, you will find a link to a schematic at the post linked in my sig.
 
#11
I am positive I have understood the way the phase switch works (it's actually quite interesting, when having the pickups at different volumes, useless when the two pickups have the same volume).
I will take it to a technician (although they are pricey in my zone... 60€ - about 80-90$ - for a simple setup), and try and fix everything.
 
#15
ah, just another question: is it normal that the volume is lower in single coil mode compared to humbucker mode? I suppose so, but how do you usually compensate the difference in volume? do you simply just adjust the gain each time or do you have some more pratical ways of doing it?
 
#16
The volume is lower in single coil mode, but most importantly, the volume is much hotter when in humbucker mode and turned all the way up. Keeping the volume in humbucker mode rolled back a touch should result in a bit less difference between humbucker and single coil mode, but it will always be there, it's just a function of the "stronger" pickup configuration.

T-40's aren't great instruments for frequent live pickup configuration chages. If you're going to fiddle with the knobs to change from single coil to humbucker, you may as well take a moment to bring down the volume knobs as well.
 

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