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Peavey T40 - What are they like, anybody!?

Fender32

Fender32

Jun 23, 2005
4,945
581
West Sussex, England
#1
Just wondering what experience(s) you guys have with the Peavey T-40 bass (late '70s, US made version), as I have the option to buy one and am sorely tempted.

I've only seen one band using one (The Fall) and as I remember, it had a very punchy, mid-orientated sound :hmm:. Is that a fair summary, or can they do more (P "thump", for instance :))?

They also look frighteningly heavy :(! Is that usually the case, or are they quite "managable?

I'd be interested to hear about your (collective) T-40 experiences :) ...
 
#2
Now, here's maybe not the best background for an experience... I tried the one GC Hollywood is selling for a thousand bucks (HA!)

Dead strings, neck was too fat and nasty, felt like it weighed about 13 lbs and caused me to have uncomfortable arm tremors trying to lift it.

Tone was pretty good, though. Wish I had more knowledge what each knob/switch did to the sound and more time to fiddle 'round. Sound wasn't for me, but not bad.
 
#3
steve21 said:
Now, here's maybe not the best background for an experience... I tried the one GC Hollywood is selling for a thousand bucks (HA!)

Dead strings, neck was too fat and nasty, felt like it weighed about 13 lbs and caused me to have uncomfortable arm tremors trying to lift it.

Tone was pretty good, though. Wish I had more knowledge what each knob/switch did to the sound and more time to fiddle 'round. Sound wasn't for me, but not bad.
Click to expand...

13lbs :( !???

I was afraid of hearing that! My 11.2lb Fender Precision doesn't get as much playing time as it deserves, for that very reason :hmm:.

What else can you folks tell me :) ?
 
#4
Very heavy, thick neck, sharp angular edges to the body. I didn't like the one I played back when they first came out. It felt cheap...like they'd cut the body out of wood and not finished the edges. I know that's probably sacrilege to say that around here but that's how I felt. I never wanted to pick another one up after that. The tone was good, but not worth the physical uncomfortable-ness to me.
 
#9
I'm currently living the "enthusiasm phase" with my recently acquired Peavey T-40. I've been playing it all these days and here are some personal remarks:

- Yes, it's true that it's a very heavy bass.
- I don't understand why people say that the T-40 neck is "chunky" or "thick". It allows for a wide string spacing, but it's very shallow as well. Wide + shallow = The perfect neck profile for me.
- One of the deepest low ends I've heard from a bass guitar.
- Extremely versatile instrument as well. Actually, it has a very unique electronics configuration: Two pickups with a volume and a tone control for each one plus a 3-position toggle switch for neck, bridge or both. The interesting thing is: When the tone control of any of the two pickups is between 8 and 10, the pickup works in single coil mode. Between 4 and 8 it goes to humbucker mode and between 0 and 4 the knob works as a standard tone control. It also has a "phase" switch that only works when both pickups are on and gives a nasal tone to the bass.

You can find the schematics diagram here, the user manual here and the setup guide here.
 
#10
i own one ..was the first bass i owned.....have not played it in over 10 years because you need to be the incredible hulk to play for more than 5 minutes.....very heavy and im too old (42) too pick this monster up anymore....my 7 yr old son sits on the floor with it and plays.....
 
#11
Alvaro Martín Gómez A.;5092317 said:
I'm currently living the "enthusiasm phase" with my recently acquired Peavey T-40. I've been playing it all these days and here are some personal remarks:

- Yes, it's true that it's a very heavy bass.
- I don't understand why people say that the T-40 neck is "chunky" or "thick". It allows for a wide string spacing, but it's very shallow as well. Wide + shallow = The perfect neck profile for me.
- One of the deepest low ends I've heard from a bass guitar.
- Extremely versatile instrument as well. Actually, it has a very unique electronics configuration: Two pickups with a volume and a tone control for each one plus a 3-position toggle switch for neck, bridge or both. The interesting thing is: When the tone control of any of the two pickups is between 8 and 10, the pickup works in single coil mode. Between 4 and 8 it goes to humbucker mode and between 0 and 4 the knob works as a standard tone control. It also has a "phase" switch that only works when both pickups are on and gives a nasal tone to the bass.

You can find the schematics diagram here, the user manual here and the setup guide here.
Click to expand...

:) Interesting thread there, Alvaro.

Yours looks very much like the one that I'm considering ...

PeaveyT40ash4.jpg


Not sure about the weight though :hmm:. 11lbs feels heavy to me these days and I swore that I was through with "backache basses" :p. Still, the T 40 looks like one of the last great bargains, in the US made "vintage" bass market :confused: !?

Must try and find some sound clips ;).
 
#12
lewislngvw said:
i own one ..was the first bass i owned.....have not played it in over 10 years because you need to be the incredible hulk to play for more than 5 minutes.....very heavy and im too old (42) too pick this monster up anymore....my 7 yr old son sits on the floor with it and plays.....
Click to expand...

:D That answer speaks volumes - thanks lewislngvw.

I'm not the incredibe hulk and I'll be 41 next year :(, so I guess that it might not be the right instrument for me, afterall.

Maybe I should buy some weights and a bench, instead.
(*sigh*) :bawl:
 
#15
i have one and i love it,sounds great.the controls are 2 vol's 2 tones,selector switch and phase switch.its not that heavy.neck is nice not chunky at all.lots of great useful tones.
and they look great...also makes a good weapon.the earlier ones without "blades" in pups sound better.
 
#16
Wimps. I bought one off Ebay about five years ago when I decided to get back into bass. Was gigging with it six months later. And I'm OLDER than 42!!!

I sold a 73 Jazz to buy one, in '79. Crazy kid. Thought the T40 blew the jazz away.

Neck profile is very " P" like. Set the tone controls at around 8 each, ( on mine I cut the bridge pup vol a freckle)make sure its "in phase" and check out the sounds. You can make it sound like a rick, a jazz, or sg type. But to me, that's the T40 setting, 8 on the tones, roll a bit of bridge off.

Rock on!

Peace. out.
 
#19
BuffaloBass said:
Set the tone controls at around 8 each, ( on mine I cut the bridge pup vol a freckle)make sure its "in phase" and check out the sounds. You can make it sound like a rick, a jazz, or sg type. But to me, that's the T40 setting, 8 on the tones, roll a bit of bridge off.
Click to expand...

Right now I'm playing "The Lemon Song" with both volumes at 10, neck tone at 10 and bridge tone at 7 (and "in phase", of course). Enjoying it immensely! :bassist: :)
 
#20
de1orean said:
don't buy it -- more for the rest of us. :D
Click to expand...

Ya, they suck and you can NEVER find them on eBay :smug:


I'm 48 and have no problem playing mine. Then again, I sit while playing 90% of the time :p Get a STRAPP strap, the wide foam padded one. They are really comfy and makes the T-40 feel like it weighs 7lbs :ninja:

Here's the control layout. One of mine came with the plastic pickguard cover.

peaveyT40controls.jpg


WD makes T-40 pickguards in any material if you don't like the stock black one ;)

peaveyt40newpg2.jpg
 

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