Peavey Zodiac BXP....worth the price?

[Precision345]

Hey TBer’s,

I recently came across a Peavey Zodiac BXP (pictured below) at my local pawnshop. It's in pretty good condition and is reasonably priced. I haven't yet played it thru anything so not sure how it sounds but I have a basic idea what it will be like with the pickup configuration, somewhat similar to a fender p bass? It could also prob use a cleaning and general set up for better playability.

I'm thinking of picking it up on the cheap if the price is right, it's listed at $400. A friend of mine works there and I know it's been there awhile, so I can probably talk him down to maybe $300.

I want to know if anyone has any positive/negative experience with this series of Peaveys? I know they are on the lower end of the Peavey spectrum and this particular model is made in China and I used the serial number to date it early to mid '90s. I generally try and avoid things made in China if at all possible but I've read a few related threads on here and some reviews elsewhere that say this is a decent bass and can hold up to Mexican Fender P's and Jazz's.

I'm going to go down there right after this thread and play it and see how it sounds. If I did purchase it I would probably throw a better set of pickups in there or maybe even just replace the neck pick up.

Any thoughts? Any help or advice is much appreciated

 

[Texan]

$400 is what they go for new. I've seen them go for $200-275 used. I would go over that. They probably have between $100-150 in the the bass.

 

[PubliclyViewable]

I have no input on the playability/sound, but I do know that price-wise it is listed very high in comparison with others I've seen trading in the $200-$250 range...

 

[Immigrant]

Offer $200, work from there, stay below $300. They gave the poor guy that took it in no more than $100, probably $75. If they shop won't take less than $300 (absolute TOPS) walk away.

 

[NicJimBass]

I've seen the DE version of this bass, which comes with Basslines pickups, in the $300 range. I'd say the price is pretty high.

 

[Precision345]

Thanks everyone.
I thought the price is very high as well and I know from experience that this shop prices stuff higher than it's worth. A few years ago I got hosed for a '95 musicman stingray for $1200 when I should have been paying $800 max. I only got $600 when I sold it to a friend awhile later. Gotta learn the hard way sometimes lol

My friend Dean works there and I'm going to talk to him and see what I can get it down to

 

[fisticuffs]

Dave's is a great store and they have one in Sunburst for $250
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[smcd]

$400???!!! Are you kidding me!!?? I see the standard Peavey Zodiac go for less than $150 all the time!! I wouldn't even try to talk the store down. I wouldn't bother going in there again.

The standard Zodiac is an ok bass. If you get it for $150, it's worth the money. HOWEVER - the Zodiac DE Scorpio model is an exceptional instrument. One of the best import basses I've ever seen in it's orginal price range. And THAT bass can be had for $200-$250, if you're a patient shopper.


Repeat! This is the one you want. Mirrored pickguard, scorpion logo on the headstock -

 

[lidel]

i agree with smcd. with 400$ you find better basses.

 

[Precision345]

Dean said he would sell it to me for $300. It's actually brand new but has been sitting around the store for awhile.

 

[Precision345]

Does anyone know what year peavey zodiac bxp's were discontinued?

 

[smcd]

Those basses were discontinuted around 2011. Doesn't matter if that Zodiac is new or not. $300 is WAY too much to pay for that. I paid $299 for the upgraded Scorpio model, shipping included, when Peavey discontinued them.
At $300, that retailer will sit on that thing for 20 years before it sells. Unless you buy it at that price. Then you'll sit on it for 20 years.

 

[Bongolation]

These were eventually dumped at under $200 (I believe they were $169 as SDOTD and did not sell out) and still people who bought them for that griped about them here.

Pass!

 

[Bongolation]

Those basses were discontinuted around 2011.

I'm pretty sure it was earlier, as when I saw them getting dumped for under $200 was well before that, but maybe they were just excess stock. Lots of QC beefs with the yellow ones.

The black/chrome ones also later closed at under $200 in some monthly price death-spiral. These things just didn't move.

 

[smcd]

The black/chrome ones also later closed at under $200 in some monthly price death-spiral.

I wish I saw that. I'd have bought 5 of them just out of principle.

 

[Bongolation]

The black/chrome ones also later closed at under $200 in some monthly price death-spiral. These things just didn't move.

I wish I saw that. I'd have bought 5 of them just out of principle.

The funny part was they were dumped at that price by someone unusual, not MF, but I can't remember who. I think it may have been some weird GC promo.

 

[mech]

The Zodiacs weren't made in the 1990s. I think they came out in 2005/2006.

mech