Peavy T-40 Unholy Trinity

[mongo2]

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I really like that one.

Lets see, where's my jig saw?

 

[HaphAsSard]

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Not so much the other two, but the cutout is sheer genius! Wonder what it weighs...

This is one way to lighten a T-40 without ruining what I've always thought was a good-looking bass.View attachment 1549264

I am seriously considering a t40 just to get rout #2 done

I would at least have questions about the structural integrity of #2 if done to a bass.

Under-the-pickguard routing is nominal and may take oz's off at best. The cut-away version above would take off real weight and if laminated on front & back with a light veneer - it would remain normal looking and may even add an acoustic tone to the bass.

#2 is a tribute to (I assume) American ingenuity, better than any road side attraction or mirror car. The guitar was heavy for a guitar, and this one solved that.

I am really surprised we don't see more of that kind of solution to heavy instruments.

I really like that one.

Lets see, where's my jig saw?

This post by @MTMTEX had a pic, now down but retrievable courtesy of Google, of T series designer Chip Todd holding what appears to be the same T60 body as #2 in the OP but sans...anything:

Links to the thread the post was on, and to the T-related 2012 entries on its OP (@Flat Eric)'s blog:
The Peavey T-60 and T-40 story, as told by Chip Todd.
Flat Eric's Bass & Guitar Collection: 2012

The other picture of an emptied body JD posted above is from this other fan site:
T-60Mafia.com - Your Unofficial T-60 Online Resource

 

[Raw N Low]

Sacrilege!!!

T-(40) lashes for anyone who defiles the instruments from the elders of Peavey.

 

[JIO]

I am really surprised we don't see more of that kind of solution to heavy instruments.

Chambering is not uncommon - a few boutique bass builders incorporate such for tone-shaping. (with the added dimension of minimal weight reduction)

I would at least have questions about the structural integrity of #2 if done to a bass.

As they are ash - I doubt the structural integrity was affected. The neck pocket area is mostly untouched and the center length looks very stable. No way the stings would create more tension that it could structurally support.

I've done a bunch of chambering to reduce weight. It sometimes also adds a subtle acoustic element. This was a heavy alder body and after this 'chambering' I topped it with a thin maple layer.

sparkle & tobacco finish by Marty Bell - 8.6lbs now

This was another stab at mostly weight reduction. I lost 1lb (9.5lbs now) doing this major under-the-pickguard wood removal on a heavy alder (blemished so $-reduced) WD J body. It currently has a Fender/Squire HB at the neck and a J in the middle but could also be set-up with a P pu in the middle alone. The Fender HB is a heavy pu - as heavy as the wood removed so it was basically a wash. Without it, it would be a decent weight. (1lb less if a P pu was installed and the hb and n-J removed)

This was my most ambitious foray into chambering/weight reduction on a very heavy ash body. (over 6lbs) I still ended up with a 'not light' bass (9.6lbs) but it sounds amazing and became an artistic statement.

 

[LowNloud1]

I would not buy any bass or guitar that was bored out to save weight. It ain't right in my book.

 

[JIO]

I would not buy any bass or guitar that was bored out to save weight. It ain't right in my book.

Lucky you! - most basses out there are not 'bored out'

 

[fullybakedbear]

#2 is T-60 done by Chip the designer of the model