PV Dynabass info

[embellisher]

The Sarzo model also had the oval inlays, and I have seen inside of one control cavity that said Dyna Bass on the circuit board.

 

[pilotjones]

I used to own a 5 string TL bass and the stock electronics were identical to those of a Dyna Bass. It even had "Dyna Bass" printed on the circuitboard.

Some dynas were active, as you mention; others were passive, like the koa p-j shown above. Some of these show up for sale with EMG or Bart pups and preamps added. Also, the passive p-js have a record of having the stock pups fall apart (the bobbins drop back into the shells).

 

[Philbiker]

Is the Dynabass a Foundation with active elec. and gold hdware ?

Kind of. The early Dyna bolt-ons had a painted neck where the Foundation always had a matte finish neck. Most of the four string Dynas had the P/J pickups which IMO didn't sound as good as the "Super Ferrite" pickups on the Foundations and 5 string Dynas IMO. I don't think the Foundations had Schaller hardware, the Dynas had upgraded bridge and tuners. I think the five string Dynas like mine had the exact same "Super Ferrite" pickups as the 4 and 5 string Foundations. I remember my Dyna always had a problem with a quiet "G" string, the string was right over the edge of the pickup.

At the time (late 80s early 90s) the Dyna-Bass came with Peavey branded stainless steel strings. I tried many other stings but never found any that sounded as good as those Peavey strings on the bass. I think the Dyna-Bass (and the Foundation for that matter) was and is a very well respected instrument in the pro bass community. It's kind of like a USA Fender, not anything custom or extraordinary about it, just a good reliable work-a-day instrument that had a good solid sound in almost any situation.

I sold mine years ago but I still have pictures.... I think it may have been an 87 or 88 model, bought in early 1989.

 

[Philbiker]

Headsotck

 

[Thrillkiller]

"Some dynas were active, as you mention; others were passive, like the koa p-j shown above."

Incorrect. ALL DynaBasses were active. The Koa Unity in this thread is not a DynaBass, it is merely a Unity. I have the same bass, except mine is white. A first-generation DynaBass is essentially a Foundation with a 3-band active EQ and an A/P switch. Plus, the necks were completely painted the same as the body. If you're unsure, just count the knobs: early DynaBasses have 5 knobs and 1 switch; later DynaBasses have 4 knobs in a diamond pattern. This is what a DynaBass Unity looks like:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=4713&item=3751702614&rd=1

 

[Th9nker]

^^^^
Yeah, I think that is right....

and my bass that I posted pics of is a "Dyna-Bass Unity Series Limited"...




I think....

 

[pilotjones]

I see. So, I guess there Unity and non-Unity Dynabasses, and there were also Dynabass and non-Dynabass Unities.

 

[Thrillkiller]

That's correct.

 

[jimfriar]

Thanks for all the posts guys - it helps alot. I am trying to make a decision between 2 basses - the Dyna - which
I didn't pay much for and is a great player/sounder and I wouldn't care if I dinged or dented it and my Lado Standard - which is a recent model - cost $1200 - is mint, natural finish , neck thru - EMG's - also a great player and sounder - but I am a little worried about damaging. I really only need one bass right now.

 

[Philbiker]

I really only need one bass right now.

So do I.... But I have 6.

I can tell you form my experience, the Dyna-Bass is like a Fender in that you can beat the hell out of it and it will always come back for more. I never had even the slightest problem with it and I played in a late 80s/early 90s "butt rock" club band, it got used thoroughly.

 

[dcr]

Thanks for all the posts guys - it helps alot. I am trying to make a decision between 2 basses - the Dyna - which
I didn't pay much for and is a great player/sounder and I wouldn't care if I dinged or dented it and my Lado Standard - which is a recent model - cost $1200 - is mint, natural finish , neck thru - EMG's - also a great player and sounder - but I am a little worried about damaging. I really only need one bass right now.

My advice: Keep them both!

You never know when one will get broken or -- heaven forbid -- stolen! Never hurts to have a spare, just in case. Unless money is an issue, of course. Then, you'd probably still keep it, since the Lado (nice bass, BTW) will generate a lot more cash than an old used Peavey.

My first 5-string was a Dyna, and I think a Dyna Unity, IIRC. Been a long time. I got it in the mid-80's when no one was playing 5-strings much and no one at all locally was. It was cheap because of that. Pearl White. Kept if for years. I think I finally sold it when I bought either a Pedulla ET-5 or a pre-Gib Tobias Basic.


dcr

 

[adrian]

Man I miss my Dyna! Red 4 with a whammy bar.

At least I still have a Sarzo!

 

[unity bass]

I like mine...