Retrovibe TT40 - have you seen these?

[fourstringbliss]

The guy who runs Retrovibe has come up with his version of the Peavey T40 called the TT40:

Here's the description:

"This bass is a nod and a half to the Peavey T40 basses which were produced in the 1970s. It is a full-scale (34″) model in which I have tried to incorporate as many of the original Peavey T40 features as possible.

These include:

• Original T40 wiring with individual volume and tone controls, 3-way pickup selector, phase inverter switch for bridge pickup and single/series/treble roll-off on each tone control
• Thru body stringing (can also be top loaded)
• Two 12k, coil-tapped humbucker pickups
• High mass bridge

The Peavey T40 was renowned for its tonal versatility which came courtesy of some very clever passive wiring. I have faithfully replicated the functionality of this circuit in the Retrovibe TT40. There are charts on there internet which show how to dial-in almost any bass tone on the Peavey T40 and while I cannot say I necessary agree with all the descriptions I can testify that the variety of tones available on the Retrovibe TT40 should certainly cover most uses.

All hardware, electronics etc are brand new.

It weighs in at around 9.2lbs."

I might have to get one!

 

[J Posega]

I saw those a few weeks ago and was really wondering how close they match the T40 sounds. Over 9 pounds is still a little more than I like, which was leading me to consider doing something similar with Warmoth parts.

 

[rockinrayduke]

David does a great job on those.

 

[B-Mac]

The guy who runs Retrovibe has come up with his version of the Peavey T40 called the TT40:

Here's the description:

"This bass is a nod and a half to the Peavey T40 basses which were produced in the 1970s. It is a full-scale (34″) model in which I have tried to incorporate as many of the original Peavey T40 features as possible.

These include:

• Original T40 wiring with individual volume and tone controls, 3-way pickup selector, phase inverter switch for bridge pickup and single/series/treble roll-off on each tone control
• Thru body stringing (can also be top loaded)
• Two 12k, coil-tapped humbucker pickups
• High mass bridge

The Peavey T40 was renowned for its tonal versatility which came courtesy of some very clever passive wiring. I have faithfully replicated the functionality of this circuit in the Retrovibe TT40. There are charts on there internet which show how to dial-in almost any bass tone on the Peavey T40 and while I cannot say I necessary agree with all the descriptions I can testify that the variety of tones available on the Retrovibe TT40 should certainly cover most uses.

All hardware, electronics etc are brand new.

It weighs in at around 9.2lbs."

I might have to get one!

Cool!
@kodiakblair might have seen one as he lives on that side of the pond.

Retrovibe’s are sometimes discussed here. (Both Retrovibe and Retrovibe by Chowny)

Chow Down! Chowny & Retrovibe Bass Club!

 

[fourstringbliss]

I saw those a few weeks ago and was really wondering how close they match the T40 sounds. Over 9 pounds is still a little more than I like, which was leading me to consider doing something similar with Warmoth parts.

I like my basses 9 lbs or less as well. This has the same bridge and tuners that are on the Harley Benton Enhanced series basses and I replaced the bridge and tuners on mine with Hipshot, dropping a whole pound.

If I get one of these TT40's that's what I'd end up doing. It adds an additional $200ish to the cost, but if it really sounds like a T40 and weighs less than 9 lbs, in the end it'll be worth it.

 

[fourstringbliss]

Am I wrong, or does it look like the bridge MM on these would be pretty close to the Stingray sweet spot?

If I got one and didn't like the sound with the stock wiring I could potentially throw a Stinger 77 preamp in there.

 

[fourstringbliss]

Also, here's the TT40 vs an actual T40:

 

[newfuture]

I saw those a few weeks ago and was really wondering how close they match the T40 sounds. Over 9 pounds is still a little more than I like, which was leading me to consider doing something similar with Warmoth parts.

Also a little more weight than I would like, but, what, maybe half or a third of the weight of the Peavey?
I kid, but I think the one I had was around 12#. One of the only basses I've sold because it was just too heavy.

 

[J Posega]

Also a little more weight than I would like, but, what, maybe half or a third of the weight of the Peavey?
I kid, but I think the one I had was around 12#. One of the only basses I've sold because it was just too heavy.

Considerably lighter than a legit T-40, but could still be lighter.

 

[kodiakblair]

This has the same bridge and tuners that are on the Harley Benton Enhanced series basses

Another Harley Benton connection is it's origin.

The TT40 is a Harley Benton MB-4-SB with an extra pickup, bridge swap and a peghead reshape.

@kodiakblair might have seen one as he lives on that side of the pond.

Not in the flesh Mac.

Konig only puts together one bass then relies on photos of it for further orders. I first heard about them around this time last year Can't say I was surprised, David is a big fan of Red Rhoads' spin-a-split tone pot so it was only a matter of time before his take on the T-40 turned up

 

[Rabidhamster]

Fat round possibly magnetic pole pieces sound totally different than thin steel rails. Still it’s probably cool for what it is, similar but not a T40

 

[_One//Man//Mutiny_]

His telericks are also very cool, short and medium scale! I had a 32 inch one for a while, really excellent basses for not a lot of money, I was lucky enough to get one used from my local GC, so it was Squier Affinity priced. If I didn’t have 2 Ricks I would have kept it, I got a relic’d one and it was very well done, even had a vintage tone switch for the treble pickup, like newer Ricks do!

 

[fourstringbliss]

Fat round possibly magnetic pole pieces sound totally different than thin steel rails. Still it’s probably cool for what it is, similar but not a T40

I wondered about that - not the same kind of pickups, so not the same kind of sound.

 

[boylebass]

it’s not near heavy enough to properly tribute a t40

 

[fourstringbliss]

it’s not near heavy enough to properly tribute a t40

Maybe it comes with lead fishing weights to pack into the control cavity? Just for that vintage T40 feel.

 

[ravelax]

Commendable idea, but it doesn't really have much of a T40 vibe at all, I think.

 

[J Wilson]

T40 clone that only weighs NINE pounds? Sissies . . . . .

 

[EdO.]

I wondered about that - not the same kind of pickups, so not the same kind of sound.

I've always wondered if anyone has actually made an actual clone/repo/copy of the Peavey Super Ferrite pickup. Seems if they had it would be a popular replacement/upgrade (?) pickup. I generally don't mod my basses but that's one mod I'd find interesting.

 

[Bill Whitehurst]

I like the idea.
I think the pickups might have more attack than blade types.
Not sure if the body wood will sound the same, but then no two pieces of wood are exactly the same anyway.

 

[bikeplate]

Are they under 20lbs?