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t-40

powellmacaque

powellmacaque

Aug 16, 2006
925
17
36
Clearwater, FL
#1
I've been noticing a lot of t-40 threads on this board, and I was just wondering what the big deal about them is (in all seriousness, no sarcasm inteneded). From a visual stance, they look great (I really like my old school looking basses), but how are they tonally? Are they unique, or are they more or less a copy bass with a cool vintage body? Where are they made?
 
#2
The look was part of the appeal to me. But now that I have had a chance to play it, I've come to really like the tone.

It was no copy. It was the first CNC-produced body, the pickups and tone circuit are unique to the T-40 and contribute to its ability to produce a bunch of useable tones. It essentially puts a Peavey spin on the P-tone, the J-tone, the Ric and the Stingray.

They were crafted in Meridian, Mississippi and deserve their reputation for durability.
 
#3
Pros: Tons of tones, great construction, a real blast to play.

Cons: Weighs in at just shy of 4 metric tons.

In all seriousness, this is a heavy bass, not for the faint of heart (or should I say shoulder?)
 
#4
Are they really that versatile? If so, it'd be worth it for me to pick one up... I like my j-,p-, mm, and ric tones in the basses themselves, but I've been looking for a nice, cheap(er) "somewhere in the middle, but not a copy" bass.

Do they come in anything other than the (what i like to call) "gibson ripper" color schemes?
 
#5
Gibson Ripper color schemes!!! :D How true.

In addition to black, natural, and sunburst, there are some rare white and wine red (I can't remember what Peavey called it, burgundy mist, maybe?) T-40s. I saw a blue one once, but I don't think that was ever an official color. Maybe a refin, or a one of a kind.

I love mine. Like others have said, it can emulate a Ric, a Stingray, a Jazz, and a P, plus some other tones as well.

Mine is in one of the Ripper schemes, blonde natural with black pickguard.

T-40%2013.jpg
 
#9
Copy?: Definately not. Probably one of the most "un-copy" basses you will find. One of the neat things about the t-40 is that so much about was, and still is, unique or at least unusual for a production instrument: pickups, electronics controls, bridge,cast/embosed neckplate and knobs, metal nut, "bi-laminate" neck construction ( later copied by G&L ). and neck tilt In an instrument world where so much has been done already and repeatedly, the T-40 still stood, and stands as a very unique instrument.

Tones: T-40 has very much it's own good unique sounds that stands on their own merits. However, since we as bassists like to think in terms like p, j, mm, and ric, it is nice to know that it can get the general charachter of those tones. It's the best fake ric out there, but it isn't a Ric. For a real ric tone, you have to find an early lawsuit ric-copy or a real ric. (Which is actually one of the best deals out there for classic handmade american basses with extremely high quality control and resale value.)

Colors, Also, it came in a second kind of sunburst, that was very light, and IIRC, the edge was brown rather than black. I've also seen red ones and orangey ones, but the orangey ones could have been bad pictures of red. Some models also had rosewood necks, and there are some frettless models out there.

Everything else you want to know about the t-40 is here: (post #12)

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=316280
 

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