U.S. Peavey Club

[mb94952]

I love the look of the RSB. There was a black one on Reverb for a while for $650 I think. I LOVE the look of the bigger wings and wish the Cirrus had them as an option to get that Alembic Spoiler vibe.

@AndrewOly , if you're talking about the Dynabass preamp Rudy Sarzo bass, which is the predecessor to the Cirrus, I wouldn't trade a Cirrus for it, either like @Hawk256 said above. I have owned both and the Cirrus is a step up, although the Dyna preamp is cool with the active/passive switch and those Super Ferrites barking.

That one that @kodiakblair has above is so cool, though ! I've never seen that version of the Sarzo that looks like an RSB, not a Dyna. Same with the TL-5 on the right. I've never seen that version, either ! SO COOL !!!

 

[Murivan]

There are 3 Rudy Sarzo signature basses from Peavey, 2 already appeared in the previous page, the missing one is the indonesian Cirrus: more info here Invalid Link Removed

 

[kodiakblair]

There are 3 Rudy Sarzo signature basses from Peavey

Actually there are 4 , you missed the Sarzo Cirrus with bamboo wings, it was a Chinese build.

 

[kodiakblair]

I've never seen that version of the Sarzo that looks like an RSB, not a Dyna.

?

It is an RSB ; RSB stands for "Rudy Sarzo Bass" , none of them ever had a Dynabass (Foundation) body.

TL-5 is the 2nd gen. Have the 1st gen and TL-6 in matching colours.

 

[58kites]

I had a Koa RSB like kodiakblair's and it was a nice bass but I thought it sounded kinda bland.
I'm generally less enamored with VFL's than several other Peavey pickups.

 

[Murivan]

Actually there are 4 , you missed the Sarzo Cirrus with bamboo wings, it was a Chinese build.

Wait, let's do a recap.
There is the NT one (https://peavey.com/manuals/80301040.pdf), 24 frets, dynabass preamp, made in usa.
There is the Bolt one, called RSB (https://peavey.com/manuals/80301970.pdf) (with Koa variant), 24 frets, passive, made in usa.
There is the "cirrus based" nt, 24 frets, made in indonesia.
What's the 4th?

 

[kodiakblair]

What's the 4th?

Actually 5. Forgot this one.
2008 Made in China alder/walnut body.

2012 Sarzo Cirrus. Made in China, had bamboo wings.

Replaced in 2014 by the Indonesian model with maple wings and the "Power plate".

 

[PeaveyPlayer]

Those first 3 in a 5 though

Actually 5. Forgot this one.
2008 Made in China alder/walnut body.
View attachment 4496177

2012 Sarzo Cirrus. Made in China, had bamboo wings.
View attachment 4496173

Replaced in 2014 by the Indonesian model with maple wings and the "Power plate".
View attachment 4496178

 

[Murivan]

Actually 5. Forgot this one.
2008 Made in China alder/walnut body.
View attachment 4496177

2012 Sarzo Cirrus. Made in China, had bamboo wings.
View attachment 4496173

Replaced in 2014 by the Indonesian model with maple wings and the "Power plate".
View attachment 4496178

Cool!
In my head those 3 models blend as a single one as it is the same instrument except for wood combos, and factory where it was produced.

 

[kodiakblair]

In my head those 3 models blend as a single one as it is the same instrument except for wood combos, and factory where it was produced.

Don't say that, HP would be pulling his carefully dyed hair out in clumps.

The man was relying on 40somethings thinking back to their youth and buying one of each

Course buying one of each makes a mockery of the "sustainable bamboo" idea and Sarzo never played the Cirrus back in 40something's youth but hey ho there was a dollar to be made

 

[58kites]

Don't say that, HP would be pulling his carefully dyed hair out in clumps.

The man was relying on 40somethings thinking back to their youth and buying one of each

Course buying one of each makes a mockery of the "sustainable bamboo" idea and Sarzo never played the Cirrus back in 40something's youth but hey ho there was a dollar to be made

 

[JEDI BASS]

I still have a sentimental soft spot for a red late 80s Sarzo. But, yeah... they’re weak and can’t compete with Cirrus and other basses in my collection.

I’d still probably snag one if it was cheap enough and try to mod it tastefully to make a bass I could be happy with.

 

[Bleecker]

I still have a sentimental soft spot for a red late 80s Sarzo. But, yeah... they’re weak and can’t compete with Cirrus and other basses in my collection.

I’d still probably snag one if it was cheap enough and try to mod it tastefully to make a bass I could be happy with.

Why do you suppose they made the Sarzo sig models weak? The guy plays heavy metal! Why wouldn't/didn't they use the good preamp and such?

 

[Bleecker]

?

It is an RSB ; RSB stands for "Rudy Sarzo Bass" , none of them ever had a Dynabass (Foundation) body.

TL-5 is the 2nd gen. Have the 1st gen and TL-6 in matching colours.
View attachment 4496098

The Tragic on the left, is that a Sarzo?

 

[bigtone23]

If I bought a T45, the first thing would be change it to have series/parallel on a mini toggle switch and a standard tone knob.

That’s what I should do to mine!

Would've went VVT myself , snag was having only 3 wires to play with :-(
I'm sure there's a way but

Oh, I thought that was a humbucker pickup that could easily be wired series/parallel.

Unfortunately, the T pickups can only be run series or split. IF one was industrious enough to dig through the epoxy, perhaps one could then run the 4th wire to the series connection wire in order to get a parallel setting.

The third knob on the T45 can surely be tuned to be more effective and useful-having it more in the middle of the mids is much better than lows to lower mid or upper mid cuts. Tuning it is just a matter of playing with caps and resistors since the 6H inductor is already there. My RB45 (an 84 Ibanez RB630 converted to a virtual T45) has the blade Toaster pickup, volume, tone (with push/pull for coil split) and a 3H Wilde Q filter. I tweaked and tuned and experimented until that Q filter frequency was right around 425Hz. From experience with my amps and preamps, cuts in that 400hz zone really changes the character of a bass. It's great: leave it all the way on 10 to sound 'normal.' Turn it down a couple numbers and the tonality gets more refined, more 'active' if you will. Turn it further and the bass becomes really scooped and 'dubby' sounding. It's not a control I use much, but when I do, it's really cool and I'm glad it's there.

 

[kodiakblair]

The Tragic on the left, is that a Sarzo?

No Sarzos in that photo, it's just the Tragic and 3 TL's.

 

[kodiakblair]

Unfortunately, the T pickups can only be run series or split. IF one was industrious enough to dig through the epoxy, perhaps one could then run the 4th wire to the series connection wire in order to get a parallel setting.

Thanks bigtone.
As usual, a gold mine of information

 

[JEDI BASS]

Why do you suppose they made the Sarzo sig models weak? The guy plays heavy metal! Why wouldn't/didn't they use the good preamp and such?

No idea. I just know that mine was beautiful to look at but not pleasing enough to my ear to keep.

 

[kodiakblair]

@JEDI BASS

I agree about the looks , think they just used whatever they had surplus of for the electronics.

 

[bigtone23]

@JEDI BASS

I agree about the looks , think they just used whatever they had surplus of for the electronics.

Haha, I remember Sarzo jumping around with endorsements (Musicman, Washburn, Spector and Aria). Maybe Peavey thought his time with Peavey wasn't going to be that long so they didn't spend too much time on parts..?
His Peaveys seem to be based on this passive Aria SB Elite II he played in the 80s. It was also known as a bass with a great build and feel, but slightly weak tone.