U.S. Peavey Club

[oldrookie]

Ok. Thanks, will do.

I'm pretty sure they are .0047uF, the same as the T-40/60. Any voltage will do.

Oldrookie....the bare ground wire on the neck PU looks VERY short. This leads me to believe the insulation is melted on the black wire that goes to the center lug on the pot and is shorted to ground. Be sure and have your tech check this first.

Tim...for the magnetic polarity to be swapped the bottom of the PU where the wire comes in would have to be toward the strings. The magnet structure, when viewed from from the end looks like an inverted "T" with a vertical pole piece that has two magnets forming the cross bar at the bottom of the PU. The bottom of the magnet structure is one pole and the top is the other.

mech

 

[oldrookie]

Well, the pot is good. There is a short in the red wire. Engineer says it is shorting to the shield. He got the pickup working by reversing polarity and using the black wire (don't ask me how; he is a very skilled broadcast engineer.)

Says he can reverse the phase on the front pickup to keep the hum canceling nature of the setup if I want.

Said the sound would be acoustically out of phase (whatever that means--there is a whole lot in this world I don't understand.)

I'd like to keep it as close to stock as possible, so looks like I need a different pickup.

MNAirhead, time to kick up the conversation with aijish4 a notch? I'll PM.

 

[Iridescentone]

I think I'd get a second opinion before doing anything drastic.

What did he get for a resistance reading, or is he saying the coil itself is shorting thru?

 

[oldrookie]

I was busy with students while he was working on it and I didn't get the specific resistance reading. He unsoldered the pickup and hooked it directly to the output jack and ran it into one of our audio boards. I played it hooked up that way.

He said it was either the wire, or the pickup itself. We took the pickup out, but of course it is epoxied shut.

Did say he could reverse it through the black wire, but would need a transformer to convert polarity back unless we do the same with the front pickup.

I'm out of my depth when it comes to eletronics, but he tears apart and repairs broadcast transmitters for a living (or did until he retired--works for the college on a contract basis,) so I know he knows what he's talking about. First class engineering license holder and a HAM radio builder for over 50 years.

Definitely confirmed the issue is not the Pot, so whether it is the wire or the pickup becomes irrelevant. Can't tear the pickup apart to repair the wire because of the way the pickup is sealed.

 

[Basstovsky]

It took some work, but this Patriot is excellent. It was dirty, the jack needed rewiring, and theres some scratches and dings (and some slight pickguard warp) but it plays so nice. Also unfortunately it seems to have lost one of the dot inlays, nothing affecting playability but I notice it and it bugs me a little.
It does indeed have the rubberband speed knobs, and I see why collectors like to have them. Very nice.
Definitely gonna snag a replacement for the truss rod cover, but I'm probably gonna leave the new 'string tree' seeing as it functions slightly better, and I have never seen a black peavey string tree that I would need to match the rest of the hardware.

As for the sound, I really dig it, great mid presence and very funky. Not sure if I can gig it with my current band, it doesnt seem to have the low end bump I need to cut through the mix, but I'll find out for sure at rehearsal tomorrow. It is DEFINITELY a replacement for my Soundgear, never thought I'd find a thinner, more confortable, faster neck, but this Patriot's neck is the best I have played so far. And for the price I paid (WITH hardshell molded case, with melted foam replaced) it is an absolute STEAL. Best bang for my buck period. Onto the pics:

It deserves better pics, but my good camera is out of comission at the moment, will post better ones when I can. Headstock looks darker, but in actuality it matches.
also, found these inside the case, any idea if they are something broken off the case? or just random junk left by the previous owner?

Thanks Tim, Scott, Nick, and everyone else who supplied me answers I had about these basses, it all led me to this awesome instrument.

 

[oldrookie]

Nice bass!

 

[oldrookie]

Are those DR Legend flats on the Patriot?

 

[mech]

Says he can reverse the phase on the front pickup to keep the hum canceling nature of the setup if I want.

Since he swapped the electrical polarity of both pickups everything will be fine.

mech

 

[oldrookie]

Since he swapped the electrical polarity of both pickups everything will be fine.

mech

Mech,
He hasn't done it yet. I wasn't sure what the effect would be on the sound, so had him hold off until I get some info from people with more knowledge.

So if he does swap polarity on both the bass will sound like it did before? That a certainty?

Be great if that'll work.

 

[bassmanrocke]

Basstovsky,

Those metal pieces are from the inside ends of the case. They stop the case from opening too far, and also hold it open at 90 degrees. I never found they worked too well, so you are probably better off without them. I also have an extra PV triangular string retainer(Chrome but you could paint it black), and a home cut single ply truss cover. I would be happy to send them to you for shipping costs.

As for the bottom end, it may not be right according to purists, but I found on the Superferrite equipted PV's that upping the cap value to .082 - .1 allows me to roll off much more treble and brings their bottom end up. It might be worth a try.

r.rocke

 

[mech]

Mech,
He hasn't done it yet. I wasn't sure what the effect would be on the sound, so had him hold off until I get some info from people with more knowledge.

So if he does swap polarity on both the bass will sound like it did before? That a certainty?

Be great if that'll work.

Since he's done nothing yet...get him to strip the outer insulation back on the neck PU wire at the pot. If the insulation on one of the inner wires is melted and shorted to the bare ground it should happen within the first 1/2". The wires can be separated and a small piece of tape put on the melted spot.

If there is no short in this area, swapping the red and black wires on their respective pots will work. The sound will be the same. The signal will be out of phase with all the factory basses BUT it would take playing your bass and a factory through the SAME amplifier at the SAME time and plucking the string the EXACT SAME way at the EXACT SAME time at the EXACT SAME volume to tell...maybe. With all the gyrations a string goes through when it's plucked no two instruments will ever really be in phase with each other.

mech

 

[MNAirHead]

I was busy with students while he was working on it and I didn't get the specific resistance reading. He unsoldered the pickup and hooked it directly to the output jack and ran it into one of our audio boards. I played it hooked up that way.

He said it was either the wire, or the pickup itself. We took the pickup out, but of course it is epoxied shut.

Did say he could reverse it through the black wire, but would need a transformer to convert polarity back unless we do the same with the front pickup.

I'm out of my depth when it comes to eletronics, but he tears apart and repairs broadcast transmitters for a living (or did until he retired--works for the college on a contract basis,) so I know he knows what he's talking about. First class engineering license holder and a HAM radio builder for over 50 years.

Definitely confirmed the issue is not the Pot, so whether it is the wire or the pickup becomes irrelevant. Can't tear the pickup apart to repair the wire because of the way the pickup is sealed.

I've never seen a ferrite itself go bad.. the lead (dongle wire) can rattle to a broken connection.

IF it were mine, I'd be getting some heat shrink.. then cutting the lead back and creating a new one... (cut off the in place then putting on a new one).

If the wire looks "pinched or worn" go back an inch or so to make the new "dongle"

It's worth the quick test...

Tim

 

[MNAirHead]

Since he swapped the electrical polarity of both pickups everything will be fine.

mech

Learning question...
From your experience, do the coils in these go bad.. would you also guess that the lead itself may be compromised.

I'm gilted on this one.. I can just hear my dad (we used to rebuild/resell guitars and amps together) ... he'd be freaking out "holy sardines --- if it works the wired backwards way -- why can't it work the factory way"

My dad would get tripped up on the EE theory of stuff... ..

I do like the idea of reversing it vs spending money on replacements.


Looking to learn - thanks for the reply

 

[MNAirHead]

RE Patriot
Congrats - glad it worked out.. sounds like you got a stellar deal.

rubberband speed knobs,
These are a peavey design.. the serrated rubber band is not glued to the knob.. they expand, slide off and get lost.
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truss rod cover,
I have templates - PM me if interested
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string tree
Why not just paint your current black?
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Lowering the sound?
I'm interested in this too. I crank the low end then bump it again when I play.. I have a STELLAR mahogany body going to Ohio (for a TBer)... I'm sure he'd love it to sound less Rick like.

RECAP QUESTION:
Is there a recap that can make it sound lower? I understand it may also be pots.

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Hardshell melted foam
Like all cases from this era, the foam degrades. IF YOU HAVE IT, remove it.. it will eventually affect the bass - I've seen some that had horrid damage. PM me if you'd like templates or suggestions on other retrofit material.
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Best bang for my buck period.
It is pretty cool --- I'd always written them off as they're notoriously dorked. There was a time we could buy Foundations or the same price--- never paid attention to the patriot.

Kevin (TBer) received a basket case (from me).. I later played it and was STELLAR. He put Stainless light strings on his.. plays like freakin buttah

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Supports
When these come through my shop, I ALWAYS insist on removing them.. it's the only design flaw with the contour case..the hinges will accomodate a full flat open.. these things pop out and will scratch your bass near the knobs.... I can't tell you how much damage I've seen by them.

I wouldn't throw them out.. just put them in the storage dugout.

You're welcome your follow up makes it all worth while

 

[Basstovsky]

I was debating changing the cap, but all a cap can do is cut off the higher frequencies, a larger cap will take more, for example a standard cap may only cut some of the highest frequency treble, a larger value will cut it lower, even to the point of cutting high mids or further, depending on how big of a value is used.

So it can take away highs, but not add anything to the lows.

Thanks for the update on those case supports, putting them in the parts drawer.

 

[MNAirHead]

I was debating changing the cap, but all a cap can do is cut off the higher frequencies, a larger cap will take more, for example a standard cap may only cut some of the highest frequency treble, a larger value will cut it lower, even to the point of cutting high mids or further, depending on how big of a value is used.

So it can take away highs, but not add anything to the lows.

Thanks for the update on those case supports, putting them in the parts drawer.

Combined with a different pot may change things.

I have one coming through that could use a slight warming...

Cutting highs isn't a bad thing... I've never been paid to play higher or faster notes.

 

[MNAirHead]

Caps & Pots?

I'm aware that an early Fury, T20 and Foundation aren't as bright sounding.

Would anyone comment about altering to cut highs?

I've NEVER been hired to play more highs or faster notes.

 

[mr.bigglesworth]

Got me some Fury! 92'

Link Removed

And the older brother. T40 82'

Link Removed

 

[Basstovsky]

Caps & Pots?

I'm aware that an early Fury, T20 and Foundation aren't as bright sounding.

Would anyone comment about altering to cut highs?

I've NEVER been hired to play more highs or faster notes.

I do know that the early super ferrite equipped Fury's and the T-20 had the same super ferrite pickup that is significantly larger underneath than the typical super ferrite (2 huge flat magnets on the bottom), the one I have sounds somewhat 'meatier' than the one in my Patriot, so that could add to it.

In reference to pots are there any choices other than 250k and 500k?
I'm only aware that 500k pots are suggested by dimarzio pickups to get more 'headroom' which makes me think you get more high end with 500k pots vs. 250k, but i've always used 250k pots so i'm not aware of exactly what the difference is.

 

[oldrookie]

I do know that the early super ferrite equipped Fury's and the T-20 had the same super ferrite pickup that is significantly larger underneath than the typical super ferrite (2 huge flat magnets on the bottom), the one I have sounds somewhat 'meatier' than the one in my Patriot, so that could add to it.

I almost bought a T20 SF pickup from Ebay, but thought it looked enormous. Turns out I was right. Good thing I didn't go for it.