Those DeArmond Pilots are really nice basses and they go for dirt cheap just because they aren't "Guild" Pilots.
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U.S. Peavey Club
- Thread starter Soundchaser11460
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I didn't like the look until I started playing them. The electronics are the best (for me) of any production bass I have tried and I have some basses by Roscoe, G.Gould and Modulus in my collection. The ergonomics are terrific. The basses just fit perfectly in my hands.You are right, I reeeeealIy love the looks of the Bongo.
I was shocked that they could make such an ugly bass body and approve it for production.
I still have one Peavey in my collection. It is a black Forum passive P/J that they only made for 2 years. It is a great bass but the gloss black Bongo 6 goes to most of my gigs these days. The 5 gets played in church. Aren't you glad we have choices?
Ernie Ball made a special run of Bongo basses for Guitar Center that were Barolo (metalic purple) with flame Maple necks and Ebony fingerboards. I was lucky to score than one off their used ads. It has a little different vibe to the tone....more like a Jazz bass. Oh, and it weighs just over 8 pounds! The Blood Orange 6 I bought new but I have two of the gloss black 6's that came from GC used. One is more worn than the other and it gets a lot of play time especially in venues where there is little room between players. I know they are not for everyone but if you play one for a while you just might begin to appreciate the great tone and playability of them.
On the other hand, sometimes a 4 string P bass with flats is just what the doctor ordered.
Y'all know I've been a Bongo player for more years than I can count, with my 4HH being my number 1 through that time period up until today.
I would agree with @Chuck M that it is very difficult to find anything comparable to the Bongo tone/output and pre. Also seems to work so well with my Sansamp and Tonex setups. You just can't get a bad sound out of it in a PA. And ergonomically, it is right up there with my Japanese Fenders and slim neck Peaveys. My biggest challenge is to find a few basses that can compete with the Bongo in a live setting. It makes it hard to switch up to a different tuning without a twin. I have it strung with Chromes BTW, probably about 8 year old strings. My only complaint is the neck finish which I regularly have to scuff with scotchbrite to regain a satin like finish. The factory satin went away after about 5 years of gigging. In humid conditions it gets extremely sticky. I also keep a small bottle of baby powder in my gig bag. I've never experienced this issue on a Peavey neck.
I would say that my Gen1 Fury does the best job with almost equal output to the Bongo and the extra large SF pup giving a very balanced tone and sensitivity across the strings. After that, a close second would be my Aerodyne P or my Foundation S. All these are passive basses which is really saying a lot. My only other active, the Gen1 Dynabass was somewhat disappointing if I remember, I need to give it another chance as its been in the case for probably 3 years.
I would agree with @Chuck M that it is very difficult to find anything comparable to the Bongo tone/output and pre. Also seems to work so well with my Sansamp and Tonex setups. You just can't get a bad sound out of it in a PA. And ergonomically, it is right up there with my Japanese Fenders and slim neck Peaveys. My biggest challenge is to find a few basses that can compete with the Bongo in a live setting. It makes it hard to switch up to a different tuning without a twin. I have it strung with Chromes BTW, probably about 8 year old strings. My only complaint is the neck finish which I regularly have to scuff with scotchbrite to regain a satin like finish. The factory satin went away after about 5 years of gigging. In humid conditions it gets extremely sticky. I also keep a small bottle of baby powder in my gig bag. I've never experienced this issue on a Peavey neck.
I would say that my Gen1 Fury does the best job with almost equal output to the Bongo and the extra large SF pup giving a very balanced tone and sensitivity across the strings. After that, a close second would be my Aerodyne P or my Foundation S. All these are passive basses which is really saying a lot. My only other active, the Gen1 Dynabass was somewhat disappointing if I remember, I need to give it another chance as its been in the case for probably 3 years.
Would a simple 'Clean Boost' not allow you to bring other basses up to scratch ?
Would help but volume is not everything, can still sound thin. I can seem to to get close on my Rumble 500 but live I play through the PA, and does not seem to translate. I just got the Tonex a few months ago and I need more time to play with it, there must be a model that can help. It just takes a lot of time that I don't seem to have atm.
I think strings have something to do with it also. I have Chromes on the Bongo and my Fury. I've been favoring the GHS pressure wounds on the others but they take some time to wear in. I don't know.....its a puzzle of several pieces. Certainly open to any suggestions.
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- Apr 18, 2008
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- I'm highly opinionated and extremely self-assured
If it’s thickness you want, I highly recommend the John East BTB-01. I have five of them, including one in a first-gen Foundation. It absolutely rocks.
Quadzilla
Supporting Member
any chance you have a streaming recording?
Strangely, as much as I do not have fun at a Guitar Center... they do have some really nice "guitar center only" short run models.
you got me thinking... my Les Paul.... Pbass and telecaster are all unicorns... they're all the Guitar Center Models.... It was not planned, I shopped for a very long time for each of them - seems as if they're all Guitar Center
FINALLY - POOR MAN'S MODULUS
guessing the only Peavey thing is the name on the headstock
For the new folks... I'm the goofball that had a comment about GV and Gbass taken out of context "Poor man's Modulus." The context was there was a person who asked me to compare/contrast a side by side GV and Flea --- I commented that my Modulus is an irrational expense for most people. The G is an adequate bass for those that are interested in a Modulus vibe. ... something like "poor man's modulus (until you're debt free and have FU money sitting around"
All these years later, I get pinged by local dudes that know my love affair with Millenium....
This thing was a total turd. The person must have wanted a quantum as tossed out all of the Bromberg guts... inserted Aguilar and tossed the bridge (both dumb ideas).... the wiring was done with rat tailing and blue painters tape
I do not know if Peavey really had anything on these except the name on the neck (someone smarter may know)
I present to you, the only legit "poor man's modulus" (cost $900... then I plunked $200 into having the shop redo the entire install... the switch is on/off for large stage church work)
----------------------------------------------------
... yes, I still cringe every time I see a G or GV posted with "Modulus Neck" (lie) and the words "Poor man's Modulus" (out of context misleading quote that just will never leave - it's probably been 10-12 years)
Jinx Quad!!!!!!
guessing the only Peavey thing is the name on the headstock
For the new folks... I'm the goofball that had a comment about GV and Gbass taken out of context "Poor man's Modulus." The context was there was a person who asked me to compare/contrast a side by side GV and Flea --- I commented that my Modulus is an irrational expense for most people. The G is an adequate bass for those that are interested in a Modulus vibe. ... something like "poor man's modulus (until you're debt free and have FU money sitting around"
All these years later, I get pinged by local dudes that know my love affair with Millenium....
This thing was a total turd. The person must have wanted a quantum as tossed out all of the Bromberg guts... inserted Aguilar and tossed the bridge (both dumb ideas).... the wiring was done with rat tailing and blue painters tape
I do not know if Peavey really had anything on these except the name on the neck (someone smarter may know)
I present to you, the only legit "poor man's modulus" (cost $900... then I plunked $200 into having the shop redo the entire install... the switch is on/off for large stage church work)
----------------------------------------------------
... yes, I still cringe every time I see a G or GV posted with "Modulus Neck" (lie) and the words "Poor man's Modulus" (out of context misleading quote that just will never leave - it's probably been 10-12 years)
Jinx Quad!!!!!!
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Recently picked up my first Peavey bass, a 1986 Peavey Patriot. Snagged it for $40 off of marketplace. Looked like it was used as a child's art project at some point. I was able to clean it up pretty well and was going to keep it as is but I ran into some discounted cans of Duplicolor perfect match automotive paint in Honda Avignon Metallic Blue so figured I'd give it a paint job. I love this bass and can't believe the quality you can get out of these old American Peaveys for less than the price of a new Squier.
40 bucks...man, that thing looks good. Nice color.
I just paid $250 to get one... rock solid bass.
Will test that I know how to play 4 strings
Thanks man! Yeah I got it for a steal for sure due to that pink paint job.
I'd still say $250 is a steal for this bass, it punches way above it's weight class at that price point still. I probably could have gotten mine for $20 but I offered $40. It was originally posted for $100 and when I arrived to pick it up the guy told me he was going to just throw it away but figured he'd throw it up for sale just to see if anyone wanted it.
Nice transformation and good save! Sounds like you were that bass' last hope and now look...beautiful and being played and enjoyed!
Cheers!
I'm quite convinced my Dyna's B string sub notes caused me to go bald prematurely...and the MKIV and 1820 cab probably contributed too...and that's the low-down lolll
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1820+megabass is incredible... if anyone has this cab and it has age slight issues... post... simple fixes
Everything about this photos encapsulates what was the peak Peavey era, imo.
Unbuttoned vest and wristband, no less.
