U.S. Peavey Club

[Jordac]

I'm looking into getting a string tree that also covers the A string on my beloved early 80s blue Foundation. I have the original triangle tree that covers the G and D. I know that later Foundations gained a tree that covered the A as well. I don't want to drill any new holes, if possible. Any recommendations?

 

[MNAirHead]

Since we're Getting Boring

The USA Fury or USA Patriot are better than my American pbass....

Sure, debate that

I'll hold the USA Millenium was the best easily found Peavey for later.

 

[kodiakblair]

The USA Fury or USA Patriot are better than my American pbass....

Much as the Patriot holds my joint first favourite Peavey, this would carry more weight if US Fender P-basses were the pinnacle of the bass world

I still recall "KB buys his first US Fender P" day. Excitement and anticipation were at record levels as I headed to London's West End, then home to the highest concentration of guitar shops in the UK. Idea was nixed after 8, decidedly average, Fenders were smoked by a Tokai Hard Puncher.

Good as the Tokai was I had a perfectly good off brand P-bass at home, changed track and bought a Wal instead

 

[MNAirHead]

Much as the Patriot holds my joint first favourite Peavey, this would carry more weight if US Fender P-basses were the pinnacle of the bass world

I still recall "KB buys his first US Fender P" day. Excitement and anticipation were at record levels as I headed to London's West End, then home to the highest concentration of guitar shops in the UK. Idea was nixed after 8, decidedly average, Fenders were smoked by a Tokai Hard Puncher.

Good as the Tokai was I had a perfectly good off brand P-bass at home, changed track and bought a Wal instead

funny story KB!

Yea, I play in the yankee country circles.... they do look at the back of a headstock... and validate a headband is really a stetson.

Many times, they'll listen to my PR kit --- and pine away at how great a USA P is... then to be crushed when it's an indonesian Milestone (Pbass copy)

If you ever wanna trade that Wal thing for a genuine fender... I'd toss in a USA lespaul and metal zone.

yea, they'll look confused at my emerald flow, modulus flea, etc....

Guess we hear with our eyes.

 

[Runnerman]

The only Fender P's I own are Japanese versions, SQ Series Squier, Aerodyne P and an E Series Fretless Jazz Bass Special (basically a P-J....still do not know why they called it a Jazz). All are great because they are comparable with my Peaveys. Similar neck profiles and solid build quality. I don't like USA P's either.

 

[MNAirHead]

Similar neck profiles and solid build quality. I don't like USA P's either.

It took me about 300 test trials to find a USA p that was minimally good enough.

After growing up with a foundation, everything else feels clunky

 

[bitterminnows]

My Foundation is probably one of the best basses I’ve ever played—so far I’ve yet to find a J bass of any make that I’ve liked better.

That neck, and those Super Ferrites, man.

 

[kodiakblair]

If you ever wanna trade that Wal thing

Tim.

You'd need to invent a time machine, it's been gone decades.

Real kicker is I had a leather scratchplate JG Custom, 1976-77. Wal owners group told me a total of 46 JGs were made and they've traced the whereabouts of 38 of them; sadly mine has never surfaced

 

[DavidEdenAria]

Much as the Patriot holds my joint first favourite Peavey, this would carry more weight if US Fender P-basses were the pinnacle of the bass world

I still recall "KB buys his first US Fender P" day. Excitement and anticipation were at record levels as I headed to London's West End, then home to the highest concentration of guitar shops in the UK. Idea was nixed after 8, decidedly average, Fenders were smoked by a Tokai Hard Puncher.

Good as the Tokai was I had a perfectly good off brand P-bass at home, changed track and bought a Wal instead

I live in Peavey country a small rural town and I recall late 70s a guy was putting a T40 thru its paces all the different tones. .Fender basses were out of fashion locally we had a Fender dealer that started selling Westone the long time dealer was not happy with Fender early 80s and that's when Peavey really took hold.

 

[kodiakblair]

locally we had a Fender dealer that started selling Westone

Early 80's UK. Westone were huge here, presence to rival Fender

By that I mean every store in the country seemed to stock Westone guitars/basses. A 'must-watch' TV show was "Rock School", it aired in the US on PBS. Henry Thomas was the bass player, he was a Westone player; great on fretless. In clubs working musicians played Westone, as did bands on the verge; remember The Primitives and "Crash"

Dreadful shame that landowners stiffed the Matsu factory over the lease, they were a serious contender

Fun Fact.
The Matsu factory installed CNC machinery in 1974. I'm guessing by Hartley's "First in the world" claim he score 'F-' for geography

Still have my Thunder III, launched in 1982; Peavey's T-45/T-20 year.
All brass hardware, dual coil pickups, series/parallel switch, active/passive, phase in/out, +/- 15dB high/low boost. Some even shipped with XLR out sockets like Alembic, Jaydee and Wal.

Weighs the same as my 78/79 T-40s did, she's a beauty.

 

[DavidEdenAria]

Early 80's UK. Westone were huge here, presence to rival Fender

By that I mean every store in the country seemed to stock Westone guitars/basses. A 'must-watch' TV show was "Rock School", it aired in the US on PBS. Henry Thomas was the bass player, he was a Westone player; great on fretless. In clubs working musicians played Westone, as did bands on the verge; remember The Primitives and "Crash"

Dreadful shame that landowners stiffed the Matsu factory over the lease, they were a serious contender

Fun Fact.
The Matsu factory installed CNC machinery in 1974. I'm guessing by Hartley's "First in the world" claim he score 'F-' for geography

Still have my Thunder III, launched in 1982; Peavey's T-45/T-20 year.
All brass hardware, dual coil pickups, series/parallel switch, active/passive, phase in/out, +/- 15dB high/low boost. Some even shipped with XLR out sockets like Alembic, Jaydee and Wal.

Weighs the same as my 78/79 T-40s did, she's a beauty.

Oh man nice bass....I've seen pics of those it was obvious who was copied...yea the great workmanship was apparent with Westone ...I think Trevor Rabin played a Westone...so yours weighs 10+ lbs huh not surprised...Have you heard of Manito guitars out of UK ,Korean made fairly recent copies?...or Masada 70s Japan basses?

 

[kodiakblair]

it was obvious who was copied

I'm afraid you'll have to enlighten me as to who you think was copied ?

Construction method is similar to the Aria SB line but that should not come as a surprise, Matsumoku were the ones building Aria's SB line

Have you heard of Manito guitars out of UK ,Korean made fairly recent copies?...or Masada 70s Japan basses?

Sorry. I'm not familiar with either of those.

 

[DavidEdenAria]

I'm afraid you'll have to enlighten me as to who you think was copied ?

Construction method is similar to the Aria SB line but that should not come as a surprise, Matsumoku were the ones building Aria's SB line


Sorry. I'm not familiar with either of those.

Your bass was a combo of different basses I've seen Alembic etc in appearance but I don't keep up with the small builders.

I've got a nice early 80s Aria 32 scale bolt neck has 2 guitar sized humbuckers so a person could drop in a number of blade pickups but typical stellar neck and Japan workmanship decent tone .. really nice playability.

My 70s Japan Masada bolt neck P style has ash wings and a maple w walnut strips center strip body...decent bass I've a ton of work to Tru oil on body all new guts but saved tuners work fine.. heavy bugger must weigh 11+ lbs sort of big neck I've got long skinny fingers it plays decent quality a step down from Westone and Aria quality.

How many Japan factories were building guitars in 70s? Peavey had to know Japanese were getting very good by late 70s but Peavey had all the unique features and parts proprietary.

 

[MNAirHead]

Patriot - Opinion

Kodiak (and all)... someone asked me what makes a patriot cool. I never play mine so figured I'd ask someone with more experience.

I've heard this from multiple people.. the patriot guitar was a great student size shredder.

 

[DavidEdenAria]

Patriot - Opinion

Kodiak (and all)... someone asked me what makes a patriot cool. I never play mine so figured I'd ask someone with more experience.

I've heard this from multiple people.. the patriot guitar was a great student size shredder.

Student size? I've never seen a Patriot in person but I guessed the pickup position was part of the appeal.

 

[MNAirHead]

Student size? I've never seen a Patriot in person but I guessed the pickup position was part of the appeal.

They had a 3/4 shredder guitar -

 

[DavidEdenAria]

They had a 3/4 shredder guitar -

View attachment 7411336

Ok I don't follow Peavey guitars much...what is the scale length?

 

[MNAirHead]

3/4.... I think they replaced the t15 for the ferrite to version

 

[DavidEdenAria]

It took me about 300 test trials to find a USA p that was minimally good enough.

After growing up with a foundation, everything else feels clunky

My 1st generation Fury neck to me is fine...long skinny fingers...I'm thinking about new rw strings eventually because what is there now is a bit floppy but tone is great, not sure what the strings are.

Thinking GHS Pressure Wounds maybe...I do like present rw strings w tone rolled all the way down but I don't want any more tension...I have an 89 Fury with Fender 9050 flats and I cannot deal with the tension.

 

[kodiakblair]

Your bass was a combo of different basses I've seen Alembic etc in appearance

Can't say I see the resemblance David, well apart from short horns.

How many Japan factories were building guitars in 70s?

There was 10 main factories in the 70's. Most started out in the 50's but Terada go back to 1912. Peavey were definitely aware of them, you can see the origin of the harpoon peghead on Kawai/Teisco guitars from the 60's.

Peavey had all the unique features and parts proprietary.

I'll agree on proprietary parts but don't see the unique features, not on the late 70's T-series.

The phase switch was nothing new. Dan Armstrong put a Spin-a-Split tone knob in his London guitars/basses back in 1971/72. Even the 'Bi-laminate' neck was old hat. Reverse grain for strength is not only an ancient woodworking technique it wasn't a Peavey first, my old Wilson Sapphire from 68 has a bi-laminate neck.

what makes a patriot cool.

For me it's the simplicity of that single Super Ferrite