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U.S. Peavey Club

#3,321
Staccato said:
Nice write-up Tony! Does your Unity have Ferrites installed, or more modern Peavey pups?
Click to expand...

Thanks Staccato....I appreciate you taking the time to read all that!

The Unity has P/J pickups. The previous owner swapped them out with EMG's but included the originals with the bass.

I guess I should say that my T-40 has the older toaster type pickups (not the blade type) and the Foundation has the Super Ferrites.

Lastly, my Dyna bolt on has the VFL? or newer type pickups.
 
#3,322
Personally, of Peaveys, I currently have:

B Quad 5
Millennium Plus 5
Cirrus 6 w/Millennium preamp

and have had:

B Quad 4
Millennium 4
TL-Five
Cirrus 5 w/Millennium preamp
G-Bass w/Millennium preamp
G-V w/Millennium preamp

Of the 4s, I like the B Quad best for the different tones and the neck and playing feel.

Of the 5s, I like the B Quad 5 best for the sound, but I think I really prefer the Millennium 5 for neck and playing feel.

All that said, every single Peavey I've had has been great. Especially after the upgrade to the Mill pre. I am very much sold on the sweepable midrange EQ setup and also on piezo pickups.
 
#3,323
StuartV said:
I don't understand these two statements:



My best objective interpretation of those two statements boils down to "these basses have passive pickups so I can't get enough volume out of them from my amp/cab."

And that just doesn't sound right. Are you saying you have the input gain all the way up and the Master Volume all the way up and they're still not loud enough for some venues? I think that's the only difference it would make if those pickups had hotter output.

It sounds to me like what you really mean is that the tone of those two basses doesn't cut through like the other basses. Which would mean it's nothing to do with passive versus active. It's just that you don't like the tone of those two basses. The tone they have doesn't cut through a band mix like the other ones you have, right?
Click to expand...

LoL, I said it was clear as mud! Let me try to clarify.

The Dyna Unity IS an Active bass. I was basically trying to say is that it is not as powerful AS the other active Peavey's I own. For some reason, it just isn't as powerful or loud.

As far as the Foundation, I like the tone (or sound of the bass) just fine, I just can't get the power (volume) I need while playing out of it. The T40 HAS the power to cut through, while the Foundation doesn't. Call that tone or power, it just doesn't cut through the mix.

I play in two different buildings. In the first, smaller 500 seat building, I'm direct via a DI box into the PA. I have no real control of my volume except the controls of the bass itself into a monitor at my feet. When I play an active vs a passive in this setting, the active ALWAYS seems to cut through better (plays louder). I call it volume, you might call it tone. I'm not a very technical person. Call it whatever, the active basses just seem louder or more powerful.

In the larger building, I have an Ampeg B2R Head with an Eden 410XL and a 210xL cab. There are about 20-25 musicians in this service. Four Sax players, 3 Trumpet, Electric Keyboard, Grand piano, 3 Flutes, huge electric drum kit, three guitars, Trombone, 5-6 singers, it varies slightly week to week.

We are SO packed in on the risers, that I sit in a corner and my amp is about 4 feet away from me. I set my volume on the amp and all the volume adjusting I do is at my bass. When I use the Foundation, I get buried. I'd have to go and crank up my amp so much, the sound gets obnoxious.

I try to play at a volume that gives room or support to the other musicians. All I can say is, when I use an active bass, the tone or sound is loud enough for me to hear what I'm doing and not be glaringly obnoxious. The Foundation can't cut that environment but the T40 can. My Rickenbacker's do fine as well. Just the Foundation and the Unity give me issues.

I don't know if that's any clearer, but that's what I was trying to say.
 
#3,326
What I have noticed from going to hear lots of bands and paying attention to the sound of their bass players is that it can easily be the case that the bass is very loud in comparison to the rest of the band and yet I still can't hear clearly what the bassist is doing. And other times, I'll hear a bass player where I CAN clearly hear exactly what the bassist is doing. Each attack on a string. Each release. The note ringing. Ghost notes. Everything. And this can happen even when I also notice that the bass is actually a much lower volume than the rest of the mix. And then, of course, every combination in between.

I think there are a number of factors that play into that, including room acoustics and the other instruments in the band. But I think the biggest single factor is the tone of the bass.

I think that, unless you have really bad room acoustics or some other instrument playing all over the same sonic space as the bass, then if you have a bass with good tone, it will be heard clearly, even if it's at a lower overall volume than the rest of the band. And if you have a bass with bad tone, even if it's significantly louder than the rest of the band, the listener will still not be able to hear clearly and precisely what the bassist is playing.

Of course, in this context, good tone and bad tone are not the subjective things judged by the player's personal taste. They are defined by what cuts clearly and cleanly versus what does not. And it seems like there is often a discrepancy between the two. It seems there are a lot of players whose taste says a certain tone is exactly what they want and think is perfect, but that tone turns out to come out like mud in the mix.

So, Tony, I do think what you're describing is an issue of tone - at least, in my personal opinion. And it's not an issue of passive versus active. To me, the 2 best-sounding types of basses that I have heard - and I mean that in an objective tone way, meaning, what comes through clearly and cleanly in a band mix - are passive Precision-type basses and active Stingray basses. And, interestingly, both of those types of basses don't give the player nearly as many tone-shaping options a lot of other basses do. Especially the Precision. So maybe that's why those 2 kinds of basses in particular always seem to sound good in a band mix - precisely because, basically, the player can't hardly screw up their sound.
 
#3,327
Interesting Stu, and nicely put.

Much of what you said strikes a chord, no pun intended. Our acoustics in the small building are horrible. Stone floors, stone walls, wooden ceiling...sounds bounce all over the place. The building is also shaped like a "T". There is sometimes a SLIGHT DELAY in the sound getting from the far left side of that "T" to the bottom of it. That is where the sound guys work their magic.

"And other times, I'll hear a bass player where I CAN clearly hear exactly what the bassist is doing. Each attack on a string. Each release. The note ringing. Ghost notes. Everything. And this can happen even when I also notice that the bass is actually a much lower volume than the rest of the mix. And then, of course, every combination in between." Agreed.

I am trying to be a solid foundation for the other members yet being out there enough that what I'm doing can be heard. I'm there to help, it's all volunteer. I try to find the best instruments to do the job and then just do it, hopefully to the approval of the other band members and the others in the building. I've been doing it for almost 20 years now.

I not only like the tone I get, but the members of the band seem to like what I do. I've never used a P bass or a Music Man but there is one MM fretless bass I've been eyeballing.

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Frequently, during the warmup, the guitarists get lots of "correcting advice". It's a running joke in the band that when we're playing and the team leader gets up from the piano and walks amongst the players, we wink as to whom is going to get "corrected". The large majority of the time, its the guitars, sometimes the drummer and I get the "attention", but we're most happy when she picks on the horns.:D:eyebrow:
 
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#3,328
So all that said, another bass that I heard (fairly recently, actually) that impressed me with its tone - because I could hear it very clearly even though, in my opinion, it was way too low in the mix - was a Dyna-bass Unity with Super Ferrite pickups. That thing really sounded good. It was an open jam and that was the best-sounding bass out of all 6 or 7 different ones that people played that night.

Peavey rulez!!! :bassist::bassist::bassist:
 
#3,329
ajish4 said:
My only complaint about this bass is the output compared to the other active Peavey's. I just get lost in the mix playing this bass.
Click to expand...

There's a small hole on the control pocket cover that gives access to a trim pot that sets the output level of the preamp. This is used to balance the volume of the active and passive modes. Your trim pot may be turned down. A small flat-bade screwdriver can be used to adjust the trim pot. The hole doesn't always align perfectly with the shaft of the trim pot. If the screw driver contacts a trace on the PCB it may make a rude noise but will not damage anything. Be sure your amp is set for low volume when making the adjustment.

IME, the output of the P/J PUs are inherently lower than the Super Ferrites of the bolt on Dyna/early TL-5s and the VFLs of the later TL-5s when in passive mode but with the trim pot adjusted to max the output level of the Unity should be very usable.

You may want to adjust the trim pots on the bolt on Dyna, TL-5, and Dyna unity to have about the same output levels so changes to the gain settings on your amp will not be necessary.

There is also a difference in attack between the P/J setup and the others, with the SFs and VFLs being more agressive, IMO. This could also be some of what you're missing.

mech
 
#3,330
mech... don't you find the later Milleniums and Cirrus era bases have a fatter sound at any level?

Tony... we can alter the sound of most basses... in your case, I'd just pick the one that feels best and let's talk about it (vs the 30 options in your stable)

PS --- I can't wiat to get to work on your bolt on dyna 4... it's a sincere gem
 
#3,332
mech said:
There's a small hole on the control pocket cover that gives access to a trim pot that sets the output level of the preamp. This is used to balance the volume of the active and passive modes. Your trim pot may be turned down. A small flat-bade screwdriver can be used to adjust the trim pot. The hole doesn't always align perfectly with the shaft of the trim pot. If the screw driver contacts a trace on the PCB it may make a rude noise but will not damage anything. Be sure your amp is set for low volume when making the adjustment.

IME, the output of the P/J PUs are inherently lower than the Super Ferrites of the bolt on Dyna/early TL-5s and the VFLs of the later TL-5s when in passive mode but with the trim pot adjusted to max the output level of the Unity should be very usable.

You may want to adjust the trim pots on the bolt on Dyna, TL-5, and Dyna unity to have about the same output levels so changes to the gain settings on your amp will not be necessary.

There is also a difference in attack between the P/J setup and the others, with the SFs and VFLs being more agressive, IMO. This could also be some of what you're missing.

mech
Click to expand...

Thanks Mech,

Much appreciated. I didn't realize the Unity had a trim pot. I'll take another look and see if tweaking it makes a difference. I only changed the battery located in a separate compartment.

I don't know why I never thought of it. I've adjusted the trim pots on others but I missed that. THANKS! I couldn't understand why it would be so much lower, I just attributed it to the swapped out EMG pups I guess? :confused:

MNAirHead said:
Tony... we can alter the sound of most basses... in your case, I'd just pick the one that feels best and let's talk about it (vs the 30 options in your stable)

PS --- I can't wiat to get to work on your bolt on dyna 4... it's a sincere gem
Click to expand...

Tim,

We have a few things to talk about. ;)
Shoot me a PM when you have the time.

I have a few basses sidelined, that need some TLC.

Speaking of the Dyna, it's an odd one, it doesn't look like most other Dyna's. I keep hoping to find one on the cheap on Ebay to use for parts. That poor thing has been through hell and back.:bassist:
 
#3,337
So I broke out my 86' Foundation S for our last gig. I bought it new and soon after replaced the pups with a Dimarzio active P and J setup. Played it that way for years. The preamp died in it earlier this year and after talking to Dimarzio about the pups I wired it up passive with a vol/blend/tone config. This was the 1st gig I've used it at in years and it sounded awesome! The thing is so comfortable and really fun to play. I'm glad I got her back out, felt like going home.

Really a rock solid bass, I haven't had to adjust the neck or the intonation on it in years. For a passive bass, it really has some output. I play an Ibanez SRT805DX as well and even though it's active there was no real difference in output between the two. I don't care for the J pup on it's own much but blended with the P it gives a really thick tone.
 
#3,338
Grebnaws said:
Me too. Did it require anything special for your patriot to work well with that tuning?

I am curious to try a light set of flats on mine for standard tuning.
Click to expand...

I haven't tried tuning my Patriot like that,
but I installed high tension ROTO RS 77LD
flats on it and was amazed with the sound
I got.

I had to adjust the neck to accommodate
the higher tension, but the action is so
low, it is not harder to play.

The sound grabbed me. I love it,

3-17-15b.jpg


__________________________
US Peavey Club #199 tabdog
 
#3,339
I left my Patriot in the factory case for a
while and the foam melted into the finish
of the bass. It never was the same.

So,

I painted my Patriot with Color Shift paint,

3-16-tile-2.jpg


It went from this,

3-9-1-2.jpg


to this,

3-17-14.jpg


or this,

3-17-10.jpg


or this,

3-17-8-3.jpg


It just depends on how you l@@k at it,

Tabdog

US Peavey Club #199
 

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