U.S. Peavey Club

[ack]

Ken, I've only had a couple of active Peavey basses with active VFL's , the Axcelerator (which had 2 VFL's), and the Millennium J/MM (which had a single VFL and a stacked J).
I've had many US Peaveys with passive Super Ferrites. To me, the passive SF's are harsh (almost nasal), aggressive and powerful. The great thing about the Foundation is that you can dial in almost anything you'd ever need in a bass blending and EQ'ing those two pickups.

The VFL's I had in my Peaveys were very smooth (almost mellow) and had strong low-low mids. Although I'm way more partial to passive pickups, I really loved the VFL's.
I think you can get anything you want out of the VFL's if you EQ them to your liking, but there is something so bright and aggressive about the SF's that set them apart from most other passive pickups I've tried.

My son has an Axcelerator-5 with VFL's and it is killer - the VFL's and that low-B are magical.

I know this wasn't much help - even after re-reading it, not even I understand what I wrote.
Hopefully, some others with more experience can chime in and elaborate on their experience

 

[Basstovsky]

The VFL's are a more hi-fi and articulate sound, where the SF's are raw growly pickups.

 

[markob]

Can you compare the aggressive nature of the SF to the single coil MFD in an early G&L? I'm familiar with those.

 

[Landsharks]

I am desperately wanting a Koa Dyna Unity. From the way it looks, lately when they come up the prices have gone up a good bit. If anyone wants to let one go for a good deal, please let me know.

 

[Ken J]

I am desperately wanting a Koa Dyna Unity. From the way it looks, lately when they come up the prices have gone up a good bit. If anyone wants to let one go for a good deal, please let me know.

The only reason I have not purchased more of these basses is that I’ve been out of work for four months and that I play a number of other instruments. I’ve also been out horn shopping and it hurts to see pro grade horns going for under $200 and me with a restricted cash flow. Now that I’m back to work the hunt is on. Good luck.

 

[mech]

Generally the distinction people make is the "Toaster" pickups are the ones that had the blades covered with black rubber of some kind that were used on the first T-40s, and the Blade pickups are the ones with blades exposed that started in the early 80s.

The "black rubber" is black epoxy. To my knowledge all Peavey made and most purchased pickups were potted in epoxy to reduce/eliminate microphonics. Toasters are in a thin plastic vacuum formed cup with a brass base plate soldered to the chrome plated cover to form an almost complete shield. The thin plastic will wear through and peel. The blades are in a thicker injection molded plastic cup with a separate top.

IMHO, the blades do have a taste more high end and output, mainly because the pole pieces end up closer to the strings. As best I can tell, the magnet structures and coils are the same form with very minor differences.

 

[Basstovsky]

Thanks mech, I was hopin one of the more technical guys would pop in and give the details!

 

[JEDI BASS]

My blade-pup T-40 is easily one of my favorite sounding basses ever! I am very tempted to get another.

I missed out on the Randy Jackson Sig that sold on ebay last night for $299. I planned on bidding on it just to try something different.

 

[ack]

My blade-pup T-40 is easily one of my favorite sounding basses ever! I am very tempted to get another.

I missed out on the Randy Jackson Sig that sold on ebay last night for $299. I planned on bidding on it just to try something different.

An RJ-IV? for $299? That's a good deal for someone - that's an awesome bass. Really comfortable.

I loved my bladed T-40, but I couldn't believe the first time I played a T-45 through my rig - that thing is a monster (personally, I think the pickup in the T-45 is perfectly placed), and you never read much about the T-45's.

 

[eldoryder]

Peavey's BEST Kept Secret.......

The T45!!!!

 

[JEDI BASS]

An RJ-IV? for $299? That's a good deal for someone - that's an awesome bass. Really comfortable.

I loved my bladed T-40, but I couldn't believe the first time I played a T-45 through my rig - that thing is a monster (personally, I think the pickup in the T-45 is perfectly placed), and you never read much about the T-45's.

I'll be snatching up a T-45 someday! I've let too many slip thru my fingers. :-/

 

[kodiakblair]

Totally agree eldoryder

 

[Runnerman]

I let one slip through my fingers once. They guy wanted $200 for it and I was too late.

 

[JEDI BASS]

I let one slip through my fingers once. They guy wanted $200 for it and I was too late.

Ugh!!!

 

[jason73]

Finally going to look at that Fury. $80. Man I hope this thing isn't trashed. Been wanting one for a minute.

 

[Rostislav]

Has anyone tried a fretless TL5? I love my TL5 (fretted) but would like to have a fretless bass, and good fretless 5-strings are few and far between in my area. So, is it a good idea to defret it? Or should I just buy another bass? Any help will be appreciated.

 

[stelles75]

My '95 Fury has taken over main player duties from my Fender Blacktop P. It's amazing to me that the $170 bass (including sale price and also mods) is significantly better in almost every category than the $600 bass. Feels good in my hands, zero fret buzz, perfect action... The Dimarzio pickups I slapped in... unf.

 

[stelles75]

Also, I'm not sure where to post this, but I'm pretty elated about it... my band has our first gig March 16th. I've never been on stage before, but our constant practicing is paying off and we sound great. I'm nervous as hell, but can't wait to have an audience for this stuff.

 

[mech]

Has anyone tried a fretless TL5? I love my TL5 (fretted) but would like to have a fretless bass, and good fretless 5-strings are few and far between in my area. So, is it a good idea to defret it? Or should I just buy another bass? Any help will be appreciated.

TL-5s have ebony fret boards. My experience with ebony is that it will chip and splinter pretty bad.

 

[StuartV]

A TL-Five is a thing of beauty. And not worth that much money, really. For what it would cost to get a de-fret job done that is worthy of the quality of a TL-Five, I think you could probably just about buy a fretless TL-Five (assuming such a thing exists and you can find one).

Personally, I would not de-fret a TL-Five.

Added note: I normally play 5-strings. But, to ME (just my opinion), something about fretless just says "4 string" to me. I can't think of anything I'd want to use a fretless for where I would also care about having a 5-string. So, in your situation, I would get a 4-string fretless. And, actually, I put my money where my is because I WAS in your exact situation (playing 5s but wanting a fretless). I scrounged parts and built myself a really nice fretless Jazz 4, using a Warmoth body and an Allparts fretless neck.

For that matter, look here. They even have fretless 5s. The fretless Candy Apple Red/Maple Jazz 5 looks pretty sweet, to me. For $150, you can hardly beat it.

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