U.S. Peavey Club

[mech]

(Yeah, I know it's not really a T40, but the "Resto-Mod" approach using the T40 pickups and knobs really does it for me).

That's such a gorgeous TL-5...and I thoroughly agree with eldoryder - all the T-40 mods look great. The bridge (is that a 2TEK?), pickups and knobs all work great with the TL inlays.
I betcha that sounds great.

Thanks, guys. It did turn out to be a Retro-Rocket. It was literally a basket case when I got it....beat up, no PUs or hardware. Thank God it had the pre. The frets were less than great so I never had the action where I really wanted it. Now I'm looking at the broken TR as a blessing since it'll have a re-fret, too.

A really good friend and fellow experimenter had just found a T-40 for really cheap that had fallen off a 6' stage onto a concrete floor, busted off the headstock and split the body and I got the PUs and 4 knobs from him. It seemed a natural to put the T-40s in it. The Wilkinson bridge worked well to get the strings in the PU window. Made the aluminum top nut, PU rings and TR cover. You can see where the paint is worn off the neck PU ring from my thumb. I also have a drop tuner on the E and added a switch for SC/HB on the neck PU. I played a T-40 back in the day (before I changed to a 2nd gen TL-5) and really liked the growl of the bridge PU in HB and the great fundamental on the neck PU in SC combined. Add the DynaBass pre and it is a winner. This is my second favorite after the 2nd gen Koa TL-5.

Ack, I believe the bridge was called a "3D" since the string spacing could be adjusted. It came out in the late 80s....maybe? It was in a music store junk box and had been swapped out for a Schaller roller bridge. I remember when I got on the internet and some musician boards sprang up that had bass guitar sections, I found out nobody liked them. I guess they were too complicated for the non-mechanically inclined. Everything has locking set screws. I've had zero problems with it and to me it adds just the right amount of bling to the butt of this one. Kind of like the glitter stuff on the backside of women's pants.
At one time I thought a bunch about doing chrome inlays but decided that was too much delicate work and beyond my skill level to make so many. With laser and water jet cutters it'd be easier than eating bacon now. E-mail drawings and a credit card # and have your parts in a few days.

As a side note I've already dropped it off at the luthiers to get it in his line.

 

[Rib 13]

Well, here I sit broken hearted and despondent. The truss rod on this one broke this morning. No signs of being to tight or not wanting to turn.......just.....snap.

Edit: I've already talked to a local luthier about taking this on.

GASP!! A FIVE STRING T40????!!!!

I must have missed the build thread on this one. Mech, that is just plain BEAUTIFUL. It's heartbreaking that the truss rod broke on you. I'm sure you have a good luthier who can set this right for ya. As a T40 fanatic, I just can't say enough how stunning this bass is. Congrats!

5 String is only part of it to me: I have been GASing for decades to have a bass with T-40 pickups in a Jazz Bass pickup location configuration. This TL5 is fairly close to that.....Man, I hope your luthier can get that Truss Rod fixed!

 

[StuartV]

Hey fellas, I have a question for the collective:

Any suggestions on replacement pickups or a way to "upgrade" the stock pickups on a TL-Six?

I got my TL6 last summer, IIRC. Instant love. After playing only it for a couple of months, I picked up my Cirrus 6 again for the first time in a while and found a whole new appreciation for it. I have only been playing those 2 basses since getting the TL6.

The problem I have come to is that I love the P bass sound from the TL and my ability to go from a passive old school sound to an active slap/funky sound at the flick of a switch. My working band plays classic Memphis blues all the way to funky stuff like Brick House and Play That Funky Music and this bass works really well for me for that. But, when I play the Cirrus, it makes it obvious that the TL output is on the weaker side. Not that it's weak, but it's not as strong as the Cirrus. And I have had gigs where I play the Cirrus and I get the volume and clean sound that I want, but if I switch to the TL, I can't get the sound I want because the weaker output requires that I turn up the volume on my amp to compensate and on some gigs I'm already at the point where the distortion is already a bit more than I want, so turning up to compensate for the TL makes it unacceptably fuzzy.

I love the feel of the Cirrus neck and generally love the sound (though I do prefer a P-bass sound), but I have determined that I just can't live with the 35" scale.

So, I'm looking for some way to beef up the sound of the TL - in passive mode as well as active. The only options are replace the pickups or get the stock pickups rewound (I guess). So, can anyone suggest a good option?

I'm going to post up the Cirrus for sale as soon as I can get some updated pictures together. Once I move that, I think I'm going to order a Carvin/Kiesel Roy Vogt Signature Vanquish. It appears to be simply an updated, modern TL6. Knowing that I can get it with a tung oil finish for the back of the neck instead of the glossy finish of the TL is really appealing to me. OTOH, if I can get the TL sounding like I want in the meantime, maybe I'll just replace the Cirrus with a second TL6 (if I can find one). My TL and Cirrus are my only sixes and I would want to have a backup - with the same number of strings - to whatever I'm gigging.

Anyway.... sorry for rambling and thanks for any suggestions.

 

[Rib 13]

The problem I have come to is that I love the P bass sound from the TL and my ability to go from a passive old school sound to an active slap/funky sound at the flick of a switch.

I know this is the Peavey Thread but you should peruse the Swiss Army Bass thread also.....

 

[StuartV]

I know this is the Peavey Thread but you should peruse the Swiss Army Bass thread also.....

I just had a quick look. I do have a G&L L-2500 (with K mod). And... it's not a dual P 6 string. I also have an EBMM Sterling 5 H. The Sterling is my favorite bass - except for the sound/tone from a dual P 6-string....

I've gone all over the map with basses. At the end of the day, I don't think there is ANYTHING that cuts through a band mix with the clarity of a split coil pickup. I also have a G&L SB-2 (with Tone mod). The P/J config is good. But, after playing the TL-6, I think the P/P config is better. Or, I should say, I like it better.

I actually think I'm going to sell the Cirrus and both my G&Ls and get a Roy Vogt or another TL6. That will leave me with a Fury (with vintage Bartolini pickup), a fretless J that I built myself, the Sterling 5 (because it is my favorite bass ever for feel and looks - and it's a 2008 Limited Edition), and then two 6s, which would be my main player and a backup.

I think a standard 4-string P (the Fury), a fretless J, and a MM (Stingray or Sterling) single H should be in every bass player's stable. And every working bass player should have a comparable backup to whatever is their main player. After owning 30 basses, with as many as 15 in the fleet at one time, I think I'm finally settling down.

 

[mech]

....I'm looking for some way to beef up the sound of the TL -5 in passive mode as well as active.

Since you have the active/passive switch, you have a 1st Gen TL-6 with passive PUs. The 2nd Gen had active PUs and no bypass switch.

I did a brief search and the only passive I found was the Aguilar AG 6P-60. Supposed to emulate a mid-60s P Bass. No idea about the sound or output level and they are $125 a pop. Pretty expensive experiment to me. EMG makes an active but it wouldn't work work with the current pre and would add to battery drain anyway.

Can you raise the current PUs any? It doesn't take much to make a difference in output level.

Another option would be to find a clean gain boost pedal where you could add a taste of gain without changing the basic sound. There appears to be a bunch out there that claim to not color the sound. Used by guitarists to boost the level for rides. You probably need less than 6dB of boost.

 

[StuartV]

Thanks, mech. I was hoping you'd chime in.

Yes, $250 to replace both pickups seems excessive.

I set the pickup height when I got the bass. They are pretty high, so I hadn't really thought about trying to raise them further, but I will give it a try.

I also have a Line 6 Pod X3 Live pedal board that I've never done anything more than fart around with. But, I was thinking of trying that as a way to boost the output a bit. I thought I might even be able to use that to flip between old school P tone and funk/slap tone, too. Even easier to step on a pedal than flip a switch ('cause my band likes to start songs without telling me what song they're starting, so I am sometimes fiddling with the controls after the song has already started).

Any thoughts on the possibility of having the stock pickups rewound?

 

[mech]

..... ('cause my band likes to start songs without telling me what song they're starting, so I am sometimes fiddling with the controls after the song has already started).

Any thoughts on the possibility of having the stock pickups rewound?

I'm totally familiar with that first statement but I'm not familiar with any re-winders. If the PUs are hard potted (and they probably are) it may not be possible.

 

[Edmang]

Another option would be to find a clean gain boost pedal where you could add a taste of gain without changing the basic sound.

+1

 

[MattLplaysBass]

Finally getting around to ordering parts for my USA Millennium 5- has buzz when the blend knob is centered or panned towards the bridge pickup. Tried replacing the input jack, didn't change it. All the soldering looks good inside. So I ordered a new bridge pickup and preamp board (just because). $140 and some change, and free shipping. Hopefully get it up and running in the next week or so!View attachment 777084

Okay, so I received my parts from Peavey very quickly- huzzah for them! Does anyone have the wiring schematic for the USA Millennium preamp? I somehow managed to disconnect/damage mine (long painful story) and am just going to take it to a pro and have it done- good thing I bought an extra one!

Peavey sent me this, does it show where to connect the wires? I am not an engineer...

 

[tonybassman]

I traded some gear for this 92 Peavey Fury a few days ago. I paid $50 for the gear I traded for it.

My guitar player set up the bass for me last night with new Rotosound strings. It plays great and the Super Ferrite pickup is bright and punchy.

It has lots of dings and wear and even has some razorblade scratches under the black tape on the pickguard.

I could refinish the body and swap the pickguard but I like it as it is! Sorry the images are sideways.

 

[Shmandy]

I traded some gear for this 92 Peavey Fury a few days ago. I paid $50 for the gear I traded for it.

My guitar player set up the bass for me last night with new Rotosound strings. It plays great and the Super Ferrite pickup is bright and punchy.

It has lots of dings and wear and even has some razorblade scratches under the black tape on the pickguard.

I could refinish the body and swap the pickguard but I like it as it is! Sorry the images are sideways.

Nice get! Especially for the equivalent of $50! Looks a lot like my T-20, and if it sounds anything like it, you got something more than a steal.

 

[mech]

I traded some gear for this 92 Peavey Fury a few days ago. I paid $50 for the gear I traded for it.

Great score and don't mess with the mojo. It may come back to haunt you.

 

[Runnerman]

Awesome Fury score. Slant super ferrite goodness. IMHO, a nicer bass than the T20 because of the smaller lighter body.
Try it with some flats you'll be blown away.

 

[Hosedawg]

My two 90's... gotta love the old school models.

 

[richntiff]

Took my 95 Foundation 5 to rehearsal last night. First time I got to hear it through my rig. Let's just say that it sounded HUGE!

 

[mech]

My two 90's...gotta love the old school models.

You have two good ones. I think if I could only have two basses they would be a TL-5 and a Sarzo.

 

[grunz7]

seems that the neck of the fury is not original, this body style came with the "pointy" headstock. nice bass though

 

[gfaulkner]

I traded some gear for this 92 Peavey Fury a few days ago. I paid $50 for the gear I traded for it.

My guitar player set up the bass for me last night with new Rotosound strings. It plays great and the Super Ferrite pickup is bright and punchy.

It has lots of dings and wear and even has some razorblade scratches under the black tape on the pickguard.

I could refinish the body and swap the pickguard but I like it as it is! Sorry the images are sideways.

This bass is cool and a great catch on a trade,especially since it sounds and plays great,but I sense a bit of a mash up here.The neck is from a 92 Fury but the body is from 83-84 Fury.

 

[gfaulkner]

Two more to add to the shed.Both are 1994 Forum models,the green one is a Plus version with active pick ups.Awesome P/J tones and both feel really good