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U.S. Peavey Club
- Thread starter Soundchaser11460
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i'm gonna try to dip out a little early this afternoon (probably wont, boss is in town today) and go see it. iirc, he had $240 on it - but i went to high school with the guy, and would be surprised if i couldn't get him down to 2 bills even. or maybe lower ... dunno till i try.
They want $300 for it but it's not going to be mine.
For a collector like you, maybe...
I have 4 Peavey basses now. A RJIV, a Foundation, a Foundation fretless and a Fury. I also have a Mega Bass head. Their stuff rocks for its price point.
I don't have golden hands, but I'm glad I got hold of my '81 T-60 (w/ohsc) for 2 bills even, a few years ago:
Opinion
I'd pass.. there are better ones.. or pristine for another $100
Patience on Craigslist/Ebay will get you a cheap Foundy..
Or add a few bucks and get a pristine..
These really aren't good project basses.
I should have never sold mine.. in the right hands they do sound on par with a Birdland.. seriously.. the can be dialed in this warm and full... brighter than a gibson.. warmer than a fender.. better sustain than either.
There are some hot tracks of Jerry Reed playing them in the early 80s.. man could chicken pick like mad.
I don't have golden hands, but I'm glad I got hold of my '81 T-60 (w/ohsc) for 2 bills even, a few years ago:
oh that is dead sexy ...
only 6 i have ever played that was more versatile than a t60 was a fender performer ... and the performer is definately an acquired taste.
They definitely are versatile. I have to fight my natural inclination to have my default tone as being all the way up though, because then you're missing out on the humbuckers.
Just got 2 Peavey basses in from MNAirhead, my 3rd from him in recent times. He is the best guy to deal with you could imagine. I wrote him a short review and included his reply. Let me (or him) know what you think. Here is my review, then his reply.
Okay, I stayed up until 430 am playing my 4 different Peaveys. Some comments about them all.
First, the Foundation I bought locally is nice, but my least favorite of the bunch. It also seems a bit heavier than the fretless you sent me. It's also set up a bit higher than I like. Any lower and it buzzes on the 2nd fret. I may or may not hold onto that one.
The fretless foundation is dreamy! I really like it. Just need to spend more time learning to play it correctly. What type of flats are those? I think that eventually I will trade them out for TI flats, but not until I wear the ones on there out.
The Fury is also very nice and plays very well. I would have to say that this is the one I would probably gig with. I like the sound of the flats and it it is set up nicely. Thanks for that. Worth the wait.
The RJIV is still my favorite of all of them. I love the variety I can get out of it and I actually love the set up that low, now that I am used to it. How low is it? I will have a local tech do other basses that low too. The heck with playing cleanly past the 15th fret. I realize now that I don't play very much past that point. I would use this for gigs, but am reluctant to take it out of the house and risk damage or theft. What kind of rounds are on there, so I can get the same ones when I need to replace?
His reply:
Local Foundation..
Chances (95%) are it's just a bad setup... the neck is probably bent and the microtilt wrong.. there are about 6 variables to setting one of these up. I buy them like this all the time for students... it takes me at least an hour to set up a bass. Send it to me and I'll set it up... OR take it to a shop and have them make the neck arrow straight (don't accept adivce or excuses).. I can walk you through the rest.
Fretless Foundation
This was kind of my quandry.. I love them that look like furniture.. the black one was the one Kevin said had the best bones.. few reasons. This is the exact bass Peter is in love with.
Strings.. I'm unsure.. they didn't feel/sound cheap.. flats on a fretless really don't wear out. Capitol (the company that endorses me) will let me setup gear on their show room... flats are never wanted by their customer base, I just install rounds. I get most of my flats/tapes used as they cost about 1/2 of new (and are broken in)
I'd really suggest rounds before spending a ton of money.. part of the modern fretless sound is sutain not thud.
Fury..
Your Fury is 2 put together.. to get you the pickguard that wasn't broken.. I swapped necks.. both basses are about 3 months apart and basically identical... it took some time to get it straight and working..
IF I were playing any of them, I'd be playing lower action... I rarely play with a pick.. will turn up the amp and barely touch the bass.. you see R&b, Urban Gospel and Mark King setup this way.
My black on black (peter bought for me) will be 100% stealthed out (pickguard, hardware & strings) tuned BEAD... unsure if it will ever be played... only reason to swap it was for the obscure black neck.
RJIV..
How low? Proably about 1mm.. the issue is that you can't get a luthier/tech to set them up like this.. takes too long... My Dyna Unity LTD plays lower and faster.. this bass had the frets PLEKD (machined). To get an RJ this low it took me about 3 hours with machinists files (look closely at the bridge saddles)..
The rounds on that one are Rotos.. not really the best strings.. much of it is just they're newer.. I normally play GHS Tapercores in an XL guage.. the intoantion becomes perfect.. they're obscure strings... Low Riders are on most of my Dynas.
Now .. if you like those, you'd be floored by the premium basses they've put out... I own botique basses.. when setup any production USA Peavey will beat out anything else that costs 3-4x more. Heck.. a Milestone (import) plays better than my Sadowsky.
Okay, I stayed up until 430 am playing my 4 different Peaveys. Some comments about them all.
First, the Foundation I bought locally is nice, but my least favorite of the bunch. It also seems a bit heavier than the fretless you sent me. It's also set up a bit higher than I like. Any lower and it buzzes on the 2nd fret. I may or may not hold onto that one.
The fretless foundation is dreamy! I really like it. Just need to spend more time learning to play it correctly. What type of flats are those? I think that eventually I will trade them out for TI flats, but not until I wear the ones on there out.
The Fury is also very nice and plays very well. I would have to say that this is the one I would probably gig with. I like the sound of the flats and it it is set up nicely. Thanks for that. Worth the wait.
The RJIV is still my favorite of all of them. I love the variety I can get out of it and I actually love the set up that low, now that I am used to it. How low is it? I will have a local tech do other basses that low too. The heck with playing cleanly past the 15th fret. I realize now that I don't play very much past that point. I would use this for gigs, but am reluctant to take it out of the house and risk damage or theft. What kind of rounds are on there, so I can get the same ones when I need to replace?
His reply:
Local Foundation..
Chances (95%) are it's just a bad setup... the neck is probably bent and the microtilt wrong.. there are about 6 variables to setting one of these up. I buy them like this all the time for students... it takes me at least an hour to set up a bass. Send it to me and I'll set it up... OR take it to a shop and have them make the neck arrow straight (don't accept adivce or excuses).. I can walk you through the rest.
Fretless Foundation
This was kind of my quandry.. I love them that look like furniture.. the black one was the one Kevin said had the best bones.. few reasons. This is the exact bass Peter is in love with.
Strings.. I'm unsure.. they didn't feel/sound cheap.. flats on a fretless really don't wear out. Capitol (the company that endorses me) will let me setup gear on their show room... flats are never wanted by their customer base, I just install rounds. I get most of my flats/tapes used as they cost about 1/2 of new (and are broken in)
I'd really suggest rounds before spending a ton of money.. part of the modern fretless sound is sutain not thud.
Fury..
Your Fury is 2 put together.. to get you the pickguard that wasn't broken.. I swapped necks.. both basses are about 3 months apart and basically identical... it took some time to get it straight and working..
IF I were playing any of them, I'd be playing lower action... I rarely play with a pick.. will turn up the amp and barely touch the bass.. you see R&b, Urban Gospel and Mark King setup this way.
My black on black (peter bought for me) will be 100% stealthed out (pickguard, hardware & strings) tuned BEAD... unsure if it will ever be played... only reason to swap it was for the obscure black neck.
RJIV..
How low? Proably about 1mm.. the issue is that you can't get a luthier/tech to set them up like this.. takes too long... My Dyna Unity LTD plays lower and faster.. this bass had the frets PLEKD (machined). To get an RJ this low it took me about 3 hours with machinists files (look closely at the bridge saddles)..
The rounds on that one are Rotos.. not really the best strings.. much of it is just they're newer.. I normally play GHS Tapercores in an XL guage.. the intoantion becomes perfect.. they're obscure strings... Low Riders are on most of my Dynas.
Now .. if you like those, you'd be floored by the premium basses they've put out... I own botique basses.. when setup any production USA Peavey will beat out anything else that costs 3-4x more. Heck.. a Milestone (import) plays better than my Sadowsky.
I bought my first Peavey brand new in 1982. A Peavey T-20FL! My second bass ever! Had no clue what I was doing and traded it for a Washburn... Since then, I have bought and sold 3 of them. Now, I want one.. Had not been able to find one in about 3 years. I finally found one and it will never leave my paws!
Count me in
Count me in
They come up on ebay every once in a while... if you can deal with more narrower spacing and contoured bodies.. Foundations are normally less spendy.
My heart was into my old T-20. No offense to the Foundation, but I was looking for something specific. They are really hard to find. No where near as hard as I thought they would be. Most of these old Peaveys, with the exception of the T-40, are very underrated and usually going for a great price.
I have a question for the USA Peavey club here - Where can I get an original Peavey Truss Rod wrench?
As you know a T40FL will be easier than a T20FL
I have seen some T20FL necks periodically pop up.
I have seen some T20FL necks periodically pop up.
Sorry to monopolize the thread.. I was just in it.
Allparts 5/16 (somone please correct me if I"m wrong)... if you can't find one locally - PM me.. I have them stocked at a local vendor.. about $7 each.... it's kind of a different beast than just using a deep socket.
Alvaro Martín Gómez A.
TalkBass' resident Bongo + cowbell player
I guess different models require different wrenches? The one for the T-40 can be found Invalid Link Removed (Item #6106 - For 5/16" Gibson nut ). Not "original", but works perfectly anyway.
Mine was custom order.. they were not in catalogs.. had to call down to Meridian..
Yes.. but rare.
