U.S. Peavey Club

[Raw N Low]

aggressively voiced and may not be for everyone.

The Patriot I sold to @wild4oldcars was my second stint with the Super Ferrites. The first was with my Foundation 5. I can attest that the SF pickups got some serious growl and thump.

When I played my old Patriot, there were times I thought I was listening to a Jazz bass with the volume pots cranked for both pickups. In my opinion -- they are great pickups for rock and funk because they have so much character and attitude. I rarely use OD, Fuzz, or Distortion pedals to get the kind of grind I'm looking for. I like to slam the input of the EQ from the bass and set my amp to taste. Not every passive pickup can do that but, I've had no problems doing that with the SF's.

Very unique like the G&L MFD.

 

[wild4oldcars]

The Patriot I sold to @wild4oldcars was my second stint with the Super Ferrites. The first was with my Foundation 5. I can attest that the SF pickups got some serious growl and thump.

When I played my old Patriot, there were times I thought I was listening to a Jazz bass with the volume pots cranked for both pickups. In my opinion -- they are great pickups for rock and funk because they have so much character and attitude. I rarely use OD, Fuzz, or Distortion pedals to get the kind of grind I'm looking for. I like to slam the input of the EQ from the bass and set my amp to taste. Not every passive pickup can do that but, I've had no problems doing that with the SF's.

Very unique like the G&L MFD.

And what a patriot it is

I’ve since swapped the pots for 500k’s, and installed a higher mass brass bridge, and with stainless rounds, it is a monster. I’m not a huge fan of the big round bottom end a lot of bassists love, but super ferrites have an inherent punchiness that you can’t really get in a traditional J or P, imo

 

[ElBecko59]

Been layin' low lately selling off some guitars & basses but just wanted to repost my Peavey Axcelerator basses - Small thin necks makes them easy to play and even unplugged you really feel the notes vibrate under your fingers that makes you feel connected ,The Black Axcelerator w/gold hardware will eventually get a body swap with a new old stock Sunburst body) / the Purple is a Plus model

 

[bigtone23]

I wanna say 93 was when those were the issued, but it may have been sometime in 92?

Looks good to me

I had a 93 Foundation with the original stamped Super Ferrites.

Does anyone have a source on the capacitors peavey used in the 80s basses (or similar). They're known .022 microfarads, but to my ear they roll off differently, almost not as efficiently as modern caps ive ordered off ebay and the like. Im talking about one like the small blue one here (not the treble bleed). Even if someone could let me know the "variety" of cap this is, i might have a better time searching for replacements. I can't imagine the only option i have is harvesting old used parts. Thanks!

The effect you hear may not be the cap, but the pot. Peavey was used an S taper pot for the spin-a-split tone controls on the T series. When the T's were discontinued, they must of had a lot of those pots on hand, as they continued to use those S taper pots for the tone pots on pretty much everything until the stock was depleted. My 84 and 85 Foundations and 87 Patriot has them for the tone controls. They taper off rather oddly, really slow at the top of it's travel, much like a linear pot in the middle and slow again at the bottom of it's travel. Compared to a standard audio taper pot, the S taper can certainly be perceived as slower to roll off, or less efficient.

The Patriot I sold to @wild4oldcars was my second stint with the Super Ferrites. The first was with my Foundation 5. I can attest that the SF pickups got some serious growl and thump.

When I played my old Patriot, there were times I thought I was listening to a Jazz bass with the volume pots cranked for both pickups. In my opinion -- they are great pickups for rock and funk because they have so much character and attitude. I rarely use OD, Fuzz, or Distortion pedals to get the kind of grind I'm looking for. I like to slam the input of the EQ from the bass and set my amp to taste. Not every passive pickup can do that but, I've had no problems doing that with the SF's.

Very unique like the G&L MFD.

That's probably one of the closest relatives: the MFD.
On a related note, I have a pair of guitar/humbucker sized Super Ferrite single coils on a Strat and another guitar Super Ferrite for the neck PU on a tele. They remind me a LOT of the G&L MFD Jumbo Singles: bigger sounding than a typical Tele or Strat pickup, but not as mid forward as a P90. The guitar SF pickups are just as revered as the bass versions.

 

[wild4oldcars]

I had a 93 Foundation with the original stamped Super Ferrites.

The effect you hear may not be the cap, but the pot. Peavey was used an S taper pot for the spin-a-split tone controls on the T series. When the T's were discontinued, they must of had a lot of those pots on hand, as they continued to use those S taper pots for the tone pots on pretty much everything until the stock was depleted. My 84 and 85 Foundations and 87 Patriot has them for the tone controls. They taper off rather oddly, really slow at the top of it's travel, much like a linear pot in the middle and slow again at the bottom of it's travel. Compared to a standard audio taper pot, the S taper can certainly be perceived as slower to roll off, or less efficient.

Sorry I wasn’t clear, as I’m not really sure how to be. I’m not super concerned with the taper, since I’ve since swapped out those pots, and retaining the original components gave me the tonal interaction I was looking for, where as subbing in a modern poly packet cap resulted in far more highs cut to my ear. That’s what I meant by “more efficient.” That’s good to know though, I’ll have to hang on to those old pots if they are that special s taper.

 

[kodiakblair]

if they are that special s taper.

If you're looking for "S" taper they go under the letter W.

 

[afireinside]

On marketplace found a 83 Fury. Neck has high relief. A few washers helped but still Not as flat as i need..... took it to Koontz to get his eye on it. Thinks it should be fixable but had a customer so couldent look to hard today. Decent wear but not abused (other then the neck possibly)

 

[58kites]

Looks in pretty good shape.
Seems like lots more of the bigger Peavey necks have not held on as well as many of the thinner necks with 1/2" nut.
I've always heard that the big Precision necks were super stable compared to the Jazz necks, seems that the fatter Peavey necks should follow.
Maybe Peavey just got better at it by '85-86.

 

[afireinside]

This one has a bigger P style neck.

 

[bigtone23]

Looks in pretty good shape.
Seems like lots more of the bigger Peavey necks have not held on as well as many of the thinner necks with 1/2" nut.
I've always heard that the big Precision necks were super stable compared to the Jazz necks, seems that the fatter Peavey necks should follow.
Maybe Peavey just got better at it by '85-86.

It would make sense that they got better at instrument making with time. The T stuff is great, but the next generation of instruments from the early/mid 80s are better, IMHO. The bilaminate neck construction is pretty stable, kudos for that! I also consider care and feeding over the life of the instrument. It's pretty common for people who purchase entry to mid level instruments to not adjust the truss rod, or even know what it is. This was especially more prevalent back then. I was playing guitar for 3 years before I knew of truss rod adjustments. It became reality when I got a 78 Strat and saw the bullet poking out of the headstock and asked "what is that?"
I have a wide '82 T45 neck on a Foundy body that is perfect, so I give it thumbs up on proper construction and credit to the previous owner(s) who kept it adjusted properly.

 

[wild4oldcars]

I don’t know if it’s necessarily one era better than any other, but I would say that with any budget instrument, the odds of it being poorly adjusted for a majority of its life are higher, and certainly can cause problems later in life. The b-ninety I bought had a massive neck bow and a split in the back of the neck, and same with my older slant fury. On the other hand, my t-40 and foundation from those same eras have excellent necks. Sometimes you strike out, sometimes you knock it out of the park.

 

[Cliff Colton]

I don’t know if it’s necessarily one era better than any other, but I would say that with any budget instrument, the odds of it being poorly adjusted for a majority of its life are higher, and certainly can cause problems later in life. The b-ninety I bought had a massive neck bow and a split in the back of the neck, and same with my older slant fury. On the other hand, my t-40 and foundation from those same eras have excellent necks. Sometimes you strike out, sometimes you knock it out of the park.

The b90 neck on the slant fury body would be an awesome bass.

 

[bigtone23]

I don’t know if it’s necessarily one era better than any other, but I would say that with any budget instrument, the odds of it being poorly adjusted for a majority of its life are higher, and certainly can cause problems later in life. The b-ninety I bought had a massive neck bow and a split in the back of the neck, and same with my older slant fury. On the other hand, my t-40 and foundation from those same eras have excellent necks. Sometimes you strike out, sometimes you knock it out of the park.

My 84 Foundation can be the poster child for 'extremely well made bass.' There are gems and duds across the board, but I really like that 83-86 era the most.

 

[Runnerman]

On marketplace found a 83 Fury. Neck has high relief. A few washers helped but still Not as flat as i need..... took it to Koontz to get his eye on it. Thinks it should be fixable but had a customer so couldent look to hard today. Decent wear but not abused (other then the neck possibly)

Beauty right there! If you get the neck sorted you will absolutely LOVE that bass.

 

[Chuck M]

My two latest Peavey basses are a Cirrus Bubinga top 5 and a Millennium Plus 5. They are both killer basses in their own way.

 

[mb94952]

Hey Family !
I just picked up a non plus USA Peavey Millennium from San Francisco Craigslist. Originally bought at the Bass Place in Arizona. It's been a case queen willed to a non-bass player. Came with OHSC, speaking of cases. Photos from the cell phone just to prove it happened

 

[AudioTaper]

My two latest Peavey basses are a Cirrus Bubinga top 5 and a Millennium Plus 5. They are both killer basses in their own way.

View attachment 3877025

View attachment 3877026

Love the top on the Millennium!

 

[mb94952]

It's a Milli Jazz bass in white. Electronics are PERFECT. The previous owner put in two new 9v batteries. The preamp works PERFECTLY. No crackling, or hiss. Dead Silent !!!
I JUST ordered a black set of Hipshot Tuners and the matching Drop D to upgrade my bass to a Milli Plus. She's gonna be SICK !! Like I said, this is a case queen. She has little play, if any. It's gonna make a perfect upgrade into a Milli Plus ...

 

[ElBecko59]

It's a Milli Jazz bass in white. Electronics are PERFECT. The previous owner put in two new 9v batteries. The preamp works PERFECTLY. No crackling, or hiss. Dead Silent !!!
I JUST ordered a black set of Hipshot Tuners and the matching Drop D to upgrade my bass to a Milli Plus. She's gonna be SICK !! Like I said, this is a case queen. She has little play, if any. It's gonna make a perfect upgrade into a Milli Plus ...

SWEET !!!!

 

[BassikLee]

I couldn't tell if she was white or Mary Kay. I stumbled across a Mary Kay Millennium 4 on a partial trade deal for some ears. Preamp issues, but otherwise very clean.