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What would you pay for a peavey t40 in 2024

That’s a pic for reference

Nice to see a set of tapes on a T-40, always kept a set on one of mine too :)


Triplets2.jpgTobacco 40.jpg

In answer to your question, I would not pay more than $600. Just like every other hobby item, T-40 prices saw a sharp rise during the pandemic but have fallen by 20% - 30% in the years since. The high asking prices we see listed now are the poor shmucks who bought back then trying to recoup their money :roflmao:
 
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I owned a T-40 for a bit. Very heavy. Tone was "fine" but I didn't have enough of an ear to tell much difference back then. I had no idea how the controls worked, just turned things to get maximum oomph and that was that.

I paid $160 in mint condition with a hard case in 1987. Sold it a year later for about $150. I wish I had it now but only so I could sell it and get $700.

If I had to buy one today to keep? I'd expect to be paid.
 
While most listed are (IMO) over-priced, the T-40 I had played and sounded better than my 4003. I no longer have either.
I wouldn't pay over $700, and that would be for one in much better shape than the one shown.

Agree. I’d (maybe) go $500 for an unmodified one in prime condition if it came with the chainsaw case. Slightly higher if it included the impossible to find truss rod wrench and/or came in the rare burst finish.

If you’re just looking for a super versatile bass, you’d be better off IMO trying out a used G&L L-2500 which is about as versatile as it gets when it comes to getting a variety of different tones out of a single bass.

But you can also subtly or radically alter the tonal character of your bass just by using a graphic equalizer. The Behringer BEQ-700 goes for $25 new if you want an inexpensive graphic EQ to experiment with first to see if you like it. Down the road you can always upgrade to a more expensive programmable model like the SA EQ2 or BOSS EQ-200 if you want to have multiple EQ settings available on tap.

And don’t overlook technique. There’s a lot of running room between the end of the fretboard and the bridge. Where and how you play in that area relative to your pickup(s) and bridge can get you a variety of different sounds too. Tone may not be ā€œall in the handsā€as some insist it is. But enough of it is in your hands to be worth paying attention to them.

Mantra: change your technique - change your sound. :)
 
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Welcome. Reverb.com is a pretty good reference point for the current and past recent markets on new and more so used gear/items. I usually check their first myself and tell others who ask this very question of what something is worth when buying and/or selling.
 
I owned two different Peavey T-40s in the late-70s/early-80s, both were purchased new from Sam Ash on 48th Street in Manhattan, and both were exactly $300 then.

So what’s $300 adjusted for inflation from 1980 to 2024 bucks? Because that’s the most I would pay for a T-40 in 2024. imho they’re worth exactly what they sold for originally …and not a penny more.
 
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So what’s $300 adjusted for inflation from 1980 to 2024 bucks? Because that’s the most I would pay for a T-40 in 2024. imho they’re worth exactly what they sold for originally …and not a penny more.
I bought my T-40 in 1979 for $350. According to an Internet inflation calculator, that is $1500 in today's money. So much for keeping it as an investment. This inflation thing happens to all vintage instruments. To me that makes them not very good investments, unless you have something really rare. Today's mass-produced instruments will never be rare enough to get your investment back.
 
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So what’s $300 adjusted for inflation from 1980 to 2024 bucks? Because that’s the most I would pay for a T-40 in 2024.

According to an Internet inflation calculator, that is $1500 in today's money.

Yikes! Never mind…
No way I would pay that much for a T-40.

I might pay $600. But I’d have to really want one. And I don’t.
 
$500-$600 for a good T40 is the right price now.
That one is a beater though, you can do better from GC or several other retailers.


I prefer one pickup basses.
1. Fury Gen 1
2. Fury Gen 2
3. Patriot
4. T20
5. T45
 
Personally? I wouldn't pay anything for one. My "Bass Herd" if full, so... no more basses. Plus, all those basses that a T-40 can "emulate"? I own those basses, so... no need for a T-40. And, I'm a lefty; T-40's are not- and never were. However... there's a seemingly very well done, lefty T-40 conversion on Reverb. Everything from a very nice righty, swapped over to a dead-on, left handed body. IIRC, the guy wants... well, a lot, for it. I looked at it - for about a minute. It is not on it's way to my house... :cool:
 
Given the large number of early Peavy instruments with warped necks from the bi-laminate construction era, I argue many of them play in a very ā€œspecialā€ way!
What makes you think bi-laminate necks are a bad idea? The most stable necks today are multi-laminate. I have a number of Peavey basses and one Peavey Predator guitar from the early 80's to the early 90's and all of the necks are very stable and all of them have truss rods that do what they are supposed to do. The necks and the pickups were the best parts of Peavey basses. There are loads of Fender and other brands necks that are warped, twisted, ski-jump.
 
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IMO, the single biggest hassle that comes with owning a T-40 is locating a truss rod wrench for it. You need a very thin walled deep socket wrench, which is something that can be very difficult to get your hands on. And the wrench that originally shipped with the T-40 is no longer available. And used ones go for premium prices on those rare occasions when you do find someone selling one.

And if I recall a Gibson type truss rod socket wrench is what’s required.
The Gibson wrench isn't hard to find or expensive, my last was about $10 posted IIRC.
 

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