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Why are old Peaveys so cheap?
- Thread starter baddarryl
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Boot, the guy is on target. The question asked by the OP in the title is what is being answered. Whether you want to believe it or not, many of us back then had similar experiences. The Peavey amps designed in the early 70s just weren't that good! And the reputation has followed the brand among us older guys. It's just the way it is.
Unlike KramerDon, I personally got past it. It was the very fact that Peavey gear is cheap that helped. My Peavey 4x10 w/horn came to me for fifty bucks... and it has turned out to be a very good bass cabinet. That experience has allowed me to have enough confidence in the brand to pick up a Grind bass.
A 1987 Patriot Custom retailed for $379.95 new, without a hard shell case.
What was the price of an American-made Fender bass in 1987?
OP Here: More evidence of the value. Someone in this thread made me look for one, a USA made Predator. Sounds as good as and plays as good as any Strat I have ever played. MIM, MIJ, or USA..........How much you say? $100! Got it today for my daughter.
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I have a mid 90s TNT combo that I bought new. I've gigged it a few times with good results. This is now my rehearsal amp and it works great for that because I don't have to move it. I think the tone is fine. It sounds like my bass (Fender, sorry) when I play through it. Its pretty heavy on the low end and I like a tight mid focused clarity, but I turn a knob or two and get the sound that I'm used to. So the Peavey amp stuff is on my good side.
I'd like a Patriot bass. I looked at one and the neck had too much relief for me to pull the trigger on it. I'm not that familiar with them. I played an old Foundation at GC in Denver and it was set up very nice (shocking) and sounded very good. It was 189.99 with no case. I passed on it too because I didn't like the color and it was the P config. I already have one of those that I like. So yeah, I passed. I'll tell you that the prices on these basses are on their way up. They are constructed very well. Those who say that the build quality is on par with USA Fender? I'm not there but I'm much more comfortable with the truss system on the Fender and everything is so familiar there. But the old Peaveys do feel and sound very good. So credit this thread with rising prices. It'll take over 200 to get a good Patriot and maybe you'll get a case and maybe not. If you want cigarette burns on the head stock then add 25 bucks!
I'd like a Patriot bass. I looked at one and the neck had too much relief for me to pull the trigger on it. I'm not that familiar with them. I played an old Foundation at GC in Denver and it was set up very nice (shocking) and sounded very good. It was 189.99 with no case. I passed on it too because I didn't like the color and it was the P config. I already have one of those that I like. So yeah, I passed. I'll tell you that the prices on these basses are on their way up. They are constructed very well. Those who say that the build quality is on par with USA Fender? I'm not there but I'm much more comfortable with the truss system on the Fender and everything is so familiar there. But the old Peaveys do feel and sound very good. So credit this thread with rising prices. It'll take over 200 to get a good Patriot and maybe you'll get a case and maybe not. If you want cigarette burns on the head stock then add 25 bucks!
OP Here: More evidence of the value. Someone in this thread made me look for one, a USA made Predator. Sounds as good as and plays as good as any Strat I have ever played. MIM, MIJ, or USA..........How much you say? $100! Got it today for my daughter.
So...Why all the people that play strats think differently from you?
There must be two dozen threads on Talkbass with folks saying how they love Their SX basses. Many compare them to costlier Fenders.
Why shouldn't Peavey compare in quality and performance?
Just realized I never commented on the OP's ???. One answer that I don't think I've seen is because Peavey made them by the railroad car load. Innovative manufacturing processes let that happen at a reasonable price for all their products.
mech
mech
They sell at a reasonable/cheap price because that is the only way they can sell it(and owners in the used market too).
If they want to sell a Peavey bass with the price of a fender, musicman, warwick or other, they just cant sell it.
And that happens with the used market too. The reason why Pevaey basses are perceived as good quality instruments is the low price. In comparison with other cheap basses is the best. But a Peavey Bass that cost the same as a Warwick is no more perceived a high-quality, because you can get better ones for that price...
What is your problem exactly? Why are you so hellbent on toting that Peavey instruments are low quality US made basses? A lot of people say their experiences are not only good, but stellar, and all you can tell them is they're wrong to think that their basses are better than other ones that are more expensive?
I've owned a pair of Fenders that weren't up to par. I didn't go bashing Fender, though. I owned several others that were, and I'm happy. I still own a pair of Ps that I love very much.
Hell, I owned a Dyna Bass for a week. Almost everything about said bass was awesome - had a great feel, looked sweet (IMO) and the electronics were superb. However, the neck warped due to previous owner misuse and had to be returned. I've seen this in Fenders too - James Jamerson did this to his '62 P Bass. This sort of stuff happens when you don't take care of your instruments - especially since wood is organic. Hell, someone even offered me a solution to fix it with tools that I don't have. It CERTAINLY hasn't made me look bad at the brand - as I havea good Peavey PA in the garage and have played a stellar Peavey bass owned by an old friend of my dad - and I'd be willing to get another one day. I don't need one right now, so it's not a priority for me to own one.
If you don't like Peavey so much, fine. I really don't care. I'm no fanboy, and none of what you're saying is offending me personally. Why continuously bash the brand? Wanna take the lovers down a few notches off their high horse? Why point at someone else's instrument that they like and tell them that their bridge was from the trash? It's not cool, and honestly, it's not gonna give you a good reputation around here in the end.
You haven't got a glimmer of an idea what you're talking about. Yet you still keep posting. It's amazing to watch.
You must really be angry about that Palaedium. Did you ever take it to someone who could adjust the truss rod for you??
Scott in Dallas
Commercial User
- Aug 16, 2005
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Because, like you, they talk really loudly about instruments they've never played. Some of them are too stupid to realize when it's time to stop.
I had a couple SX basses just because I found them on CL for $30 and $40 bucks each.
Damned if it didn't sound JUST LIKE a Fender. It played sweet, too.
I just don't see anything wrong with liking inexpensive basses. Fender is laughing last and ALWAYS will because there are people who will ALWAYS pay top retail to have that badge on the headstock.
Because they say Peavey basses have better quality than any other that is more expensive, like fender, rickenbacker, etc, and its totally untrue.
Peavey is just good for the budget.
Well, if you want to own your cheap Peavey for a lifetime, try to sell it for the price of a Fender, instead of tell me im wrong...
I've not been following this entire thread since I don't have a horse in this race, but when I do and see your posts I keep asking: have you ever played a Peavey bass in your life? Even once?
If not, then you're simply giving us an opinion on a matter you are not qualified to give
If you have, then please tell us in concrete and objective terms why you look down your nose at them.
In a (largely) capitalistic economy, price and quality do not always correlate, the stock market (any of them) are great examples. Much of what drives prices and perceived value are emotion and prejudice. That is not objective reasoning.
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