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Why are old Peaveys so cheap?

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#661
maturanesa said:
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.
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I owned a Fender USA Jazz V for two years. A friend of my dad's let me try his Millenium 5, and I saw it was better than my Jazz. I also bought a Yamaha BB415 3 months later to replace that Jazz, and it was far cheaper new and a much better instrument.

I currently own a USA P Bass 5, and I bought a Peavey Dyna, which ended up having a warped neck due to misuse of the instrument, thus making the P bass better than the Dyna Bass.

Rickenbacker - I've picked up more lousy Rics at stores than I have good ones. Not that I haven't played a good one (and I have played several when I could), but believe me, they've had PLENTY of lemons, as many people on TB will tell you.

Your point about Peavey or Fender being better or worse quality is completely invalid, because people have had instruments with varying qualities from many different brands. I can't stand Gibsons from the moment I touch them, but many here have had much better experiences, and hats off to them. I have NO right to tell them they're wrong because their experiences are better, and neither do you.

Your respect for other members here, their opinions, and their instruments is terrible. In addition, I am reporting your nasty "trash can" post on Templar's Fury to the mods.
 
#662
I have been playing bass for 36 years, learned to play in the 70s when Fender quality was considered poor, Rickenbacker was considered the bass of the Gods, and here comes Peavey with the T40. Of course I didn't like it because it was a Peavey. Looking back I see how wrong I was. Over the years I have owned every major make and model, often several of each.
Peavey basses ( I do now own a T40, paid $200 for it at a grocery store) are good quality instruments. I would have no problem taking it to any gig. I do prefer my Fender American Standard J and P basses, as I like the necks better.
I have no problem with the resale value of Peavey, you get a good bass at a good price, exactly what Hartley intended. What I don't understand is the resale value of 70s Fenders. I'm not knocking them, I just believe the newer ones are better and can be had for a lower price.
 
#663
georgestrings said:
Yeah, I recently bought a MIA Fury 4 string, after seeing them so hyped, for so long... IMO, fit, finish, hardware, and electronics are on par with most Squier or SX basses I've owned or played - definitely not better than most MIM Fenders, and not even close to most MIA Fenders... I will say that it has a nice neck, and excellent fretwork, and the neck alone is worth more than I paid... I really prefer to buy American whenever I can, and would say that this bass is well worth the typical asking price of $200, but I wouldn't pay $300 for it... In fact, I paid around $400 for the '06 MIM Deluxe P Bass Special I have, and it's a much better built instrument in every way...


- georgestrings
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Keep in mind you're comparing a (presumably) late 80's/early 90's Fury with recently manufactured instruments. And comparing an instrument labeled "Deluxe Special" with a budget line Peavey isn't really fair.
 
#665
This is juvenile. We can all agree that old US made basses were a well made instrument. Not a custom bass, but a very well made MASS production bass.
I'm sure the OP noticed this quality and wondered why prices are so low. I can't imagine one person here that would recommend a person buy a Samick, Ibanez Gio or Chinese Squier instead of a US Peavey. After that, its all opinions and guess what? Everyone has their own.
 
#667
Let's get something straight here: We're talking Peavey basses from the late 70's through about the early 90's. So let's compare their quality and playability to equivalent era Fenders, etc., not 20 year newer basses. Fender made some real junk in the 70's/80's, and some real nice instruments, too. But just like Gibson, the quality was not what it was in the 50's/60's. The quality of the US made Peaveys was far more consistent than any US based mass-producer at the time. Now, if you want to talk about more recent basses, let's compare a Cirrus to any production line Fender of the same vintage... And yes, most every Fender is over-priced. I have always found it odd that they charge what they do for instruments that are that easy to manufacture. I mean, look at a Strat compared to a Les Paul - slab body, front-loaded electronics, no binding, non-tilt headstock, bolt-on, relatively cheap hardware. Now, those things might be considered desirable to some, but the cost to produce such an instrument is far lower than a carved top, bound body and fretboard, set neck, angled headstock instrument. Now, Strats and Teles have never been particularly cheap, but they were somewhat less expensive than the Gibsons. But in the last 15 years, the Fender prices have been climbing far faster, and now retail for about the same. The same applies for Ps and Js. A Ric used to be a lot more than a MIA AmStd, now the pricing is pretty close, and some of the Deluxe models are more than a Ric (which is far more complex to build.) They are overpriced (IMHO) simply because they have a particular name on the headstock. And that's why Peaveys are so cheap - they say Peavey, and it's not a name that adds value (or perceived status) in a lot of people's eyes.
 
#668
smcd said:
Keep in mind you're comparing a (presumably) late 80's/early 90's Fury with recently manufactured instruments. And comparing an instrument labeled "Deluxe Special" with a budget line Peavey isn't really fair.
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Goal post moving - but tell ya what, the '93 MIA Fury I recently aquired still won't match up with the early 90's MIM Fender P Bass I had, nor the '76 P Bass I currently own - and in case you missed it, that's in regards to fit, finish, hardware, and electronics... It does play very well, though - I'll grant it that...

smcd said:
The Fury is definitely not an entry level instrument. It's every bit the bass a Fender Precision is. So unless you consider a P-bass and entry level instrument, the Fury is a pro-level bass guitar.

mark beem said:
This.

I'd put my $165 Fury up against any MIA Fender P out there.

Edit: And yes, I've owned two MIA Fender Ps over the years.
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smcd said:
You can put a Peavey Fury next to a Fender P-bass and point out how both basses are equal in every way, but most people can't - or won't - hear the facts. Ask one of them why a Fender is superior to a Peavey, and you'll get the same reaction Luke Wilson got when he asked people why they watered the crops with Brawndo.
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As I said, I pointed out valid reasons, but you ignored them... I'm not saying the Fury is a bad bass, only pointing out the reasons why they sell for what they do... You're certainly entitled to your own opinions, but not your own reality - sorry...


- georgestrings
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#670
georgestrings said:
Goal post moving - but tell ya what, the '93 MIA Fury I recently aquired still won't match up with the early 90's MIM Fender P Bass I had, nor the '76 P Bass I currently own - and in case you missed it, that's in regards to fit, finish, hardware, and electronics... It does play very well, though - I'll grant it that...

As I said, I pointed out valid reasons, but you ignored them... I'm not saying the Fury is a bad bass, only pointing out the reasons why they sell for what they do... You're certainly entitled to your own opinions, but not your own reality - sorry...
- georgestrings
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Your post above was hard to read, as it seemed hastily cobbled together. But let me clear a few things up...

The goal posts aren't moving. When I say the Pevey Fury is every bit the bass a Fender Precision is, that is a fact. The Fury may lack a few aesthetic touches like a tug bar or a 3-ply pickguard, and the finish of the paint may be a bit less lustrous than a modern Fender, but as far as playability and sound - the Fury is on par with any Fender, modern or vintage. As far as build quality and hardware - the build quality is superior to most Fender products of the day, and the hardware is equal, sometimes superior. The Fender string tree is a bit more pleasing to look at. I hope that's not what your'e referring to? I'd love it if you could point out why you think Fender's hardware and electronics are superior.

I've seen a gazillion 90's MIM Fenders and 70's US Fenders. Most were not fit to be boat oars. In fact, I've never seen a MIM Fender from the 90's that I deemed worthy of owning. And I've seen a lot of them. Now you may have a couple nice examples of those basses, and I'm happy for your good luck. They weren't *all* bad, just most of them.

Fender has stepped up their game in recent years, and I'm happy to see that. But to take a budget Fury and place it next to a MondoDeluxerifficMexiModel P-bass made last year isn't quite right. The Peavey will play and sound as good as that bass (making it "every bit the bass"), but the finish and shiny hardware on the newer bass will make the old Peavey look like a poor orphan. Still the fact remains - a Peavey Fury remains every bit the bass that a Fender P is. You're certainly entitled to your own opinions, but not your own reality - sorry...
 
#671
smcd said:
Your post above was hard to read, as it seemed hastily cobbled together. But let me clear a few things up...

The goal posts aren't moving. When I say the Pevey Fury is every bit the bass a Fender Precision is, that is a fact. The Fury may lack a few aesthetic touches like a tug bar or a 3-ply pickguard, and the finish of the paint may be a bit less lustrous than a modern Fender, but as far as playability and sound - the Fury is on par with any Fender, modern or vintage. As far as build quality and hardware - the build quality is superior to most Fender products of the day, and the hardware is equal, sometimes superior. The Fender string tree is a bit more pleasing to look at. I hope that's not what your'e referring to? I'd love it if you could point out why you think Fender's hardware and electronics are superior.

I've seen a gazillion 90's MIM Fenders and 70's US Fenders. Most were not fit to be boat oars. In fact, I've never seen a MIM Fender from the 90's that I deemed worthy of owning. And I've seen a lot of them. Now you may have a couple nice examples of those basses, and I'm happy for your good luck. They weren't *all* bad, just most of them.

Fender has stepped up their game in recent years, and I'm happy to see that. But to take a budget Fury and place it next to a MondoDeluxerifficMexiModel P-bass made last year isn't quite right. The Peavey will play and sound as good as that bass (making it "every bit the bass"), but the finish and shiny hardware on the newer bass will make the old Peavey look like a poor orphan. Still the fact remains - a Peavey Fury remains every bit the bass that a Fender P is. You're certainly entitled to your own opinions, but not your own reality - sorry...
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Yeah, we're going to have to disagree on this one - I bought a Fury based on what I've read here, and what you're saying simply isn't true, IMO/IME... I would also say that the market is not backing your claims, either - deny it all you want, but it doesn't change anything...

"As far as build quality and hardware - the build quality is superior to most Fender products of the day, and the hardware is equal, sometimes superior"

No, it isn't... The tuners are actually pretty crappy compared to any Fender tuner I've ever used, and that's a TON of them - and the bridge is even cheaper than the much maligned Fender bent tin bridge... The pots and jack are pretty cheap, and the wiring was poorly done... The PG is really cheap, and the neck to body fit certainly isn't any better than a typical Fender... It does have a nice neck, but it just feels like a cheaper bass, too...

Regarding my '06 Deluxe - it's already 7 years old, and the only difference between the Deluxe and a Standard MIM is the active electronics and additional pup - everything else is the same... I never said the Peaveys were junk - they're not - but they're simply not as nice an instrument as their counterparts from Fenders, and the market has clearly stated that...

I read things like "compares to any MIA Fender", but actually got something more like an SX with a crappy finish, but that plays really well - that's the real story here...


- georgestrings
 
#673
georgestrings said:
The tuners are actually pretty crappy compared to any Fender tuner I've ever used, and that's a TON of them - and the bridge is even cheaper than the much maligned Fender bent tin bridge... The pots and jack are pretty cheap, and the wiring was poorly done... The PG is really cheap, and the neck to body fit certainly isn't any better than a typical Fender... It does have a nice neck, but it just feels like a cheaper bass, too...

I never said the Peaveys were junk - they're not - but they're simply not as nice an instrument as their counterparts from Fenders, and the market has clearly stated that...
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Just for the record you're lumping "Peavey's" together, based on owning a low-grade Fury. It bears repeating that by that time, Peavey had put their best efforts into other upscale models. The Fury and Foundation were relegated to entry level, bang-for-the-buck instruments. You may as well be comparing an 80's Fender Mustang to a G&L L-1000.

Go back a few years in time, to the late 70's thru the mid 80's. That's where you'll find the noteworthy "old Peaveys".
 
#677
dhsierra1 said:
If you read carefully, and clearly you haven't, I've never entered the SX vs Fender fray. My comments have been strictly about Peavey's build quality. There's just no way you're 52, not possible.

Actually, thanks to this thread, I checked out a mid 70s J and a late 70s T40 the other day at a local music store. The build quality on the T40 was just amazing and when plugged into a GK combo sounded great. Heavy, but so what? So was that J.

Best to you folks on the East Coast slammed with all that snow, have a great weekend, I'm outta here, doing sound all weekend out of town at a horse training event :D
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He's been playing since 1989, so he very well may be 52. He also has a big problem with rule #1 on this forum. Not that others who've posted on this thread haven't broken the rule, but he's definitely just trolling at this point. Hopefully the thread won't be up longer.

I'd like to add that this (software) engineer just wanted to give the Dyna Bass 5 another go... I have a super ferrite model coming in a few days from GC used. Hopefully this one was better taken care of than the other.
 
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