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Why are old Peaveys so cheap?
- Thread starter baddarryl
- Start date
- Status
- Mar 8, 2011
- 12,232
- 51,187
- Disclosures
- Authorized greenboy designs builder/Owner of BNA Audio
Peavey basses are complete junk, especially T-40's and T-45's (with rosewood fingerboards), Foundations and Palaediums, so everyone should stop looking around for them...
I have never considered myself a snob when it comes to gear. I own a USA P-Bass and a USA Jazz bass. The reason for the purchase of Fender USA basses is simple....If I am ever in a bind financially I get good money back on the USA Fenders.
I have come to the conclusion that my odds of getting rich are fairly slim, and certainly becoming rich with music is rare. So I need to feel good about the resale as well as the instrument. I'm willing to save to afford at $1300 instrument. Especially when I know I can get $800-1000 back on it later.
Peavey on the other hand has a poor return. I've been wanting a T40 for years, but can't pull the trigger. $300 is certainly affordable, but I have seen T40 postings on Craigslist that last for months. My family comes first, and if I can't get out from underneath a guitar in a hurry I won't buy it.
I also don't consider purchasing $3000+ basses either. Not a fast sell, even if the quality is there.
I consider myself a normal guy who has a passion for playing bass and making music. I also consider myself a bit of a tight-wad. I am willing to bet there are many like myself. This may be why the pricing low is leaving out potential buyers. We just don't see the return if we have to sell. I see sales postings all the time here so I am certain this is more common than just me.
I have come to the conclusion that my odds of getting rich are fairly slim, and certainly becoming rich with music is rare. So I need to feel good about the resale as well as the instrument. I'm willing to save to afford at $1300 instrument. Especially when I know I can get $800-1000 back on it later.
Peavey on the other hand has a poor return. I've been wanting a T40 for years, but can't pull the trigger. $300 is certainly affordable, but I have seen T40 postings on Craigslist that last for months. My family comes first, and if I can't get out from underneath a guitar in a hurry I won't buy it.
I also don't consider purchasing $3000+ basses either. Not a fast sell, even if the quality is there.
I consider myself a normal guy who has a passion for playing bass and making music. I also consider myself a bit of a tight-wad. I am willing to bet there are many like myself. This may be why the pricing low is leaving out potential buyers. We just don't see the return if we have to sell. I see sales postings all the time here so I am certain this is more common than just me.
I have never considered myself a snob when it comes to gear. I own a USA P-Bass and a USA Jazz bass. The reason for the purchase of Fender USA basses is simple....If I am ever in a bind financially I get good money back on the USA Fenders.
I have come to the conclusion that my odds of getting rich are fairly slim, and certainly becoming rich with music is rare. So I need to feel good about the resale as well as the instrument. I'm willing to save to afford at $1300 instrument. Especially when I know I can get $800-1000 back on it later.
Peavey on the other hand has a poor return. I've been wanting a T40 for years, but can't pull the trigger. $300 is certainly affordable, but I have seen T40 postings on Craigslist that last for months. My family comes first, and if I can't get out from underneath a guitar in a hurry I won't buy it.
I also don't consider purchasing $3000+ basses either. Not a fast sell, even if the quality is there.
I consider myself a normal guy who has a passion for playing bass and making music. I also consider myself a bit of a tight-wad. I am willing to bet there are many like myself. This may be why the pricing low is leaving out potential buyers. We just don't see the return if we have to sell. I see sales postings all the time here so I am certain this is more common than just me.
Your willing to take a $300 to $500 loss on a bass because of the good resale value, but not interested in a $300 bass that might take a $100 loss at most. You can't honestly believe that you are doing this for the good of your family. It is fine that you like your American Fenders, but to say you buy them to be fiscally responsible is ridiculous. You are willing to tie up more money in them, and potentially lose more on them then your "Dream T-40" would cost.
IMHO, which along with $.74 will buy you a cuppa coffee at my morning gas stop, I can't get past the looks of the old/classic versions. Sorry, just a mental hangup on my part. I had a new BXP Millenium 2-3 years back and loved it....until the neck totally warped and twisted. I've played a few Cirrus BXP's lately and they seem to be super-nice for the most part but I don't have the extra $$ at the moment. I'm also seriously considering picking up an old TNT or TKO combo (with the powered extension jack) to use for outdoor/crappy venue gigs.
Like many of the Peavey owners I have owned or played several very well respected brands on the market. I happen to also love Spectors as well. If you take an instrument like the Millennium, or the Sarzo and built a similar instrument today, you would be hard pressed to spend under $1,500 to $2,000.
A pre finished Warmoth body with a flamed maple top and a graphite reinforced maple /pau ferro neck with Hipshot hardware and D-Tuner will be a costly project. And then you have to add pickups and electronics. The components alone in a US made Peavey make it an outstanding value.
A pre finished Warmoth body with a flamed maple top and a graphite reinforced maple /pau ferro neck with Hipshot hardware and D-Tuner will be a costly project. And then you have to add pickups and electronics. The components alone in a US made Peavey make it an outstanding value.
All I know is that I bought a peavey mark III bass amp and the accompanying 2x15 cab secondhand (hell, perhaps tenth-hand) and never looked back.
The distortion on those things is a-ma-zing. can't remember what I payed for it, but it was definitely less than 300 euros.
BTW, ejaggers, that bass of your's looks sexy. What model is it?
The distortion on those things is a-ma-zing. can't remember what I payed for it, but it was definitely less than 300 euros.
BTW, ejaggers, that bass of your's looks sexy. What model is it?
+1
I thought the same thing...."Guy is willing to take a $500 hit on a $1,300 bass, but won't spend $300 on a bass that, in an emergency, he could immediately get $200 for??"
His outlook on resale is off, too. Low resale prices scaring off potential buyers? On what? A 1995 Fury that's been discontinued for 15 years?
The only US Peavey that's been on the market over the last 10 years has been the Cirrus. The Cirrus took a hit of about 50% of the purchase price on the used market. About average - higher than Fender, lower than most boutiques. I've seen some basses from boutique builders take 70% hit on the used market!
Scott in Dallas
Commercial User
- Aug 16, 2005
- 2,084
- 27
- 55
- Disclosures
- Builder and Owner: DJ Ash Guitars
Peavey basses are complete junk, especially T-40's and T-45's (with rosewood fingerboards), Foundations and Palaediums, so everyone should stop looking around for them...
+1. Anyone owning said basses should put them up for sale on TB immediately at low low prices.
I hear T-45s are complete crap. I'll pay shipping for anyone that wants me to dispose of one for them...
In the sake of being helpful, I too am willing to "help" anyone who feels burdened with any old Peavey's. I will pay for shipping and possibly enought to go get yourself a beer or 2.
Feel free to PM me with any requests !
Peavey basses are complete junk, especially T-40's and T-45's (with rosewood fingerboards), Foundations and Palaediums, so everyone should stop looking around for them...
yes I agree they're not worth any money at all and people need to stop buying them so I can pick them up for dirt cheap
It always amuses me how some Peavey gear is regarded as low end over in the US. Here in the UK it's not cheap and Peavey is not seen as a budget brand. Same gear, totally different perceptions.
Yeahh peavey has gotten cheaper over the years but I still use mine. I have a peavey combo 115, peavey 4x10cab, and a 2x10 cab. I usually play through both to make 6x10 with a peavey tour 450. I haven't had any problems out of mine. Still running smooth lol
To answer the original qustion -
Q : Why are old US made Peavey basses so cheap ?
A: I have no idea, but let's keep it that way !!!
The BEST bang for the buck.
People watch Youtube and see old videos of Janis Joplin, Jimi, etc and the bass player always had a Fender, so the mystique is there and the tone is good. I think Peavey has taken innovation well beyond that like another TBer was saying, but people have Headstock-itis . Even if a non Fender has a Fender sticker on the headstock, some kid will want it.
Q : Why are old US made Peavey basses so cheap ?
A: I have no idea, but let's keep it that way !!!
The BEST bang for the buck.
People watch Youtube and see old videos of Janis Joplin, Jimi, etc and the bass player always had a Fender, so the mystique is there and the tone is good. I think Peavey has taken innovation well beyond that like another TBer was saying, but people have Headstock-itis . Even if a non Fender has a Fender sticker on the headstock, some kid will want it.
My boy was laying down some tracks in SF with his funk/afrogroove band. I was digging the sound of the bass on it and asked him what kind of bass he used. He told be it was some red no name mystery bass that had killer tone and super easy to play. A couple months later he had a pic on FB and I could see him in the background--it was clearly a 90s foundation with a blanked out headstock---headstockitis by the previous owner!
The level of precision that Peavey was able to manufacture them with was still pretty much unheard of at the time for a US manufacturer. They were arguably building a superior quality instrument at a much lower price because of Peavey's adoption of CNC technologies right from their first instruments. Their quality control was light years ahead of most other US manufacturers. Not to mention how good the necks are and the Super Ferrites.
You can find lots of old Peavey Basses on EBay. I've even seen 5 string Foundations cheap on the Bay. Lots of bargains out there if you wanting an old Peavey.
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