Why are old Peaveys so cheap?

[maturanesa]

View attachment 316140

does this qualify as a cheap old Peavey? Ross Valory in the early 80s.

I don't understand the animosity being generated in this thread, there's nothing personal involved, just preferences surrounding an instrument manufacturer, sheesh

And for the record, I have no horse in this race, have played a few Peavey's over the years and thought them good players, I lean towards Fender, but that's just me and my own personal preference.

Thats correct

 

[DiabolusInMusic]

I flat out love my 80's Peavey Foundation bass. I got it in trade at guitarcenter, and I think I came out on top. I traded an MIM fender P with some upgrades (but no case though), and got an 80's MIA bass with TWO pickups and a hardcase. I mean, even at face value (completely disregarding tone and looks and all that other stuff we bassists like to get all up in a huff about), I'd say that's an upgrade.
And to think...they were only selling it for $180. I love my Peavey. It sounds great, it looks cool, and I can throw stickers on it and have a "punk" bass.

So you got $180 for your modded MIM in trade against the Peavey?

You got ripped off from a financial sense, you might be happier with the bass but you could have easily sold the MIM for $300, $250 if you wanted it gone right away. Bought the Peavey with change left over to get some strings and cables, maybe a case for it.

 

[peledog]

Invalid Link Removed

Oops. I fed the troll.

 

[Scott in Dallas]

I dont see or hear any superior quality in an old cheap peavey versus a Fender, Musicman, Rickenbacker, Gibson of the same era... Why if old peaveys are that great is hard to find renowned players playing them or albums recorded with them?
.

It was just explained to you in detail how Peavey was able to deliver comparable or better quality than other manufacturers at a fraction of the price. I'm not sure what else you expect to see.

It's not at all hard to find players playing them or albums recorded with them. Any Huey Lewis song you hear is a Foundation. Jeff Berlin is pretty renowned.

 

[ggvicviper]

Jeff Berlin: Peavey paid him to build his own bass (now he is with Dean)

Bromberg: Do you call his Peavey an "old cheap Peavey"?

Phil Kennemore: he played primarily Fenders

For Jeff Berlin, regardless whether or not he uses Peavey anymore, he DID, and I've seen his sig instrument sell for well under $1000 used, which may qualify still as "cheap" for a USA made instrument. Still, this may not be what you mean as a "cheap" Peavey.

I own the Y&T collection on CD, and smack in the middle of the liner pages was a picture of him playing a Peavey (might have been a Foundation), and I think it's the only picture of him playing an instrument in that whole booklet - regardless of whether he played Fender or not.

Also, I'm sorry I totally missed the Ross Valory thing - what was I thinking? I always think of him with either a T-40, Steinberger or Precision. He's a good example of a player who used a "cheap" Peavey.

 

[mb94952]

Also Mario Cipollina from Huey Lewis played a Foundation - which was the reason I bought one new at Bananas at Large in San Rafael, CA in 1985

It was $435 new ( I think...)

 

[Scott in Dallas]

Yup. They made a lot of really crappy solid state amplification over the years and that really sullied the name. And then they started making some real competitive guitars/basses but the damage had been done. (And a damn nice tube mic pre, as well.)

Really? I must have missed those, and I've played through almost all of them for the last 30 years.

 

[ggvicviper]

Also Mario Cipollina from Huey Lewis played a Foundation - which was the reason I bought one new at Bananas at Large in San Rafael, CA in 1985

It was $435 new ( I think...)

 

[dhsierra1]

Also, I'm sorry I totally missed the Ross Valory thing - what was I thinking? I always think of him with either a T-40, Steinberger or Precision. He's a good example of a player who used a "cheap" Peavey.

He was the first major endorser for Peavey that I recall. IIRC that was the first thing he switched to from his P bass back in the mid 70s. I can still see the ads.

Unfortunately I don't have any of the mags but I remember concert shots of various well known bassists using the T-40 back in the day.

 

[dhsierra1]

Really? I must have missed those, and I've played through almost all of them for the last 30 years.

+1, and since the early 70s for me. Still play through them as backline, my main rehearsal space, and picking up next week a used NitroBass for my other rehearsal/recording space. Very flexible tonally so the other guys who also play there can get the sound they want easily.

 

[mb94952]

I always thought Mario only played a Foundation -

Now that I see this photo enlarged, I see it's a Dyna Bass ! - An active version and neck thru of the Foundation. The precurser to the Sarzo, then the Cirrus.

So, in essence, this is the Cirrus's grandfather

 

[mb94952]

+1, and since the early 70s for me. Still play through them as backline, my main rehearsal space, and picking up next week a used NitroBass for my other rehearsal/recording space. Very flexible tonally so the other guys who also play there can get the sound they want easily.

All the serious guitar players around here who tour or travel a lot seem to own the Peavey Classic Tweed 30 combo - It's all tube, sounds killer, and Reliable !!!

Sorry to get off topic.

 

[dhsierra1]

All the serious guitar players around here who tour or travel a lot seem to own the Peavey Classic Tweed 30 combo - It's all tube, sounds killer, and Reliable !!!

Sorry to get off topic.

likewise down here in S'Cruz, they're great sounding amps.

Yeah, kinda OT but since the haters/trolls gotta do their thing might as well counter-balance

 

[guitardefector]

Shhh! We don't want to spread the word! Really - this is too bad. These older and many new Peaveys are great instruments - they just don't get the appreciation they deserve. It is really a part of marketing to present a proper image - perhaps Peavey marketing has not done a good enough job. Maybe the products are priced too low to have that proper quality image?

There is something to the feeling that if it is expensive it has to be good. An article in the newspaper today showed that the public perception of Mercedes car quality was very high - #6, I think, while the REAL overall quality is not nearly that high.

+1. Older Peaveys have the quality workmanship of American Fenders. My Axcelerator fretless and old 80s Fury are built like tanks and sound amazing!! So, seriously, guys, don't let this secret get out. I want to snatch some more.

 

[ggvicviper]

With all the talk about the wonders of these wonderfully cheap yet quality USA made instruments, I sold off an 80's Ibanez, and bought a late-series Dyna Bass 5 from guitar center used for under $300.

Let's see how it comes out!

 

[ggvicviper]

I always thought Mario only played a Foundation -

Now that I see this photo enlarged, I see it's a Dyna Bass ! - An active version and neck thru of the Foundation. The precurser to the Sarzo, then the Cirrus.

So, in essence, this is the Cirrus's grandfather

Dyna Bass is active AND passive. I would not have bought it otherwise.

 

[CBNJ]

Since I've been following the Peavey craze of this thread, I haven't seen any for sale on CL. where do you guys find them?

 

[Avalon]

Repeat after me and make if part of the commonly accepted internet lore and common knowledge.

Peaveys are junk. I would not want an old Peavey.
Peaveys are junk. I would not want an old Peavey.
Peaveys are junk. I would not want an old Peavey.

The worst ones are the TL-5s, Foundations and T-40s.

 

[Hamlet7768]

Since I've been following the Peavey craze of this thread, I haven't seen any for sale on CL. where do you guys find them?

There's almost always one or two T-40s on ebay. I'm just hoping it stays that way, so when I can afford one one will be there.

 

[Signs]

Not Pretty??? Not Sexy??? Are you kidding???

057912

Wow! Very nice!!! My buddy plays acoustic guitar but was telling me he had an old Peavey Patriot bass a friend gave him years ago. He doesn't have an amp so I told him to bring it over last night and we played it. Nice feel, and tone. It was all black and a beautiful bass. I want one!