Bass: Thoughts on Peavey T-40?

  • Thread starter Thread starter psylux
  • Start date Start date
P

psylux

New member
I have the opportunity to pick up a fixer upper T-40 for about $150, and it may need another $100 worth of work. I like the idea of an older, US made bass. Is it worth fixing up?
 
If it's not too ragged out, you could get some weirdo to buy if for $300. Otherwise, look forward to an instrument so heavy it has it's own gravitational pull. Some people get as big of a hardon for them as APL gets for Carvins.

I have a 12 pound t-60. It's pretty well made. I bought mine new. I guess it sounds OK. I can't get it set up the way I like it. It's too easy to play. The electronics are cool, but "unique" and hard to restore. It's definitely not a shitpiece. I just heard it described as a guitar "designed by a committee" and I have to agree with that. It's like the communist version of a strat.

You can find out more info be searching the Peavey T-60 forum, but don't mention my name. http://www.peaveyt60.com/forum/
 
i've played both a t-40 and a t-60. those things are built like fucking tanks..............tanks made out of bricks. if nothing else, it'll probably be around longer than you will. :D
 
I have a T-40 that I played 5 nights a week for about 5 years. The bass sounds good but compared to a Fender P or J it comes up short on the playablity and comfort index. I still play the thing once in a while. For around $350 you can do much better IMHO.
 
Those ash bodies (not swamp) back in that era were very heavy. A friend of mine traded his on a G&L and never looked back.
 
IT most definitely could double as a home security device, provided one could lift it :)

Fender Jazz would be great too, but thats a cost Im not ready for yet. Plus the Peavey has neat looking hardware. I also heard its the first musical instrument made by CNC robotic routers, so theres that :p
 
I read that the machine that makes the necks was originally built for carving gun stocks. The inventor guy, Chip Todd, participates in that forum and has a custom shop in his garage or something. I think he lives in texas anyway.

The hardware also adds to the mass of the thing. The knobs are of cast metal and weigh like a pound. The bridge is also 7 times as heavy as a normal hartail strattish bridge.

I don't think they are interchangeable with fenders. They are a unique animal (Or vegetable or mineral). If you have time to dick around, you can get alot of neat sounds from them, but for live use, you can't quickly change the tones.

Just an example. Mine sat under a bed for 15 or 20 years. I got it out and thought the middle position sounded like inside out guitar. Total shitte. Then I found that by using the volume and tone controls (which control the single/humbucker mode), you could get some really neat in-between sounds. Unfortunately, you don't really have time to dial it in between songs. For recording it's pretty good. It's quiet and can make a bunch of different kinds of sounds.

This is all talking about the T60. The T40 has essentially the same electronics.
 
it's a heavy beast. I think it had a very nice gritty tone, but like everyone else said, the playability is crap. I built & rebuilt mine a few times, before I set it on fire on stage. it does take a beating though IMO.
 
Back
Top