Peavey T-40 - The 80's Heavyweight Champion Still Packs a Punch - LowEndLobster Fresh Look
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 3 ต.ค. 2024
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Hey everyone! Today we're taking a look at a legendary vintage instrument, the Peavey T-40 from Peavey USA. Featuring a truly unique control setup paired with some fat Peavey Super Ferrite pickups, the tonal flexibility of the T-40 is truly legendary. Let's take a look at all this bass can do!
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About 10 or 12 years ago I'm having lunch with my dad and he suggests we pop into Guitar Center just to see what they have. Hanging on the wall is this terribly spray painted and stickered beast, but the pickups are what caught my eye. (At the time I was unfamiliar with the T-40) I go to grab it off the wall and am caught off guard by the sheer gravitational pull of this behemoth and comment "geeze, this thing weighs as much as a bison" my dad laughs and says "it's as ugly as one too" (remember at this point it is a hideous black spray paint and anarchy stickers). I plug it in and am blown away by this pawn shop looking bass. My dad mentions he's been looking for a new project bass, they have it tagged for a hundred bucks, he offers 70, and we're out the door. A few weeks later he starts sending me pictures of this fantastic natural finish that was hidden under the rattle can overcoat. He's since added some fresh nitro, fixed the neck, and now sitting in his stable is a T-40 eloquently named "The Bison"
Cool story. Completely serious.
And this is why I love pawnshops.
Gay story
Thank you for sharing your story!
@@shawnm3839Aww. C'mon man, your autobiography isn't that bad..
The Peavey T-40, in all its magnificence, taught me an important lesson: there is such a thing as too many options.
I recently (the day of this writing) heard this called, "option paralysis".
I agree. It would be a great session musician's tool though if you only wanted one instrument. You would spend the first few days of ownership identifying 4 or 5 great individual tones for particular styles of music or to approximate some classic bass sounds and making a note of them.
The equivalent Peavey guitar is also a versatile instrument but, like the bass, is a bit of a boat anchor.
Thats why I sold my 2
And too many pounds, IMO!!!!
I’ve been trying to sell mine since the day I bought it.
@@tauruschorus You still have it for sale? How much for?
I just found this video after pulling my T40 out from 30+ years of sitting in its case.
My great-uncle worked at the Peavey plant in Morton, Mississippi in the 70's and 80's and he got me this T40 in one of their employee sales, so I am the only owner from new.
I was a high school kid and just noodled around in garage bands, etc.
This video has inspired me to get reacquainted with my old T40.
*edit to add- When uncle got me the T40, I also had to have an amp, so he got me a TKO80 to go with it.
best bridge pickup tone I've ever heard from a passive bass!
outside coil definitely sounds like a 70's Jazz Bass, inside coil is an even thicker 60's Jazz Bass, humbucker sounds like an interesting twist on a Musicman
I can honestly say, out of all the reviews I've seen of this bass, this is the best one. 👍🏾
Just picked up one from a close friend for $400. He never played it cause the band broke up the same day he bought it. 41 years old and 100 percent like new! Beautiful white!
That's a ridiculous score! Enjoy!
I think Peavy should reissue the T-40 with all it’s original specs ! They’d make a mint ! 🤔
That's an awesome idea! and you're right, they sell an awful lot of them!
I remember with my dad's old T-40 the phase switch becomes way more usable when the volumes aren't both maxed. So for example: phase switch engaged, bridge at 100% volume and neck at around 70% volume. A lot more bass comes back into the signal but you still get some of that nasally mid-range honk. When both are at the same volume the signals are completely out of phase and the low end is cut.
Great basses. Both in single, out of phase, skirts Ric territory. Add in some dual path clean/dirty, very aggressive playing, and it's even better. Ridiculously versatile bass. Peavey really knocked it out of the park with their first ever bass.
I'm old enough to remember when these were in every pawn shop in the world, for $100.
Never seen such a beautiful peavey burst.
I've had a T40 since they were first introduced, and I STILL learn something about it from Lobster! .....Cat love T40's!!! Seriously, after many years my jam is Bridge in single, Neck in humbucker on ProSteel strings.
My parents picked one up for me for Christmas the year after high school. I had no idea Peavey even made instruments at that point and I only knew them as an amplifier company. When I got to college as an upright major, I did some electric bass and interacted with the other electric bassists but I didn't have one of the cool fancy brand. I played it since that's all I had and I could not justify anything else, but I never felt particularly cool with it.
Fast forward about 15 years. I get my first smartphone and am sitting in an orchestra pit for a truly awful musical. Each time a song ended, the band would turn the page and grab their phones. I was running out of things to surf for and I looked down at the instrument and decided to do a search on the t40. Holy crap! I had no idea it had such a following! I also didn't know about the magic in the electronics for all that time. I just set it for tones that I liked and went with it.
It is going strong to this day and has only ever had to have the input jack replaced (three times). I have a hip shot on it set to a low B so in a pinch I can have the five string range so I try to get away with bringing the t40 and only bring my back up if I need the five string regularly.
FINALLY the Hemi 'Cuda of basses...
These basses are STILL ahead of their time and they've been out of production for 40 years, or so. If you switch the neck pickup 180 degrees you can open up a whole new world of tones. The toggles can be re-wired to do other things. So versatile !
I have around 20 Peavey bases made in USA; including 3 T-40...All these basses were made like a tank. I also have two or more each of the T- series guitars....they are also awesome! Hartley Peavey approach to guitar and amps building, designing and common sense and practicality was alike Leo Fender!
Legendary bass...all the cool indie rock/punk midwestern bassists all either had one or wanted one of these.
Thank you for feeding my Peaveyphilia. I already own three (87 Patriot, 94 Fury and a Milestone JJ). The T-40 is a goal :) That phase switch gives it so much nasty. It's awesome.
I'm always amazed at all the different sounds you can get out of this Passive Bass, and to a lesser degree on the T-45.
Never had a T-40. Now I want one ! I do have an 80's foundation with the super ferrites, and a fury. Nice basses !
If I'da known these were going to become renowned I'da never sold mine... my first brand new bass 🔊
That's one nice sounding oldie bass..I remember when I was a kid (13) I just started playing bass and had some Hondo..they young men in the basement apartment had a band and one of them had one of these with an old acoustic bass amp head and cabinet.. I thought this bass sounded fantastic and after watching your vid, I still agree. Been watching you since the beginning of your channel LEL.. love all that you put out here bro.
Lol! Wow!!I remember that bass! And I STILL have my Hondo II P bass (metal pickup). My dad brought it for me in ‘81. NEVER GETTING RID OF IT!😌🎶❤️👍🏾
I was in high school when that bass was around. (‘79-‘82) The bassist had one and ran it through a Sunn Amp (big boy) OMG! That bass had a massive sound! Peavey made good basses back in the day. I really love the Cirrus series. Especially the -5 & -6 string models. Wish they would bring them back. But that T-40? CLASSIC!!😌❤️🎶👍🏾
I have a natural model with maple neck that I bought around 1982 I think, with the hard shell case! I paid $225 back then. A lot of people don’t really appreciate this bass. I am so glad you did this review. I recently started playing again and it still sounds great!
Hey, thanks for the video. I took delivery of a mint condtion sunburst T40 with a case a couple months ago. Got a decent deal on it so I had to see what the hype was all about. It is an amazing bass with a great feeling neck. I don't gig so I couldn't care less about the weight. There's just something about the classic styling that puts a smile on my face. I intend to keep this one for the rest of my days. It started me on a Peavey kick. Ended up getting a T45 and a T20 as well. I have my eyes on a Fury next.
I finally got mine 3 years ago. Frickin love it.
I have one of these (White with a black pickguard and rosewood finger board)! Purchased it new back in 1983 as a reward to myself after taking up bass two years earlier in high school. It was the first "professional'" quality bass for me. Although I don't play it much anymore (if at all), it's still in good shape and everything on it still works (Including the tilt adjustment). Now I feel like pulling it out of its case and noodling around with it for the stake of nostalgia. It can't compare with my '21 EB MM SR 5HH, but I have a lot of good memories tied up in that old Peavey... 😃
My first electric bass was a white T-40 I bought from a pawn shop in 1984; it was stolen as I was packing to leave the University of Kentucky for summer 1986. Finally got another in 2007, natural finish, and she is my main baby. Thank you for an excellent review of what I consider one of the most, if not the most, versatile axes out there. Does a great job of emulating Ricks, P and Jazz, Thunderbird, Hofners, and more. If you can't find a sound you like with one of these, check and see if you're deaf.
Every time I've gone to the Grand Ol Opry as a kid the bassist had one of these.
Really cool bass
Awsome bass wish it was still being made
very nice sounding bass
Brings back memories.Sounds great,you too.
So glad I found this video. I ran into one of these at a local music shop and the pickups and shape caught my eyes. Now I wanna go back and pick it up. 🤣
I was in my 20s, worked out, and am 6'1" and had the guitar version - a Peavey T-60. While it had unique features, its weight was ridiculous - and I hated playing it. So, while it is now a collector's item - it just isn't suitable for playing to me. I hear doom and death metal guitarists love guitars like this with aluminum necks (because of the balance of such a heavy guitar). If you are dealing with bass - some of the best bass sounds in the world, come from late 70s early eighties Peavey Bass Heads. I think they are Mark III or Mark IV BASS Heads. They are heavy in weight as well - but if you have a 4 or 6 speaker cab - you can easily compete with the lead guitarist with room filling bass sounds. Plenty of punch, thump, and tone! Truly God Level!
That brought back lots of memories. My high school purchased one and it was indeed a boat anchor. I've read that Hartley Peavey insisted on northern ash and not swamp ash for some reason. But that was also when the mythology around tone and sustain lead us to lots of heavy hardware and brass nuts. I don't think I ever figured out all the tones and really had no idea about the tone knobs also being single coil splits. In many ways that bass was ahead of it's time. So amazing that they're collectible now. Thanks!
Fender started using northern ash in the mid 70's because it was cheaper and more abundant. It tends to be heavier but it seems to have a brighter sound.
@@rrdream2400 I'll trade 8lbs and turning the treble up on the amp!
@@bevinmodrak4997 I get you on the weight but it's not as easy as changing the EQ. Marcus Miller could have played any early 60's Jazz Bass he wanted but preferred the heavier mid 70's models. There is a snap in the attack that is more pronounced and a natural scooped mid range.
@@rrdream2400 How much of that is down to the 70s Jazz Bass pickup spacing, though?
Even the cat approves of the T40! 😻
20 years ago you could find these all day for $300. You could just watch people on what little bass-related social media we had scoop 'em all up like crazy. It was like a craze, almost.
Lobster's joy when playing is infectious! Awesome 👌
I purchased a new one when they came out. Used it for a few years with a Peavey TNT blk widow 15. Nice bass, was heavy, but I was young back then. Play Southern rock and blues with it. It dug in for sure.
My buddies dad has one of these sitting in this basement for the last 40 years.. Waiting for him to offer it up for sale!
The HEAVIEST bass hands down.
My old boss gave me his old '82 Tobacco burst T40, with the original case and everything.
Its certainly heavy as can be, but its got a *Great* tone
I bought one of these from my bass player around 1990….never knew anything about single coil vs humbucker…thanks!
I enjoyed the video. I learned a lot from this video like the term “ in phase/ out of phase ” and the different sounds you can get from the Peavey t 40
These basses become more cool the older they get. Great video.
I have a ‘79 natural with maple neck. It still has the clear plastic on the pick guard around the controls area with the labels for tone, volume, etc. Yes, it is heavy.
Still have my T-40 from 81. Can’t beat the great case.
I still bust out my dad’s T-40 on occasion. I love the wiring and wish they’d make a kit or something. I’d buy in a heartbeat
Absolutely amazing how much different styles and tones you can get out of this passive bass. And not one of them sounds bad.
Which sound is best? YES!
I agree 🎸
Such an iconic bass. I love how eventually it found its audience and got the love it deserved. Question: What basses today are the sleepers that will be loved 20 years from now?
Great comment! I wonder this myself. Maybe a topic for an upcoming video or live stream with my bass friends.
@@LowEndLobster I’m interested in the Guild Pilot
Good question Paul. I have a focus on Yamaha basses..MIJ BB, TRB and SA as these are fine basses that are very collectable. Get your hands on the US made sub stingray as they are gaining in price. We all know the usual suspects for collecting and just like cars what will be a classic in 20 years from now. I have a funny feeling that basses and indees cars will of today will reach that status. I have a 20 year old Audi convertible that I am taking a chance on and am restoring in the hope that it's value will stay or increase. I have a T-40 and get them while you can as they are going up and up in price. Like lobster said a solid colour or sunburst with rosewood fretboard is king for these. US Peavey Cirrus basses are absolutely killer and exceptionally well made, keep these on your bucket list.
i dont know what new basses will be consider sleepers in 20 years but I know back before these shot up in price everyone on talkbass would say the T40 and the Guild Pilot bass were the ultimate sleeper basses. I had a pilot show up used near me and grabbed it over a T40. Super light weight great neck and the vintage emgs had some of the most clarity Ive ever experienced from a bass. Best 400 dollar bass ever and still holds it own today against many 2000 dollar basses it smoked the Fender American Deluxe Jazz I was playing no problem. I wish I never sold it. The T40 used to sell in the 300 range sometimes even less and now are 800 or more.
@@LowEndLobster That could be a really interesting discussion. I'm in!
Impressive! The most astonishing thing for me is, that all those different switching options are actually usable and sound really good. Sometimes there are instruments with lots of different sounds and few of them are really good. But then there's the T-40 that shows: sometimes more can actually be more. Literally unlimited sound options and lots of character, what else can you want? Ok, that heavyweight sound really comes in with a serious weight. But what a great bass this is!
Awesome video!!! My first bass was a '82 Peavey T-20. It was a fantastic bass that was built like a Sherman tank!!! It was as heavy as it's tone...lol. Every time I would strap it on, it felt like I was playing a coffee table.... I loved that bass....lol.
One of the most cultish underground basses of all time, along with others such as the Gibson RD Artist, Fender Bass VI, Wal MK 1's and 2's, Aria Pro II SB 1000, Travis Bean TB2000, Ibanez Musician MC924, or even the late 70s/early 80s BC Rich basses with twin dimarzio precision pickups.
Really unique basses that gained cult followings mostly after their production ended. I'd love to see any of these basses demo'd by you. Some are near impossible to get your claws on, though.
That bass sounded way better than expected. I had a Peavey T-60 (guitar) and all the tonality blew me away. Great sounding guitar. Mine was black meaning it was poplar wood body and was relatively light. I didn't get along with the high string tension and skinny neck which is why it got sold. The electronics were great though. Also had a peavey fury from the 80s. Cool p bass clone with a nut width of a jazz bass or even less. For $125 at the time it was a great deal.
1of the best i ever heard my freind
I have won an auction and won one from eBay. 1979 edition. Immaculate condition. It is my first ever bass. Can't wait for it!
Thanks Lobster this review!
Awesome! Congrats and enjoy
@@LowEndLobster The final was this and the Fender Geddy JB, and this one won my heart. :) I am 110 kg, hopefully enough strong for this if I go down to 90 kgs. :D
Could be a problem with the wiring when you go to the Phase mode .. “ Crimson guitars “ in the UK had a Peavey T 60 ( 6 string ) that they redid the wiring as it had not been done correctly at the factory.. and they had both pickups working correctly after that .. love your show , and would love to see a show where you go through the “ lightest “ basses available .. I’m finding some of my basses just to heavy to use for the full 3 sets .. ( thank heavens for my high backed bar stool that I bring just in case )
Just picked one of these up! I love this bass..
Nice!
Someone was doing there job at peavey back in the day all there old stuff Is on point 💯🎸
Aaaaaahhhhh....... back when Peavey was incredible, affordable, American made stuff.
Those things weighed about 1,000 lbs and had the tone to match. An evening playing one was well worth the chiropractor appointment the next day. 😎
A few years back I acquired a 78 or 79 T-40 (hard to remember when I have 15 basses ) in natural. I had to have it rewired to original wiring as some other owner had hacked it up. Once that was done it was glorious! Yes it's heavy and I have other basses that do specific tones better. None of them can do as much though and It always get the attention of other players. To me this is a keeper and will be passed on to my son after I'm gone.
I lusted after one of these about 10 years ago, until I realised that they could double as a boat anchor.
I dig peavey stuff. Always wanted one of these. Used to play through smark 3 head and black widow speakers. So much fun.
Your T-40 is beautiful Lobster and a rare one at that, with the sunburst body and rosewood fretboard it is a fine collectable. Mine is a solid red body with rosewood board in original rifle case. Yours and mine are some of the most coveted T-40's and mine never gets played lives in its case and is mint condition. The tone is unreal and the tone shaping is indeed not of this planet. I really enjoyed your demo and I will get mine out now for a spin.
My dad has one. Natural finish. First bass I ever played. As a 13-year old kid, that was a lot of weight to have sitting on my shoulder. When I finally got my own Cort P-Bass copy, I was amazed at how light it was! But the T-40 is an amazing bass. I should ask my dad if he's got any plans with his... I mean, I would use it, and his just sits in its case stowed away. I think it's worth mentioning that the hard shell cases they came with were super cool, too.
Another great sounding instrument. Sounds like it stacks up well against the GL's with similar electronics you reviewed recently. In open truth, this model of Peavey bass was at my local pawn shop while I was shopping for cheap gear back in 1989. $249. I passed on the looks alone. Too bad for young me. I don't think 16 year old me would have appreciated what that bass was capable of. As a further aside, I bought the Gibson Ripper.
A poor man's Wal this bass kills one of the best basses ever!
I have one of these old bois in the closet. Someone at some stage had used an alfoil serving tray to shield the control cavity.
An undervalued sleeper classic that has recently sky-rocketed in value. Still worth it. If you can handle the weight.
I would totally buy a T-40 replica wiring harness!
Right? That would be interesting to make a 'solder-free' drop in. I purchased a 100 pack of these little screw down connectors like what you see in John East preamps and am experimenting with some solder free series/parallel push pulls (well I have to solder, but only once!)
I absolutely adore Peavey T-40s. Hopefully I can get one some time in the near future!
My natural '79 T-40 tipped the scale at 10.6 pounds, so i'm really lucky
As a guitarist, I've always fancied having a T-60 (the guitar version). I'm not into Strats for either the sound or the looks,, but the T-60 spin on the shape looks so such, and they sound great!
You need to make this a series were you demo all these classic "sleeper" basses talked about for years on talkbass. Hit up the Guild Pilot next.
The "Sleeper Series"
How about the Guild JS2?
My absolute favorite bass. I have a 78 natural in very nice shape that doesn't leave the house much. Picked up a banged up 80 in white with a rosewood fretboard for gigging. I've got plenty of other basses but always come back to these.
Still sounds amazing. This was the first bass I played as a kid and had me falling in love with Peavey. I wish I would have held on to that bass like I didn't my Dnybass and original Cirrus 6 string.
Very nice Dave. It’s heavy but the options are great. Gonna take it out for a spin in August.
My favorite place I've seen one in action was when I saw Deafheaven in 2014, the bassist was using one.
my first "real" bass back in '79. Gigged the hell out of it.
I remember having this bass in the 80' paid I think $250-$300 dollars back then. I had the T-40 as well brings back great memories :) Price's have skyrocketed these great instruments sadly
Its also a great weapon in a bar fight. You could prob knock out a few guys and it will still be in tune for another set.
I have a Peavey TL5 '92 which I have replaced the original pre-amp(because of poor solder issues from Peavey) w/an Audere that is boost cut only. The original was parametric. I love this bass as the pickups are MONSTROUS. It is so much louder than anything I have in my collection(VFL). It needs a new nut but I put a small piece of paper under it and it plays better than when it was new! Thanks for the T-40 review. I would like to get a Sirrus 5 but money is an issue right now.
I have the exact same model; the sienna-burst rosewood 1979. It is the pride of my collection, has been since 1996.
I love the out of phase tones!
Have a 1979 mint condition !!! Awesome awesome bass !! Could not believe when I purchased it, the condition it is in, with all these year gone by…
You dawg I was looking into getting on these now I definitely got to
What a beast of a bass, a lot of great tones and love the look too, really vintage & classic. Funny fender/gibson/rickenbaker melt. great review.
I recently bought a Peavey Foundation. I like it, especially the pickups.
Forgive me if someone else made this comment - the T-40 pickups are 4 wire blade-style humbuckers, while the Super Ferrite pickups are single coils.
Thanks Kevin!
Wow, Wow, Wow…… Just amazing. Lobster, appreciate you showcasing vintage basses.
That thing just screams boat anchor. Nice to have it confirmed.
I got a T40 '79 a few weeks ago. Fantastic bass! The tone is very... mature.
Guess I gotta go look for one now, that neck side coil of both together sounds incredible ❤️
Wishing I had bought one, brings back a memory. Went to check one out in the 80s while demoing it I dropped it. The owner of shop tossed me out, never to see one again. Great test drive, on that classic..
That is one seriously cool instrument. I remember checking one out in a music store about 20 years ago - I was a little bit underwhelmed but I simply had no idea what this thing could do with its pickup settings. From your video, I think the bridge pickup in humbucker mode sounds the best. Wish you slapped that!
Hartley Peavey outdid everyone back then
My first bass ever at 15, put it on layaway with my first Job that summer of 1985 for 175$ at a local pawnshop, it was in all Natural wood grain, loved it but it was definitely an anchor, Still loved it in all its wood grain beauty.
In my experience, the neck tilt is one of the dumbest additions to peaveys. Most of them pre-2000 have a 2-piece neck with a glue joint right in the center, exactly where the truss rod and neck tilt apply pressure. Many of them show signs of delamination, and a shim is a much better solution in my experience. Because this mode had the (yes, rare) rosewood board, it’s less of an issue, but the majority of peaveys lineup came in maple as well.
Thanks for the video lobster!
Yup, I've seen a number of those old bi-laminated necks split, especially on the all maple necks.
And I'm just the opposite. Seven Peavey basses, all with the tilt screw and I really like it a lot. I find that its much easier to make neck tilt adjustments without worrying about using a shim..
@@offbeatbassgear I still have a peavey patriot guitar with no issues and it has the tilt mechanism, however i actually shimmed it when i bought it new in 1986.
The issue is that if the neck bolts are cranked too tight, bad things can happen. I've seen a lot of split peavey necks. I used to live if Texas so maybe it was a combination of over tightening the neck bolts and basses left to get too hot causing the glue to soften.
The main reason i prefer a shim is that its a one time setup item. There really is no need to adjust the neck angle after the initial setup. Fender did the 3 bolt neck with a micro tilt and abandoned that.
Still, those old peavey basses were nice. And the old peavey amps kick serious butt.
@@sunn_bass It's interesting that you said that, since a luthier that I used to take most of my basses too told me the same thing in the late nineties.
I had a chance at one of these for $400 about 10 years ago. Crazy how much they've gone up since then. Watching this made me wonder what came first between the T40 and the L2000 and it looks like Peavey beat G&L by a couple years (1978 and 1980 respectively). Shame that Peavey doesn't make basses anymore. They've had a lot of really classic instruments in their catalog.
I was lucky enough to snag a '79 T-40 in early 2021 for $475
Awesome! Thank you for featuring this legendary T 40 !
Seems like you play up to 4 asses at the same time !
Amazing sounds !
And all from passive pickups !
Greetz from Germany!
Thank you Jörg!
I have four T-40s and I 'm so glad I jumped on them 10 years ago. Even with the current price spikes, they're still very well worth it, even with the weight.
No i teraz widzisz jaki masz skarb w domu Karolu.Włączyłem tłumaczenie napisów i z całą ułomnością takich tłumaczeń,wiem o czym ten fantastyczny basior mówił.