NBD - Peavey 5; Can you identify the controls for this please?

[Grangur]

Hi there,
I'm getting into the swing of a 5 string and bought this with a view that I might take the frets out if I get to like it.

It's a Peavey 5 with a mahogany body. The weight is good. It's got Kent Armstrong humbuckers and it's not bad.

What I can't get round is the controls. The last owner fitted the pups, wiring them as 2 volumes and 2 tone controls. In short, it doesn't work. The volumes seems to work, but the tone controls seem to adjust the volume too, so something's not right. I'll sort it out.

The circuit is all passive, so I'm thinking the easiest route would be V, V, T. But this would leave a spare pot/hole.



Can anyone, looking at this tell me, what would it have had originally?

I'm thinking I could fit a pre-amp. But this would really need a battery holder to be fitted. The existing cavity could take it, but it would be better sense to fit a separate box that doesn't need a screwdriver.

I think I'd prefer to stick with passive, but what do the committee think?

[ikay]

If it's a Peavey Grind then the spec here says originally 2 x vol and 2 x tone - [url="http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/Grind5Nat"]http://www.sweetwate...etail/Grind5Nat[/url]

Tone control anomoly just sounds like a bit of dodgy wiring which should be easy to fix. Ric VVTT wiring diagram here if that helps - [url="http://www.seymourduncan.com/wiring-diagrams?meta_params=bass-options,2-pickups,neck-srb,bridge-srb,2-volume,2-tone"]http://www.seymourdu...2-volume,2-tone[/url]

As for preamp options, take your pick! If the battery fits in the cavity I'd put it there to start with and only rout a separate box if it becomes annoying.

Edited October 4, 2016 by ikay

[alyctes]

It's a Grind or a C4. Nice basses, IMO. I've got a four-string, so if you need a picture I should be able to sort one.

[Vinny]

Looks like a Zephyr 5. I used to have a couple of the similar bolt-on versions and both were VVTT. The 5 started acting exactly as you described, I put new pots in and it was fine. The original ones were exceedingly naff.

[Grangur]

Yes, the current ones are small 500k ohm pots. I'm getting a nice little collection of 500k pots, as I never use them.

I was reading in another place; someone saying that VVTT doesn't work out in a bass. But guitars do it. I know they have a selector switch, but that has no electric effect over anything other than changing the way it connects.

I guess it's easy yo overlook the fact that there's a lot of duff information on the Net.

Thanks for the info, guys.

[kodiakblair]

Have the same bass and my wiring was shot too. It's Vol,Blend,Treble,Bass.

Did a thread about using 4 string pickups in a five string couple of month back and it was concerning this bass.Ended up turning it active and
using a jazz single at the neck with a Warman jazzblade humbucker for the bridge. Very happy with the results.

[BassBunny]

If you are going to re-wire it anyway, how about changing to Volume/Volume/Rotary Selector/Master Tone.

[KingBollock]

I was going to suggest the same as BassBunny, put a selector switch in the spare hole.

Or... I have got a couple of basses that have the battery in the control cavity and it is indeed a pain in the bum. I am hoping, one day, to get around to replacing the covers with nice ones made of light steel with an ebony veneer. Then, instead of screws, I want to put little neodymium magnets where the screw holes are, which will hold the cover in place, which will be easy to remove to get at the battery. And they'll look nicer than cheap plastic.