Peavey - Model Unknown

[dgmcc]

Looking for some help, please.

 

I'm looking to trade in my bass as part X for a new guitar. I don't know the model, and there is no serial number on the head. My guess is it is a zephyr. Can anyone provide me with any info?

 

https://ibb.co/80H1CcS
https://ibb.co/LJ9254Z
https://ibb.co/XCgMkbh
https://ibb.co/7Jj1b5R
https://ibb.co/1LwLr1j
https://ibb.co/bP9Q5r9
https://ibb.co/f1zfZ76
https://ibb.co/mb4pzmN

[Lfalex v1.1]

Looks like it's either a Zephyr or a Grind BXP4. If there's even a difference between those models. 

Google gave me the same set of images for both searches...

[dgmcc]

1 hour ago, Lfalex v1.1 said:

Looks like it's either a Zephyr or a Grind BXP4. If there's even a difference between those models. 

Google gave me the same set of images for both searches...

Thanks for taking the time to check that out, fella. If l picked one of those models to use as a descriptor, l wouldn't be massively misrepresenting it then? Need to stick model name in the trade in form. Not that l'm expecting to get big bucks, but want to be accurate if l can

[tauzero]

I think it's probably a Zephyr. The Grind had a cut-out area on the lower horn for slap players to get in under the strings. Zephyrs did have contrasting woods in the body though, so I'm not sure. Grinds have through-body stringing and Zephyrs don't.

 

 Zephyr 5:

 

 

Grind 5 BXP:

 

[kodiakblair]

Technically it's a C-4 NTB, Peavey couldn't really use 'Zephyr' as Epiphone had first dibs 😄

 

 

3 hours ago, Lfalex v1.1 said:

If there's even a difference between those models. 

 

There's a few.

 

C - series are 34" scale length, Grinds 35".  Grind soapbars are 2 wires in series, C-4/5 were 4 wire in series and had a higher output. You find both bolt on and neck through C-series, Grinds were all neck through. Black hardware for Grinds, chrome for C-series.

[tauzero]

15 hours ago, kodiakblair said:

Technically it's a C-4 NTB, Peavey couldn't really use 'Zephyr' as Epiphone had first dibs 😄

 

There's a few.

 

C - series are 34" scale length, Grinds 35".  Grind soapbars are 2 wires in series, C-4/5 were 4 wire in series and had a higher output. You find both bolt on and neck through C-series, Grinds were all neck through. Black hardware for Grinds, chrome for C-series.

 

Grind 4-strings were 34", only the 5 and 6 strings were 35". My Zephyr/C5 5-string was 34".

 

The neck profiles were slightly different, the C5 was a bit fatter than the Grind - I think it would have been the same as a Cirrus.

 

Edited July 12, 2023 by tauzero
Neck profiles

[kodiakblair]

5 hours ago, tauzero said:

Grind 4-strings were 34", only the 5 and 6 strings were 35".

 Yes and no.

 

In the original format, active/bolt on neck, both the USA and BXP 4 strings were 34" scale length. When Grind got a revamp as a passive neck through in 2004 , scale length changed to 35".

 

 

My Grind BXP NTB is from the initial Vietnam production run, had no idea it was 35" until a friend asked how I was finding the longer scale length 😄

 

[tauzero]

I think it was when the Grind got a second revamp that it changed. I remember looking at the specs of the original neck-through Grind with the body scoop and it was 34" 4-string, 35" the rest.

 

https://www.talkbass.com/threads/differences-peavey-grind-and-peavey-grind-bxp.797769/

 

The ones in the catalogue don't have the body scoop, so that's the revamp. They got revamped again about five years ago.

[tauzero]

I'm going to go with the scooped front 4s having both 34" and 35" incarnations and the 5 and 6 and non-scooped front 4s always being 35".

[kodiakblair]

1 hour ago, tauzero said:

1 hour ago, tauzero said:

I think it was when the Grind got a second revamp that it changed. I remember looking at the specs of the original neck-through Grind with the body scoop and it was 34" 4-string, 35" the rest.

 

https://www.talkbass.com/threads/differences-peavey-grind-and-peavey-grind-bxp.797769/

 

The ones in the catalogue don't have the body scoop, so that's the revamp. They got revamped again about five years ago.

 

I'd place little faith in that TB thread 😁

 

2 confused TB members, 1 confused buyer and 1 very confused Peavey customer service rep 🤣

 

"The first Peavey grinds made outside of the US didn't have the BXP logo on them"

 

How does the Peavey rep explain this ?

 

 

I afraid there was no revamp 5 years ago since Peavey retired the Grind either just before or after the 2017 Cirrus re-issue.

 

The catalogue snaps came from 2011 and 2015, here's a snap from 2008 and the body scoop had gone by then.

 

 

That gives the scoop body a 4 year window and I've never heard anyone in any of the Peavey pages say they have a 34" scale length from that era. Common complaints are "it's heavy", "couldn't cope with 35"" and "thought the pickups were weak".

 

Some of the Cirrus BXP dropped to 34" SL for a short while, could you be confusing the two ?

[dgmcc]

Thanks all for the incredibly detailed replies. I'll grab a tape measure isn't morning and see what the scale length is. Astounded at the knowledge on display, and feel responsible now to try and get a definitive answer (albeit that may spoil the interesting academic discussion)

[kodiakblair]

10 hours ago, dgmcc said:

Astounded at the knowledge on display

Owned a complete collection of Peavey basses, every model released USA and overseas from 1978 to 2010.

 

Your post gave my inner geek an excuse to run free 🤣

[tauzero]

7 hours ago, kodiakblair said:

Owned a complete collection of Peavey basses, every model released USA and overseas from 1978 to 2010.

 

Your post gave my inner geek an excuse to run free 🤣

 

More comprehensive than me, I've just had the C5 and 5- and 6-string Grinds.

[kodiakblair]

@tauzero

 

It was mental, they put out over 40 models in 32 years.

 

Managed to fit 50 of them into the living room for this photo. 

[dgmcc]

As promised, here are the measurements.

 

https://ibb.co/FHnfB9T

https://ibb.co/dtH9yR1

[dgmcc]

12 hours ago, kodiakblair said:

@tauzero

 

It was mental, they put out over 40 models in 32 years.

 

Managed to fit 50 of them into the living room for this photo. 

Impressive!

[ead]

Looks more Zephyr to me.  I had one a few years back and, apart from the woods, looks pretty similar.  I'll see if I can find some pics for you.

 

I rather liked the bass actually and had it for a few years.

[kodiakblair]

4 hours ago, dgmcc said:

Impressive!

Thanks.

 

Took a fair bit of time to amass though I'd say luck and contacts also played their part 🙂 

[dgmcc]

Went into the guitar shop today for trade in price. They're certain that it is a zephyr.

 

Still have it for now, until a second hand Taylor or Martin 12 string pops up (l know - l'm a heathen).

 

Cheers all for the input. You are a welcoming and knowledgeable bunch.

[ead]

 

 

Here's a few wpics

 

 

 

[dgmcc]

Looks pretty much identical, barring some of the finishes

[kodiakblair]

51 minutes ago, dgmcc said:

barring some of the finishes

There were a few finishes.

 

My 5 string before I went OTT with gold hardware and active EQ.

 

 

My pal Gillian's 2.

 

 

Have to say I prefer the 2 on the right here.

German fella contacted me about Zephyrs a few years back, my lot were pretty well known in Peavey circles so I heard from plenty like-minded folk. I put Erek in tough with the Italian owner of that cracking flamed top C-5.

 

Notice how the Grind far left differs, being lop-sided at the upper bout, off set dots too.

[tauzero]

I associate the Zephyr with a sandwich structure to the wings as well (dark-light-dark or light-dark-light), as can be seen from side on and at the upper edge of the forearm chamfer and belly cutaway. The Grind just has solid wings (and sadly some have painted bodies).

[fleabag]

I used to own a C4.  What a beautifully made bass.  One of those selling regrets

 

 

 

 

 

[kodiakblair]

23 minutes ago, fleabag said:

What a beautifully made bass. 

Understatement of the week, that's a cracker 👍