Peavey T-40

[FlatEric]

[quote name='cocco' post='752128' date='Feb 20 2010, 07:52 PM']To those who own multiple T-40s. I have an early non rail one, is the difference in tone that massive between it and the railed one? I kinda wish mine had more bite.[/quote]
Hi. As you know, I have errmm, several!!

The Blade pups on the bass and guitar [i]are[/i] more powerful than the toasters, although, Blade or Toaster, they do vary slightly, bass to bass.

The Toasters are warmer with generally more power than an average passive bass - wind in the Humbucker and watch the VU head towards the red!
The blades have more Bark, Bight and power, no doubt. Perhaps the most powerful passive bass I have is a later, Natural, with the BAT switches,
that sends everything into the red, if you don't back off the input on the amp. Pic of it in this Gear Porn.
If I am using a Toaster (I have a Tanburst, with a rosewood board the I love to play) I use a Boss EQ20 and balance the sound with a Blade T-40.
I have also found the running the Toasters through a Behringer BDI 21, adds the bark that I like for most of the set.
Turn it off and you have a warmer sound.

Horses for courses. I love the warm, deep sound of the Toaster, for more laid back stuff but the Blade cuts through like a knife.

So, having said all that, here's something else that may help!
As with any stringed instrument, no matter how well it is made, the [i]sound[/i] comes from the strings.
At one extreme, I have a Toaster with Flats - the ultimate in Dub - but to improve the bight on a Toaster, I have D'Addario on one, Elites on another
and although not top of the list on most players choice. . . . . . . Picato, on another, which I think are my favourites. I am using these on a lot of my
other stuff. Not an Arm & a Leg and very nice to play.

If I ever find myself round your way, as you are a big fan of the T-40, we could perhaps arrange a meet and I'll bring a Blade with me.

Cheers.

[Jerry_B]

I just bought a black T-40 from Kingforaday and can now safely say that I am no longer in need of any of my other basses, bar just one (and one I keep for sentimental reasons)!

I've not played a T-40 since the late '80s, but once I got my hands on one again I was reminded why I liked them so much back then. Put simply, they do everything I need a bass to do in terms of sound and presence. So now I've no more need to fret and fuss over whether various other basses may possibly have what I'm looking for! The amount of different sounds I can get out of it is just brilliant - even tho' I think some of them would destroy my cheap practice amp! And at a more basic level the mix of maple neck, all-black bodywork and all that metalwork just looks fantastic.

Of course, the other thing I've remembered was the reason I didn't buy one back in the '80s - back then I was a scrawny 18 year old and the T-40 felt like it weighed more than I did But nowadays the weight is reassuring, in some odd way. It just makes the whole package feel more solid.

It's quite amusing seeing it stood next to my two Jazzes. They look very delicate in comparison...

[FlatEric]

[quote name='Jerry_B' post='752602' date='Feb 21 2010, 10:49 AM']I just bought a black T-40 from Kingforaday and can now safely say that I am no longer in need of any of my other basses, bar just one (and one I keep for sentimental reasons)!

I've not played a T-40 since the late '80s, but once I got my hands on one again I was reminded why I liked them so much back then. Put simply, they do everything I need a bass to do in terms of sound and presence. So now I've no more need to fret and fuss over whether various other basses may possibly have what I'm looking for! The amount of different sounds I can get out of it is just brilliant - even tho' I think some of them would destroy my cheap practice amp! And at a more basic level the mix of maple neck, all-black bodywork and all that metalwork just looks fantastic.

Of course, the other thing I've remembered was the reason I didn't buy one back in the '80s - back then I was a scrawny 18 year old and the T-40 felt like it weighed more than I did But nowadays the weight is reassuring, in some odd way. It just makes the whole package feel more solid.

It's quite amusing seeing it stood next to my two Jazzes. They look very delicate in comparison...[/quote]

Hi.

A very genuine "Welcome on board"
Now you have joined The Happy Band of those who [i]are in the know!![/i].
I have looked closely at the bass you now have, it looks like a good one!
I will PM you about your question.

All the very best, fellow T-40 Player.

Cheers.
Flat Eric.

[Jerry_B]

I'm surprised they're not more well known, given their capabilities. I've not seen them being used by many bands, although recently I saw some footage of a Big Black gig and Dave Riley was playing one (and it had a rosewood fretboard too).

One things that I've been wondering about is the pickguard - many of them seem to have a certain amount of buckling around the screws that keep the guard in place. Is this just part of normal wear and tear, given their age?

[cocco]

I think it's an age thing. Mine is buckled to hell and back. I've never seen one that's not. That said I've only seen 2 in the flesh and I'm wayy too young to remember them new :s.

[Jerry_B]

Earlier today I put my T-40 through a halfway decent amp and I am now completely sold on this bass! Onlookers were also surprised how much punch it had and at how it was possible to get more subtle sounds out of it. It also sounds very nice when put through my Boss HM-2 distortion pedal

This is definitely the perfect bass for me, both in terms of sound playability. No need for a Jazz or a Pbass! All I need to do now is find a truss rod key so that I can get the action lower.

[markinson]

[quote name='Jerry_B' post='756186' date='Feb 24 2010, 04:48 PM']This is definitely the perfect bass for me, both in terms of sound playability. No need for a Jazz or a Pbass! All I need to do now is find a truss rod key so that I can get the action lower.[/quote]

T-40 is also the number one for me and I even have the key Don't get mad for this, just kiddding.

Regards,

[Jerry_B]

Hehe I forgot to mention that putting it into 'out of phase', switching to the bridge pup, and the putting it through compression nearly destroyed everyone's hearing

[Jerry_B]

Can anyone recommend a decent strap that can handle the T-40s weight?

[kingforaday]

[quote name='Jerry_B' post='777577' date='Mar 17 2010, 04:02 PM']Can anyone recommend a decent strap that can handle the T-40s weight?[/quote]


i use [url="http://minotaur.gr/catalog/index.php?cPath=28"]these[/url] the bass ones are very wide and well padded...

[Jerry_B]

Aha! Nice - may get the plain black one. The others are a bit too Wild West for me

[Jerry_B]

Look what I found...

[WonderHorse]

These are such beautiful basses.

How much do they come up for sale over here? I've had a quikc look on eBay and they're al in the US.

Also what's the average price?

[cocco]

They come up every so often. I didnt technically buy mine so i couldnt give you a price. They're not expensive though in my experience.

[EdwardHimself]

[quote name='WonderHorse' post='779862' date='Mar 19 2010, 03:00 PM']These are such beautiful basses.

How much do they come up for sale over here? I've had a quikc look on eBay and they're al in the US.

Also what's the average price?[/quote]

Last time i looked it was between say 150 and 300 quid that sort of thing anyway.

[Jerry_B]

I've seen at least one on sale over here for more than 500 quid. Average price in the US seems to be as Eddie says above. Getting one from there over here probably wouldn't be very cheap. Shame really, as a few weeks back there was a US one on sale (at Craiglist I think) that was red - and that in itself is rare enough, from what I can gather.

[FlatEric]

[quote name='Jerry_B' post='786447' date='Mar 25 2010, 10:56 PM']I've seen at least one on sale over here for more than 500 quid. Average price in the US seems to be as Eddie says above. Getting one from there over here probably wouldn't be very cheap. Shame really, as a few weeks back there was a US one on sale (at Craiglist I think) that was red - and that in itself is rare enough, from what I can gather.[/quote]

As an avid collector of these fine instruments, I can help with some info.

The cost to ship over here, usually averages out at about £65.00.
Then when it gets here, by whatever method, you get another load of charges.
Like this.
[attachment=45691:charges1.jpg]


On top of this, I have bought some great T-40's from the USA and paid a fair price
but out of all the ones I have, I have been caught out several times.
Bannana neck on one - blamed on the hold pressure and temperature, faulty electrics.
"it was fine when it left me" and dings that couldn't be seen or were not declared.
All these things are repairable and you can end up with a cracking instrument but
after paying the price, the shipping and the charges, that's the last thing you want.
Try sorting this out when the seller is thousands of miles away.

Hard to believe that this arrived with something sticky (smelled like maple syrup)
all over it with both switches faulty. Switches changes and cleaned up, Mmm Nice.
[attachment=45690:2.jpg]

They do come up over here and are increasing in value, as more and more people
latch onto them, so with the $$$ what it is and all the other things to consider, wait
until something comes up.

A fair price for a VERY good one, would be £400 ish - to give you an idea of GOOD,
the one in the pic above, I sold for £425, to buy my red one.
You should get a very nice one for £350 - £400 ish but there are ones that I have seen
recently go for £250 ish but these are usually Natural only and got a few miles on the clock.

So, all you potential T-40 players out there, start looking.

[kingforaday]

cheapest i've seen was a fairly battered natural one, on here i think... that was £250 but yeah they can fetch alot more depending on how rare the finish is... tough to gauge an average price when there aren't really many for sale, in the UK anyway

[Jerry_B]

I have GAS for a natural finish one, so I'm hoping that at some point one turns up over here that's in good nick.

[kingforaday]

yeah i've been waiting for the right natural finish one, its all about the wood grain! i have a T-15 guitar and the wood grain is stunning, just need to find a T40 thats similarly gorgeous!

[allighatt0r]

Question for you T-40 nuts: Why do they put the neck plate on upside down? Seems a bit odd!

[Jerry_B]

It's so that people will know what make it is when you're playing it with your teeth

[FlatEric]

[quote name='allighatt0r' post='841260' date='May 18 2010, 07:15 PM']Question for you T-40 nuts: Why do they put the neck plate on upside down? Seems a bit odd![/quote]

Hi. I have often wondered about that.
I don't know the real answer but the microtilt hole needs to be at the back and to
get the logo as large as possible, it has to sit behing the P.
Either that or someone given the task at Peavey made a mistake.
I have seen a few fitted the wrong way round, especially on the T-60's.

[attachment=50073:NeckPlate.jpg]

I know of a Peavey man, he may know the answer - I'll get back to you.

Cheers.

[cocco]

I played mine at rehearsal yesterday through my sans-amp. I had to change the settings a bit from my jazz to compensate for the low end and dead strings combination but once I was done I had some serious growl. I'm really toying with the idea of trying to trade mine for a rail one because they're a little hotter Im told?

[FlatEric]

[quote name='cocco' post='843190' date='May 20 2010, 03:13 PM']I played mine at rehearsal yesterday through my sans-amp. I had to change the settings a bit from my jazz to compensate for the low end and dead strings combination but once I was done I had some serious growl. I'm really toying with the idea of trying to trade mine for a rail one because they're a little hotter Im told?[/quote]

Hold it right there!!!
I think yours is a '79, Toaster??

I have now started to re-string all mine (when they need doing) both toaster and blade.
In the past on the 40, I have used Rotosound, Stadium Elites, Martin and D' Addario.
Stuck a set of Picato 735 LHY on one of my Toasters, also a 79 and . . . . .WOW!!!
I have used up the six sets that I bought and have another 10 sets on the way.
I am using these on almost everything now.
Where;s the catch??? There isn't one!!
Great strings, great feel, great tone, equal balance across all four strings and . . . . . .
les than £8 a set!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Brings out a real "punch, bark and growl"

Click on the link below.

[url="http://www.stringmail.co.uk/bass.htm"]Stringmail[/url]

I'll post a pic of mine later.


Cheers.