The Peavey T60 was my first guitar, a 16th Birthday present from my parents. I had carved my initials and a heart on the back of it. I sold it and its original case at 19 for $400 when I moved to NY. On my 26th birthday we were visiting my hometown and stopped by my cousins house and in her mini house she had a bunch of guitars hanging on the wall and I saw one on the wall and asked to see it. When I flipped it over it still had my initials and heart on the back💛 Her husband had bought a bunch of guitars from a man in Kentucky. She insisted I take it home with me, that it was meant to find me again. This time I’ll never let it go.
I played one similar to this a few years ago on stage, the neck felt really good, I’ve thought about getting one but just haven’t run across one lately. Most I’ve seen were not priced too bad. I’ve played for close to 60 years, I think they are great guitars.
I got one of these when they first came out. Loathed it. Between the crazy weight and the funky pick-up/tone wiring I got tired of tracking where the tone knob was landing. Ended up gutting the whole system replacing PUs w/ Dimarzios with coil splitting/phase switching toggles.
You missed the the best part of those pickups, the in-between sounds. Yes, 10 is single coil and 7 is humbucker. However, as one rolls back the tone knob, the second coil is slowly added to the signal. The real magic is in those settings where you add a bit of the second coil to give some girth to the single coil sound.
You don't see many of the pre-hot rail T-60s! Nice! They began adding the rails in '80. I have a '79 and will never part with it. There's a really simple mod you can do to these. Get a small, on/off switch (I want to say SPST, but that sounds wrong for some reason) and take the ground wires attached to both tone pots. connect them to either pole on the switch. You now have full range tone knobs and a coil tap switch. Hardest part of the whole mod is the 19 screws attaching the pickguard to the body. lol.
I guess I'm an old fart. I remember these were staples in pawn shops in the 80's and 90's. They were almost always the cheapest guitars available for purchase. I guess I was a guitar snob, at least towards this model, and never really gave them much thought. I didn't like the look of them and the ones I saw were usually pretty beat up. Based on the specs you gave for the neck the neck would have been too small for me regardless, but... I would still like to have one in my collection. I've always liked Peavey guitars. I currently own two, a Cropper Classic and a Reactor AX. I traded my Peavey Detonator for another guitar. It was all blinged out but it wasn't what I was looking for. I wish I would have bought a Wolfgang years ago but I missed the boat on that one. Thanks for the review it was quite informative!
I love this guitar I currently have 2 both are from 1980 I believe one is a black 1 and the other Is white and I love both the black one is more customized and the white 1 I'm keeping all original
i saw the youtube short and came to recommend getting a proper fitting case - there are a few on reverb - but then at 9:57 i discovered that it's on its way to the land of the rising sun. i get nervous when i see good guitars in ill-fitting cases. i got mine in 2017 for $300 and in beautiful condition, an '83 with blade pickups... and immediately got its proper case. :)
Those skinny necks were always a deal killer for me, but in the last year or two I learned that the neck pocket will accept a Tele neck, so that wouldn't be a problem for me. The weight, however, would be a problem. I always thought the wiring was a cool idea that really worked, but the chunky industrial aesthetic wasn't my favorite either.
This guitar was made by ex military guys out of some military spec parts and equipment. The wiring harnesses are from helicopter avionics and the necks were milled on gun stock machines. I always joked that this guitar was the R. Lee Ermey signature model on the T-60 forums... A few of the old guys that worked on these found that amusing lol
These aren't Swamp Ash, they are Northern Ash. There are possibly a few around that are made of Hackberry as well, something they experimented with at the factory, as they had some kind of issues with the supplier for the Northern Ash and we're looking for a possibly cheaper alternative to Ash. Hackberry is a wood very similar to Ash and is native and plentiful to Mississippi (where Peavey was located) but it turns different colors than natural Ash color sometimes so they didn't use it very much or at all on production models. The colored models as far as I know were all Poplar.
And the tuners are indeed Gotoh, as are the bridge saddles if I am not mistaken. The bridge plate itself was made in-house by Peavey, as were the top nuts. The tuners and saddles are some of the few things in these not made in-house.
The neck finish is a special urethane that can be electrically charged to minimize overspray and waste. It was a coating normally intended for aircraft.
Yeah I've owed a few that I got super cheap. It seems like the cats out of the bag on how good they are. I just find I can't get along with the neck, however I want to find another one and swap it with a thick tele neck.
They’re out there! I just got a 1983 Sunburst T-60 in mint condition with the case (also mint) for $620! What made me pull the trigger was the original owner had added an 80s Kahler 2300 on it. It’s an 80s dream! Looks insanely sick
T-60's had thin necks because they are more or less supposed to be played with a slide guitar/lead hybrid style which was the fashion for Country and Southern Rock at the time they were made. The pickups and some of the circuit were designed by Red Rhodes, the pedal steel guitarist
The Peavey T60 was my first guitar, a 16th Birthday present from my parents. I had carved my initials and a heart on the back of it. I sold it and its original case at 19 for $400 when I moved to NY. On my 26th birthday we were visiting my hometown and stopped by my cousins house and in her mini house she had a bunch of guitars hanging on the wall and I saw one on the wall and asked to see it. When I flipped it over it still had my initials and heart on the back💛 Her husband had bought a bunch of guitars from a man in Kentucky. She insisted I take it home with me, that it was meant to find me again. This time I’ll never let it go.
Great story! I recently found my first guitar I sold years ago. Never leaving me again
Always loved those pickups.
That neck is thin indeed. People either love it or hate it. I personally love it. Great review!
That sounds excellent. I play a T-40 but never really thought about the T-60.
I never played the T60 but I do love my Patriot solid Walnut body with a maple neck it's got ceramic humbuckers great review on this one
I played one similar to this a few years ago on stage, the neck felt really good, I’ve thought about getting one but just haven’t run across one lately. Most I’ve seen were not priced too bad. I’ve played for close to 60 years, I think they are great guitars.
I got one of these when they first came out. Loathed it. Between the crazy weight and the funky pick-up/tone wiring I got tired of tracking where the tone knob was landing. Ended up gutting the whole system replacing PUs w/ Dimarzios with coil splitting/phase switching toggles.
I like these takes me back to the 70s they getting crazy though like everything else these days.
You missed the the best part of those pickups, the in-between sounds. Yes, 10 is single coil and 7 is humbucker. However, as one rolls back the tone knob, the second coil is slowly added to the signal. The real magic is in those settings where you add a bit of the second coil to give some girth to the single coil sound.
You don't see many of the pre-hot rail T-60s! Nice! They began adding the rails in '80. I have a '79 and will never part with it.
There's a really simple mod you can do to these. Get a small, on/off switch (I want to say SPST, but that sounds wrong for some reason) and take the ground wires attached to both tone pots. connect them to either pole on the switch. You now have full range tone knobs and a coil tap switch. Hardest part of the whole mod is the 19 screws attaching the pickguard to the body. lol.
I guess I'm an old fart. I remember these were staples in pawn shops in the 80's and 90's. They were almost always the cheapest guitars available for purchase. I guess I was a guitar snob, at least towards this model, and never really gave them much thought. I didn't like the look of them and the ones I saw were usually pretty beat up. Based on the specs you gave for the neck the neck would have been too small for me regardless, but... I would still like to have one in my collection.
I've always liked Peavey guitars. I currently own two, a Cropper Classic and a Reactor AX. I traded my Peavey Detonator for another guitar. It was all blinged out but it wasn't what I was looking for. I wish I would have bought a Wolfgang years ago but I missed the boat on that one.
Thanks for the review it was quite informative!
I love this guitar I currently have 2 both are from 1980 I believe one is a black 1 and the other Is white and I love both the black one is more customized and the white 1 I'm keeping all original
i saw the youtube short and came to recommend getting a proper fitting case - there are a few on reverb - but then at 9:57 i discovered that it's on its way to the land of the rising sun. i get nervous when i see good guitars in ill-fitting cases.
i got mine in 2017 for $300 and in beautiful condition, an '83 with blade pickups... and immediately got its proper case. :)
I made sure it was packed nice and tight in the case. No movement! :)
@@boechlerguitarsandrepair i figured you would when i discovered you were a seller. most pro sellers take really good care of their customers. 😊
Really lovely guitar!
They're great!
Selling mine was the worst regret ever.
After listening back to the recording of it... I'm regretting selling it a bit already
Thank you
Those skinny necks were always a deal killer for me, but in the last year or two I learned that the neck pocket will accept a Tele neck, so that wouldn't be a problem for me. The weight, however, would be a problem. I always thought the wiring was a cool idea that really worked, but the chunky industrial aesthetic wasn't my favorite either.
Using a tele neck is a fantastic idea...
This guitar was made by ex military guys out of some military spec parts and equipment. The wiring harnesses are from helicopter avionics and the necks were milled on gun stock machines. I always joked that this guitar was the R. Lee Ermey signature model on the T-60 forums... A few of the old guys that worked on these found that amusing lol
you can find these for under 700 in california
These aren't Swamp Ash, they are Northern Ash. There are possibly a few around that are made of Hackberry as well, something they experimented with at the factory, as they had some kind of issues with the supplier for the Northern Ash and we're looking for a possibly cheaper alternative to Ash. Hackberry is a wood very similar to Ash and is native and plentiful to Mississippi (where Peavey was located) but it turns different colors than natural Ash color sometimes so they didn't use it very much or at all on production models. The colored models as far as I know were all Poplar.
Also, the nut isn't aluminum, it is plated brass.
And the tuners are indeed Gotoh, as are the bridge saddles if I am not mistaken. The bridge plate itself was made in-house by Peavey, as were the top nuts. The tuners and saddles are some of the few things in these not made in-house.
The neck finish is a special urethane that can be electrically charged to minimize overspray and waste. It was a coating normally intended for aircraft.
I have the white T60 and its case ive had it since 1980 my plan when i die is to be creamated the guitar and case will also go into creamation with me
The coffee table in front of your chair , it’s been there for 3 weeks
I don't have a coffee table in my work room?
it looks like a 3 piece body not 2
Cool guitars, it's a shame the nice examples are going for 900+ now.
Yeah I've owed a few that I got super cheap. It seems like the cats out of the bag on how good they are. I just find I can't get along with the neck, however I want to find another one and swap it with a thick tele neck.
They’re out there! I just got a 1983 Sunburst T-60 in mint condition with the case (also mint) for $620! What made me pull the trigger was the original owner had added an 80s Kahler 2300 on it. It’s an 80s dream! Looks insanely sick
T-60's had thin necks because they are more or less supposed to be played with a slide guitar/lead hybrid style which was the fashion for Country and Southern Rock at the time they were made. The pickups and some of the circuit were designed by Red Rhodes, the pedal steel guitarist