Peavey T-40 - The 80's Heavyweight Champion Still Packs a Punch - LowEndLobster Fresh Look
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- Опубліковано 21 тра 2022
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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!
This bass and all my other basses with rounds are strung with SIT Foundation Nickel Plated Stainless Steel 45-105(125) unless otherwise noted. Check them out at sitstrings.com/
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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..
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.
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?
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
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.
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.
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 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!
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.
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.
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'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.
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!
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!!😌❤️🎶👍🏾
Wonderful sounding basses, really do have a voice of their own!
Lobster's joy when playing is infectious! Awesome 👌
Some very nice sounds for sure. Great review.
Absolutely amazing how much different styles and tones you can get out of this passive bass. And not one of them sounds bad.
I finally got mine 3 years ago. Frickin love it.
love it man
nice playing and such a good sounding bass !
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.
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.
Brings back memories.Sounds great,you too.
very nice sounding bass
So many cool tones 😩😱
I love the T-40! It's been one of my dream basses for a while now.
I dig peavey stuff. Always wanted one of these. Used to play through smark 3 head and black widow speakers. So much fun.
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.
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... 😃
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. 🤣
awesome bass !!!
Lovely Bass!
I like the look and sound of this one!🎶😎
You dawg I was looking into getting on these now I definitely got to
I love the out of phase tones!
Legendary bass...all the cool indie rock/punk midwestern bassists all either had one or wanted one of these.
These basses become more cool the older they get. Great video.
Exelente gracias, justo el revisado que pedí 👍 suscrito !!!
Never seen such a beautiful peavey burst.
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.
I absolutely adore Peavey T-40s. Hopefully I can get one some time in the near future!
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 !
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!
Interesante Review! Gracias! Esperamos el de el Peavey Cirrus también un gran bajo con sonido muy similar al Smith
Just picked one of these up! I love this bass..
Nice!
Great review of a great bass. U.S.A Peavey's are real jems! Good luck finding one these days.
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 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!
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!
Very nice Dave. It’s heavy but the options are great. Gonna take it out for a spin in August.
Great review
Every time I've gone to the Grand Ol Opry as a kid the bassist had one of these.
Really cool bass
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Nice review, brings back memories. I remember all the music stores in the early 80s having those. Those T40s were solidly built and sounded great. I owed a natural that weighed around 13 pounds. My biggest complaint was dialing in the exact sound I wanted live. I completely rewired mine. I sold it after a couple years.
The bass has its own sound. Its not a P, J, Rick or any other bass. It really is unique. I really like the tones it makes. The pickups were the best part of the bass. The single pickup T45 is really great too especially with a burst and no pickguard.
I've owned 3 or 4 others that I bought to part out. Those had splits in the neck along the bi-lamination glue seam. I've seen several other Peavey's from back then with splits in the neck.
I'm not interested in Peavey reissuing the bass, but wish they'd reissue the pickups or license them to another company.
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
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.
Awsome bass wish it was still being made
I got a T40 '79 a few weeks ago. Fantastic bass! The tone is very... mature.
I recently bought a Peavey Foundation. I like it, especially the pickups.
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.
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.
11 lbs? Ugh! Another beast in every sense. Cool burst finish, definitely usually see them in the natural finish. I just recently discovered Shob & his signature Tribe Bass. You have to get a hold of 1 of those for an in depth review Lobster, I’ve become a little bit obsessed with that Bass.
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.
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 )
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 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.
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!
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.
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 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.
Still have my T-40 from 81. Can’t beat the great case.
Someone was doing there job at peavey back in the day all there old stuff Is on point 💯🎸
There is one at a shop nearby, these have always been a favorite.
My God!!!! That bass can mimic the Pbass, the jazz bass, the MM and also a Ric. Peavey should consider to do a reisue of that beast, but lightweight. Thanks for the review. Cheers.
Great to see the T-40 getting some love. A truly unique bass in a world of derivations. I gigged my '79 quite a bit in the early 00's. It's too heavy for the longer gigs I do now, but I keep it around for recording and the occasional short gig. Have had more than one engineer offer to buy it. The signal (usually both pickups wide open) is so thick and even that it is apparently great to work with.
Never found the number of options to be very confusing. I recommend folks who are unfamiliar with them simply ignore the phase switch and just treat the tone knobs like tone knobs with a little extra in the sculpting department. Start with everything wide open and experiment from there.
I've lusted after these for quite a while now, but they've become so dang expensive. I hope to score a deal on one some day, thanks for the sweet review!
I have the exact same model; the sienna-burst rosewood 1979. It is the pride of my collection, has been since 1996.
I'd been hearing about how the price shot up over the last decade or so, but I never knew it had such interesting wiring. Super intriguing, I found some diagrams, I might wanna try something like this out.
Some real bite on this one here! Love the single and back humbucker! Especially for a passive
I’m not a neck PU kinda guy, however, when you have a neck and bridge together that’s a different story, great review! Thanks to the viewer for this!! Is he on the discord?
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..
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
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
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?
1of the best i ever heard my freind
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.
I bought one of these from my bass player around 1990….never knew anything about single coil vs humbucker…thanks!
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…
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
This bass surprised me. I kinda want one now.
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.
Love my Peavey T-40, but still trying to understand all the different tones you can get. I also own a Peavey Fury and a Millennium, very close to a Cirrus but with a 34inch neck. I think Peavy’s are really underrated and are a great value. Thanks for sharing Lobster and I really like when you review older/classic basses.
There is a diagram on line that does help with setting tone controls to “sound” like Ric’s and MM.
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.
If I'da known these were going to become renowned I'da never sold mine... my first brand new bass 🔊
Even the cat approves of the T40! 😻
Incrível, como um baixo do passado consegui ser moderno sem ser ativo.. parabéns belo instrumento .