Why The Peavey T 40 Is Amazing

Рет қаралды 5,298

Күн бұрын

The Peavey T-40 was a very underappreciated bass until recently. That's because it was so ugly nobody took the time to find out it doe3s things no other bass does.
I go through this thing and show exactly why the Peavey T-40 went from being almost free to a expensive vintage bass today.
00:00 Introduction
00:29 This thing is in rough shape but it's mostly original
00:53 The magic of this bass is in the electronics
01:13 I was wrong about this bass as a kid, but I wasn't the only one
02:08 The problems this bass has now
03:25 A closer look at the neck
05:33 Dealing with the nut
07:51 First look at the electronics
09:01 Secret weapon #1 The Phase Switch
09:37 Where the true magic of the T-40 lies
11:15 That's just the beginning, check this out!
13:44 The only problem I have with the T-40
14:28 My Obligatory Bitch Session about Peavey
15:20 Digging in and finding problems
16:06 Here is how this thing is wired from the factory
16:39 How the pots in your instrument work
19:17 The way peavey uses the tone knob to its full potential
19:59 Fixing the electronics
20:40 Why shielding paint gets a bad wrap and how to fix it
23:24 Checking continuity with proper shielding
25:02 The body is done,on to the neck
26:42 Here we go with the tone test, I recommend headphones
27:15 Series vs paralell
28:18 out of phase vs in phase
29:17 Flipping stuff around while improvising
32:13 My thoughts now that it's done

Пікірлер: 101

@ueleBassPlayer Жыл бұрын

Amazing bass and color! I see an Ibanez Roadster and a Musician fretless over there, wow :)

@REXYLAB Жыл бұрын

You sure do! Ibanez didn’t know a roadster was a car (language barrier) so the earliest ones were mislabeled. They corrected it later but they wanted it to say roadstar. There will be a video on that one in the future. The musician has 3 videos as it was a disaster when I got it. Quite a story if you are interested, check it out. I am actually much more a bass play than a guitar player so I have some pretty amazing basses and there are a bunch of bass videos on the channel. Two that will be coming up are my 93 Kubicki ex factor, and a cheap Ibanez SR that I will be doing custom wiring in that will make it half Rickenbacker and half T-40. Plus an install of a bass Kahler. If you haven’t subscribed please consider this your invitation!

@ueleBassPlayer Жыл бұрын

@@REXYLAB Wow, thanks for the infos and insights, i didn't know that about the roadster. In my channel you can find many videos where I play the roadster either fretted and fretless version. I just subscribed to your channel

@DeadKoby Ай бұрын

I have a T-40 and a T-60........ both of them are the boss. The story of those instruments is pretty fascinating. I'm convinced that Hartley Peavey got EVERYTHING right on these except the weight. Sounds great, plays great... and a REALLY wide variety of tone....... Bright as a Ric, to dark as an SG. My T-40 is from 1984.... and the T-60 is from 79. I'm not the first owner of either, but I bought them 10+ years ago, before they were cool.

@REXYLAB Ай бұрын

Back when people would damn near pay to have them taken away. You are one of the smart ones!

@lloydster7362 9 ай бұрын

I started playing in '78 when I bought my T-40. I still LOVE her to this day!

@REXYLAB 9 ай бұрын

They are capable of some amazing tones!

4 ай бұрын

This T-40 color is a refinish. Originally, it came in: White, red, black, sienna, natural, and burgundy-with burgundy being the rarest. Necks were all maple, with either maple or rosewood fretboards, fretted or fretless (T-40 FL). I believe all of the fretless had rosewood fretboards. If there are others I missed, I would love to know about them. Hartley Peavey is the modern Leo Fender in my book.

@REXYLAB 4 ай бұрын

I talk with Gary Kahler every day and he tells me that Hartley was such a good friend back in the early days. My first bass and amp were Peavey and I still love them. And this is a refin, and a bad one at that.

@j.p.2682 5 ай бұрын

This is a very wonderful and informative video. Thanks

@REXYLAB 5 ай бұрын

Thank you! I love doing these videos and it’s great when people enjoy them.

@mattbrandau7190 Жыл бұрын

Killer informative vid man! Thanks. Love my 1980 t40…lucked out and found a 9lb one! A major overlooked function of the phase switch…if you’re soloing the bridge pickup in single coil mode, the phase switch reverses the coils. So you can switch between a 60s/70s jazz bass pickup location. Pretty sure the nut is aluminum

@REXYLAB Жыл бұрын

Aluminum would make sense. Next time I have a T-40 in my hands I’ll have to try your bridge trick. It doesn’t seem like that should work but I don’t know for sure because I haven’t tried it. Perhaps when I build my Rick-O-Sound/T-40 hybrid it will work, maybe not. We shall see.

@mattbrandau7190 Жыл бұрын

I can’t remember where I read or heard about that bridge trick(maybe the vid “secret sounds of the T-40”) but it definitely works! You can really hear it, but also if you tap the coils with a piece of metal it’s obvious one turns off and the other turns off when you flip the phase switch. Your Ric build sounds awesome! Can’t wait to see/hear that

@REXYLAB Жыл бұрын

@@mattbrandau7190 it’s coming. I’m not sure exactly when because there are lots of things in line right now. The parts are all here and it works. I just had to get linear taper pits to make it work so it got pushed back and then other things got infront of it. I’ll be doing a Kahler bass trem install as well and a bunch of other cool stuff. If you haven’t subscribed yet I invite you to do so.

@moscher72 6 ай бұрын

Hey Rex, guy from Germny enjoys you vid very much. Got a T40 in good condotion few weeks ago and now I knew a little bit about how it works...😂 Thank you

@REXYLAB 6 ай бұрын

Very cool! I’m so glad my video helped! Check out my one on Rickenbacker. Soon I’ll make a video where I combine both ideas for ultimate versatile madness! Rickenbacker 4003 Why Rick-O-Sound Kicks Ass!🎸 kzfaq.info/get/bejne/q9SJm7RoqdiqZIU.html

@timmerred5 6 ай бұрын

I have a 79 T-40 that I bought almost twenty years ago. It’s a natural finish and it still has the plastic on the pick guard in the area of the control knobs, showing what the knobs do. It weighs a ton, as they do, but I think it’s such a cool bass. I love the simple goofy look of it. The electronics of a T-40 are set up (from what I understand ) is that when the volumes are at ten, you have two single coils. As you roll down to seven and lower, they become humbuckers. I may have that wrong and it’s the tone knobs that do that, I can’t remember.

@REXYLAB 6 ай бұрын

It’s the tone knobs that do that but you were very close, my friend!

@timmerred5 6 ай бұрын

@@REXYLABOkay, thanks. I feel like I’ve seen videos on the past that mix them up, so I wasn’t sure. You can definitely spend time finding a lot of interesting tones by fiddling with the controls and phase switch. Googling T-40 tones will bring up a few “charts” that show settings that try to mimic P bass, J bass, Rick, MM, etc. Thanks for the video!

@VeitLehmann 10 ай бұрын

Turned out really nice! And I dig the transparent red, I have never seen one in this color. One small note: The phase switch does something if you solo the bridge pickup and have the tone wide open: The other coil will be the active one, and in this pickup position, this will be a noticeable sound change. By the way, I also really like your plan of putting a similar wiring into another bass! Getting something similar-sounding but not spine-breaking sounds awesome! I have a T-27 guitar, it also has this special tone knob, and it's just genius! I'm primarily a bass player, so although the T-27 is heavy for a guitar, I'm used to a 10 lbs bass, so it's not an issue for me. But 12 or 13 lbs would be.

@REXYLAB 10 ай бұрын

You know, that makes sense as it would be attached to only one of the coils, good looking out! Thanks, buddy! I have plans to do this mixed with Rick-o-sound in 2 basses and 1 guitar (with a few funky little twists!

@RockandrollNegro 2 ай бұрын

That's not the original finish. The stained headboard is a dead giveaway. It's a shame, as the rosewood fingerboard models are pretty rare.

@awllypollyas8292 5 ай бұрын

I needed this like 3 years ago

@REXYLAB 5 ай бұрын

Hopefully better late than never?

@awllypollyas8292 5 ай бұрын

I am VERY new to the gear jargon so it's a lot to bounce around and understand but i WILL get there

@awllypollyas8292 5 ай бұрын

@@REXYLABbut yeah, man, this is awesome

@awllypollyas8292 5 ай бұрын

@@REXYLAB Have you showed off that ibanez with peavey wiring you were talking about? I really wanna see it!

@tauruschorus 7 ай бұрын

The micro tilt is such an awesome design

@REXYLAB 7 ай бұрын

I do enjoy the convenience of it for sure.

@aaronwalker5990 Жыл бұрын

The Priest reference had me in stitches. Super cool bass. It’s a shame it weighs a b’jillion lbs. I’ve played the T-40 and the T-60. Super groovy, but the weight kills me. Maybe I’m just not man enough. 😂

@REXYLAB Жыл бұрын

I was hoping someone would catch that.

@mooreoutdoor9841 Жыл бұрын

I had one of those in the late 90s. They are a heavy chunk of wood for sure! I think I traded it towards the Charvel bass I have now.

@REXYLAB Жыл бұрын

The T-40 is very cool and has lots of tones for sure, but I would have done the same thing! I just can’t get over the weight and how uncomfortable that body is. But there is good news! I’m working on a design that will combine Rick-O-Sound and the T-40 electronics as well as fix the one issue I have with the T-40 electronics to begin with. I have everything I need to do it and it’s in line to be made so stay tuned for that.

@carpediemarts705 10 ай бұрын

T40 wiring? All ears.

@lakeithhaslam1650 Ай бұрын

I would love to hear your modded Fury. I found a modded T20 at a pawnshop. It has a DiMarzio J pickup at the bridge and 2 switches that act like a blend/cut. Awesome bass!

@REXYLAB Ай бұрын

I’ll get to making a video on it some day.

@lakeithhaslam1650 Ай бұрын

@@REXYLAB what pickup was added?

@notapplicable328 4 ай бұрын

Love the peavey t series guitars. I’m currently taking a brown t-15 i got for under $100 a few years ago and putting the electronics into a telecaster platform. I’m a tall guy and the t-15 is a bit too small for my lanky hands but man do they sound fucking awesome

@notapplicable328 4 ай бұрын

Great video! Not a lot of people go this into depth! The part you switched through setting showing the outputs was super interesting!

@REXYLAB 4 ай бұрын

Thank you! I feel it’s important to share as much as I can.

@REXYLAB 4 ай бұрын

The early peavey T series stuff had lots of ground breaking features to it. I love that stuff so much!

@ronaldanderson4185 Жыл бұрын

Eddie knocking it out of the park again

@REXYLAB Жыл бұрын

Thanks, Ronald! I hope you enjoy it.

@iceWaterProductions1 Ай бұрын

Damn I’ve been checking EBay for over ten years the find the Mike Keneally EMG poster. That’s totally killer.

@arthurrose6473 10 ай бұрын

Nice show, lots of info, good flow of thought and insight into a pretty unique and somewhat complex ( for pot circuitry) old school American passive circuitry! Sad lament statement on Peavey betraying America for an extra buck- all started with PHUCKING "Reaganomics trickle downy economic bulls--t!) I've been around almost 70 years now, I go back to the Iron BUTTERFLY days with my first band at 13 years old in 1966! Two years later was Jimi, and I had been playing in Liberty and Monticello, NY, all summer, and Woodstock (Yasgars farm) was only 15-20 minutes away! What a time that was! Glad to see you doing what you dig! Well done, great show, I've been checking out your channel and have subscribed! Carry on, my wayward son! Peace.

@REXYLAB 10 ай бұрын

One day I hope to lay my weary head to rest. It sounds like you would really enjoy my interview with Gary Kahler on Saturday. Consider this your invitation.

@ronaldanderson4185 Жыл бұрын

Thanks for taking us down memory lane yes it looked country, thanks hee-haw but they had things on these guitars and made in the u.s that us youngsters took for granted

@REXYLAB Жыл бұрын

You are correct about that! But… I will be doing a bass very soon that isn’t so country and does everything this one and a Rickenbacker 4003 does. Watch for that!

@nayr87 6 ай бұрын

I love Venom. Countess Bathtub is my favorite

@REXYLAB 6 ай бұрын

I bet that was a typo but ironically it works because Elizabeth Bathory supposedly bathed in virgin blood to retain her beauty. I’m sure she did this in a bathtub. New insight reveals that this might have been complete bullshit to take her land and title.

4 ай бұрын

The Peavey T-40 is the ultimate studio bass. The array of tones, and the resonance of a solid swamp ash body-almost impossible to beat. In terms of value, nothing even comes close to this bad boy.

@REXYLAB 4 ай бұрын

And yet they were such a dud you could get a new one for $100 with a case back in the day. Wish I would have known that then.

@MyName-nx1jj 6 ай бұрын

If you are using the micro tilt, you'll need something harder than a penny. I tried it. It'll bend and put too much stress on the wood.

@REXYLAB 6 ай бұрын

I’ll pass that along to the client.

@andrewworrick7984 11 ай бұрын

Any more thoughts on the apparent resistors where C1 (bridge) and C3 (neck) caps should be in the schematics?

@REXYLAB 11 ай бұрын

Great question! While they looked like resistors they had to be capacitors. I measured the capacitance and it was spot on with the diagram. This bass has decoupled pickups just like a Rickenbacker, it has to for it to behave the way it does. Not only that but the pots have to be linear to dial in and out that other coil. That gave me an idea to make a bass that is a cross between a T40 and a Rickenbacker 4003 with the ability to control the amount of highs thrown to ground and just a single output you can use as stereo or mono with use of a push pull. I have everything I need except the time. I’ll probably even put a kahler on it.

@andrewworrick7984 11 ай бұрын

Thanks for the reply. I recently opened up my T-25 and T-27 to discover the same wafer capacitor soldered between the bridge ground and the jack. It appears to be factory original… What’s the purpose of that?

@REXYLAB 11 ай бұрын

@@andrewworrick7984 i honestly have no idea. Was only one leg of the cap connected like this one?

@andrewworrick7984 11 ай бұрын

No, sir. It was in line from the jack to the bridge ground.

@REXYLAB 11 ай бұрын

@@andrewworrick7984 wow, was it on the ground side or the hot side?

@shotgunrebels Жыл бұрын

Legend is the penny size was intentional. Hartley supposedly used pennies on the first production models of guitars and basses before getting the slugs.

@REXYLAB Жыл бұрын

That would make sense! I wonder if the slugs were cheaper than 1 cent.

@drizztdourden1060 7 ай бұрын

Is the "phase-switch" actually the series/parallel switch?

@REXYLAB 7 ай бұрын

No, it’s phase.

@LPOband 6 ай бұрын

Would it not be possible to just rewire the existing electronics to bypass that “full humbuckers=low highs” problem?

@REXYLAB 6 ай бұрын

Yeah, but that would undo how cool this bass is.

@andreasvet4461 Жыл бұрын

One of my big regrets is not getting one of these 20 years ago when they were like £100-200 second hand. Young n dumb then.

@REXYLAB Жыл бұрын

You and me both my friend, you and me both.

@JonathanWhoever 6 ай бұрын

Weird what comes back around.

@_Only_Zuul 23 күн бұрын

Somehow this bass reminds me of a Wal bass.. If you took off the pickguard and if it had a 2+2 headstock, you can almost see a Wal copy.. in terms of tone, maybe not like a Wal..?

@REXYLAB 22 күн бұрын

Both are great and I have lots of experience with both so I can tell you with certainty they are nothing alike. But, they are both great!

@idiotburns Жыл бұрын

My first instrument was bass and a peavey as well. B-Ninety

@REXYLAB Жыл бұрын

I’m so happy I still have my original peavey bass!

@idiotburns Жыл бұрын

@@REXYLAB I removed the frets the next week when I got the better noname bass, so much experimenting, it's usable I played 3 tracks as fretless on last practice with band, and it wasnt worth bringing 25 years later.

@idiotburns Жыл бұрын

@@REXYLAB truss rod maxed and action in the upper half is just too much

@peekaboo4390 5 ай бұрын

Peavy did make a red T40 but this is a refinish.

@REXYLAB 5 ай бұрын

Obviously it’s a refinish. A bad one at that.

@mikant71 Жыл бұрын

T-40 and T-60 tone pots aren't linear taper, they were "S" taper either log or anti-log taper

@REXYLAB Жыл бұрын

These ones are liner taper.

@carpediemarts705 10 ай бұрын

Who designed this beast?

@REXYLAB 10 ай бұрын

Peavey

@1lug 10 ай бұрын

Chip Todd @@REXYLAB

@idiotburns Жыл бұрын

Did you get a Hoxey neck??? lol

@REXYLAB Жыл бұрын

I had never heard of them, any good?

@idiotburns Жыл бұрын

@@REXYLAB Have heard good, want to try badly

@REXYLAB Жыл бұрын

@@idiotburns I’ll have to look into them deeper. Thanks for pointing them out.

@bradleyclosson5042 Жыл бұрын

Thumbs up

@REXYLAB Жыл бұрын

Thanks, Bradley

@tomasocasiojr9748 6 ай бұрын

VENOM!!!!!

@REXYLAB 6 ай бұрын

Hail Legions rise, we’ll raise the roof and snatch the skys!

@idiotburns Жыл бұрын

Stainless perhaps, id soak in alcohol if studdorn

@REXYLAB Жыл бұрын

The nut you mean?

@idiotburns Жыл бұрын

@@REXYLAB yeah, like around 7:00

@REXYLAB Жыл бұрын

@@idiotburns it was covered in crazy crap that had to be taken off with a Dremel with the wire wheel attachment. It’s very clean now. The current owner said the previous owner had hammered the thing. It showed too when I first got it in. It’s back with the owner now.

@idiotburns Жыл бұрын

@@REXYLAB Too cool