Peavey Fury Modification Help!!

[Jason2746358]

Hello everyone! I recently bought a 1991 Peavey Fury and I want to mod it however I'm not too sure about what the measurements of this bass are. I emailed Peavey's customer service and was told to take it to a luthier to get my answers. I want to avoid this because there is only one repair shop in my town, so even getting a simple setup requires a 3 week waiting period.

My plan is to to switch the following:

-Swap stock tuners for Hipshot Ultralite Tuners. I'm not sure if I should buy 1/2" or the 3/8" size.
-Swap stock bridge for a Hipshot Bridge. There are so many different types, I don't really know where to start. I'm looking at the "Hipshot Kickass Bass Bridge Fender Replacement Chrome 5K400C"
-Swap stock electronics for a Fender Precision bass wiring kit.
-Swap stock pickups for Seymour Duncan SPB-3 Quarter Pounds.

I'm not handy when it comes to guitars/basses so any advice is greatly appreciated!

Here are some pictures of my bass:

1991 Peavey Fury Bass w/bag | Beat City Music

Here are the links for each of the modifications:

Tuners: HB6 - 1/2

Bridge: Hipshot Kickass Bass Bridge Fender Replacement Chrome 5K400C | eBay

Wiring: TAOT Fender® P-Bass® Wiring Kit - CTS 250K Pots, .047uf Orange Drop, Precision | eBay

Pickups: Seymour Duncan Basslines SPB-3 Quarter Pound P-Bass Pickup - Black | eBay

Thank you!

 

[kodiakblair]

@Jason2746358
You'll want the 1/2 tuners but you could still have to enlarge the holes. The Peavey tuners also have a locating peg instead of a fixing screw so you could end up with the hole showing.

The bridge you want is wider and deeper than the Peavey,the screw arrangement is different so you'll be plugging holes.

Should have no problem swapping the 4 wire pickup for the Duncan. Some of the Fury pickups allowed series/parallel wiring.

The Fury already has 250K CTS pots and a Switchcraft jack socket. It has a .1uf cap same as American Vintage 62 reissue, also has a resistor to help "treble bleed"

Hate to say it but IMO you're planning on swapping quality parts just for the sake of it. OK the original bridge don't look as pretty as your planned BadAss but it does the job fine.

 

[Jason2746358]

@Jason2746358
You'll want the 1/2 tuners but you could still have to enlarge the holes. The Peavey tuners also have a locating peg instead of a fixing screw so you could end up with the hole showing.

The bridge you want is wider and deeper than the Peavey,the screw arrangement is different so you'll be plugging holes.

Should have no problem swapping the 4 wire pickup for the Duncan. Some of the Fury pickups allowed series/parallel wiring.

The Fury already has 250K CTS pots and a Switchcraft jack socket. It has a .1uf cap same as American Vintage 62 reissue, also has a resistor to help "treble bleed"

Hate to say it but IMO you're planning on swapping quality parts just for the sake of it. OK the original bridge don't look as pretty as your planned BadAss but it does the job fine.

Do you think it's worth modding then? I would prefer to save the money if possible. This is my first Peavey Fury; I've always loved P basses but hated their wide necks and heavy/large bodies. This Peavey Fury solves all those problems but I assumed since it sold for a relatively cheap price (especially considering it's USA made), it would require modifications in order match up against a Fender Precision Bass.

 

[kodiakblair]

@Jason2746358
I wouldn't order any parts until you play it. Sure you can buy Furys cheap but they were not "cheap" guitars.
Peavey were trying to take business from FMIC so offered a high quality bass for around 3/4 the price. They are great bits of kit.

My experience with Fender stopped in the mid 80's,the Fury will wipe the floor with most mid/late 80's Fenders.

 

[Chuck King]

Do you think it's worth modding then? I would prefer to save the money if possible. * * * . . . I assumed since it sold for a relatively cheap price (especially considering it's USA made), it would require modifications in order match up against a Fender Precision Bass.

I've had a couple Furies and one of them is one of my regular gigging basses right now. The only thing I've done, and the only thing I think it needed, was to swap in new pickups. I put Bartolinis in it. I personally wouldn't go with Quarter Pounders because I think the Fury is already a pretty mid-forward bass and IMO the QPs would exaggerate that. But the bridge is fine; the wiring is fine; the tuners are fine. Even with the big clunky tuners, my Fury is one of my lightest basses. I've got Ultralites on two Fender Precisions, and they make a remarkable difference, but I haven't felt the need to put them on my Fury.

Even bone stock I think a Fury can go toe to toe with any basic Fender Precision or similar style bass (USA-made or otherwise), as long as you're happy with the thinner neck (which I personally prefer). Add a pickup that gives it a little added oomph, and it's a world-beater.

Oh, one other thing---while its a Fender-style bridge, the Fury bridge is not a direct drop-in replacement for a Fender, and vice versa. So, your proposed replacement bridge would not bolt right on. Anything you'd get would probably require filling and drilling to mount. There are different schools of thought regarding how much difference changing bridges really makes, but the stock Fury bridge is solid, functional, and easily adjustable. I would want to be really, really sure that changing bridges would make a big and desirable difference before I'd start drilling holes.

 

[Doctor J]

Trust in your ears when it arrives. Don't swap parts because you think it's the thing to do. See what the bass is like, then replace but only if necessary. As Kodiakblair points out, these are quality instruments. The price frequently has little to do with quality when it comes to used instruments.

 

[Jason2746358]

@kodiakblair @Chuck King @Doctor J

Thank you all for the advice. The Fury already arrived and I've played with it for the past week. It definitely needs a nice set up and some new strings but as stated in the OP, a setup at my local shop takes about 3 weeks so I was planning on buying all the modifications and then giving it to the shop so they could do everything at once. Based on what you are telling me, it seems unnecessary to do all the modifications I stated so I won't. However I still believe that swapping the tuners to something lighter would be a worthwhile upgrade as I feel there is more weight in the head stock than the body. Apparently the Hipshot Ultralites don't fit too well, any suggestions?

 

[BlueAliceOasis]

I personally believe that a Fury doesn't even need modding. It's from an era where any bass with a Peavey logo meant you were getting far more than what you paid for in quality.

 

[scuzzy]

@kodiakblair @Chuck King @Doctor J

Thank you all for the advice. The Fury already arrived and I've played with it for the past week. It definitely needs a nice set up and some new strings but as stated in the OP, a setup at my local shop takes about 3 weeks so I was planning on buying all the modifications and then giving it to the shop so they could do everything at once. Based on what you are telling me, it seems unnecessary to do all the modifications I stated so I won't. However I still believe that swapping the tuners to something lighter would be a worthwhile upgrade as I feel there is more weight in the head stock than the body. Apparently the Hipshot Ultralites don't fit too well, any suggestions?

Your assesment matches my experiences with these great basses. All quality components, but due to a shorter upper horn, can neck dive a bit. For myself, I would opt for a quality, wide, suede backed strap. It will likely solve your neck dive issues. If you are persistent on changing tuners, I would contact best bass gear and ask their opinion. They should be able to steer you in a helpful direction.

 

[58kites]

With the condition of the parts on this bass, and the fact that all the parts are original, I would change nothing but possibly the pickup.
The tuners are Grover Titans which are top quality tuners, better than the tuners that came standard on USA Fender basses for decades, look at the condition of the plating on them after 25 years!
A $60 Dimarzio Model P pickup will provide a great P Bass tone, if you feel the Peavey pickup is not cutting it.
If you are inclined to want something more, the EMG Geezer P pickup/pots wiring harness will give you a great sounding P Bass pickup and all new control cavity parts, but will require you to buy a pair of new knobs to fit the EMG shafts.
You can also do the EMG Geezer upgrade yourself in 15 minutes, no soldering required, it is very simple and very easy to do, the instructions are very clear.
I've got a Fury with a Dimarzio Model P and two Furys with the Geezers and all three basses are awesome, I have no desire for a Fender Precision.
Your bridge is as good as the bridges that came on USA Fender Precision basses for decades.
I don't think you have room to add the Hipshot Kickass bridge on that bass, I believe the Kickass will be too long.
A good hard case might be a worthwhile investment.

 

[oldrookie]

I have an '86 Fury and have never noticed neck dive on it. I do have a wide strap on it, but that's only because I got a good deal on it and it matched the color.

One of my favorite basses--and it was the cheapest--by far.

 

[Rodslinger]

Hello everyone! I recently bought a 1991 Peavey Fury and I want to mod it however I'm not too sure about what the measurements of this bass are. I emailed Peavey's customer service and was told to take it to a luthier to get my answers. I want to avoid this because there is only one repair shop in my town, so even getting a simple setup requires a 3 week waiting period.

My plan is to to switch the following:

-Swap stock tuners for Hipshot Ultralite Tuners. I'm not sure if I should buy 1/2" or the 3/8" size.
-Swap stock bridge for a Hipshot Bridge. There are so many different types, I don't really know where to start. I'm looking at the "Hipshot Kickass Bass Bridge Fender Replacement Chrome 5K400C"
-Swap stock electronics for a Fender Precision bass wiring kit.
-Swap stock pickups for Seymour Duncan SPB-3 Quarter Pounds.

I'm not handy when it comes to guitars/basses so any advice is greatly appreciated!

Here are some pictures of my bass:

1991 Peavey Fury Bass w/bag | Beat City Music

Here are the links for each of the modifications:

Tuners: HB6 - 1/2

Bridge: Hipshot Kickass Bass Bridge Fender Replacement Chrome 5K400C | eBay

Wiring: TAOT Fender® P-Bass® Wiring Kit - CTS 250K Pots, .047uf Orange Drop, Precision | eBay

Pickups: Seymour Duncan Basslines SPB-3 Quarter Pound P-Bass Pickup - Black | eBay

Thank you!

I No this is a bit old but I’ve been modeling old PV bases for many years now. The late 80s early 90s Peavey Fury & Foundation bases with the square type bridge with three screws back, two screws forward. These can easily be replaced by any average fender style bridge that isn’t string through body. That means hipshot and other replacement bridges that are fender style five hole will work perfectly. The three holes left right and center of the Peavey bridge are dead on with the left right and center holes on any Fender bridge. There are literally no modifications you have to do unless you want to add the two extra screw holes for the Fender bridge. You don’t have to but I do. I also dropped in a set of EMG GZR pickups. She sounds incredible. I’ve never had a Fender Precision that growled this much.