If it was shoddy quality, then a previous owner must have damaged it. I've owned several T-40's, and the build quality in every one was first rate.
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Too rare to mod?
- Thread starter dBChad
- Start date
If it was shoddy quality, then a previous owner must have damaged it. I've owned several T-40's, and the build quality in every one was first rate.
That's why I said "if". I don't buy that the bottom is going to fall out of the vintage market either.
But those numbers aren't as arbitrary as you think. "If" the bottom falls out of the market, it's not a stretch to say prices will revert to what they were 20 years ago. $250 for a T-40 and $1,200 for a '74 Jazz is about where prices were in 1999.
Everyone born between 1950 and 1990 grew up fetishizing the guitar. Their experiences, their memories, and the legends that fall somewhere in between, combined with the disposable income that comes with a mature career, and then retirement, is the alchemy that has produced the $30,000 pre-cbs fender.
People born after 1990 grew up fetishizing the laptop DJ, or the solo singer/rapper, if they bothered to be aware of music as anything other than a commodity at all, and they’ll be paying off their student loans until they’re retired.
You do the math.
Guitar sales continue to be strong. You're also forgetting that there is a ton of foreign new wealth coming into play. Vintage Fenders sell quickly.
In my experience, things are "rare" for 3 reasons:
1. They made a lot of them, but; that was a long time ago, and what with war, famine, and the passage of time, not many are left;
2. They didn't make many to begin with (like, say, Duesenbergs) because they were catering to a small, wealthy clientele; or
3. They made them to sell to the masses, but... the masses said "Eeww; no way", and most of them disappeared into a dumpster...
So, the question you need to ask is; which category does this Peavey fit into? If it's in Category #1 or #2? Maybe you should just play it; take care of it; and leave it as it is. If it's in Category #3? Knock yourself out, Brother. Most people don't want it now, anyway; and there's a good chance most people won't want it later on, either...
But, seriously; at the end of the day, it's yours (or, it will be) to do with as you wish, regardless...
1. They made a lot of them, but; that was a long time ago, and what with war, famine, and the passage of time, not many are left;
2. They didn't make many to begin with (like, say, Duesenbergs) because they were catering to a small, wealthy clientele; or
3. They made them to sell to the masses, but... the masses said "Eeww; no way", and most of them disappeared into a dumpster...
So, the question you need to ask is; which category does this Peavey fit into? If it's in Category #1 or #2? Maybe you should just play it; take care of it; and leave it as it is. If it's in Category #3? Knock yourself out, Brother. Most people don't want it now, anyway; and there's a good chance most people won't want it later on, either...
But, seriously; at the end of the day, it's yours (or, it will be) to do with as you wish, regardless...
I was thinking, well, it's a Peavey so maybe it doesn't matter, but then I looked it up and it does have some decent used value. So I'd really think heavily about that. I don't know what's available for this in terms of necks you might swap out but that would probably be a better option if you could find something.
Yeah, this one isn't a BXP! One of my favorite things about Peavey is that they are undervalued for what they are. As a musician looking for giggable instruments, this means I get a great bass for a small investment.
My expectations are realistic: I don't expect this to ever be worth what a Pre-CBS Fender, Fodera, Pedulla, or Modulus might sell for (as of right now, I plan on playing it for many years), but Peavey does have a few small premium runs that hold (sometimes even grow if only by a small margin) their value.
I say go for it. What's the worst that can happen?
Whatever the outcome (great,meh, total disaster) you'll have a learning experience, and never have to pose the question again.
Whatever the outcome (great,meh, total disaster) you'll have a learning experience, and never have to pose the question again.
Sorry, no.
It was Japanese collectors who raided the vintage market in the mid-to-early 90s both in the U.S. and Europe, sending the prices up through the roof. The recession of 2008 took some steam out of the whole thing, but most of the mere mortals lost access to vintage gear for that reason alone. What we're dealing with nowadays are mostly scraps, sorry to say. Not that are no wonderful barn finds still out there, but I wouldn't count on them if I were shopping for a '56 Black Beauty.
As for the Peavey in OP, I'd leave it "as-is" and try getting used to it. If I couldn't do that, then sell it and move on to one that would entice me more.
The worst that could happen (read: the thing that almost certainly will happen) is that the OP takes a perfectly functional $600 bass and destroys it by making it unplayable. 600 clams is a lot of money. To me, anyway.
Of course, but the OP already knows the risks and the inevitable $$ loss he'll incur. It's his money and time, and he wants what he wants.
Besides, once the reality of the scope of the project (not to mention the costs) sinks in, I'll be surprised if he moves forward with it. Either way, the important thing is that he has fun, no? Cheers.
I feel USA made Peaveys are just as good (if not better) as Fenders. A lot of that stupid expensive price is in the eye of the beholder, no other reason.