THE PEAVEY T-40 BASS ENTHUSIASTS FORUM
Would you like to react to this message? Create an account in a few clicks or log in to continue.

THE PEAVEY T-40 BASS ENTHUSIASTS FORUM

A FORUM FOR PEAVEY T-40 BASS ENTHUSIASTS
 
HomeLatest imagesRegisterLog in

 

 T-40 project underway

Go down 
+2
Frank N. Peavey
Scottpro1969
6 posters
AuthorMessage
Scottpro1969

Scottpro1969


Posts : 420
Join date : 2007-11-26
Age : 54
Location : Minot AFB, ND

T-40 project underway Empty
PostSubject: T-40 project underway   T-40 project underway I_icon_minitimeFri Jun 27, 2008 3:58 pm

I have an old, beat up natural T-40 body that I didn't know what to do with. It is pretty battle-scarred. So, I decided to refinish it. I'm in the infinite stages so I thought I'd post some before, in-the-middle-of, and after pics as the process goes along. Here is a pic of the front, in the state it is right now...original finish. The second is the back of the body, very roughly sanded.

I started with 60 grit sandpaper to get the finish off. So far, so good. I'll be using progressively finer sandpaper to get the wood really smooth. I'm trying to figure out which color to stain it. I was originally going to find a blue stain (like my avatar) but have found out from firepup53 (Lorenzo) here on the forum that it looks hideous. Lucky for me....not so much for him. Sorry Lorenzo!!!!

Anyway, I'll be staining it and using several coats of Tung Oil to finish it. I'm really curious to get some results. I'm off work next week so I'm going to be working on this feverishly. I'll post more updated photos of different stages if people are interested. FYI, I'm a hack...never done this before so it's a learning experience for me. It is fun working on/customizing my own instrument. Gotta go tend to my blister from sanding Shocked

T-40 project underway ProjectT-40front

T-40 project underway ProjectT-40010
Back to top Go down
http://www.myspace.com/ussmaps
Frank N. Peavey

Frank N. Peavey


Posts : 699
Join date : 2007-11-27
Age : 58
Location : Home of the Choo Choo

T-40 project underway Empty
PostSubject: Re: T-40 project underway   T-40 project underway I_icon_minitimeFri Jun 27, 2008 9:51 pm

Keep the pics coming Scott. I love watching a project unfold. I've never tackled a finish, but I've got one project guitar that is begging for one.
Back to top Go down
Scottpro1969

Scottpro1969


Posts : 420
Join date : 2007-11-26
Age : 54
Location : Minot AFB, ND

T-40 project underway Empty
PostSubject: Re: T-40 project underway   T-40 project underway I_icon_minitimeSat Jun 28, 2008 6:37 am

Thanks Tony, I will. It is very tedious. Someone without patience (like myself) should not tackle a refin. I really want to do it right so I'm working at it in small doses. When I get frustrated, I just leave and come back to it later. Sanding the body isn't the problem, it's the curved edges that are a pain. Sand with the woodgrain, I keep telling myself. So far it's encouraging enough to keep at it.

Scott
Back to top Go down
http://www.myspace.com/ussmaps
Frank N. Peavey

Frank N. Peavey


Posts : 699
Join date : 2007-11-27
Age : 58
Location : Home of the Choo Choo

T-40 project underway Empty
PostSubject: Re: T-40 project underway   T-40 project underway I_icon_minitimeSat Jun 28, 2008 3:11 pm

That's one of the reasons I haven't tackled a refin myself. Heck, I've got three or four projects that I need to wire up and just can't get myself to fire up the soldering iron. I finally got all the pieces needed for the Frank N. Peavey but still putting it off. Go figure.
Back to top Go down
ajish4

ajish4


Posts : 110
Join date : 2008-03-03
Age : 62
Location : Stuart, FL

T-40 project underway Empty
PostSubject: Re: T-40 project underway   T-40 project underway I_icon_minitimeFri Jul 11, 2008 9:18 am

This will be fun to watch Scott.

I'm on the lookout for a project myself. I guess I'm going to have to get Chip to make a fretless neck for me out of a standard T-40 neck.

I just keep missing the cheapie project basses on Craigslist by minutes....

I'm not too confident on doing a refin myself, but if I can get one cheap enough, I can always have my luthier do the job, he's really reasonable and does great work too.

I'm THINKING of having an Ebony fingerboard installed so I guess it doesn't matter what type of neck I get?

My bass budget has really taken a hit now that I have one in college and the second starting next year. Sad
Back to top Go down
Scottpro1969

Scottpro1969


Posts : 420
Join date : 2007-11-26
Age : 54
Location : Minot AFB, ND

T-40 project underway Empty
PostSubject: Re: T-40 project underway   T-40 project underway I_icon_minitimeSat Jul 12, 2008 11:33 am

ajish,

Yeah, the FL necks hardly ever show up for sale. Chip is probably the way to go. Regarding an ebony fingerboard, while they look cool they're a very hard wood (opposed to rosewood) and I've heard that the tone produced is very different from rosewood, not as warm.
Back to top Go down
http://www.myspace.com/ussmaps
.Viktor Bassenstein.

.Viktor Bassenstein.


Posts : 88
Join date : 2008-05-24
Age : 114
Location : Northridge, CA

T-40 project underway Empty
PostSubject: Re: T-40 project underway   T-40 project underway I_icon_minitimeSun Jul 13, 2008 3:56 am

yeah, im thinking of converting my laqtest find into a fretless. why not. it be pretty cool. I talked to a jerk luthier about it he said he could convert it for $160. ouch. an Original FL neck would be sweet,
Back to top Go down
princeplanet




Posts : 42
Join date : 2007-12-16

T-40 project underway Empty
PostSubject: Re: T-40 project underway   T-40 project underway I_icon_minitimeSun Jul 13, 2008 7:30 am

Nice grain on that body Scott! Good luck with your project.
Back to top Go down
ajish4

ajish4


Posts : 110
Join date : 2008-03-03
Age : 62
Location : Stuart, FL

T-40 project underway Empty
PostSubject: Re: T-40 project underway   T-40 project underway I_icon_minitimeSun Jul 13, 2008 9:43 am

Scottpro1969 wrote:
ajish,

Yeah, the FL necks hardly ever show up for sale. Chip is probably the way to go. Regarding an ebony fingerboard, while they look cool they're a very hard wood (opposed to rosewood) and I've heard that the tone produced is very different from rosewood, not as warm.

Thanks for the info Scott, I guess the Ebony is out then. I'm looking for that "warm" sound which is another reason I'm looking for a T-40 with the old toasters. I keep reading that the first pickups were warmer than the later blade type.

I don't want to mess with my only T-40, so another is a must. I've got a lead on a nice late 70's unit with the old pickups in it. It's a blonde or natural color with a maple neck. The seller responded to my original Email and says he still has it, but hasn't responded to my request for better pics and a shipping price. This bass would be a good project, it apparently is missing the pickup selector switch. I just hope all the electronics aren't messed up, but the price is right.

Viktor, that seems to be the going rate for a de-fret. My luther is in the same ballpark. Compared to the cost of the T-40, it seems out of proportion, but for the time they have to invest to pull the frets, fill & and down the fingerboard and re-finish, it doesn't seem unreasonable, IMHO that is.

I'm not a do-it-yourself kind of guy, so to me it is worth just sending it off and having it done. I KNOW I'd mess it up!

Tony
Back to top Go down
Scottpro1969

Scottpro1969


Posts : 420
Join date : 2007-11-26
Age : 54
Location : Minot AFB, ND

T-40 project underway Empty
PostSubject: Re: T-40 project underway   T-40 project underway I_icon_minitimeMon Jul 14, 2008 5:07 pm

Hey Jerry!!! Nice to hear from you!!! Thanks. By the way, does this body look familar? All I need is the wiring harness. What do you think?

T-40 project underway ProjectT-40004


T-40 project underway ProjectT-40007

ajish,

I've owned both blade and toaster pickup T-40s and I can honestly say that I can't hear much of a difference in tone between the two. I've heard people say the same thing about the toasters not being as "hot" as the blades but...to my ear, there's no difference. Just my interpretation.
Back to top Go down
http://www.myspace.com/ussmaps
ozrider




Posts : 15
Join date : 2008-02-21

T-40 project underway Empty
PostSubject: Re: T-40 project underway   T-40 project underway I_icon_minitimeMon Jul 14, 2008 8:57 pm

Hi there Scott, wondering if you have heard or tried to replace the original pickups with something more modern. I still got my little front pickup removal project underway, but am wondering about replacing the rear with a musicman type humbucker
Back to top Go down
Scottpro1969

Scottpro1969


Posts : 420
Join date : 2007-11-26
Age : 54
Location : Minot AFB, ND

T-40 project underway Empty
PostSubject: Re: T-40 project underway   T-40 project underway I_icon_minitimeMon Jul 14, 2008 9:22 pm

Hi ozrider,

I haven't heard or seen any pickup mods for a modern pickup. The only one I've seen done is replacing both stock pups with Dark Stars which are "old school" pups being made by Hammon Engineering to replicate the old Guild Starfire pups. I'd like to hear if anyone else has modded with others.

I modded a T-45 with a Dark Star and the sound was phenomenal. Please keep us updated if you do a conversion!!!!
Back to top Go down
http://www.myspace.com/ussmaps
Frank N. Peavey

Frank N. Peavey


Posts : 699
Join date : 2007-11-27
Age : 58
Location : Home of the Choo Choo

T-40 project underway Empty
PostSubject: Re: T-40 project underway   T-40 project underway I_icon_minitimeTue Jul 15, 2008 5:07 am

Scottpro1969 wrote:
I've owned both blade and toaster pickup T-40s and I can honestly say that I can't hear much of a difference in tone between the two. I've heard people say the same thing about the toasters not being as "hot" as the blades but...to my ear, there's no difference. Just my interpretation.

I can't tell much difference in the two on T-40s. On T-60s the difference is very clear to me. Toasters are warmer while blades are hotter.
Back to top Go down
princeplanet




Posts : 42
Join date : 2007-12-16

T-40 project underway Empty
PostSubject: Re: T-40 project underway   T-40 project underway I_icon_minitimeThu Jul 24, 2008 12:35 pm

Scottpro1969 wrote:
Hey Jerry!!! Nice to hear from you!!! Thanks. By the way, does this body look familar? All I need is the wiring harness. What do you think?

T-40 project underway ProjectT-40004


T-40 project underway ProjectT-40007

ajish,

I've owned both blade and toaster pickup T-40s and I can honestly say that I can't hear much of a difference in tone between the two. I've heard people say the same thing about the toasters not being as "hot" as the blades but...to my ear, there's no difference. Just my interpretation.

That looks great Scott! Nice to see it come back to life.
Back to top Go down
Sponsored content





T-40 project underway Empty
PostSubject: Re: T-40 project underway   T-40 project underway I_icon_minitime

Back to top Go down
 
T-40 project underway
Back to top 
Page 1 of 1
 Similar topics
-
» Here she is... my T-40 project (my first t-40)
» Want a project T-40?
» This one looks like a good project.
» WTB T-45 in NATURAL finish..."project" T-45 acceptable
» '83 Black/ Maple "Project" for sale/trade (w/OHSC)

Permissions in this forum:You cannot reply to topics in this forum
THE PEAVEY T-40 BASS ENTHUSIASTS FORUM :: T-40 DISCUSSION :: PEAVEY T-40 DISCUSSION-
Jump to: