1979 T-40 details

I just bought an all natural 1979 Peavey T-40. ($279 Canadian!)

The switches do not appear to be original and the soldering is very sloppy. Currently the pickup selector cannot solo the bridge pickup. It has a tall, flat chrome lever (bent) and the phase switch has a round black plastic cover on the lever. I've seen various types in photos on the net. Can anybody tell me what the original 1979 switch levers looked like?

Another thing is the cavities. This bass has thick aluminum foil shielding throughout. Was that standard or is this another modification?

And like many of you, it seems, I'm on the hunt for a truss rod tool. The local Peavey dealer was surprised when I insisted that a hex key was not what I was looking for. The local Gibson dealer had one but not for sale.

I might have to order the switches and the wrench through Stew Mac if I can't find them here in Canada but I know the price will double as soon as the package crosses the border. (Then I can imagine what the border people will think if they x-ray the package, hmm switches for a bomb and something that looks like a little hash pipe.)

Any info will be appreciated. Thanks

Here is a pic of what the switches on early T-40s and T-60s should look like. Bear in mind that the pickguard is not original.

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=434763

The control cavity is the only place you should find foil shielding. It isn't very thick. The pickup routes did not have foil shielding.

Thanks. It looks like I have one original switch, probably broken, though.

From the high angle of the camera it's hard to tell how tall the nut is. It might be the same as what I have, which is taller than an ordinary nut used on mini switches, with a sloped top edge.

I have shielding in the pickup routes, which is thicker than the foil used for wrapping food, maybe even as thick as a disposable pie plate.

Thanks again.

Dang, I didn't even pay attention to the nuts. The one on the pickup selector is correct. It's kinda semi domed. The one on the phase switch looks like it's flat, probably a replacement switch.

Hi... on the shielding, I bough regular Copper foil (gauge 36 or thinner if you can find) and glued it with UHU or other contcat adhesive... just beware to be careful not to damage the paintjob.
In Mexico, I got like 10 feet fo foil for like 15 bucks, and was more than enough to shielding my 2 T40s and my Foundation.
I even placed some foil in the pickup guard, so I have a nice Faraday Cage (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faraday_cage) in all the cavities, so no noise comes in, and now my T40s are quiet as midnight in the open desert!
Here is a place where they sell Copper foil gauge 40, which is thinner than 36, and should be much more easy to handle, you can get like 5 feet for 15 bucks, much more cheaper than the ones "specifically designed" for luthiers...
http://www.gramcoonline.com/ms5/supplies/item.html

On the switches, shop around, I've sen those as high as15 buks each but in some other pleaces. 2 or 5 bucks... shoul be One 2 pos ON-ON (Phase) and one 3 pos ON-ON-ON (Pickup selector)
Good luck!

heavyp wrote:

Thanks. It looks like I have one original switch, probably broken, though.

From the high angle of the camera it's hard to tell how tall the nut is. It might be the same as what I have, which is taller than an ordinary nut used on mini switches, with a sloped top edge.

I have shielding in the pickup routes, which is thicker than the foil used for wrapping food, maybe even as thick as a disposable pie plate.

Thanks again.

Thanks for the information, egiles.

Actually, my bass had shielding in it when I bought it. I was just asking if the shielding was part of the original design or if the previous owner put it in. I think it was probably done by the previous owner. I also think that there is a short circuit at some point because the pickup selector cannot solo the bridge pickup.

I'm sure I can fix it. I just need some spare time.

heavyp wrote:

Thanks for the information, egiles.

Actually, my bass had shielding in it when I bought it. I was just asking if the shielding was part of the original design or if the previous owner put it in. I think it was probably done by the previous owner. I also think that there is a short circuit at some point because the pickup selector cannot solo the bridge pickup.

I'm sure I can fix it. I just need some spare time.

URW heavyp, and the answer is, as you suspected, is NO, the original T40 do not have shielding in the Pickup area, it's a good modification if you make it carefuly, but is not as it was designed.
I strongly suggest to replace the aluminum for copper, if you decide to do someting like that.
On the short circuit, hard to tell, but in my experience, when one of this switches gets broken, you don't feel the "click" when you change positions.
If you look around the forum, you will find the wiring diagram to check agains your t40, if you canot find it easily, just let us know, I have it and sure some others have it...
I have had great time fixing mines, it's relaxing and when you are done, you feel the bass is much more yours... hehehehe... good luck

Thanks again. I know what you mean. I like to fix basses as a hobby.

One of the reasons I bought this T-40 bass was because it looked like it needed some repairs. Also, I have noticed that the T-40 has some very enthusiastic fans on the Internet.

My bass will need some fret repairs, too, but I leave that for a professional to do.

I might re-do the shielding. In the past, I have used shielding paint on a couple of Fenders. The results were not bad but they weren't amazing either.