(Accidental) NBD---yet another underrated Peavey

[Willie G. Moseley]

So I got through earlier than expected at the doctor's office on Tuesday morning, and had about 43 minutes to kill before all of the steam tables of the lunch buffet at a favorite Chinese restaurant would be loaded. I opted to spend the wait at a pawn shop with whom I had done a decent amount of business back when I was collecting. Was just expecting to chew the fat (mostly reminiscing) with the owner for a brief time.

And I walked out with this: '87 Peavey Dyna-Bass, peari white with gold hardware, first year model, as played by Leon Wilkeson of Skynyrd during the '87 reunion tour. Near mint, fully original except a replacement pan pot knob.

The kicker is that it came with a Fender hardshell case (?) and I bet some dealers that might want to purchase this instrument might be even more interested because of the case.

Always thought the Dyna-Bass was a great utility bass, with practical and easy-to-understand active electronics. I use to own the blue one on the cover and spine of The Bass Space.  But that color didn't look like it "coordinated" with black hardware.

Edited January 30 by Willie G. Moseley

[velorush]

I have found late-eighties Peavey guitars and basses to be incredibly well built and incredible values. Really liked the headstocks, too. 

Edited January 30 by velorush

[Steve Haynie]

Accidental... yeah, that's the ticket!

[scottcald]

The USA Peaveys are great guitars. 

[crunchee]

I bought a mid-90s Peavey USA Forum bass for $200 from DGS a couple of years ago, a previous owner had thoughtfully installed a Seymour Duncan P & J pickup set in it beforehand, plus the old-style two-piece Peavey neck was/is wonderfully responsive to adjustments and easily adjustable to be straight as an arrow (always a good sign).  It's been one of my 'keepers' ever since. 

Edited February 2 by crunchee

[Dutchman]

I just repaired a Peavey Ranger amp. 120 watts of all tube power. I was amazed on the clean channel it was in Fender Twin clean sparkle territory. On the "Dirt" Channel it would go into Metal Zone! I'd never heard of this Model and had to contact Peavey for Schematics. This Peavey is a sleeper big time! 2-12" eminence speakers. 

Peavey gets the redheaded stepchild treatment... but I can remember entire backlines of their amps and many playing there guitars! It's Vintage American Made Goodness now!!!

[butcher]

2 hours ago, Dutchman said:

I just repaired a Peavey Ranger amp. 120 watts of all tube power. I was amazed on the clean channel it was in Fender Twin clean sparkle territory. On the "Dirt" Channel it would go into Metal Zone! I'd never heard of this Model and had to contact Peavey for Schematics. This Peavey is a sleeper big time! 2-12" eminence speakers. 

Peavey gets the redheaded stepchild treatment... but I can remember entire backlines of their amps and many playing there guitars! It's Vintage American Made Goodness now!!!

That amp must be related to the Peavey Duel. Your description is spot on for the Duel.

[Dutchman]

2 hours ago, butcher said:

That amp must be related to the Peavey Duel. Your description is spot on for the Duel.

I tried to use that schematic. But the Rangers layout was different than the Duel. I think the Ranger may have morphed into the Duel. Great sounding amps! Both of them!!

[Willie G. Moseley]

Found a decent image of the blue example I used to own. it would have looked so much better with chrome or gold hardware. YMMV

[stobro]

Would that be Peavey's "Frost Blue Metallic"?

[tbonesullivan]

Peavey always made good stuff, but never really broke out as a "good" brand for many people. Damn shame, but also means that you can get some quality instruments for not much money.

[Willie G. Moseley]

RE blue finish: Earliest price list I can find on which a blue finish was available on the Dyna-Bass was November 1986; finish named Teal Blue, and the one I owned wasn't a metallic finish. That said, I really liked Frost Blue and Sunfire Red. 

The search also meant that my original post here is erroneous as '87 apparently wasn't the first year for the model. There were a couple of earlier price lists in '86 but no blue finish on a Dyna-Bass was listed

[stobro]

They must have introduced Teal Blue just after I left Peavey. I remember Mike Powers and the guys in the guitar lab were constantly experimenting with different colors and finishes. Only a few of their experiments ever made it to market. Constraints of keeping costs and cure time down, coupled with the environmental conditions limited what they could do. Those Mississippi summers reminded me of "The Bridge on the River Kwai".

[Willie G. Moseley]

And here's a T-20 bass from that era in Frost Blue metallic. That angled pickup with the built-in thumbrest is still eye=catching.

[Steve Haynie]

The thumb rest was a good detail for Peavey to include in the design of that bass.

[stobro]

2 hours ago, Steve Haynie said:

The thumb rest was a good detail for Peavey to include in the design of that bass.

When the T-20 morphed into the Fury, the thumb rest pickup ring was still used.